What Makes A Hat In Time a 98% Overwhelmingly Positive Game?

[Shyny Magikarp]

So I just finished the base game of A Hat In Time. I’ve got just over 10 hours played and I’m about 80% completion (time piece completion?) according to the main menu.

Overall I’d say it’s a good game & that I recommend it, but there are some serious shortcomings. Most immediate of all is the fact that this is listed as a $30 game which took less than 10 hours to beat (I’ve done a lot more side content than I ever needed to). If I went back to get the rest of the time pieces I’d perhaps hit 15 hours with the base game but that’s it.

I realize that how much you enjoy a game is largely based on taste, but there is also usually objective things behind that subjective experience.

I enjoy A Hat In Time but I’m not crazy about it either. And honestly, I think I’m more generous than most people when it comes to recommending and scoring games (i “recommend” games down to a 5.5/10 on my book), so it makes me wonder why A Hat In Time sits nearly on top of all games on Steam with SO MANY reviews yet such an overwhelmingly positive rating.

Why do you think A Hat In Time has struck a chord with so many people? Try to be as objective as you can. I know that some people just think it’s cute and that’s it, but I think there’s got to be objective things behind these tastes, so I wanna hear it. In a few words, why do you think A Hat In Time is loved so much?

[The Void Boy]

well objectively, the main character is very cute, the sound track is top notch, the controls are satisfying to use, each and every chapter is very creative and well executed, has excellent mod support, etc. Except for a few technical issues that depend on your PC specs (personally I've never run into any issues that weren't mod related) the game is just very very well made.

[Yorshka]

idk how to describe it properly. for my case, i think i'd loved messing around while in-game, i loved the world design, the characters, the musics, perhaps just feels like why i'd like to stay playing skyrim, nier automata, or other similar semi-environtmental game without really doing the objective of the game. something comforting about the game. and ofc the game is polished well, such as control and other technical things.

btw, sorry if there any mistake, as my english isn't that good. i hope you understand what i meant.

[Miri Ryllis ミリス]

I was the same as you, with playttime for price being my gripe.. eeven though I got it for $13

But then i played the DLC and now i've done a 180 and truly think the game is amazing.... when you can buy it + DLC in a bundle for around $30..

Try the DLC while its on sale, it inncludes 2 new chapters, an ultra Hard Mode, as well as onnlinen co-op

[Gaben]

Because there are no good platformers on PC and this game is great 3D platformer. Plus all the stuff from posts higher.

[WZ]

Cuteness overwhelms all reason, and yes Nyakuza takes things to a new level
I have never spent so much time just messing around in multiplayer lobbies
With a stupid grin on my face all the time

[PalmTree]

It' overwhelming positive because majority opinion is that it's a good game. The platforming is actually challenging, unlike a lot of other 3d platformers, the graphics are some of the best I've seen in an indie game in recent years, and the sense of humor strikes a chord with many because it has a similar cynical style to older platformers like Banjo-Kazooie while also having its own identity. The characters are all quirky and loveable, it's got one of the best modding scenes I've ever seen, and perhaps what's most important to people: it's fun. It's just a really fun and charming game.

[tricoloryn]

it's worth pointing out that this game came out the same year as yooka laylee, which was mostly considered a flop. they were both kickstarter games, both 3D platformers, both trying to emulate that same style of game people were nostalgic for. you'd have to try really hard not to make a comparison, so as a result of yooka laylee's shortcomings, this game received a huge boost in positive reception.

i think the pricing is fair, personally. the standard price for games nowadays is $60+ USD and i'd say it's pretty accurate to place the median length of them at 20 hours. you beat hat in time in 10 hours, and 30 is half of 60, so it evens out to the same price for the content you get. honestly, i personally don't think games have to be extremely long to be enjoyable. the longer a game is, the more stretched thin the content tends to be, quantity over quality and all that.

ultimately your experience is your experience and i'm sorry you didn't get as much enjoyment out of this game as you wanted. i'd recommend trying out some of the workshop levels sometime, plenty of them are very challenging and add more content on at no cost.

[Chocice75]

The reason why the reviews are overwhelmingly positive is because most people who tried A Hat in Time liked it.

Sure, the base game can be a bit short, but when you get the DLCs, the game becomes much longer.

Seal the Deal adds a new chapter and an ultra-hard mode called "Death Wish", boosting the playtime by at least a couple of hours, while Nyakuza Metro adds another new chapter and also online multiplayer.

The game also has built-in modding support, with a somewhat easy-to-use editor and plenty of modding tutorials.

So, yeah. Basically, all of that adds up into making the game even better and also much longer.

[Willoway]

I don't know why people feel the need to measure every game's price by its length. The base game is a bit on the short side, but that's not the only thing that counts. People like it because the platforming is tight, the characters are lovable, the levels are interesting and the game is just overall very fun to play. It's quality over quantity.

(Also after the Yooka Lailee flop, people were thirsty for some good 3D platforming).

I think $30 is pretty fair for a game that got made with this much love and dedication. The devs are clearly passionate about it and did an amazing job of bringing a 3D platformer to both consoles and PC (Which we don't see very often).

I'm not saying the game doesn't have its shortcomings. Also I agree that it could have been a little longer. However I think that, when looking at the bigger picture, the pros easily outweigh the cons.

[KONATAonPC]

The percentage doesn't equate to how good the game is, it equates to how few people take enough issue with it to give it a 'not recommended'. The top reviewed games are full of games like this. Of course, as a general rule, they ARE typically objectively very high quality games, but the ones that get to the top are the ones that are the most inoffensive (to people's tastes). Like you said, you'd recommend the game, so that makes you a part of that 98%.

This shows in the negative reviews, very few are complaining about the gameplay, the amount of hours of content, or even the price. The bulk of the negative reviews are about technical issues, because this game is optimised like ass. Maybe a few edgy teens here and there who hate anything cute by default.

TL;DR: Games don't get to the top by having the most strengths, they get to the top by having the least weaknesses.

[Shyny Magikarp]

Originally posted by BipolarSpecter:

I don't know why people feel the need to measure every game's price by it's length.

Obviously it's not the only thing. I said, "most immediate of all" not that it was the only thing.

Several other things in your post I just find demonstrably false or other games do better. Platforming in A Hat in Time is not tight, it's one of the easiest platformers I've ever played. It's forgiving and un-tight, and somehow nearly completely linear.

Originally posted by KONATAonPC:

TL;DR: Games don't get to the top by having the most strengths, they get to the top by having the least weaknesses.

This just doesn't seem to be true. Because if games don't have perceived higher strengths, then more people may not deem a game worth it. Also look at top recommended games on Steam, these games are games which are often considered in the conversation for greatest of all time. (portal 2 just one example).

[Omoikane]

Based on your achievements i can see that you haven't finished the game, you still have levels to finish in each chapter other than Dead Bird. If you have the dlcs then it seems you haven't touched thoses. So complaining that a game is short when you aren't even finished with it, kinda negates that argument.

[Shyny Magikarp]

Originally posted by Omoikane:

Based on your achievements i can see that you haven't finished the game, you still have levels to finish in each chapter other than Dead Bird. If you have the dlcs then it seems you haven't touched thoses. So complaining that a game is short when you aren't even finished with it, kinda negates that argument.

First of all, I acknowledge this in my OP, which you obviously didn't read. Assuming I complete what little I have left (I'm at like 80%+)) I would add on 3 more hours (this is really generous).

Also, my point from the beginning is cost vs. time, so if I bought DLC's (which I haven't) then the hours of gameplay may go up but also the cost goes up as well.

Your point does not negate the argument at all. The problem is not a lack of content, it's content vs price. Spending more money on DLC's isn't going to improve that any more because the cost of the base game should be more worth more hours in and of it's own.

[cooler than u]

it's super cute, platforming feels great, and its soundtrack is amazing.

[Violet-111]

Originally posted by Shiny Magikarp:

So I just finished the base game of A Hat In Time. I’ve got just over 10 hours played and I’m about 80% completion (time piece completion?) according to the main menu.

Overall I’d say it’s a good game & that I recommend it, but there are some serious shortcomings. Most immediate of all is the fact that this is listed as a $30 game which took less than 10 hours to beat (I’ve done a lot more side content than I ever needed to). If I went back to get the rest of the time pieces I’d perhaps hit 15 hours with the base game but that’s it.

I realize that how much you enjoy a game is largely based on taste, but there is also usually objective things behind that subjective experience.

I enjoy A Hat In Time but I’m not crazy about it either. And honestly, I think I’m more generous than most people when it comes to recommending and scoring games (i “recommend” games down to a 5.5/10 on my book), so it makes me wonder why A Hat In Time sits nearly on top of all games on Steam with SO MANY reviews yet such an overwhelmingly positive rating.

Why do you think A Hat In Time has struck a chord with so many people? Try to be as objective as you can. I know that some people just think it’s cute and that’s it, but I think there’s got to be objective things behind these tastes, so I wanna hear it. In a few words, why do you think A Hat In Time is loved so much?

I think most people like it just because it's fun. (I'm trying to be objective but it's hard with things like this) Even if the game is short people still find it fun and keep playing it after they finish. I definitely agree with the price thing though.