Hyper Light Breaker: A Worthy Successor? Hands-On Impressions from Summer Game Fest

This weekend as part of Summer Game Fest, I had the chance to try the upcoming action rogue-like from Heart Machine, Hyper Light Breaker. This highly anticipated title is the follow-up to the hugely popular 2D action RPG from back in 2016, Hyper Light Drifter. This new entry has a lot of the same neon, hyper-futuristic aesthetics, but makes the jump to 3D.

Every new run in Hyper Light Breaker throws players into a procedurally generated open world. Players will choose a loadout, varying between several characters, equipment, and abilities that can all be collected and swapped while out in the fields. Even after defeat, players can return to the same procedurally generated world to try again or take a different approach.

Hyper Light Breaker, Gearbox Publishing, 2024

The jump to 3D is at its best when traversing each unique world. Players have access to a hoverboard that carries you across the world quickly and in style. You can jump while riding and sometimes even throw off a few mid-air twists and tricks. Players will also have a glider to cover some good distance when jumping from a height. Just make sure you don’t run out of stamina above a body of water like I immediately did moments after the developer warned me about it.

Hyper Light Breaker, Gearbox Publishing, 2024

While only three of the character options were available in the demo I tried, playing as an anthropomorphic tanuki with a sword and a gun was something I never realized I wanted. While I wasn’t able to defeat one of the bosses in my allotted time, my final attempt was triumphant, as I performed a “perfect block” before quickly being defeated again. I’ll take the gasp of impressed surprise from the dev with me to my grave. While less impressive, it was nearly as enjoyable to use the ability that summons a large block and drops it on the enemy's heads. When finding exciting new abilities it was tough to swap them out with the one I was already having fun with.

At the time of writing, Hyper Light Breaker has not announced an Early Access release date yet, but it is planned for sometime this summer. I can’t wait to jump back in and try out the multiplayer with some friends.

Hyper Light Breaker

January 14, 2025

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