Harold Halibut Overview (PS5) | Push Sq.

Harold Halibut is a bit like visiting an aquarium for the umpteenth time — sure, it is visually fascinating, providing a glimpse right into a submerged alien world, however as soon as the preliminary intrigue is gone, you are basically on an extended, and fairly uninteresting, stroll. This narrative-focused sci-fi journey begins off with a promising premise and enchanting artwork type, however it would not take lengthy earlier than the facade falls to disclose what’s in the end a protracted and shallow sport.

It most likely would not assist that the titular character appears fed up from the off. Having spent his complete life aboard the Fedora, a ship that is been caught on the backside of an unknown planet’s ocean for 50 years, we’re not likely shocked by Harold’s vacant stare and reserved character. It is an amazing idea to kick issues off, although — generations of people far faraway from life on Earth, who solely know the metallic corridors of a colonial spacecraft. Whereas life trapped in an alien sea has turn into the norm, nevertheless, the ship’s prime minds are exhausting at work to get the Fedora flying once more, and again to discovering a brand new house for humanity.

Till then, although, the sport has you navigating Harold across the accessible areas of the ship and chatting with different inhabitants. To start out with, the sport’s aesthetic is sufficient to carry you alongside; every little thing you see was made by hand, then scanned into the digital realm. The result’s a sport with the look of a claymation movie (although not animated like one), and it’s totally efficient. Every surroundings is enjoyable to find due to all of the meticulously made props.

For nearly as good as the sport appears to be like, although, there’s little or no to really do in it. The overwhelming majority of what you do is stroll from one cutscene to the following, opening your PDA on occasion to test goals. Harold’s not in a rush, both, transferring at a snail’s tempo even for those who maintain down the run button the entire time. Once more, discovering all of the places is initially fascinating, whether or not it is the colorful Agora Arcades or the Social District’s small residential areas. The difficulty is that nowhere you go gives a lot significant exercise, leaving the sport to lean nearly completely on its story and characters.

That is to not say there’s nothing outdoors of conversations to alter issues up, however these moments are fleeting and scarce. You may clear some graffiti a few times; you may unscrew some panels on a 3D printer; you may check out the universe’s shortest indoor ski slope; and there are, sometimes, dialogue decisions. All of it provides a contact of flavour, however there’s nothing right here that actually fires the creativeness.

All of it comes all the way down to the narrative, then, and sadly it would not fairly stay as much as its potential. Chatting to the ensemble forged is sort of all you do, and whereas there are some fascinating personalities to satisfy, like Buddy the cheerful postman, and Harold’s previous flame Sunny, dialogue is usually longer and extra difficult than it must be. There is a sure offbeat allure to the script that shines via every so often, however the writing recurrently veers off the mark. Fairly a number of story beats are left to hold, or left us scratching our head.

Issues do decide up a bit as you get additional in, although. There are elective aspect goals to finish if you wish to get to know some characters a little bit higher, and as soon as Harold meets an alien pal, the primary story begins to take some extra fascinating turns. Clocking in at roughly 12-14 hours, Harold Halibut’s greatest moments are undoubtedly in its latter half — it’s going to rely on you whether or not or not all that flavourless strolling about is value it to see them.

This has the power of a unusual indie film that is been stretched right into a sport six instances the size. We actually do love the visible type and the world developer Sluggish Bros. has constructed, and there are some vibrant moments dotted all through. Nonetheless, traipsing about the identical environments bouncing between cutscenes would not make for notably compelling play. Some will vibe with what’s being introduced right here, however for us it would not actually come collectively.

Conclusion

We actually needed to like Harold Halibut, and there are some redeeming qualities. Its fantastic aesthetic is exclusive and detailed, it has an amazing sci-fi hook, and there are some good moments all through the story. Sadly, these facets depreciate attributable to a protracted runtime, most of which is full of sluggish, repetitive treks from one scene to the following. The narrative is left to carry every little thing collectively, however it sadly would not fairly stick the touchdown due to pacing points and a few iffy writing. That is one fish you may need to let get away.