Developed by Fiddlesticks Games
Produced by Curve Digital
Released for Xbox One (8/2016)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4/Vita
At a quick glance it's easy to make the mistake of writing Hue off as just a Limbo wanna-be due to the similar monochrome graphic-style. Within a few minutes of playing you'll see that even though both titles do feature similar 2D platforming, the color-based puzzles in Hue give the game a flavor of its own.
When the game begins, everything is seen in gray and black. Your character awakens to find his mother missing and it's up to you to go looking for her. You'll learn about the research she's been conducting at the university via narration in certain rooms along the way. As you progress through the campaign in Hue you'll unlock additional colors while also learning of your mother's efforts to view the different colors of the spectrum and how she perceives seeing them for the first time. Using the right stick brings up a color wheel, allowing you to change the color of the background. When you select a color, any objects that are the same as the selected color will disappear. The puzzles in Hue revolve around using the various colors to make objects disappear and reappear as needed.
Once you get a little ways into Hue you'll have the whole spectrum of the rainbow at your disposal. Some of the later puzzles will require some tricky timing, but luckily if you fail you'll load right back up at the room you were last in. The game never gets too frustrating, but the last handful of screens will leave you scratching your head at first. When switching colors, the game slows down while making your selection, giving you ample time to adjust colors in some of the trickier spots, such as changing colors while in mid-air to make a platform appear in front of you. Like most 2D puzzle/platformers, from time to time there are boxes you can move around. Later stages involve paint blasters that will color your box when splashed, making for some unique box-coloring puzzles. Overall, the puzzle design is solid throughout the game and there's a decent variety to what you'll encounter along your journey.
Hue features collectibles scattered through the game in the form of beakers. There are 28 of them in total to be found and some of them in the earlier sections will require some backtracking after you've obtained more colors of the spectrum. This helps in adding at least a little replay value if you wish to go back and collect all of the beakers, though there is nothing other than an achievement for doing so. That being said, going out of your way to find the beakers can add an additional challenge to the game as some of them are very well hidden.
While the visuals aren't going to blow anyone's mind, the simple graphic style works well in Hue. Everything has a minimalist look and the sound design matches this. The music has a nice relaxing vibe and the sound effects are never obtrusive. Depending on your sensitivity to color, you may encounter some issues while switching colors on the fly. I found myself frequently mixing up the yellow/orange and purple/pink colors, but this may be more of a personal problem and you might not have an issue with it. There is also an option for colorblind folks that has symbols for the colors that can be found on both the objects and your color wheel.
Hue is an enjoyable 2D puzzle/platformer that should only take you somewhere between 7-10 hours to complete. While a bit on the short side, the game is a good time for those who enjoy a nice puzzle and doesn't overstay its welcome. There's a steady ramp to the challenge and by the end of the game the puzzles will really test your brain. My playtime with Hue was around ten hours and in all that time I didn't experience a single crash, bug or glitch, which is something you can't take for granted in this day and age. Having a story is a welcome bonus and the game would have still been fine without it, but having it helps give the player another incentive to push on. If you're the type who loves solving puzzles, I'd highly recommend giving Hue a look!
Final Verdict: If you enjoy puzzle games, especially of the 2D-platformer variety, Hue is worth a look. It's short but worth your time and an enjoyable little game.
Related Links:
Buy Hue - Microsoft Store
Hue - GameFAQs
Hue - Official Site
Henry Hoffman (Developer) - Official Site
Curve Digital - Official Site
Strategy Guide/Walkthroughs:
Hue Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Hue Beaker Locations - Xbox Achievements
Hue - True Achievements
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