An Odd Adventure
An evil doctor, mind-controlled bunnies called Hoppers and an open world to explore await you in Strange Hill, a new adventure game by PAGA Games. Take on quests, solve puzzles and don’t let those evil bunnies get the jump on you. Travel between the town of Strange Hill and other worlds as you attempt to thwart the nefarious Dr. Wood.
Strange Hill boasts adorable 3D graphics reminiscent of Hello Neighbor, perfectly fitting the game’s vibe. Players take on the role of a young boy who, after rescuing a robot named Ben, begins to unravel the mysteries of Strange Hill and stop Dr. Wood from controlling Hoppers. If you’re a fan of the strange, absurd and fantastical, you’ll appreciate the game’s setting and overall vibe.
Strange Hill is part platformer, part stealth game. You’ll spend a decent amount of time avoiding enemies and jumping between various platforms. However, there aren’t really any platforms to jump between when in town. However, the many worlds you visit will test your mobile platformer skills. You’ll often need to time your jumps well to avoid plummeting to your doom.
Once in Strange Hill, you can complete story and side quests as you choose. Of course, as a child, our protagonist isn’t privy to an arsenal of weapons. However, you’ll find a nifty glove that shoots bullets that stun your enemies for a few seconds. After successfully stunning an evil Hopper, quickly approach it and tap the button that appears to save the cute little critter. It’s easy to tell mind-controlled Hoppers from friendly ones as the former appear blue while the latter are white.
Besides shooting stunning bullets, gameplay mainly revolves around running, jumping and sneaking. Sneaking is key when enemies abound, as your glove only has two bullets. Once you’ve used them up, you’ll need to wait a few seconds for them to regenerate.
Strange Hill Suffers From Frequent Ads
While the game is fun, it does have a few glaring flaws. First of all, the game is littered with ads. While most free games use ads to gain revenue, at times, the ads are too frequent to allow you to really settle into the game. Strange Hill game doesn’t constantly pester you to complete microtransactions. Yet it does feel like the developers are pushing a little too hard, especially considering the game is so kid-friendly. Another issue is that upon beginning the game, the controls are too sensitive. Luckily, this can easily be adjusted in the game’s settings.
Strange Hill certainly has its charms. The game entertains with its compelling plot, fun side quests and blend of stealth mechanics and platformer action. However, the many ads weigh the game down. While the controllers are largely intuitive, they can be a tad sensitive, making it difficult to get the hang of. However, Strange Hill really does have the potential to be something great. The unique setting and simple yet fun gameplay this odd title worth downloading.
