When you start up a game and find that the tutorial wraps up faster than the download itself, you know you’re in for a treat. Haste: Broken Worlds is hands down the quickest game I’ve tried this year, with its demo booting up in less than half a minute.
The concept is straightforward: the world is crumbling, and your only shot at staying alive is to sprint as fast as you can. Haste skips over any detailed background stories. Instead, it plunges you straight into action as Zoe, a swift girl with a knack for speed, donning her snazzy glasses. You’re off sliding and gliding downhill before anyone can say “go.”
Sonic the Hedgehog might want to take notes because Haste perfectly captures the rush of pure, unbroken velocity. While you’re in motion, all you need is your spacebar—it helps you gracefully touch down before launching back into the air. Nailing these landings fills up a meter that lets you hop onto a hoverboard, which is useful for bouncing back from rock collisions or outrunning those menacing waves of corruption. The only time you’ll catch your breath is when stopping by for upgrades or chatting with your pals.
In this roguelike, every run lets you chart your own path. As you hit each finish line, you’re prompted to pick your next destination. Some levels challenge you to race through a monochrome world aiming to bring color back, while others have you skirting around black holes to find your way out before time ticks away. Sprinkles of shining crystals light up your journey, which you can exchange for upgrades at shops. While many upgrades offer modest boosts to speed or health, there are game-changers like one that restores health through crystal collection, helping to guide your strategic path through levels.
The demo wraps up with a thrilling boss fight against a colossal robot pouring lava into your path. You’ve got to weave through these fiery threats until you can go head-on into the robot. Keeping your speed up is crucial to dodging the lava, pushing you to look for perfect landing spots to keep your hoverboard energy full. Grabbing small crystal clusters to maintain your health adds yet another layer to the challenge.
In games with less refined mechanics, a complex boss fight might break the experience, but Haste ensures a seamless journey. Navigating through its levels feels smooth, even if you’re struggling, and it rewards your daring moves. When everything clicks, it’s like you’re grooving through a rhythm game where every move hits just right. The only downside is when you finally have to put the controller down.
Developer Landfall, known for their quirky multiplayer horror outing Content Warning, is planning to release Haste: Broken Worlds later this year. There’s plenty to look forward to with this speedy thrill ride.
