An unofficial New Year’s Resolution of mine is to make better use of my handheld gaming systems. Between a whirlwind trip across the country and Big Hops’ release date, I had the absolute pleasure of playing Big Hops on my Steam Deck. I’ll get into performance later, but for now, let’s leap into the good stuff.
Little Frog, Big Adventure
Big Hops opens with Hop and his sister, Lily, playing a game of tag through the forest, which serves as somewhat of a tutorial, teaching players how to move and navigate the world as Hop. I’m always grateful for tutorials dressed up as first levels as I notoriously skip tutorials and later wonder why I struggle so badly. While racing with Lily, players are introduced to several mechanics: various jumping abilities, using his tongue to grab, jump, and more, as well as plant life that can quite literally catapult you through the world.
In fact, Hop meets several types of flora and fauna that allow players to explore further. Mushrooms turn into springboards and acorns will grow into climbable vines, to name a couple. Movement is quite fluid and fast-paced, and the many, many ways Hop can traverse the world also keeps this platformer from feeling like every other platformer. But vacillating between movement abilities and the way the world offers its assistance in its traversal helps Big Hops feel fresh, fast, and fun.
Lots of Licks
A unique mechanic is the usage of Hop’s tongue to explore the world around him. Not only can you snatch bugs from mid-air and nab corn cobs from stumps, it’s also an excellent tool for getting around. Early on, players will learn to use Hop’s tongue to pull levers and open chests. Later, it operates as a grappling hook of sorts, catapulting Hop through the air.
I really enjoyed catching buys throughout the game. Hop snatches them out of the air with his tongue and players can decide to eat them, which regenerates health, or place them in their pack. First time finding a bug? Players rotate the bug as a meter progresses, giving Hop time to analyze and name what type of bug he’s just found. Hop’s commentary as he does this is oftentimes quippy and always enjoyable. Maybe it’s just me, but I enjoyed learning about the various types of bugs – I also felt bad eating them.
A Higher Purpose or a Diss-traction?
However, Hop’s benign game of tag results in him stumbling across a frog shrine that requests he kindle the shrine once more. Frog statues around him offer cryptic statements regarding his goals and a higher purpose, all of which confuse Hop in the moment. Once players do as requested, Hop finds himself being transported through a portal and in a strange realm far from home.
He’s lost, he misses his sister, and with no idea where he may be, Hop strikes out on putting the pieces together. Quickly, players will run into the enigmatic Diss. Hop finds out that the whole “frog temple and higher purpose” schtick was instead Diss duping Hop. And so, the plot thickens. Hop needs to return home, but Diss is not so forthcoming about the nitty-gritty as he wants Hop to collect something for him as well.
Hop must escape this weird topsy-turvy realm after Diss disappears, and upon doing so finds himself no closer to home. Instead, Hop meets a raccoon who offers assistance and a backpack. However, nothing is free – he wants Hop’s help with piecing together an airship, which will also be Hop’s ticket back home.
The Friends We Meet and Things We Build
Throughout this journey, Hop traverses three different worlds. In each, players meet a large cast of characters. What is even more fun is the fantastic voice acting throughout the game. Voice acting, or lack thereof, can make or break a game. Big Hops does not have this issue. The voice acting is incredible and helps breathe life into the characters.
Aside from the various vegetation-turned-ally and the bugs one can collect, there are many collectibles scattered throughout Hop’s world. Dark Drips are items that can assist Diss, unlocking secrets as you do so. Players can also collect resources to upgrade Hop’s backpack and customize his ‘fits with new clothes, hats, and dye. Dark Bits allow Hop to construct trinkets that can be hung from his backpack for added flair. Bonus that trinkets also can buff different characteristics, allowing for buildcrafting of sorts. Need more gadgets? Easy! Look for blueprints to make your tinkering dreams come true. One unique feature I personally enjoyed are mixtapes, another collectible that can then be found and enjoyed in-game.
Verdict
The love and care that went into creating Big Hops absolutely translates to the player experience. The story is engaging and the gameplay really shines throughout. I am not usually into platformers solely because I tend to struggle with jumping in any game. Yes, it’s a skill issue. But the ways in which Hop interacts with the world is novel to the point that I didn’t mind failing and trying again. And with open world aspects, puzzles and parkouring oftentimes had more than one solution. The characters are robust and each adds their own zest to the world around them. As mentioned previously, I spent a lot of my time with Hop on my Steam deck and had no issues from how the game performed to how it looked. Even playing on PC, I noticed little difference between the two.
Score: 8/10
Reviewed on Steam Deck. Big Hops is available now on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
