Steam isn’t just a haven for indie soulslikes, puzzle games, and farming sims, but co-op games as well. There’s friendslop titles like Peak, as well as various games made in its image, not to mention viral hits like the hide-and-seek experience Meccha Chameleon. Co-op horror titles with proximity chat have also proven to be a big hit, but not all gamers want to be spooked or have loud bouts of laughter. Sometimes, gamers will be seeking a co-op game that relaxes them, rewards teamwork, and immerses them in a beautiful world. Hela: of Mice and Magic certainly falls into this camp.
Visually, Hela: of Mice and Magic nails the It Takes Two vibe, with some semi-realistic environmental design and two small characters to take control of. Like its name suggests, Steam players will be traversing a big world as a brave mouse, with bright-colored vistas and a heartwarming story ahead of them. Realistic physics, making platforms for one another, and numerous environmental puzzles where players need to complete different tasks are all present. However, though Hela: of Mice and Magic does offer two-player split-screen co-op, it stands out from the work of Hazelight Studios thanks to a clever singleplayer system — not to mention a four-player mode.
Hela: of Mice and Magic Features at a Glance
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image via Windup -
image via Windup -
image via Windup
- PLAY solo, in two-player local splitscreen, or in four-player co-op thanks to the Shade system.
- EXPLORE a breathtaking open-world inspired by northern Sweden, with colorful environments, mountains to climb, and trees to swing from
- SOLVE environmental puzzles that utilize realistic physics to force players to think carefully.
- FOOL AROUND with fun interactable objects, taking a break from the adventure to spend quality time with friends.
See the world through the eyes of a brave little mouse in this enchanting 3D co-op adventure. Explore breathtaking landscapes inspired by Northern Sweden, solve puzzles, and be a force for good in a land where heartwarming storytelling and the beauty of nature intertwine.
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How Hela: of Mice and Magic Expands on It Takes Two’s Style
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image via Windup -
image via Windup -
image via Windup
For fans of games like It Takes Two, Hela: of Mice and Magic thankfully has all the staples of the award-winning title. Puzzle-solving, teamwork, and a charming world are all present. And while the vibe is slightly more peaceful — don’t expect to be tearing up sentient stuffed animals as a do-gooding, nature-loving mouse — all the ins and outs are present. Even the little moments that have made Hazelight’s beloved co-op games click, like mini-games, challenges, or interactable items found slightly off the beaten path, are present. For instance, a group of players is shown cooking food at one point, and working together to make use of a merry-go-round in a different clip.
However, Hela: of Mice and Magic has a key advantage over games like It Takes Two or Split Fiction: it offers more than two-player co-op. As great as these split-screen titles are, they only allow two players to enjoy the experience at any given time. This is great for players who only have one friend they play with, and it makes them perfect entertainment for couples, but this approach has always meant that larger groups are missing out. Additionally, players who only enjoy games as a solo hobby are completely out of luck, missing out on critically acclaimed games because they lack someone to play with. Fortunately, Hela has both these groups covered. In addition to a local split-screen mode for two-player co-op, Hela can be played with up to four players online, or entirely solo.
Naturally, with the game requiring players to make platforms or hold items for one another, Hela working solo is hard to imagine. Fortunately, developer Windup figured out how to make it happen, as instead of completely re-designing every puzzle to accommodate different party sizes, the Shade system was created. This mechanic makes it so that players can create magical, shadowy clones of their mouse, allowing them to stand in place, hold items, and so on. These copies will be able to carry out any tasks that a second, third, or fourth player would, allowing everything to work the same way in solo as it does in co-op.
Believe it or Not, Hela: of Mice and Magic’s Open-World Has Marvel’s Spider-Man Vibes
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image via Windup -
image via Windup -
image via Windup
Alongside the Shade system creating a singleplayer avenue for Hela: of Mice and Magic, the game allows players to truly explore at their own pace by giving them access to a single open-world instead of specific levels. Naturally, traversing this world in a satisfying way is a must, and fortunately, Hela: of Mice and Men takes inspiration from some of the best movement systems in the genre. Not only will players be climbing and scaling structures like in the recent Zelda games, putting their adorable mice feet to work, but the magic froggy backpack worn by the mice will give them abilities reminiscent of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Mice will swing around the environment, even flipping in the sky and doing tricks that look like those pulled off by Spider-Man, and beyond that, they’ll glide around just like Peter Parker does with his web wings. With fun movement, tons of puzzles to uncover, and a lovely world to explore, Hela clearly has a ton of potential.
