A Short Hike [PlayStation 4] | REVIEW

After impressing PC and Nintendo Switch gamers with its colourful and whimsical adventure, A Short Hike has now made its way to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Whilst it doesn’t offer the longest of journeys, it’s certainly a memorable one that’s worth embarking on.

Check out a gallery of screenshots down below:

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It’s not often that a video game’s title will convey exactly what it is, but that’s certainly the case here. Players take on the role of Claire, an anthropomorphic bird that takes a ‘short hike’ up to a nearby mountain. Why? In order to get reception so that she can receive a call on her mobile phone, of course.

Along the way, she’ll meet all sorts of different characters, each of which she’ll share witty little interactions with and help out in a variety of ways. Whilst these interactions are often simple observations made by each character, there are also times where you’ll uncover a bit more about their lives and what the mountain means for them. Whilst Claire’s initial journey might have been to simply take a phone call, it’s surprising how alluring the mountain and its many wonderful sights can really be. It’s really sweet and something that players will find easy to relate to thanks to how vibrant the game world is.

“Players will also earn golden feathers for helping the folk around the mountain out or by purchasing them with coins in-game, so it’s certainly worth taking the time to give a helping hand where you can or simply explore your surroundings.”

Helping out the folk you meet typically means finding an item in the environment, with plenty of room for exploration in A Short Hike. There are all sorts of treasures hidden around, with coins, chests, and golden feathers to find that’ll make your journey all the more easier. Those golden feathers are especially important – for each one you find, you’re able to perform an additional jump in succession. Find five golden feathers? You can perform five jumps in a row. Find six? You can perform six jumps in a row. Find ten? You get the point. Players will also earn golden feathers for helping the folk around the mountain out or by purchasing them with coins in-game, so it’s certainly worth taking the time to give a helping hand where you can or simply explore your surroundings.

Finding golden feathers is important to progressing through the game, because Claire won’t be able to reach the peak of the mountain if she can’t jump high enough. She’s not the most agile of birds to begin with, though it doesn’t take long before she’s got a few golden feathers under her wing and is flapping around with ease. Players are also able to glide across the heights of the mountain… you didn’t expect to play as a bird and not be able to fly, did you? It feels really satisfying to do and there were times when I’d simply spend my time soaring through the skies whilst taking in the wondrous world; it helps players reach seemingly inaccessible areas too, so it’s always satisfying to glide from new-found heights and see where they can lead you. It’s just a really feel-good experience.

“It’s very much a collect-a-thon at its core too, so completionists will have fun exploring each and every nook and cranny for hidden secrets.”

There are other fun things to do in A Short Hike outside of simply collecting golden feathers and making your way to the mountain peak. Some of the side quests are a bit more varied and challenge Claire in different ways, for example, whilst there are some fun mini-games to complete along the way too. I don’t want to go into detail here because it’s not the biggest of games and simply uncovering the tasks was part of the fun, but there’s certainly a lot more depth here for those that want the adventure to last longer. It’s very much a collect-a-thon at its core too, so completionists will have fun exploring each and every nook and cranny for hidden secrets.

A Short Hike isn’t meant to be an epic and long video game (you can expect to roll credits in just over an hour if you don’t do many side tasks), but there’s plenty of charming fun to be had for those who are willing to really embrace the experience and discover everything that the game has to offer. It helps that everything looks so pretty too, with the low-poly visual style fitting the tranquil vibe of the adventure perfectly. It’s a wonderfully designed world that packed with colour and quirky little sights to see, and honestly, you just won’t want to leave. Add to that the sweet soundtrack that orchestrates the journey and it’ll be clear that A Short Hike’s presentation is top notch throughout.

Developer: adamgryu
Publisher: Whippoorwill Limited
Platform(s): PlayStation 4 (Reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://ashorthike.com/