The Legend of Zelda series is one of the most influential series of all time, and there are many indie games that have taken influence over the years. Hatchwell is one that may not stand out right away but surprisingly has proven itself to be one of the best. Part of this is that Hatchwell is not trying way too hard to be Zelda and is not afraid to do its own thing.
Hatchwell has a simple at first plot about an escaping evil but soon shows its hand with its incredible worldbuilding. Right from the start, you understand that this is a Zelda-like but while a game like Blossom Tales goes the homage route, which works for that title, Hatchwell goes for a different approach. This is also a game with RPG elements and quests but manages to feel like a natural growth of what the top-down action adventure genre could be when going in its own direction.
Right from the start, when you create your own character and companion, you realize quickly this is not just another Zelda clone no matter how it looks. Rather this is a game that understands innovation, and also calls to mind another game, Little Town Story, for how it incorporates the town itself into the game’s story.
Hatchwell has a familiar dungeon formula and overworld, with a village and people to help, but the items you will find are not the typical items you may think. Yes, there are weapons like swords, but right from the start you will find items like watering cans that make you think about puzzles in different ways. Hatchwell has unique enemies as well that require both thoughts for how to go about defeating them, and the right amount of action involved in their combat.
One interesting aspect of Hatchwell is your animal companion, who has its own life meter. You can choose from a number of different animal companions at the start and they will accompany you as the game goes on. They will help attack enemies and with exploration and interaction, but you need to keep an eye on them and their life meter as well. The companion mechanic actually works very well for the game and manages to add to the experience in a unique way.
If there is one area where Hatchwell suffers, it is the music. It is not bad by any means but does not have anything going for it at the same time. It is just sort of there and feels like wasted potential.
Overall, Hatchwell is a great game with a lot of unique elements and is definitely worth checking out. Aside from the music, this is a great game and one that will definitely have you playing for a long time.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided