When you find yourself diving into a game where the tutorial wraps up quicker than the download can finish, you know you’re in for a treat. Haste: Broken Worlds easily claims the title of the fastest-paced game I’ve encountered this year, and you’re dropped into the action in under half a minute.
The premise is straightforward: as the world crumbles around you, your only chance at survival hinges on your ability to sprint at lightning speed. Forget the backstory; Haste skips the exposition and immediately immerses you in the role of Zoe—a girl who knows her way around slopes faster than you can blink—all while keeping her glasses perfectly in place.
It’s a game that gives Sonic the Hedgehog a run for his money with its relentless pursuit of pure speed. With nothing more than a press of the spacebar, you’re gracefully skimming the ground and launching back into the air. Each flawless landing charges your gauge for a hoverboard ride, crucial for recovering from mishaps like crashing into rocks or evading the encroaching corruption. The only breathers come when you pause to upgrade your gear or catch up with friends.
Haste steps into the realm of roguelikes, letting you decide your own course each run. After crossing the finish line, you choose your next destination. Some stages see you bringing vibrant life back to monochrome worlds, while others challenge you to dodge black holes against the clock. Trails of glittering crystals light your path, and these can be spent in shops to enhance your abilities. While many upgrades offer marginal boosts to speed or health, certain perks, like health restoration upon collecting crystals, can really influence your run strategy.
The demo culminates in an epic confrontation with a towering robot hurling molten lava. You need to deftly maneuver and find the perfect moment to strike. Maintaining high speed is essential to outrun the spreading lava, urging you to land those perfect touchdowns to boost your hoverboard energy. Gathering crystals to keep your health in good shape adds another layer of strategy.
In lesser games, such a multi-layered boss fight might devolve into chaos. Yet, Haste’s smooth mechanics ensure it stays grounded. Navigating through its courses feels intuitive, even when things aren’t going perfectly. The game encourages and rewards your bold moves. At its best, it’s akin to playing an exhilarating rhythm game where you just can’t miss. It’s only when the demo ends that the thrilling ride takes a break.
Developer Landfall, recognized for their quirky multiplayer horror title Content Warning released not too long ago, is planning to launch Haste: Broken Worlds later this year.
