Almost nine years have passed since the impressive pixel art action role-playing game Hyperlight drifter first took my breath away in its Kickstarter teaser. Now developer Heart Machine has planned a successor and it is just around the corner. It’s called hyperlightbreakerit will be 3D rather than top-down and coming to Steam Early Access in Spring 2023.
The announcement, done yesterdaycomes for the six year anniversary of Hyperlight drifter‘s original publication. This game was an evocative mix of beautiful pixel art, haunting electronic music and a zelda-inspired overworld full of monsters, mysteries and minimal explanation. It’s too early to tell if hyperlightbreaker will channel a similarly intriguing mix, but the first screenshots look superb and Mutant Mudds Composer Troupe Gammage will be delivers the worlds of sound.
Here is the animated trailer:
Heart Machine was the first to make the jump to 3D last years sun ashan adventure platformer about using vision and grace to save a planet from dark cosmic forces. hyperlightbreaker will evoke a similarly vibrant and kinetic visual style, creative director Alx Preston told IGN, but with a stronger focus on RPG systems and mechanics. It also aims to include multiplayer co-op.
“And when we say cooperative online play, we mean multiple players, not just you and one other person; We’re looking at a group of players who can go out and slay some monsters together,” Preston said.
That would certainly make it more consistent with border areas, the marquee of publishing partner Gearbox, which Heart Machine is collaborating with for the game developed by the Unreal Engine. It’s unclear if that’s just a coincidence, though hyperlightbreakerThe look definitely has something from the blockbuster loot shooter series.
Whatever the outcome, I hope the game manages to evoke some of the understated mystique and unspoken magic of the original game. There haven’t been many games like this since then. tunic comes closest to me, but I wouldn’t say no to more than two of these minimalist indie homages every six years. I will miss Disaster peace though.
