Review of Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure.

Initial release date: October 22, 2024

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Developer: Atooi LLC

Genres: Platform game, Puzzle

Publisher: Atooi LLC

Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure has had a long gestation period, since it was originally envisioned as a crowdfunded successor to 3DS indie hit Chicken Wiggle, in which you played as both a chicken and its worm companion. For my money, the earlier name was also considerably more memorable. This finally-here spiritual successor has an awkward title, but it does have some amazing and unexpected Chicken Wiggle content, which will be discussed further later.

Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure is a deceptively rich, high-value package that delivers a lot of bang for the buck. Not only is there a brand new Hookshot Adventure featuring a Farfetch’d dead-ringer and their bird of prey friend, but there are also some true “retro” Chicken Wiggle levels to play, as well as unlockable stages based on Renegade Kid’s other indie smash, Mutant Mudds. The fact that games released in the 2010s are now deemed retro makes some of us feel ancient, but we’re here.

However, developer Atooi has a good track record with retro-inspired games; I remember having a lot of fun with Xeodrifter. And this is more pure, well-crafted entertainment. In the primary game, you control your hero on a quest to defeat the terrible, abominable snowman-like Big Bad. You can beat each stage by hookshotting your way around the levels, but there are a plethora of secret things to find, including well-hidden sprites tucked away around devious environments that open up special tower areas for each clutch of stages, a magic scroll that initiates a side-quest (!), and additional gems that, when fully hoovered up (100 in total), unlock the sweet, sweet, Chicken content.

Progression also grants you special skills that allow you to survive and explore more successfully, similar to a Metroidvania. You can transform into a ghost to pass through spikes unharmed, get the ability to double-jump and even fly, dash to crash through breakable portions like Samus, and drill your way down into the ground. The actual hookshot is the main gimmick, and it works exceptionally well. You can move around the place smoothly and intuitively in a way I haven’t seen since Umihara Kawase or, even further back, our old friend Bionic Commando.

In addition to gem harvesting, adversaries can be dealt with in a variety of well-implemented ways, including good old-fashioned pecking. The only complaint I had was a lack of excellent, inventive boss encounters. I was looking for a challenge, a strange pattern, something out of the usual that harkened back to the golden age of Super Nintendo platformers, which definitely inspired this trip, but they were too simple and left me wanting more.

In addition to the expansive main game and a slew of classic Chicken Wiggle and Mutant Mudds stages, there is a level editor option, which was initially planned as part of the original Chicken Wiggle overhaul. It’s a lot of fun to experiment with, and there are a ton of variables from other games to choose from when creating your hookshot-themed masterpiece.

For Chicken Wiggle aficionados, this is the ultimate bundle, as it fully replaces the original game with a little more mature theme and an insane quantity of add-ons that will keep you playing for a long time before you’ve gotten everything out of it. You can see why this was originally intended for the 3DS, but Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure belongs in the pantheon of throwback platformers on the Switch.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 91%

Controls: 88%

Aesthetics: 92%

Content: 86%

Accessibility: 82%

Value: 89%

Overall: 88%

VERY GOOD!

Summary:

Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure stands out as a unique spin on the action-platformer genre. With its vibrant art style and well-designed scenario, it’s easy to be sucked into the adventure. The hookshot mechanics are a prominent feature, bringing new dynamics to exploration and battle. Despite some small control glitches and a need for greater variation in side content, the game’s charm and distinct gameplay make for a wonderful experience. Ideal for fans of platforming and exploration with a unique twist!