Hope (2023)

A short and sweet minimalist puzzle platformer with an interesting core mechanic. Fairly easy save for a couple levels which accounted for 20min of my 1hr playthrough. It was worth the $0.71 sale price though the full $4 price tag is a bit steep considering its length. My only gripe is holding the jump key will cause you to jump continuously upon touching the ground which can lead to some frustrating deaths if the key is not released before touching the ground again.

[quote][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_oil][b]Warning: Unqualified Unsolicited Health Advice[/b][/url][/quote] Hope is yet another of literally thousands of 2D retro platformers infesting Steam and lowering the average quality of all video games everywhere. There's literally over 17,000 platformers on Steam, almost all of them are complete amateur garbage, yet this one is still one of the worst of them all. A truly incredible achievement. But there's more, and it's worse. The developer makes absolutely unqualified claims that he's able to treat psychological issues and provide mental health guidance through this garbage platformer with mandatory "die and retry" mechanics. Trying to address serious issues such as mental and emotional health through the medium of video games is misguided and can be harmful. While it's plausible to suggest the intention was noble, this can do more harm than good. The "developer" here is not a professional in areas of mental health and social problems, and when they use video games to pretend they are, this is not only utterly ineffective, it can be harmful. It's my opinion that it's improper to use video games to address mental healt…

Pro: - The Developer is apparently active - I somewhat enjoy minimalist artstyles so this is another pro i guess - When you dont lose hope and push through the frustration you can win the game eventually. - The message to not lose hope is good Con: - There is a Game Breaking bug in which it depends on your window shape where your player spawns. (when you are in fullscreen and this should happen to you Press F11 to leave it) - It feels like it tries to be a Puzzle Platformer but is actually more of a Precision Platformer - When you dont lose hope and push through the frustration you can win the game eventually. - The message not lose hope is not well delivered

Funny how the game's message is about never giving up. No other game on this platform (so far) has ever made me want to press DEL on myself, up until I found this game hidden in my library from God-knows-which Steam sale. Sorry, that was uncalled for. But, really — first of all, the "puzzles" (AKA the levels themselves) are easy but enough, I have no problem with them. It's a puzzle game, after all, puzzles are bound to be mediocre at least. Made me think a few times. But. The way that square is moving & jumping (and I'm putting heavy emphasis on the jumping part) straight up don't make sense sometimes. Also, my key presses were delayed for like 10 entire minutes of me playing. But then it went away when I... turned down the music? And then on the next stage, it just went back to being unbearable? What?! MIGHT be a configuration issue on my end, I do admit that, but I find that unlikely as no other (platformer) game so far has ever been so indecisive on when to 'lag', or ran into any issue at all, really; especially not one as simple as this game. Something tells me this is legitimately how it's supposed to be played and I couldn't be more distraught at just the thought. PS. the wa…

🌟🎮💖 Hope is not just a game—it's an extraordinary journey of resilience, courage, and triumph that left me feeling inspired and uplifted in ways I never thought possible! 🌈✨ From the moment I stepped into the world of Hope, I was immediately captivated by its stunning visuals and immersive storytelling. 🌍📖 The richly detailed environments and vibrant characters drew me in, inviting me to become a part of this unforgettable adventure. 🌟🎭 But what truly sets Hope apart is its message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. 💪🌟 As the protagonist, you embark on a quest to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and restore light to a world shrouded in darkness. 🌟🔦 Along the way, you'll encounter trials and tribulations, but you'll also discover the strength and courage within yourself to keep pushing forward. 💖🌟 The gameplay in Hope is both engaging and rewarding, with intuitive mechanics that make it easy to immerse yourself in the experience. 🎮🌟 Whether you're exploring ancient ruins, solving puzzles, or engaging in heart-pounding battles, there's never a dull moment in this captivating adventure. 💫💥 But perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Hope…

I love this game! I could not stop playing until I beat it in one sitting! Everything about it is done extremely well from the minimalist graphics to the precise controls to the difficulty. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1773317928