Hyper Light Breaker Stands on Its Own, Separate from Hyper Light Drifter 2 — and That’s Perfectly Fine

If there’s ever a game that epitomizes the phrase “Show, don’t tell,” it has to be Hyper Light Drifter. Back in 2016, Heart Machine, an indie studio, launched this 2D action RPG to critical acclaim. It won over the gaming community with its intense gameplay, captivating soundtrack, and a successful Kickstarter campaign, which was during the crowdfunding platform’s golden era. Fast forward nearly a decade, and Heart Machine is back with a prequel to their hit game: a fresh, open-world roguelike set in a vibrant world brimming with danger and secrets waiting to be discovered.

Hyper Light Breaker’s design draws heavily from games like Risk of Rain 2. It cleverly adapts the simplified art style and thrilling combat of its 2D predecessor into an ever-changing 3D environment. Players slip into the shoes of a “Breaker,” a brave treasure hunter tasked with restoring the world after a devastating catastrophe. As a Breaker, your mission is to explore the Overgrowth, a wasteland under the sway of the enigmatic “Abyss King,” who has the unsettling ability to reshape the world as he pleases.

To move forward in the game, players must venture into the Overgrowth and collect “prisms.” These prisms unlock arenas belonging to the “Crowns,” the lieutenants of the Abyss King. These arenas might be hidden in the countless dungeons of the Overgrowth or guarded by formidable foes that you must defeat. But there’s more to discover beyond just the arenas. The world is rich with powerful weapons, monoliths that delve into the lore preceding the game’s events, and an array of collectibles and currencies. Admittedly, I’m still trying to figure out all their uses!

Put aside the complex lore and intricate skill trees, and you have a solid, challenging roguelike experience with satisfying combat and traversal. At this point in the game’s early access phase, it’s hard to gauge how Hyper Light Breaker’s narrative ties into Hyper Light Drifter. Currently, there’s not a lot in terms of storyline. The monoliths scattered across the Overgrowth can be decoded back at the Cursed Outpost, your main hub. These decodings unlock silent comic slide shows that shed light on the Crowns and their significance in the Abyss King’s reign. Beyond that, it’s mostly left up to the player’s imagination.

Where the game truly shines is in its visual and audio presentation, taking cues from Heart Machine’s initial offering and refreshing them for a new era. During my first playthrough, I often paused to admire shrines that reminded me of those in Hyper Light Drifter or found myself gliding over neon landscapes on a hoverboard while a haunting synth melody filled my ears. Hyper Light Breaker might not exude the same retro charm as its predecessor, but it definitely sets a distinct mood. As the series evolves beyond its initial influences, like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, it feels like it’s becoming a standalone universe brimming with untapped potential.

For some die-hard fans of Hyper Light Drifter, this may not be enough to blindly hand over their hopes. Personally, I’ve relished the hours spent battling through the Overgrowth and getting used to Hyper Light Breaker’s challenging yet rewarding gameplay. Though I’m not fully convinced by the game in its current form, I’m optimistic. There’s a strong foundation here, and I believe Heart Machine can build upon it to create a worthy successor to its beloved predecessor.