Haste Review

When it came out on April 1, 2025, Haste didn't get much attention, and even experienced gamers were caught off guard. To be honest, I didn't see that coming. I wasn't sure at first. When the game came out of the blue, I wasn't sure if it was just another quick cash grab or if it could live up to the hype. But when I played it, I knew it was the real deal.

Haste is a great addition for people who like fast-paced action games and roguelikes. It was made by a small independent studio called Landfall. It may not have been well known at first, but the idea behind the game—racing through a universe that is collapsing while avoiding dangerous terrain and mastering the flow of speed—had me hooked right away. There's also nothing funny about this game, even though it came out on April Fool's Day. Haste is a tough game with a beautiful, fast-paced storyline that will keep you coming back for more.

The story of Haste is easy to understand and moves you. You play as Zoe, a character who is stuck in a universe that is falling apart quickly. Your goal is to quickly make it to the portal at the end of each world, or "Shard." Each world is a piece of this reality that is falling apart. 

The world-building isn't too hard to understand, but it gives you just enough background to keep you interested. You know Zoe's goal is to get away from this destruction, but it's clear that the game is more important than a complicated story.

There is some storytelling here, and while it doesn't go into a lot of detail or have a lot of cutscenes, you understand that Zoe is on a mission to escape this destruction. As you move through the shards, you'll learn more about the world around you, but the real reason to play is the thrill of speed and the satisfaction of getting good at how it works.

The plot was easy to follow, which I liked. It doesn't drag you down with complicated plot twists; it just keeps you focused on what matters: beating each level as quickly as possible while dodging enemies and bosses who are tough. While not the main focus of the story, it does provide enough background for Zoe's journey through this broken world.

What really makes Haste stand out is how fast-paced it is. The main way to play is to move through procedurally generated shards, which each have their own environment, challenges, and obstacles. Your first move makes it clear that this game is all about speed. Making sure you carefully control your speed and land all of your jumps is the key to moving as quickly as possible.

You learn how to fast fall for precise landings and get to the portal at the end of each shard in the game's tutorial, which you play right away. As soon as you finish the tutorial, you'll be thrown right into your first run, where you'll have to try to get to the portal without losing any speed, health, or momentum.

What struck me most about Haste is how she makes every move matter. To keep your speed up after a jump, you need to land in the "sweet spot." You'll lose speed and momentum if you land badly. If you land perfectly, you stay at top speed. If you land badly, you lose seconds and maybe even health. 

Another cool thing about the game is the surfboard, which you can use to speed up when you're not going fast enough. This adds another level of strategy because you can use it to change your height for jumps or fix a small mistake in your speed.

The main loop is easy to understand but very fun: quickly move through the shard, collect Sparks (the game's money), and get to the portal. But that ease of use hides a lot of depth. Since each shard is made by a process, no two runs are ever exactly the same. You never know what challenges you'll face on a new run, which keeps the game fun and fresh.

As you move forward, you'll face new challenges, such as slippery terrain that can hurt you or natural disasters like sandstorms or lightning strikes. These keep you on your toes by adding a level of uncertainty that makes each run feel different. The goal is always the same: find your way around, reach the end of the shard, and beat the boss.

Haste doesn't have traditional combat in the sense of fighting enemies. Instead, it has puzzle-like challenges in the environment that require you to be quick and accurate. If you can even call it that, the terrain and the things that are in your way are the combat. To win, you have to stay away from damage, keep your momentum, and use your skills to master the course.

There aren't any hard mechanics to learn, but it can be hard to keep your speed under control and avoid things like buildings, rocks, and trees. The "perfect landing" system is one of the most important parts. If you land correctly, your speed will stay the same or even go up. But if you land badly, you'll move more slowly or lose health. This makes it challenging because you have to plan your moves to keep everything in sync as you speed through the levels.

The best parts are the boss fights at the end of each shard. You don't just deal damage and wait for the other player to fall like you do in most boss fights. Instead, they teach you how to use the skills you've learned—like speed, precision, and momentum—to get around the boss. 

To win these fights, you need to be quick on your feet and make good decisions. They challenge you in ways that go well with the main game mechanics, and beating them gives you a real sense of accomplishment.

The great thing about the puzzle and battle systems is how they work together. It's hard to stay quick and smart at the same time. You have to be able to change and adapt quickly in order to survive the terrain and boss fights. Each challenge feels good when you beat it. 

The bad thing is that it can be annoying at times. When you mess up a landing or hit an obstacle at high speed, the game can feel punishing. Some boss fights are especially hard. A part of the game's charm is that it makes you angry. It doesn't hold your hand, but it does reward you for sticking with it.

In Haste, you move forward by earning Sparks, which are used to buy things in the game. To get Sparks, you have to finish levels quickly, land perfectly, and pick them up along the way. At the end of each run, you'll get a grade from E to A based on how well you did. Higher grades earn you more Sparks.

You can buy power-ups and other items that will help you on your run in the shop with these Sparks. Some of these are extra health, the ability to heal yourself after a perfect landing, and even speed boosts to your top speed. The catch is that you lose all of these upgrades if you die, so the game keeps pushing you to do more and try to get to the end of the shard with the upgrades you've earned.

The system isn't too hard to understand, but it makes the game more fun to play again and again. You're always trying to get more Sparks and do better because you know that each run could give you something that will help you on the next try. This loop of progress is one of the main ideas behind the game and what keeps you coming back for more.

Haste is beautiful to look at. The environments are beautifully made, and each shard has a different, lively setting. The game does a great job of mixing up the visuals with icy tundras, lush forests, deserts, and volcanic landscapes. 

The colors are deep and vivid, and the lighting effects change all the time, making the scenes feel real. Each shard has a lot of small details that you can enjoy as you speed through them, like the rolling hills of a green meadow or the fiery cracks in the ground of a volcanic world.

The animations are smooth, and even on mid-range PCs, the game runs very well. It doesn't stutter or drop frames, even when moving quickly, which is important for a game that needs precise movements. The game's technical polish means you don't have to worry about performance issues while you're playing.

The sound design in Haste is also very good. The music is lively and fast-paced, which goes well with how fast and intense the game is. It keeps your heart rate up, which is especially important during fast runs, where every second counts. 

The sounds are great, from the wind blowing as you fly through the world to the satisfying thud of a good landing. You'll feel good just moving around because of the sound of the surfboard activating. The sound design matches the fast-paced action of the game, making the whole experience better.

Haste is a fun and addictive game that mixes speed, strategy, and roguelike elements in a very smooth way. The game is fun all the way through; the challenges are fun, and the action never stops. Every run of this game makes you want to do better, and it always rewards accuracy and skill. There are times when the game is very hard, especially during boss fights, but the balance between challenge and progress means it never feels unfair.

The graphics are beautiful, and the music goes well with the fast-paced gameplay. The Sparks system makes it easy to play again and again, which encourages you to try new strategies and get better at your runs. 

Haste is a great game if you like fast-paced action, roguelikes, or just games that test your reflexes and accuracy. You'll keep playing it over and over again just to get that perfect run. It's a must-play for anyone who loves a good challenge.