There are some games in different categories that are known to destroy friendships, Uno is one of them because there is nothing more satisfying than to shower another player with +4 and +2 cards whenever he or she screams “Uno”, or in Mario Kart holding off on using a Red shell or Blue shell just to see that other player bounce and take the win away from them. Multiplayer games are known for the chaos and overall fun they propose, be it in a tabletop setting or a videogame the genre won’t be going away soon. Heave Ho is a game that has the same characteristics as the aforementioned examples but with interesting mechanics and fun shenanigans.
The main objective of Heave Ho is simple but engaging. You need to reach the end goal while navigating complex levels but with a plot twist: You can only control your character’s arms. The left stick controls the arms, but that is only the first part of the equation. You need to use the R and L buttons to use your hands to grip on any surface and in tandem with your arms movement swing and use the obstacles to your advantage to reach the goal in each stage.
Playing in single-player mode is a good way to get used to the game’s mechanics. Needless to say, it is a good way to get a head start when you get ready to tackle the multiplayer mode. Here is where things get tricky because you need to grip the hands of each other forming a living chain. Swinging from one platform to another is a task of pure teamwork sometimes just for the chaos. There is always someone that lets go, and you helplessly see your characters fall into a colorful death. Or perhaps due to not calculating your swing accordingly, you reach the platform with the wrong arm, and you only see the chain plummet together abruptly. And in order to finish the stage, all players need to reach the goal.
Some levels add hazards like…a Llama leaving a cloud of gas to obscure your view or spikes that are located in places in a way that makes you think if the whole point of the game is you failing to grasp the goal. One cool feature the game has is that at random moments during gameplay a golden rope will appear. Grabbing it will allow you to play a minigame. There are several, including a peculiar take on basketball, using the game’s mechanics. Wining these minigames can grant you coins that you can use to purchase costumes for your wacky characters.
Content-wise there are a lot of different stages to play, but I wish the single-player mode offered unique challenges to set it apart from the multiplayer aspect since you play in the same stages in both modes it kind of misses its appeal, even if playing the game with more people is a challenge on itself. Ultimately for someone who has played all stages in single-player, it can become less exciting. The art style seen in the game goes well with the theme and nature of the game. I like that there are tons of customization options even costumes from Gato Roboto and other indie games published by Devolver Digital.
I must say that I have enjoyed my time with Heave Ho. It is a fun and charming game that teaches that holding hands together we can overcome any obstacles. I give it a solid recommendation to fans of the genre.
A Review copy was provided for this review.