As one plunges into the realms of Eternity, the monochromatic world of Hauntii wraps you in its ethereal arms. Created by Moonloop Games, this action-adventure game throws you into a liminal space where life and death intermingle.
What makes Hauntii visually arresting is its expertly designed hand-drawn animation comprising geometric abstractions and detailed figures that exude whimsicalism.
This two-colour palette composed of black/greyscale dotted with bright colours evokes both fear and invitation to explore further.
The frames appear to be alive, while low frame rates give them the surrealistic look that perfectly captures this spectral journey.
Get ready for a visual feast as landscapes shift from fungal forests to deserted cities on an amalgamation of beauty.
A Ghost’s Troubles
The protagonist in Hauntii is a creature of its kind, an amnesic phantom stranded in Eternity. Our ghostly friend meets an Eternian; a wordless introduction that creates suspense for the forthcoming adventure.
As they soar higher together towards uncertain destinies, the music builds up, but before anything else can happen, Hauntii is ripped back to eternity by horrible chains.
This poignant beginning sparks off a journey beyond mere endurance. Forgetting about their past seems impossible for Hauntii: hence they must recover lost memories and ascend into the heavens above their heads.
It is a deeply moving passage through human existence that resonates with people’s deepest yearnings for self-actualization as accentuated by the minimalism in the storytelling choice made by this game.
A World Abound in Fleeting Inhabitants
Eternity is not only a backdrop, but it thrives with beings living or rather living. These denizens range from human ghosts to dog-like spirits and even plants that can tell us something cryptic about death as well as the world.
Whispers of theirs hinted at danger from Eternian himself who was guiding Hauntii and this indicated a much larger storyline that remains just out of reach.
However, this same obscurity is what makes Hauntii seem so mysterious, inviting players to try connecting the dots of a universe that appears to be both homely and infinitely wide.
By not providing every bits and pieces of its back story too clearly, the game builds suspense where every new clue could give clues on what eternity represents.
An Unconventional Mechanic
Hauntii’s gameplay centres on one major idea: being able to possess almost anything or anyone inside the game world.
The options for possession range from trees together with hills having their minds to bats with similar skulls which fly and are hostile thus making them enemies.
This haunting ability requires an expenditure of collected currency to initiate individual captured object actions.
However, the sheer abundance of these collectables strewed across Eternity serves as quick reassurance against depletion worries concerning resources enabling players’ free rein curiosity.
Combining Multiple Genres Seamlessly
Hauntii blends exploration elements, and puzzle-solving mechanics with twin-stick shooting gameplay and possession mechanics into a beautiful quiltwork of something that cannot be easily categorized.
Although promotional materials may imply an emphasis on twin-stick action; Hauntii has more in common with platformers than shooters owing to its light-heartedness when it comes to experimentation.
As you progress through Eternity, there will be trials where you must put your haunting skills into practice creatively.
Whether it involves using ladybirds as gliders between oaks or tolling bells aloud, or even reuniting ghostly dogs with distraught owners, each of these riddles offers wonderful opportunities to play around and unlock the secrets behind this ghostly world.
Playground of Discovery
Progressing in Hauntii is inextricably linked to earning stars, the celestial tokens that unlock new areas and advance the plot.
Like its inspiration, Mario games, these stars are scattered all over the environment, some visible while others hidden behind puzzles and nebulous objectives.
The game’s exploration focus is reinforced by a refusal to spoon-feed players. The only compass on the Map screen indicates the star count remaining before each area, but no explicit hints exist concerning how they can be earned.
This intentional obfuscation may discourage perfectionists but also evokes awe, pushing them to explore new environments away from Eternity’s usual paths.
Symphony of Progress
As you collect stars and complete constellations, Hauntii provides glimpses into the protagonist’s past life. These vignettes are animated with simple line drawings that look like Flipnote Studio clips and they yield an intense emotional resonance.
Each scene epitomizes minimalism as a storytelling tool; for instance, scenes from moments of happiness or those that cause deep sorrow will leave lasting effects on a person playing this game.
Completing constellations also allows you to upgrade core stats such as maximum health points, essence (the currency used for shooting ghosts at enemies), and dash limit via light RPG systems.
These elements create room for progression alongside customization through which you can build up your favourite style of playing with spirits.
Blending Combat and Exploration Perfectly
Though exploration and puzzle-solving dominate Hauntii, combat aspects have not been disregarded entirely within it.
Now and then hostile specters as well as corrupt creatures would challenge your courage hence necessitating abilities that allow one to shoot blasts of his essence or haunt him/her.
These battle encounters do not distract from the main impulse driving discovery throughout the game. For example when fighting plant people shooting nuts or fireworks wearing shades forces gamers to experiment with haunting powers revealing bit-by-bit more about the inhabitants of Eternity and depth hidden inside gameplay.
A Web of Rewards
Hauntii’s reward for curiosity does not stop with the acquisition of stars, nor with finishing off constellations. Throughout Eternity, numerous cosmetic hats add to Hauntii’s already adorable look.
In a world where colour is in short supply, these hats remind us how whimsical this game can be, and its ability to find joy even in the smallest things.
Masterclass in Level Design: A Bursty Rewrite
The level design of Hauntii is arguably one of its greatest strengths and it is a master class in subtlety and environmental storytelling.
The game’s two-tone aesthetic is not just an added visual flair, but it also acts as a guiding light, depicting shades of grey that signal off-route pathways.
As you go through Eternity, however, the designers have made sure that there are points where forward progress may appear to be blocked and this encourages you to move into darkness finding what you need.
This makes for a seamless integration between level design and gameplay mechanics such that exploration feels natural rather than objective-driven.
A Melodic Accompaniment: Rewritten Text
A talk about Hauntii would not be complete without mentioning the excellent music score by Micheal Kirby Ward.
From the joyous, energetic flow of melodies that rise and fall with screen actions to fast pulsating themes during boss battles; these musical pieces are perfectly matched with the ethereal nature of the game.
However, it is more than just background; it influences your feelings guiding them into heightening enthusiasm and amazement at every turn in Hauntii.
Whether you’re haunting over rollercoasters or moving through a fungoid woodland Ward’s tunes will wrap around you leading to an incredibly immersive experience that remains etched in your mind for all time.
Also Read: The Rogue Prince of Persia Early Access Review
A Spectral Masterpiece: Confusing Rewrite
In indie gaming circles, Hauntii shines like no other epitomizing creativity and testifying to how much more can be achieved with video games.
It might not be perfect – a thin storyline now and then requiring better development as well as combat mechanics needing some work- but these few stains do nothing compared to what this game offers.
It is a ghostly masterpiece – one that lures players into its ethereal arms and lets them get lost within it.
The strength lies in the game’s captivating beauty, original gameplay mechanics and accompanying melodies as one embarks on this otherworldly expedition.
So, allow Eternity to call out to you and Hauntii will lead you into a world where life and death mix up, where every corner is filled with wonders of mysterious findings.
For in this liminal space, you may just find the key to unlocking the mysteries of your existence.
