If you’re reading this, then I imagine you’re in the same boat as me. You’re utterly enthralled and captivated by the frankly sublime Hyper Light Drifter, but you’re slowly grinding your teeth into a fine dust due to how brutally hard it can be. If you fall into the latter category then we here at VGU can offer you a helping hand with some tips and tricks to helping you best this gem of a game.
Although we’ll leave it to you to sort out your dentistry needs, there’s only so much we can do.
First one’s a no brainer, there’s a big world out there for you to explore and you should comb every last inch of it to find those precious Gearbits to upgrade your arsenal. The majority of the screens that you’ll pass through will hold some kind of secret so you’re best off giving the place a thorough look-over once you’ve cleared out any enemies. Look for small indications of passageways like puddles of water, gaps in trees or piles of boxes. Even if it seems silly to slash at a piece of scenery, do it anyway, you never know what you’ll find. You’ll often find that screens are overloaded with detail so really take your time with this one.
Whilst on the subject of exploration, it’s recommended that on your travels you stop and look around for a while. Aside from being able to spot hidden pathways, this is a great way (if one of the only ways) to piece together the game’s story. Borrowing heavily from games like Dark Souls, Hyper Light Drifter is a tale shrouded in mystery. The story is there, but it’s down to you to discover it for yourself.
There are many sights to see, ranging from picturesque views to disturbing displays of murder and torture. Take a minute and drink it all in, even the more unpleasant sights will help paint a clearer picture. Also, talk to everyone, literally everyone. They may not speak actual words, but they will tell you tales of what has happened to the region you’re currently in.
Dual-wielding a sword and laser pistol is all well and good, but when you’re ambushed and low on bullets, you’ll need to think on the fly. Thankfully most areas of the game are littered with walls, pits and traps that are as deadly to your enemies as they are to you. Particularly explosive tanks that you can easily snipe from a distance with the correct weapon.
Many areas will present you with opportunities to bottle-neck opponents or give you enough space to round them up and dash away, throwing a bomb behind you and nuking the lot of them. Going in all guns blazing is likely to get you killed in the later stages, so it’s best to start learning how to best use the environment early on.
The shooting mechanic in Hyperlight Drifter is akin to that of Hotline Miami, if you’ve played Miami before then you may find it a little easier to get on with. If you’re coming into this game having not played anything similar, you may find the mechanic a little cumbersome at first. Using one analogue stick to move and the other to aim is tricky business after all.
However, there’s two easy ways you can start to get your head around it. Firstly, hitting the shoot button whilst you’re stood still will fire directly ahead, this is a good way to judge your positioning and how effect your shots will be. The second is to use it as a way of breaking up your sword attacks. The sword usually swipes in threes, with the third strike needing a slight cool-down, firing your gun after the second hit is a good way to get around the cool-down and give you a chance for escape should you need it.
Despite the fast-paced and vicious approach to combat that Hyperlight offers, charging head-first into any given situation is a recipe for disaster. I feel this is a lesson many will learn within the first hour of the game when an enemy ambush makes mincemeat of you in no time at all. Approach each new screen with the same mind-set as the previous. This is especially important when it comes to the game’s chain-dash mechanic, which you’ll need to get to grips with for the platforming segments. These segments in particular require precision aim and timing to proceed; take it slow and you’ll find them a breeze.
Pretty self-explanatory really, slash anything and everything possible. This is the only way you can obtain more bullets for your gun, it’s a strange system but it reinforces the idea of exploring your environment. You’ll be wanting to keep your bullets topped up at all times as there’s guaranteed ambushes lying around each corner. As I also mentioned earlier, many boxes hide secret pathways so it’s always worth smashing them, even if it is for the sake of a few bullets.
Although if you see glowing purple tanks, don’t slash those. You have been warned.
