Software:Hylics 2
| Hylics 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Mason Lindroth |
| Designer(s) | Mason Lindroth |
| Artist(s) | Mason Lindroth |
| Composer(s) | Mason Lindroth, Chuck Salamone |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, MacOS |
| Release | June 22, 2020 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing, platformer |
Hylics 2 is a 2020 role-playing video game developed by Mason Lindroth. It is the sequel to the 2015 game Hylics. Set in a surreal and intentionally absurd collection of islands, the protagonist Wayne must stop the resurrection of the tyrant king Gibby by his minions. Battles take place in a turn-based role-playing game format, similarly to its predecessor, but gameplay in the overworld is expanded upon, prominently featuring 3D platforming elements, with extra inclusions of 2D platforming, and first-person dungeon crawling. The game was acclaimed for its unique claymation visuals and psychedelic funk score composed by Lindroth and Chuck Salamone.
Gameplay
Hylics 2 is a turn-based RPG with similarities to traditional JRPGs.[1][2] It takes place in a surreal and absurd world,[2][3] with some horror elements.[4] The player character Wayne assembles a party of characters, fights enemies, explores a 3D world, and finds hidden treasure. Exploration across each island is done in an airship, which has been compared to Final Fantasy.[1][2][4][5] Unlike the first game, the sequel contains 3D platforming elements,[4] and contains a segment of dungeon-crawling in first-person.[5] The player can dodge enemies with a variety of moves.[5] The plot of the game involves Wayne attempting to stop the resurrection of the first game's antagonist,[4] the tyrant king Gibby, by his minions.[1][3] The sequel reveals there are many versions of Wayne in the world, of various shapes and designs.[1][4] The player characters gain more flesh (hit points) by putting the meat of dead enemies and Waynes in a meat grinder. When all party members' flesh hits 0, the player dissolves. [1]
Development
The game is a sequel to the 2015 RPG Hylics,[2] both developed by Mason Lindroth.[6] The sequel's plot contains motifs of the first game, but can be understood without playing the first game.[5] While the first game was developed in RPG Maker, the sequel was developed in the Unity engine, allowing for the visuals and gameplay to be further fleshed out.[4] Hylics 2 uses a psychedelic claymation visual style, a relatively rare animation technique in games.[2][7] Behind-the-scenes photos of the process were released in 2023.[8] Lindroth supported the sequel's development with a public fundraising campaign on GoFundMe.[9] The game's psychedelic funk score was made by Mason Lindroth and Chuck Salamone.[10]
The game was announced with a trailer in January 2018, with a planned release date for later that year.[6][11][12] Another trailer was released in November 5th, and by then, the release date had shifted to summer 2019.[9] After a final trailer on June 3rd, the game was released on June 22, 2020 on the Steam and Itch.io platforms for Microsoft Windows and MacOS.[2][13][9]
Reception
The game was acclaimed upon its release,[1][2] with significant praise being given to its visual style.[1][6][8][12] Rock Paper Shotgun writer Alice O'Connor claimed the game had some of the best visuals and music in gaming.[2][10] The visuals were compared to the video game Clayfighter, artist Bruce Bickford's works, and the movie Fantastic Planet,[1][6] while the score was compared to Frank Zappa's music.[1] The in-game models, animations, and battles were considered improved from the first game.[4] In 2021, PC Gamer named Hylics 2 as having one of their favorite title screens in gaming.[5][14] Early user reviews criticized elements of the platforming as clunky, and the length of battles as being paced poorly.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Davenport, James (2020-06-22). "Hylics 2 feels like a long-lost RPG from the 1970s" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/hylics-2-feels-like-a-long-lost-rpg-from-the-1970s/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 O'Connor, Alice (2020-06-22). "Claymation RPG Hylics 2 is out now" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/claymation-rpg-hylics-2-is-out-now.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Macgregor, Jody (2020-06-22). "Absurdist RPG Hylics 2 will be out tomorrow, here's a weird trailer" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/absurdist-rpg-hylics-2-will-be-out-tomorrow-heres-a-weird-trailer/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 James, Allisa (2022-10-22). "This week's top PC games are made of fever dreams and horrifying retro reality" (in en). https://www.techradar.com/features/this-weeks-top-pc-games-are-made-of-fever-dreams-and-horrifying-retro-reality.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Devore, Jordan (2020-06-22). "Hylics 2 is out on Steam and I can't look away" (in en-US). https://www.destructoid.com/hylics-2-is-out-on-steam-and-i-cant-look-away/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gach, Ethan (2018-01-18). "Claymation JRPG Hylics 2 Is Looking Twisted As Heck" (in en-AU). https://kotaku.com/claymation-jrpg-hylics-2-is-looking-twisted-as-heck-1822166645.
- ↑ Zavarise, Giada (2018-03-31). "Remembering Hylics, the surreal art RPG" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/remembering-hylics-the-surreal-art-rpg/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 O'Connor, Alice (2023-01-18). "I adore these Hylics secrets of handcrafted art and actual hands" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-adore-these-hylics-secrets-of-handcrafted-art-and-actual-hands.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 O'Connor, Alice (2018-11-06). "Hylics 2 continues to look chuffing gorgeous" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hylics-2-trailer-2.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 O'Connor, Alice (2021-10-01). "Our video game music recommendations for Bandcamp Friday" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/our-video-game-music-recommendations-for-bandcamp-friday.
- ↑ Ruppert, Liana (4 February 2018). "Hylics 2's Preview Trailer is Bizarrely Perfect and Just as Trippy as its Predecessor" (in en). https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/hylics-2-psychedelic-game-steam/.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Devore, Jordan (2018-01-20). "Hylics 2 is a total fever dream and I love it" (in en-US). https://www.destructoid.com/hylics-2-is-a-total-fever-dream-and-i-love-it/.
- ↑ "Hylics 2" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/hylics-2/.
- ↑ Macgregor, Jody (2021-01-06). "Our favorite title screens and main menus in PC gaming" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/our-favorite-title-screens-and-main-menus-in-pc-gaming/.
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