Great platformer but snotty puzzler

by Peter Fiorilla

Fun factor: Fun

Worth to: Buy/Rent

Hatsworth is undoubtedly a game worth checking out by platforming fans, but it says a lot about the game that the same recommendation could not really be given to puzzle fans.

In the words of Clive James, “The British Secret Service was at one point almost entirely staffed by alcoholic homosexuals working for the KGB.” While there is, unfortunately, little evidence to support this claim, it enforces a basic fact of the modern world: poking fun at Brits is fun. EA Tiburon takes this rule to heart with Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, a wacky puzzle platformer in the purest sense.

Who invited this puzzler to our jollity?

While most of Hatsworth is played as a 2D platformer, the game demands that players switch to a match-three puzzling game at irregular intervals. The platforming is portrayed on the top screen while the puzzling takes the lower one; only one screen may be played at a time, so the player has to juggle between the two games frequently.

Puzzle blocks slowly rise from bottom to top of the touch screen, some of which can kill the player if not lined in a row of three with two other blocks of the same color. Yet eliminating only the dangerous blocks (which appear each time the player defeats an enemy on the platforming screen) is not an optimal strategy -- matching up all of the blocks on the touch screen is encouraged, as it gives Hatsworth upgraded powers to wipe out opposition on the top screen.

While the puzzling side of Hatsworth underwhelms as a fairly typical match-three puzzle game, the platforming fares considerably better. With sword in hand, the good professor platforms past rigorous obstacles in jungles, space worlds and everywhere in between -- all the while juggling adorably wacky monsters with his handy sword (purely for sport, of course).

This old chap packs a wallop

Part of the game’s success is due to the tight control setup. Hatsworth himself is a spry old bean, and his arsenal of weapons -- including an ultimate move that transforms him into a gigantic robot -- is small but satisfying. The D-Pad controls what type of combo Hatsworth will perform while tearing apart enemies, adding a thin layer of depth to combat.



While available weapons include a gun, bombs and a boomerang, Hatsworth’s sword is the star of the show -- and deservingly so. Juggling enemies with it is very satisfying, and the squishy sound it makes upon enemy contact is charming. The nimble old coot is a natural with the weapon, as throughout the game’s 10 or so hours of play, he will have beaten past hundreds upon hundreds of wacky monsters.

Unfortunately, the variety of enemies is much less impressive than the total amount of encounters. A handful of grunts are recycled throughout the game, and while they are fun to fight, it can feel a bit repetitious to defeat the same monsters over and over again.

Colorful villains

There is more to Hatsworth than swordsmanship and good looks, of course, including his exceptional athleticism. Not only can he jump higher than his own height, but after discovering upgrades Hatsworth is able to climb up walls, swim underwater and more. These abilities keep the platforming fresh and, combined with the constant threat of monsters, makes this a very challenging campaign indeed.

Particularly difficult are pure combat sequences. When Hatsworth reaches a certain point in a level, the camera will become locked and enemies will begin their assault on each side of the screen. With various types of enemy attacks -- including the expected melee and ranged, as well as the unexpected ninja-drop -- these sections entirely rely on quick timing in both jumping and sword-fighting... Yet they cannot compare to the difficulty of boss fights.



Arguably the pinnacle of Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, showdowns with the game’s colorful villains are creative, humorous and exceedingly difficult. Some of the earlier designs are pretty lenient, but as the player progresses the difficulty level ramps up to grueling. This is best portrayed by taking a look at Hatsworth’s arch-enemy, who’s ship is modified after each world in order to defeat Hatsworth. It becomes very efficient at its job.

The old joke never gets old

There is one simple niggle in this absurd little game. The match-3 puzzling is not only underwhelming and disappointingly easy compared to its counterpart, but never feels truly integrated with the platforming. Each part of Hatsworth feels like its own game that just happens to be in the same cartridge as the other. It is annoying and inconvenient to have to switch from an epic boss fight with a singing pirate to a matching blocks in an all-too-formulaic fashion.

Even the aesthetics of the puzzling are primitive compared to the pretty world on the top screen. The game’s colorful world designs look good, especially the flashy environments seen later on. Monsters look silly and sound ridiculous, just as puzzle monsters from another dimension should. Hatsworth's special attacks are stunning, sword-work dazzling and standby animations are quite easily worth the wait.

More impressive is how the fast-paced soundtrack sets the style and personality of the game; at times it can make this puzzle-platformer seem more frantic than it would be otherwise. The upbeat tracks ensure that there is never a dull moment in Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, even when the platforming is easy and there are no combatants in sight. Hatsworth grunts, cheerios and babbles like any refined gentleman, and sound design is very well done. Voice acting during cutscenes is Banjo-styled gibberish, which is mildly humorous.



In terms of narrative, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure comes across as a more-than-competent platformer. Hatsworth is looking for something or other and magical puzzle monsters are abroad for whatever reason, but really, the silly scenario is forgotten as soon as the characters open their mouths. Chuckle-worthy dialogue makes the relationship between Hatsworth and his arch-rival Weasleby interesting throughout the game, and their cliché personalities never get old. Tea-sipping English gentlemen wearing monocles and mustaches are not exactly hard to come by in any entertainment business these days, but the joke never really gets old, either.

Summary

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is undoubtedly a game worth checking out by platforming fans, but it says a lot about the game that the same recommendation could not really be given to puzzle fans. The game is entertaining in some areas, underwhelming in others, and while it is certainly one of the best platformers on the portable market, Hatsworth feels like two individual games that are content to be a merely decent hybrid. While the action compensates for the all-too-easy puzzling, no amount of sceen-swapping can make either game feel genuinely unique. Here’s to hoping a sequel will integrate the game styles more than they are in this endearing little game.