It is a rare treat that the background music of a video game perfectly reflects what is happening on the screen. It is not just the artwork that is impressive, the orchestral score that plays throughout gives a real Disney film feel that delivers emotional tidal waves. You will find yourself stopping at times to look at the backgrounds and revel in their fairy-tale wonderment. Many of the beautiful set pieces wouldn’t look amiss in a high-quality Japanese animation. It’s refreshing to play a game that is allowing you to take your time and take it all in. Every twist, every turn has been thought out and it is all wrapped in a canvas of colour and beautiful animation. The game’s developer, Skrollcat Studio, has taken great care in setting out exactly what they want you to experience. There is a real spectacle on show weaved between the platforming action and light-touch puzzles of HOA’s gentle world. As you progress you start to learn what happened to the forest as well as new moves from giant beasts. You have no idea where you are or what to do but there are lots of friends on hand to help. The story begins with you, playing as a little fairy. HOA, released in August 2021 on download, has found a new lease of life in physical form courtesy of publisher Numskull Games. HOA wants you to enjoy the experience as it slowly unfolds, it wants you to go on the journey. It doesn’t want to make you sit up and lean in, it doesn’t want you to overthink. A game you can just enjoy for what it is. But what if you just want to play something that doesn’t take much time. Is there a new trend in gaming to put art before entertainment? Most games give us excitement, thrills, and explosions. HOA is a title that poses a question about when a video game becomes art.
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