hyper light breaker cover art

Hyper Light Breaker Early Access Review in Progress

Indie developer Heart Machine has just released its brand-new title for its Hyper Light franchise called Hyper Light Breaker. It’s recently been released onto Steam as an Early Access title that players can get their hands on and experience. Luckily I got my hands on Hyper Light Breaker and have been putting it through its paces, whether it be the characters, weapons, traversal, bosses, locations, upgrades, and so much more.

Editors Note
Due to Hyper Light Breaker being in Early Access and still being a work-in-progress for the developers, this won’t be a full, scored review.

The World of Hyper Light Breaker

Hyper Light Breaker characters finding loot.
Hyper Light Breaker is an interesting world full of discoveries. Image Credit: Heart Machine

To start, let’s talk about the world of Hyper Light Breaker itself, as it is set in the same universe as Hyper Light Drifter, the original Hyper Light game that kicked off the franchise in March 2016. Hyper Light Breaker is set in a place known as the Overgrowth, which is full of mysteries, chaos, and difficult enemies to fight, and with a new look, contrary to the previous installments’ 2D fare, Hyper Light Breaker has gone 3D.

The first location players will come across is the hub world, where they will be able to upgrade or purchase characters, purchase and upgrade their weapons, set up a co-op team, and so much more. This allowed me to alter my loadout before each run so that I could try out each weapon if I had it stored or purchased until I found a loadout that worked for me.

What makes Hyper Light Breaker interesting is the fact that the locations you will be tasked to explore are constantly changing and procedurally generated, allowing for constant replayability and allowing for a different run each time. Along with having a new map layout for each run, there is also the opportunity for new enemies and bosses for the player to come across, keeping the gameplay loop fresh and unexpected.

At the time of writing, there are only three biomes that the player will be able to come across within Hyper Light Breaker, including a forest biome, a desert biome, and a snowscape. Each run is made up of these three biomes and is full of ruins for the player to explore for rewards, which was a very fun mechanic as it encouraged me to explore the entire map to ensure I had all the rewards I could before venturing towards the bosses that awaited me.

The Characters Add a Unique Flair to Hyper Light Breaker

Hyper Light Breaker characters standing still.
Hyper Light Breaker‘s characters are full of mystery. Image Credit: Heart Machine

At the start of Hyper Light Breaker, you will, unfortunately, be locked to one character. At the time of writing there are only three characters that can be acquired within the Early Access version of the game, although as time goes on, and development continues, there will surely be more released.

Each of these characters is unique in their style. As well as having their own unique buff and stats that allow the player to play through the game in different ways. For example, the base character Lapis is an all-round character that can do nearly enough anything, whether that be to take damage or to dish it out. The other two characters bring a whole new set of opportunities for the player whether that be an increase in crit chance from Vermillion or an increase in health and armor from Goro.

During my time playing, I chose to stick with Lapis the base character as I was required to defeat one of the bosses to acquire a new character. The game offers plenty such rewards in different forms, allowing players to feel the growth of the game world, as well as their playable options, with every run-through and victory. With the different playstyles of the characters, each offers something different and a new strategy against familiar bosses, meaning trying them all out should be something everyone considers, if not for no other reason than to find the ‘right fit’ for themselves.

The Numerous Weapons of Hyper Light Breaker

Hyper Light Breaker characters showing off their melee weapons.
Hyper Light Breaker is full of weapons for players to find and try. Image Credit: Heart Machine

One of the most important parts of Hyper Light Breaker is the variety of weapons that the player can choose from as they play through the game. Whether you are a fan of using fast melee that deals a minor amount of damage or slow melee that deals devastating damage at the cost of speed, there are plenty of options to choose from.

My personal preference during my time with Hyper Light Breaker was the Gamma Claws, as it has a very fast attack rate, allowing the player to deal small amounts of damage at a fast rate, while also having a special ability that throws 3 mines onto the ground where the player is standing, which detonate once an enemy passes over them.

This allowed me to set a trap for a lot of the enemies that would attempt to sneak up on me while I was dealing with the horde of enemies that were in front of me, ensuring that I was safe. However, I did try the other weapons that were available, and they were very fun to play with fluent combos and special attacks that looked as cool as they felt to pull off.

Along with melee weapons, there was also the option to bring in a ranged weapon, and there are plenty of options to choose from, but the main ranged weapon that I chose was the Grind 42R, which is a long-range beam weapon that requires charging before firing. This was an especially devastating weapon, especially for the weaker enemies in the game, as this was able to deal a large amount of damage with each shot and could also be upgraded with the use of what’s known as holobytes to improve the effects of both the melee and ranged weapons.

Even though I chose to prioritize equipping the Grind 42R, there were plenty of other weapons that I found to be useful and fun to play with, as there were other ranged weapons like a shotgun that fires tracking bolts, a laser weapon that generates a concentrated beam, and so many more, which allowed me to switch up my gameplay as I rotated through the weapons each time I started a new run.

Holobytes and Unique Items That Change the Game for the Better

Hyper Light Breaker characters and a vendor.
There are plenty of items for players to find and upgrade. Image Credit: Heart Machine

As stated above, Holobytes are probably one of the most important parts of Hyper Light Breaker, as they allow the player to gain passive buffs to their weapons, ensuring that they can keep up with the enemies that are hunting them down throughout the Overgrowth.

There are too many Holobytes to list, but each of them allows the player to gain numerous buffs that can make their runs easier, whether it be increased damage on their ranged weapons to increase their melee damage, increase their ammo count for their gun, and so much more, which can generate so many unique loadouts that bring all kinds of fun.

During one of my runs, I managed to get a collection of Holobytes that were relatively high quality increased the damage my melee weapon would do, and would continue to increase the more high-quality Holobytes I had equipped. This managed to increase my weapon damage from 35-50 to a whopping 500+ in certain circumstances, as many of the other Holobytes I had equipped needed certain criteria met to apply extra buffs, allowing me to hit such high numbers.

Even with the game still being in Early Access, there are plenty of Holobyte combinations that players could combine to create overpowered loadouts, but due to the game’s randomized loot, it will be very difficult for players to ensure they get what they need to destroy their enemies in one fell swoop.

Along with Holobytes, players will also come across armor upgrades that can increase their health and armor stats, ensuring that they survive longer, which can be a challenge in Hyper Light Breaker as the enemies hit like a truck when they want to. Unfortunately, there are times when gaining armor could also be a problem for the player, as there are some armor pieces that also have downsides to them, which causes the player to make the hard choice as to whether or not the extra health and armor are worth potentially losing dash speed and distance as they are both very important to a player’s survival.

I tended to avoid these sets of armor as I relied heavily on the dodge mechanic rather than the parry mechanic that is available in the game, as there tend to be too many enemies to parry at one time, meaning that being able to dodge is detrimental to a player’s survival.

Finally, the other item that players are able to obtain is called an Amp, which is essentially the ultimate ability within the game. These can be quite useful within Hyper Light Breaker, as these abilities can be the difference between death and survival.

For example, one Amp that players can find allows the player to increase their armor by 20% for a few seconds, and while this effect takes place, any damage that the player takes can be returned to the player once they deal damage. This essentially means that the player can be a little reckless and jump straight into a big fight without the major risk of death that looms over their head throughout the rest of the game.

There are other amps that can also summon enemies and allies that can assist you in battle, like a battle drone, a giant tree golem, and even a copy of the enemies you recently defeated, and these are just some of the amps that are available.

Combining all of these different items and Holobytes together can generate so many unique loadouts that could turn the player into a god who can dish out damage while also being able to take it, or turn them into a glass cannon that can dish out the damage while also avoiding taking it. During my playthrough, I found it was better to rely on survival over high damage numbers, but on some runs I was able to combine both, creating a fun and unique experience.

The Different Ways I Got Around Hyper Light Breaker and Why They Were Fun

Hyper Light Breaker characters and a vendor.
Hyper Light Breaker is full of ways to get around the ever-evolving map. Image Credit: Heart Machine

It is very common for games nowadays to utilize traversal mechanics to allow players to quickly move around the map, especially with style, and Hyper Light Breaker is no exception, as it brings with it a few options of traversal for players to utilize as they adventure around the Overgrowth.

At the time of writing, there are two speedy ways to travel around the map of Hyper Light Breaker and a few other options for general traversal. One of the speedy ways around the map is by using the hoverboard, which allows you to speedily travel around the map, ensuring you can see all you can see in a timely manner. During my time with the game, I found that the hoverboard was a fantastic way to get around the map, but unfortunately, it did have control issues, making it feel slightly bulky, and is something the devs need to take another look at to refine it.

The other speedy way to traverse the game is by using the glider, as the player is able to glide around the map while they have stamina, making it simpler to fall from a great height without losing your life.

For those who are looking to take their time traversing the map, there is the standard two-leg method of walking around the map, but for anyone who is looking to climb up cliffs and take shortcuts up the buildings, there is the option to wall climb, which is a very fun ability as you are able to dodge into a building, making your character change their direction upwards, allowing them to access higher floors quicker and easier.

Boss Enemies That Will Make You Quiver in Your Boots

Hyper Light Breaker characters and their ranged weapons.
The bosses in Hyper Light Breaker are so daunting and awesome that you will always come back for more. Image Credit: Heart Machine

Hyper Light Breaker is a generally fun game with a lot of activities to play through, but one of the main goals of the game is to hunt down the bosses that plague the Overgrowth. At the time of writing, only two bosses are active within the game, but these two bosses are already quite formidable and will test the player in more ways than one.

During my time with Hyper Light Breaker, I managed to take on both of these bosses and they were an incredible challenge that even Soulsborne players would struggle with as they are agile, tanky, and just all-together powerhouses that can destroy a player in seconds if they aren’t prepared.

For me, this was a part of the fun of the game as it encouraged me to push forward and upgrade my character so that it could withstand the onslaught of attacks both of these bosses would dish out against me.

My own personal complaint with the bosses would be that they continuously summon additional enemies for the player to take on, causing the player to constantly take their eyes off the boss to either take out the additional enemies or to avoid them eventually leading the player to lose track of the boss and likely taking on accidental damage that could ruin their run.

However, as much as this is a problem there are reasons behind it as these enemies can be used to gain ammunition for your ranged weapon, and if you have a specific Holobyte you can even regain health when you perform a finisher move on them. Another reason these enemies could be included is to ensure the player doesn’t have too easy of a time taking on the boss, as Hyper Light Breaker can be played in Co-op and if 3 players take on these bosses it would be too easy without the constant distractions.

Final Thoughts on Hyper Light Breaker and its Unique Mechanics

Hyper Light Breaker characters running
Hyper Light Breaker is a fun and chaotic game that allows players hours of fun. Image Credit: Heart Machine

Overall Hyper Light Breaker is a fun game with plenty to offer – even in its Early Access state – as it provides plenty of content for the player to enjoy whether it be to see how long they can survive and explore before they either die or extract especially when the danger meter begins to fill up as it creates a harder experience for the player by spawning more enemies, creating radiation hot zones, and even spawning mini-bosses that hunt the player down.

This can invite a new challenge for players, but for those who are looking for an easy time, playing with your friends will be a game changer as having more players ensures that the enemies get defeated quicker as the enemies do not scale to the number of players. Along with this, players will also be able to take on bosses a little easier which is something many players would struggle with solo.

It is clear to see that the developers are preparing to bring plenty of amazing content to the game that will expand what is already there and create an exciting experience that will have players taking on some of the most interesting challenges within the game itself.

For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out everything you need to know about The Blood of Dawnwalker, or how about everything confirmed about The Last of Us Part 3?

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