Hyper Light Breaker marks Heart Machine’s bold continuation of the journey started in Hyper Light Drifter, a cherished isometric RPG known for its engaging gameplay, rich storytelling, and striking visuals. Rather than following the same path, Heart Machine has opted for a fresh direction with Hyper Light Breaker, introducing a lively 3D art style that still pays homage to the original game’s aesthetic.
Game Rant recently had the opportunity to dive into the co-op gameplay of Hyper Light Breaker, teaming up with two members from the Heart Machine team. This experience allowed us to explore the game’s features in a group setting, showcasing the fun and dynamics of playing together.
Exploring Hyper Light Breaker’s Hub
We began our preview by exploring the game’s central location, The Cursed Outpost. This area serves as a hub for players to engage with different NPCs tied to the game’s meta-progression. Vendors in this space offer a variety of equipment that players can utilize to enhance their builds for the current adventure.
In this setting, the key NPC is Pherus Bit, who offers players a selection of SyComs. These robotic companions serve as the backbone of the Breakers’ character builds, influencing their fundamental stats and granting unique passive abilities. Although selecting a SyCom does guide a Breaker towards a specific class archetype, the game does not enforce a strict class system beyond this initial choice.
In addition, we can utilize a unique currency discovered during our runs to acquire EXE Abilities here. These are the meta-progression enhancements in Hyper Light Breaker that remain effective across roguelike sessions, unlike weapons and gear. These upgrades provide valuable benefits, such as boosting the Breaker’s stamina, allowing for extra medkit storage, and extending the hoverboard’s operational time, among other advantages.
After wrapping up our exploration of the hub, we made our way to the teleporter pad to assemble our team. The co-op experience in Hyper Light Breaker is designed to be casual, allowing players to join or leave games seamlessly. Each player has their own loot instances, so friends can jump into each other’s sessions whenever needed, helping out with challenging bosses before returning to their own adventures.
Hyper Light Breaker Has Impressive Build Variety
The main goal in each session of Hyper Light Breaker is to take down the three major Crown bosses. However, it’s crucial to explore the Overgrowth in depth to enhance our meta-progression and gear up for the upcoming battles. We mapped out a basic path to key landmarks as we made our way to the first Crown, using hoverboards and gliding to navigate the game’s stunningly vertical landscape.
Hyper Light Breaker sets itself apart from many roguelikes by focusing its increasing difficulty on player achievements rather than imposing time constraints. This design choice creates a more balanced experience, rewarding players for their successes instead of penalizing those who are having a tough time. It fosters a sense of fairness that encourages players to improve their skills.
The combat in Hyper Light Breaker is intense and lethal; simply hacking and slashing won’t suffice. Even when teaming up in groups of three, we had to demonstrate skillful play, carefully timing our dashes and parries to stay alive. The game also features a stagger mechanic that interacts with various builds, adding another layer of strategy.
Hyper Light Breaker’s Crown Bosses Emphasize Group Dynamics
The Overgrowth features a diverse array of enemies, ranging from massive elite foes that act as minibosses to flying adversaries that challenge our shooting skills with a pistol. Each encounter brings unique challenges that put our abilities to the test.
Battling the Crowns was definitely the standout moment of our preview. Their adaptable design promises to keep things fresh as players experiment with different builds during multiple playthroughs
Hyper Light Breaker seems like a perfect fit for friends who have enjoyed games like Risk of Rain 2. It’s simple to gather a group and dive into the action, making it accessible for everyone.