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0 Reality and imagination intertwine in Infinite Thread Games’ upcoming release Hidalgo. Across five chapters, players will be able to relive some of the most memorable Don Quixote stories told by a mother and her family. After a successful Kickstart campaign, Hidalgo is available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Switch. We tried out the PC version to give you some insight into what to expect from this new cosy game!
Over the hills, on the next page, is the next chapter for Don Quixote
Gameplay
Hidalgo is a simple game with simple mechanics. As you explore La Mancha you will find different collectibles and meet cutesy NPCs that will give you missions which you will have to complete to progress through the chapter. Quests range from simple things such as herding sheep to defeating bosses to advance to another story. As you make your way through the brightly coloured, cardboard world you’ll have to take an active role. In order to progress through different areas of the map, you will have to pick up the pieces and place them again.
Infinite Thread Games do you hold your hand a little bit as you play. Even with the easy control scheme you also have a task list when you reach the mission giver. This would be a wonderful game for people who are just getting into video games or people that enjoy an easy life and want to spend there day’s not stressing about where the next attack is coming from.
As you load the game, it is recommended that you play using a controller and, after trying both, I would say that it probably leans heavier on the controller layout then other games with the same function. It is still pretty easy to play with a keyboard and mouse but sometimes the mapping of the buttons felt a little bit odd.
Boss Battles
Towards the end of Chapter One, Don Quixote takes on a giant created from a windmill, in line with the original tale. It’s an introduction to a simple fighting mechanic which involves running at the boss with a lance and then hitting it when it’s down. It’s, again, pretty simplistic in its approach but ultimately works really well with the rest of the game.
Graphics & Audio
Combining reality and imagination excels through Hidalgo’s graphics and audio. The recycled map made from every day house hold items looks beautiful on both a monitor and the Deck. The approach to graphics and audio really do make you feel involved, as if you were one the members of the family also listening in on the story rather than someone who is detached from it as a player. The soundtrack only enhances this. With the Spanish guitar following you on your adventure you really do see that blend of reality and imagination.
The adventure begins
While the graphics in general were good, there were a few moments where they didn’t look good. Particularly in the chapter completion screen where you are able to see the main tasks completed in the chapter. As this is only an early access demo, I’m sure this will be updated with better graphics as the state that it is in right now lets down the rest of an otherwise pretty game.
Final Thoughts
The first chapter of Hidalgo was a welcome break from my never ending collection of action RPG games that allows you to sit back and enjoy the moment rather than feeling overwhelmed by tasks. Aside from a few graphical flaws, I really enjoyed this little snapshot into what this game aims to be. There is currently no set release date for Infinite Thread Games’ newest adventure but I am very excited to see what this game turns into.
You can download the demo for Hidalgo here. Check out the full trailer below!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this preview.
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