Your favourite 3D platformers

A Hat in Time (Switch)




Oh I like this.  I like this a great deal.

A Hat in Time is definitely an homage to the older 3D Marios, and to a lesser extent other collectathon 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie.  It blends good bits from all of them: there's the exploratory quality of 64, Galaxy-like set-pieces, and the Time Rifts are very much Sunshine-inspired.  To this it adds character that feels more like something out of a Luigi's Mansion, or even TTYD - there's a train level that apes the Excess Express to terrific effect.  It's all so charming and nice, most of it (there's one set piece that's horrific - in a good way).  Hat Kid looks like she's having a tremendous time on her adventure, sticking her tongue out at bad guys and pulling silly poses when she enters levels, and it inspired me to have a good time too.  Her co-stars are generally pretty great as well, chirruping away (fully voice-acted).  On top of all this is layered colourful and character-oozing aesthetics, fun boss fights, and the by-now-expected top quality indie soundtrack.  Feat. Grant Kirkhope, because of course.

All this makes up somewhat for the platforming.  Don't get me wrong: it's fun, and that's key.  Hat Kid feels good to control, her many hats put to decent use, and the level design's good to jump around.  The acid test is whether the Time Rifts, pieces of pure platforming, are fun to complete; and they are, and I did all of them.  However, it has the non-Mario 3D platformer problem of a camera expelled from Satan's own anus to toy with you.  (Current day EDIT: ‘Non-Mario’? Giving the Marios too much credit there methinks! ) Numerous times I misjudged distances and fell screaming, or found the camera staring up Hat Kid's nose from inside a wall, or the game decided I'd really like a dramatic change of perspective when I really didn't.

It's easy to find other minor issues to poke at AHiT on Switch.  Noticeable downgrade in graphical quality in handheld mode; parts of the game that feel like they're missing something cut during the game's apparently tangled development process; a slightly character-less last (main game) world; limited enemy variety; a rival who spends most of the game missing; and, curiously, limited reference to any actual time mechanics for all that it's in the title.  I'd say that the two issues that actually stood out were the camera and the loading pauses, presumably a Switch-specific issue and one that probably makes other platforms preferable.  You could make a cup of tea and let it get cold in the time it takes to load a level, including the hub.

None of these are enough to make AHiT not a tremendous game that I'd recommend to basically anyone.  Whether you prefer 64's platforming or Galaxy's, pick games for their writing or their gameplay, I think you'll enjoy AHiT.  I got all the main game's Time Pieces, and intend to play both DLCs before I move onto something else from the backlog.  It's very good.

9/10