Himno Review

Himno is a simple and relaxing 2D platformer with ambient music and infinite space to explore. It will appeal to those who wish to escape from the pressures of life or to unwind after an arduous day, but more to those particularly enjoy this genre of game. It is certainly very easy to pick up and play which, unlike many other games, will cater to a very wide age range.

There is no story line, just a simple menu with a few options and the controls which show up on the first screen of the game. At first this seemed a little odd, more like a demo rather than the finished product, but after playing for a while it didn’t really make much difference overall. The controls are intuitive and although the game is in the dark, there are no enemies lurking and the only penalty is for falling into the water at the bottom of each district which restarts the game.

This could become a frustration for some but without this element, the game would probably lack purpose. The typical jump, wall slide and dash movements make it easy enough to explore and with the addition of lifts, platforms and springs which fling you up into the air, it’s easy but also interesting as there are many different ways to travel around.

Each district is themed identically and is procedurally generated which makes the whole game feel familiar and comfortable, but it could lose its appeal for players who prefer more variation. Levelling up seems to happen instantaneously, with your game statistics viewable from the menu. Perhaps this is to encourage players to come back from time to time to try to beat their personal records, although it doesn’t particularly appear to be aimed at those gamers who are looking for something challenging. There are 11 achievements which can all be obtained very quickly and do not require much skill. This could add some satisfaction for younger audiences as this is certainly a game which can be enjoyed by all with no violence, lots of relaxing sounds and lights and no time pressures to adhere to.

All the basics of the game seem to be there but it definitely feels as if it is missing something. The addition of some sort of collectable item or the ability to learn new skills to enable greater exploration would be welcome. Unfortunately without this, Himno begins to lose its initial appeal and there is no compelling reason to keep playing for long periods of time or to replay it which is a shame. It certainly has potential, but is somewhat lacking in purpose compared to similar games, so it would be interesting to see what the future holds for this particular game.

Conclusion

Himno is a simple game designed to be played at any pace suited to the individual’s preferences or needs. Featuring relaxing sound effects, music and endless areas to explore, it certainly provides a tranquil experience but it isn’t particularly exciting so it won’t appeal to everyone. With no pressure to avoid enemies or harmful obstacles, Himno provides a calming escape from the stresses of everyday life and a relaxing time-free approach to gaming.

This game was tested and reviewed on Xbox One. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version.