When you know a download takes longer than the tutorial itself, you’ve likely got a winner on your hands. “Haste: Broken Worlds” fits this bill perfectly; it’s the fastest-paced game I’ve encountered this year, with the demo launching in just under 30 seconds.
The storyline is delightfully straightforward: the world is crumbling, and your only shot at survival is to sprint as fast as you can. Haste doesn’t bog you down with lengthy explanations or backstories. Instead, it throws you right into the action as Zoe, a tenacious girl whose distinctive eyewear is as sharp as her reflexes. You’ll be navigating down slopes with nimble elegance before you even have a chance to catch your breath.
If Sonic the Hedgehog knew about Haste, he might just be green with envy. The game is all about the exhilarating rush of continuous speed. Once you kick off, it’s a one-button show: the spacebar is your ally for gently touching down and taking off again. Executing perfect landings charges up a meter that lets you hop on a hoverboard, crucial for bouncing back after crashing into obstacles or being overtaken by waves of corruption. The only pauses in your high-speed adventure occur when you’re upgrading your gear or chatting with companions.
Haste functions as a roguelike, offering you choices on where to dash next on each run. Crossing the finish line opens up options for your next path. Some stages have you racing through monochrome landscapes, repainting them with color, while others challenge you to slip past black holes before your time is up. Trails of glistening crystals light your path through each level, doubling as currency for in-game upgrades. While many upgrades offer small boosts to speed or health, others, like one that replenishes health with collected crystals, can strategically influence your route.
The demo wraps up with an epic showdown against a towering robot unleashing streams of lava. Maneuvering carefully is key until you can strike him head-on. Maintaining your speed is vital to evade the encroaching lava, motivating you to aim for flawless landings to boost your hoverboard gauge. Gathering clusters of crystals to keep your health intact adds an extra layer of intensity to the battle.
In a game with less refined mechanics, a boss fight of this complexity might stumble. Yet the seamless nature of Haste ensures it stays on course. Sailing through its chapters feels fluid, even when your moves are less than perfect, rewarding daring gameplay. When everything clicks, it’s akin to playing a rhythm game where every note lands perfectly. The only disruption comes when the game reaches its conclusion.
Developer Landfall, known for the quirky multiplayer horror game “Content Warning,” plans to release “Haste: Broken Worlds” later this year.
