Hatch Tales: Bird on a Mission

When I was asked to play Hatch Tales, I admit I was curious and flattered since the creators knew my taste from past reviews. I haven't played a game with bird player characters in a while, and I could tell from the visuals that Hatch Tales would be fun, and I was right.

Atooi, the development team behind Hatch Tales, wants to provide a love letter to past games while putting new stories forward. Previous projects include Totes the Goat and Knights of the Rogue Dungeon, and founder Jools Watsham's team has over thirty years of experience. I always love supporting independent developers when they deliver on the fun while creating a challenging game.

Save the mountaintop residents from evil

Hatch the Hawk has a mission. The evil tyrant Nazaar is launching a campaign of fear against the peaceful residents of Talonreach, a mountain range filled with birds, bats, strange rock creatures, and hostile plants. Someone stole the Artifacts that keep evil like him away.

To stop Nazaar, you have to rescue different hostages that he has encased within blocks of ice. The queen of Talonreach warns you that you must hurry before Nazaar ushers in a new era of winter. You need to collect Ember Sprites and locate missing artifacts, and time is of the essence so you can storm the castle and save the kingdom.

Each level is like that of a platformer. Hatch can't fly, so he compensates with a grappling hook tool called a hookshot. You must watch out for different monsters since you only have two lives (three if you're lucky) on each level. While you can stun enemies to clear a path, they don't stay still for long, so you have to move. You can also do bonus quests to learn about different skills or unlock fun arcades. I've been struggling and watching tutorials, while experienced Nintendo players are sailing through the various obstacles.

Save the world, one climb at a time

Hatch Tales is just pure wholesomeness! The player character is so cute and determined to do his part to save different regions of his kingdom. He will face deep waters and underground tunnels to ensure other Talonreach residents are safe. It's a case where we don't need a complex plot, a deep meta-narrative about the nature of game genres, or a big twist that would ensure arguing among the fandom for years on end. We just need joy and a sense of accomplishment.

The game does have a significant difficulty curve, especially with how easily Hatch can lose health. I admit it's because I'm not an experienced gamer and can mistime a jump or fall a lot; when I finally complete a level, the sense of pride and accomplishment makes the effort worth it. Other gamers who have played Hatch Tales haven't had that trouble and skim through the levels with ease. They understand how to navigate the platform and avoid the monsters or hazards that can kill Hatch. Mercifully, different levels have save points so you don't have to redo some complicated feats if an accidental fall undoes your progress. This helped me feel motivated to continue.

Visually, the game's simple sprites lend well to atmospheric backgrounds. 2D animation sits better in my eyes than 3D animation because it doesn't trigger the uncanny valley as much, and reduces the chances of a lag during a stream. Plus, the design looked exactly like my style for a feel-good game. It's adorable while also maintaining the high stakes and suspense.

Our bird friend also has a unique character design. Hatch has a hookshot that allows him to latch onto certain walls and hooks since he can't just fly past obstacles. Flightless birds do exist, so I wonder if Hatch, despite his hawk name, is more closely related to ostriches or penguins. My guess is closer to penguins since he can swim and hold his breath for a long time.

Climb the mountain...after you find the right ledge

I would absolutely recommend Hatch Tales if you are a Nintendo Switch aficionado. The platformer has literal ups and downs that you have to navigate, but as a result, it keeps you engaged. We're rooting for Hatch as we help him find the hostages and free them from their icy prisons.

I do hope more tutorials come out for the harder levels. For now, I have to keep Hatch from running into more underwater creatures that intend him harm.