Dungeons of Hinterberg Review | Xbox Series X

I had never known what I wanted to grow up to be back when the looming thought of picking my GSCEs was growing gloomier by the day. No, that is a lie. I always had preferences, but they were not ideal in the eyes of, well, anyone on the land I was being raised. And because I did not see a way forward to keep everyone happy and myself competent, I was really willing to jump into anything anyone would suggest that could tick the criteria for me.

When I was shown that path, I hung on as tight as I could. But a few years into university, I wish I did not. Stuck with hating the very major I claimed for myself, it brings me to Luisa, a lawyer who despises practicing law, the heroine of Dungeons of Hinterberg.

See, Luisa is an individual whom the majority of folks in their twenties would probably connect to—to an alarming degree. She desires a transformation but is unsure of how to bring about one. She is in her search for identity but is 'puzzled' by how lost she is. And despite her knowing that only her opinion matters, she feels the need to make something of herself. Just the knowledge of her roommate wanting her to vacate their place of residence so that her lover could take Luisa’s place was enough to send my eye into a twitch.

Instead of doing what I would do—wallowing in self-pity, eating her weight in frozen treats, or spending recklessly away—Luisa craves to beat things...? Not only that, she wants to travel to an entirely new country specialized for what it is that she is feeling. Hinterberg is perhaps the most hazardous tourist location on the globe, so she bids farewell to her supposed home in Vienna and packs her things for a few weeks abroad.

Developer Microbird Games has given us Dungeons of Hinterberg, incidentally being their first title. The social aspects in Dungeons of Hinterberg are reminiscent of my dearest Persona games, but the game's atmosphere makes it seem like a more restricted Breath of the Wild – a bold and reckless stab, but they pulled it off with panache.

The town, which was once a peaceful retreat, becomes this bustling center of magical activities due to the catastrophic event, which reshaped everything that was once normal and serene. Hinterberg’s transformation into a magical hotspot opens up a world of possibilities. It literally opens up the dungeons all over the town and results in being a tourist attraction of sorts.

What is great, besides the town and its dungeons, is that the characters inhabiting Hinterberg are quite important too. As you explore this intriguing town, you will encounter its rich range of personalities, each with its own tales and secrets, where every interaction and discovery reveals a piece of their intriguing past. The story deftly combines whimsical charm with more profound themes of personal growth and connection.

There is this surprising flair to the dungeon crawler game I did not quite expect to experience when playing, though. I have found that Hinterberg is more than just a backdrop of your adventure; you could even say it is a character in its own right as it evolves alongside you with every mystery that is solved, instead of just uncovering them for the sake of knowledge.

What is left now is for you to take care of this dungeon business I keep bringing up over and over. The game cleverly divides all of these so that you, as a player, do not have to worry about keeping track of everything simultaneously and feel overwhelmed.

There are four distinct phases of each day in Dungeons of Hinterberg where you do certain types of tasks in those particular phases only. The mornings are when you get to engage with the various vibrant characters of the town and plan your explorations. Then come the noons, where you get to venture into various diverse environments and tackle the dungeons housing the monsters and puzzles. When it is time for the evenings, it is perfect for socializing and shopping for various interesting items. And finally, the phase of the night is where you engage in stat-boosting activities, with the conclusion of rest.

Now that you have some sort of idea about the gameplay structure and what your tasks would come to be, I would like to talk about the aforementioned combat and the puzzle features of Dungeons of Hinterberg. If I have to be concise, well, I feel like the puzzles are the best part of the game.

Each dungeon you enter has a variety of challenges, from simple block-pushing puzzles to more intricate key sequences. They even incorporate unique spells, like using hoverboards to glide over icy areas or casting boulder spells in mountainous regions. It is super creative and keeps you on your toes.

Now, I will not lie – there are obviously a few downsides as well. While the puzzles in Dungeons of Hinterberg often give you these satisfying "aha" moments, to be honest, some might find them a bit on the easier side. While the complexity sure does ramp up, it is still not as much as one would expect, just enough to keep you busy.

The combat embodies a responsive system with both light and heavy attacks, dodging, and these cool special moves that use a magic bar that regenerates over time. What is really fun about these various special moves is how you can unlock different spells depending on the biome you are exploring. It is like having a whole arsenal of magical tricks up your sleeve.

That being said, the combat part might feel a little repetitive after a while, and the final boss encounters are not as exhilarating as one would hope. Additionally, there are some other minor issues like having to deal with a clunky inventory.

Dungeons of Hinterberg takes some design cues from Breath of the Wild, but the end product is stunningly gorgeous. The animations are first-rate, the city has a lively, energetic vibe, and the huge open spaces are beautiful.

Although each hub world has its own color scheme and concept, there are a few spots that might need some improvement in lighting and tone, especially in the second hub world. There is a little reduction in clarity due to visual noise, such as when trying to discriminate between potential dangers, thorns being an example. It is quite particular too that you may skip over a lot of the town's minor NPCs, yet, you would not find yourself entangled with them.

Dungeons of Hinterberg really shines when it comes to providing beautiful and well-defined locations, even with some little graphic issues. The game's aesthetic extends to its menus, maps, and animals. Overall, I am not really grumbling about this specific aspect, albeit I suppose greater foe variation would have been welcome. Dungeons of Hinterberg has incredible imagery, accompanied by top-notch Xbox Series X  performance, throughout a variety of environments, from marshes to frozen vistas.

Dramatic and moving is how I would describe the Dungeon of Hinterberg's musical scores. Uplifting orchestral songs with calm yet rumbling baselines drive the rhythm forward throughout combat, not to mention during exploration and snowboarding sequences, thus treating gamers to a musical delight. All things considered; these compositions give the game a clean, authentic air that works well with the title.

You may expect Dungeons of Hinterberg to seem diluted at times given its eclectic mix of themes, but its developers evidently know what they are doing. With definitive and important messages behind everything, they have succeeded in identifying parts from each genre that are enjoyable and contribute to the game's overall ideas. It is all so well-crafted and cohesive.

When it comes to combat aspects, I have come to find it a little unimaginative. And yet, Dungeons of Hinterberg still let me decide which sub-narratives to pursue, and in what sequence to solve the challenges Luisa faces. Simply put, you will have the absolute freedom to indulge in moments of tranquility unless you are opting for a more violent path. The choice is yours.

Because the setting of the story is in a magical other reality of our own, it prevents any abrupt changes in tone as the subject moves on to heavier themes like capitalism or burnout. It is firmly grounded in events that we can all relate to, even when Luisa is gliding down a mountaintop or riding a whirlwind into the river. She decided to go off on her own since she wanted a fresh start and felt disoriented, which I can understand wholeheartedly. Dungeons of Hinterberg starts with reality and then sprinkles in some enchantment, just like any excellent art.
 

Jennifer
Editor, NoobFeed