When you find yourself learning a game’s basics faster than it downloads, you know you’re in for a treat. This year, I’ve yet to encounter anything speedier than Haste: Broken Worlds. The game wastes no time, launching its demo in just under 30 seconds.
The storyline couldn’t be simpler: the world’s crumbling, and your survival hinges on running like the wind. Forget lengthy explanations; Haste throws you straight into the action. You step into the shoes of Zoe, a character who exudes confidence even as chaos looms, and before you know it, you’re navigating slopes with skill and precision without uttering a word.
If Sonic the Hedgehog has been resting on his laurels, it’s Haste that’s poised to stir envy. This game is all about luxuriating in the sheer joy of speed. A single button controls your ride: press the spacebar to skillfully land before soaring again. Nailing those landings charges up a special gauge, allowing you to utilize a hoverboard to recover from unfortunate crashes or outrun encroaching danger. Your only respites from high-speed thrills are brief chats with friends or a quick stop for upgrades.
Functioning as a roguelike, Haste lets you pick your path with every run. Upon crossing a finish line, you choose your next venture. Some levels invite you to race through monochrome landscapes, restoring color and life, while others challenge you to dodge black holes before the clock runs out. Glittering crystal trails illuminate your journey, these can be traded for upgrades when you find a shop. While many upgrades offer incremental boosts, others, like health restoration when collecting crystals, can decisively shape your route.
The demo reaches its climax with a battle against a colossal robot unleashing lava onto the track. Navigating this aptly fierce scenario demands maintaining your velocity to outrun the ever-encroaching lava. Perfect landings are your best friend, feeding your hoverboard gauge, while clusters of crystals replenish your health, adding layers of strategy to the chaos.
In less polished games, managing such a complex boss fight could cause chaos, but Haste masterfully avoids this pitfall. Each level’s fluidity ensures that even when you falter, the game feels forgiving and rewarding for taking risks. When you’re in the zone, it’s reminiscent of a rhythm game where every move hits perfectly. The illusion only shatters when the game wraps up.
The developer, Landfall, who recently brought us the quirky multiplayer horror game Content Warning, plans to roll out Haste: Broken Worlds later this year.
