After years of anticipation and several delays, Hyper Light Breaker made its debut in Early Access on Steam last month. Gamers finally had the chance to immerse themselves in this atmospheric blend of loot collection, extraction shooter mechanics, and roguelite features, but the reception has been less than favorable. Many players criticized its challenging boss encounters and disorganized exploration elements. Nevertheless, the development team has shared a comprehensive roadmap detailing upcoming updates and content releases, asserting they have “no regrets” about the soft-launch timing.

Lead producer Michael Clark from Heart Machine remarked, “No amount of time spent in isolation can perfect a game,” in a recent interview with PC Gamer. “You achieve the best version of a game by encouraging as much feedback and iteration as possible, and Early Access provides that opportunity for titles like this.”

Currently holding a “mixed” rating with just 63% positive feedback on Steam, significant changes are necessary, which the developers have acknowledged in their recently published roadmap recently announced. Updates set for February 18 include a new playable character, additional enemies, rebalance of gear and combat, and various bug fixes. Another set of enhancements and new content is anticipated in March, while April’s major update will introduce a content pack titled Buried Below, designed to enhance user onboarding and introduce even more enemies and characters.

Hyper Light Breaker serves as a sequel to the acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter, a beloved 2016 2D title reminiscent of Zelda that gained extensive popularity after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Heart Machine also released Solar Ash in 2021, a 3D action-adventure platformer that enhances Breaker with improved combat mechanics and more RPG elements.

However, early critiques have not been kind, with IGN and reviewers from SkillUp providing negative assessments, alongside a flood of disappointing user comments on the Steam page. Concerns range from the lack of substance in procedurally generated maps to the difficulty of boss encounters. One review on Steam states, “This feedback is more valuable for the developers than for potential players. The game currently feels unacceptable, even for Early Access standards; the onboarding experience is reportedly one of the worst I’ve encountered.”

My experience with the Early Access version was limited to a few hours, too brief for a definitive opinion. Nonetheless, it was sufficient to reveal that while there is potential, Hyper Light Breaker has several rough aspects that deter further engagement in its current condition. However, I must mention the game’s atmosphere and music, which remain outstanding, aligned with Heart Machine’s previous works, but the gameplay falls short of expectations at this stage in Early Access.

The newly introduced roadmap addresses many issues noted by players, specifically the game’s difficulty level, which many have described as more frustrating and less enjoyable. The ambitious timeline for these improvements comes with challenges due to previous delays and recent layoffs at the studio. If Heart Machine fulfills its commitments, Hyper Light Breaker could eventually evolve into the game that supporters anticipated.

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