There have been several times that I have run into Hive Jump as a games writer. In fact, Hive Jump was one of the first games that I played early, marking my first attempt at connecting with the people that create and market games. I watched the game grow as the years went by in which there was a successful Kickstarter, a PC launch, a launch on the dying Wii U to fulfill promised support, and recently a release on the Switch and Xbox One. For the most part, I have avoided reviewing the game due to the multitude of articles I’ve done but with it seeming like the game has reached a more final form it feels right to review it now for the Nintendo Switch.
Thematically, Hive Jump is akin to the Starship Troopers films, blending cheesy 90s science fiction scripting with fast-paced, chaotic action all while marking the expendability of these space marines who are pitched as just doing their part for the greater good. Mechanically, the game is a 2D platformer with twin-stick shooter elements that also has some light rogue-like touches for upgrades in each randomized run through a themed hive. Luckily, there is a bit of progression with the loadout system, which lets the player keep their weapon unlocks and upgrades between runs. This steadily strengthens the player’s damage output that makes early levels and bosses more manageable.
The sprites in Hive Jump are crisp and feature tight lighting and shading. It reminds me a bit of the spriting found in the GBA Metroid titles, which is a style that I have always loved. Enemies vary in design both visually and in function ranging from bruisers that chase the jumper to the self-sacrificing bomb enemies. There are even some that hide beneath the floors of the hive, capable of instant-killing a jumper with a surprise attack. These bugs are relentless and in higher difficulties, it can be almost impossible to avoid death.
Death in Hive Jump is a temporary occurrence as the match isn’t over until the backpack is destroyed, which can be forcibly dropped or tossed for a tactical advantage or a clutch play. Once the jumper is killed, a timer starts that counts down the return of another soldier. Each one gets a randomized name which is often a funny reference to pop-culture. The player can also float the backpack while waiting for a respawn, adding a bit of a bullet hell micro game into the mix.
Bosses are large and dangerous as hell. Each of them features unique scenarios that will test the player’s tenacity and effectiveness at laying down damage and getting to safety. Sometimes this can teeter on the verge of annoyance, especially since some weapons are just not effective in a single-player run. Adding in other players can be a blast though, and the game supports up to 4 players locally or online.
Getting a group together to jump into the depths of a hive while the extremely catchy retro-inspired tunes set the mood is definitely Hive Jump at its best. There is also a campaign mode, which adds in some strategic elements such as bombing a hive or boosting a base’s defenses, but it’s mostly just another vehicle for the same gametype. There are leaderboards and daily runs for those looking to carve their name at the top though to add in some replayability.
Unfortunately, that’s where Hive Jump starts to lose its steam. There is really only one type of game to play and the upgrades do not affect gameplay in an extreme way like what has been done in Enter the Gungeon or Binding of Isaac. Upgrades are minor like a shorter cooldown for weapons or more jetpack fuel. These have to be earned in trial rooms that often share that jump packs are unavailable just a bit too late. There also seem to be more moments than there should be of blind jumps, often resulting in landing in a spike pit or lava.
There also seems to be a bit of a performance issue that I’ve felt in both the PC and Switch release. There seems to be a slight stutter while taking actions, especially when there are a lot of elements on the screen. It’s enough to feel like jump inputs feel a little late.
While Hive Jump feels like it could use a bit more smoothing in the gameplay department and the action can get repetitive after a few hours, it’s really easy to pick up and have a quick session. It’s the type of party game that would be perfect to cap a movie marathon of the films that inspired it. I think it makes the most sense on the Switch, but know that the Joy-Con thumbsticks are just not ideal for this sort of game. For those still on the Wii U, Hive Jump is available there as well.
I think for those loving the retro-inspired genre Hive Jump is worth having. It’s not the type of title that will shatter expectations but it’s a solid release from Graphite Lab.
Find more information on Hive Jump on their website.
For more retro-inspired reviews, check out our thoughts on Sonic Mania, Cosmic Star Heroine, and Moonlighter.
