Hob: The Definitive Edition is an interesting open sort of Metroidvania where the world has been corrupted by this mysterious purple goo.  During my 20-30 minutes with the demo, I explored a lush environment with the help of a mysterious robot who was kind enough to donate its arm once I lost mine!

In true Metroidvania fashion, I was able to explore a confusing environment, gaining new abilities along the way that allowed me to open up new paths.  After obtaining my new robotic arm, which allowed me to move heavy blocks, I was also granted a sword that could slice through bushes blocking my path and the ability to punch certain switches and break through weak walls.  Though I didn’t play for very long, I struggled greatly with getting lost.  In fact, much of my short playtime was actually spent backtracking in an effort to figure out where I needed to go next.

While I like the idea of an open Metroidvania, reviews for the full game said that Hob didn’t allow for as much exploration as initially believed. Furthermore, others seemed to have the same issue with getting lost that I did.  People also seemed rather divided on the combat, with the opinions ranging from saying that it was boring or perfectly adequate.  I only fought one stronger enemy during the demo, and it wasn’t particularly exciting.  Fortunately, it sounds like the battles are usually optional.  In general, people said that Hob had potential, but was ultimately an unpolished experience.

With that said, I still might be willing to give Hob a chance.  I just feel like the exploration, linear though it may be, and the gaining of an increasing number of new abilities, could make for a rather fun experience, even if it’s not perfect.  Hob: The Definitive Edition is available on the Switch, PS4, and PC for $19.99, though I’ve seen it go on sale for $3.99. Either way, that’s a pretty good price for a game that can last 10-16 hours, depending on whether or not you simply aim to complete it or get 100%.