History VideoGame / HyperLightDrifter

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SolarAsh'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which released on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice-acted dialogue. A proper successor game, ''Hyper Light Breaker'', was announced in 2023.

''Hyper Light Drifter'' is a 2D ActionRPG by Heart Machine, [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1661802484/hyper-light-drifter successfully funded]] on Website/{{Kickstarter}} and released 31st March, 2016.

* AllThereInTheManual: Since no verbal information is visible or audible, some details can only be gleaned from official but out-of-game information.
** Some of the characters have semi-official names, but in the game they are [[NamelessNarrative not said]]. They appear on the Steam trading cards.
** According to achievements, the green, goblin-like enemies you encounter several times throughout the game are called "dirks".

** The Crystal Wolves have green blood
** The Frog-men and the Bomber-toads bleed orange

* BeastMan: A vast majority of the world characters are these, among them [[BirdPeople ravens]], raccoons, otters, and frogs.

* ScienceFantasy: Given the lack of exposition or explanation on many things, it's hard to tell how much of anything is science and what (if anything) is magic; e.g. are the powers of the Hierophant and its minions magical in nature, or some form of high-tech reality warping? Probably leans more towards the 'sufficiently advanced technology' side of things, considering the number of robots and the high-tech firearms, though.

* TennisBoss: Whilst not mandatory, buying the sword upgrade that allows you to deflect (most) incoming projectiles can be quite handy against certain bosses; deflected projectiles change color and will damage any enemies they strike. Just don't try to deflect the containers the East Boss throws at you...

* DashAttack: Two upgrades allow you to perform this — the sword upgrade has you dash in a line and hit everyone in your path, while the dash upgrade lets you perform a lunge at the end that knocks enemies back.
** Several {{Mooks}} use similar moves.
* DaylightHorror: The Eastern area. It is a bright, sunny city on the water [[spoiler: littered with the mutilated corpses of its otter inhabitants]].

** TheDyingWalk: [[spoiler:You can walk out of the BossRoom after defeating the Immortal Cell, but the Drifter is not going to make it far: he is heavily wounded and has lost the ability to heal or dash. In what is implicitly a DyingDream, he sits under a statue, succumbs to his wounds, and is buried under falling rubble.]]
** [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: But he may be at peace after defeating the source of TheCorruption.]]

** MementoMori, especially in the form of life-threatening or terminal illness. [[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/02/hyper-light-drifter-heart-disease-inspired-alex-preston The creator explains]] that this subject is intimately close to him: Alex Preston suffers a dangerous heart disease and struggles to accept the possibility that YourDaysAreNumbered. The Drifter faces the same fatal trial, and in every NightmareSequence is terrorized by Judgement, who represents inevitable death incarnate.

* YourDaysAreNumbered: The Drifter and the Guardian both want to FindTheCure to a terminal illness they possess, knowing that they do not have much time left. MementoMori is a melancholy CentralTheme the player may gradually recognize, especially after [[spoiler: the Guardian's time runs out]].

''VideoGame/HyperLightDrifter'' is a 2D ActionRPG by Heart Machine, [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1661802484/hyper-light-drifter successfully funded]] on Website/{{Kickstarter}} and released 31st March, 2016.

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SolarAsh'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which released on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice-acted dialogue.

* YourDaysAreNumbered: The Drifter and the Guardian both want to FindTheCure They do not have much time left. MementoMori is a melancholy CentralTheme the player may gradually recognize, especially after [[spoiler: the Guardian's time runs out]].

The protagonist is simply known as TheDrifter, a lone wanderer with a LaserBlade and a drone to activate old-world objects. They explore a long-since ravaged world, in search of a cure for their debilitating disease that is slowly killing them. Despite the personal nature of the quest, their journey takes them to the far reaches of the continent, seeking the mysterious Modules that could lead them to the Immortal Cell, all while a mysterious monster continues to appear before the Drifter.

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SolarAsh'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which is set to release on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice acted dialogue.

The story of the Drifter and the world they're in is laden with symbolism yet sparse on concrete details, as there is very little text in the game beyond brief comments meant to help the player, so most tropes about characters and setting are up to interpretation.

* AfterTheEnd: One of the few concrete details about the world the Drifter travels through is that it almost certainly was once much more advanced, and the small villages dotted across it are almost completely unaware of what most of the technology around them does. The opening cutscene appears to show the event that led to this was a massive explosion.
* AlienBlood: The Drifter's blood is a shimmering magenta fluid that evaporates quickly. This is seen early and often as fits of sickness cause them to [[BloodFromTheMouth cough it onto]] the ground.

* AmbiguouslyHuman: Most of the setting's inhabitants are {{Beast M|an}}en. In contrast, the Drifter looks mostly human, but with a few differences: pale [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation blue skin]] and [[AlienBlood fuscia blood]].

** Beating the game unlocks a mode where you start out with a black robe. However, the only effect it gives is it LOWERS your health by one, and you cannot remove it. This basically turns you into a OneHitPointWonder as many enemies do two damage. However, to compensate, you have all your dash and sword skills unlocked from the get go.

** The characters have names, but in the game they are [[NamelessNarrative not said]]. They appear on the Steam trading cards.

* BeastMan: A vast majority of the world characters are these, among them [[BirdPeople ravens]], raccoons, otters and frogs.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Judgement is finally slain, the corrupted Immortal Cell is destroyed, and the villages on the surface are saved and can continue to rebuild. However, the Drifter succumbs to their sickness and dies.]]
** TheDyingWalk: [[spoiler:You can walk out of the BossRoom after defeating the Immortal Cell, but the Drifter is not going to make it far: they are heavily wounded and have lost the ability to heal or dash. In what is implicitly a DyingDream, they sit under a statue, succumb to their wounds, and are buried under falling rubble.]]
** [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: But they seem to be at peace after defeating the source of TheCorruption.]]

* BottomlessMagazines: Played with, in a way; the Drifter never needs to specifically stop and reload their firearms, but they also have a fairly limited shot capacity which is shared between their guns — if your semi-auto holds six shots and your shotgun holds three, firing two shots from the former also uses one shot from the latter. Ammo is generated by striking enemies or [[RewardingVandalism destroying things like boxes or bushes]], though attacking enemies is far more efficient.
* BottomlessPits: The landscape is full of precipitous cliffs, chasms and crevasses. Sometimes the bottom is too far down to see, other times heaps of bones are faintly visible in dark pits.

** The opening dream shows the Drifter reaching desperately for [[spoiler: the Perfect Immortal Cell]], though actually getting it seems an ImpossibleTask. Even if they have a chance, there is reason to question whether it is [[WasItReallyWorthIt Really Worth It]]. Is seeking [[spoiler:the Immortal Cell]] the right thing to do, or a tragic [[SnipeHunt fool's errand]]?
*** It might hold the secret to [[FindTheCure The Cure]] that will save the Drifter's life. The dangerous quest could end their life in many ways first.
*** The thing they seek is the same thing [[spoiler: the four peoples pursued in the prologue. The ApocalypticLog suggests they were {{Immortality Seeker}}s whose {{Pride}} and mistake ruined the world]]. Their motive was disagreeable, but the Drifter's seems more sympathetic: survival.
*** In the end, even if the Drifter succeeds, [[spoiler: they die anyway. A PyrrhicVictory, but one that paves the way for a better world free of TheCorruption]].

* TheCorruption: [[spoiler: The Immortal Cell. From where it lies entombed under the land, its power is spreading outward.]] For the Drifter, there is no upside: they suffer its influence in the form of a deadly illness. The same influence might be infusing the bosses with fiendish power.

* DeathCourse: A few hallways are replete with jets of flame, TemporaryPlatform[=s=] and SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom.

* DieChairDie: The Drifter can smash various small objects: boxes, plants, crystals, candles and piles of bones. Sometimes this is necessary to clear a path or uncover a hidden item.
** {{Averted}} in the village that serves as a HubLevel and in the presence of friendly [=NPCs=]. The Drifter puts away their weapons and will not attack, only [[EmoteAnimation politely nod]] instead.
* DreamIntro: The Drifter's dream is surreal and gruesome, apparently depicting the cataclysm that wrecked the land. It is unclear whether the Drifter remembers being there and is in a FlashbackNightmare or if they are DreamingOfTimesGoneBy in visions supplied by the Jackal.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The protagonist is called by their profession.
* ExplodingBarrels: Cylinders full of magenta fluid, possibly a sort of fuel. Evidently it is highly volatile. They are stacked around several levels, and The Hermit [[ThrowDownTheBomblet throws them]] in battle.
* FantasticRacism: The only other living character of the same species as the Drifter relates how, after they came to town, they were beaten and robbed by a mob for no apparent reason. They are currently found drunk in an alleyway. Given the circumstances in which many dead members of their species may be found in the western zone, this may be some sort of held grudge.
* FeatheredFiend: The birds in the Northern region practice a ReligionOfEvil that involves HumanSacrifice.

* FragileSpeedster: Compared to tough enemies, the Drifter cannot take many hits. They can only win with speed and judicious use of HealingPotion.
* FrogMen: The eastern region is overrun with evil humanoid frogs.

* HealingPotion: These can be picked up and used to completely revitalize the Drifter in seconds. However, they can carry only three to five at a time and must use them carefully.

** While not a true MetroidVania, because the areas do not link together, there are a large number of well-hidden and largely optional collectibles.

* HundredPercentCompletion: 32 modules, 16 keys, 16 monoliths, 12 outfits, 6 guns, and 186 Gear Bits to earn upgrades. Most of these are in hidden areas that require a sharp eye and/or some good intuition to get to.
* ImplausibleFencingPowers: The Drifter, really. Maybe not at first, but they can learn to turn their sword into a {{BFS}}, start ParryingBullets (and then [[TennisBoss play tennis with some bosses]]), and perform two different kinds of DashAttack; a powerful slash, and a lunge that can send enemies flying.

** There's no written text outside of the tutorial, and even that's just a few lines telling you the game mechanics. The only storytelling is done through pictures, the occasional cutscene, and whatever the player can piece together from exploring the ruined landscape. If you want to know the bulk of the plot, be prepared to connect a lot of the dots yourself.

** TheGoomba: Dirks. They are common and pathetic, but can pose a challenge of they attack [[ZergRush in large numbers]].

** EliteMooks: Many types. Since the Player Character is a FragileSpeedster, they must duel and outmaneuver these tough enemies.

* NonPlayerCompanion: The Drone. It is not much of a character, but it dutifully hovers near The Drifter and is their sole companion in some desolate landscapes. It allows them to interface with technology and serves as a MasterOfUnlocking.

** Fits of sickness unexpectedly afflict the Drifter. As they stagger and cough, their surroundings crackle and flicker, as if pain and blurred vision are distorting their perception.
** Judgment is especially jagged and glitchy in its appearance and animation.

* ReligionOfEvil: The bird civilization in the North has been overrun with one of these, headed by the Hierophant.
* SchizoTech: Laser swords and deflector shields live among what appears to be ancient ruins and a relatively modest village. The obviously advanced technology is offset by the natural world and occasionally primitive inhabitants you come across.

* SetBonus: {{Inverted}}. Finding the corpse of a fallen warrior rewards the Drifter with the whole set of equipment at once: their cloak, sword and drone. All give the same beneficial effect, but it does not stack, so it is better to mix items from three different sets.

* TarotMotifs: Only revealed in the Steam trading cards, but it definitely isn't superficial. Three bosses, a location, and the Drifter themself all get a Tarot card which represents them:

* TemporaryPlatform: They will fall, vanish, or burst into flame shortly after they are stepped on.
* TennisBoss: Whilst not mandatory, buying the sword upgrade that allows you to deflect (most) incoming projectiles can be quite handy against certain bosses; deflected projectiles change colour and will damage any enemies they strike. Just don't try to deflect the containers the East Boss throws at you...

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SolarAsh'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the word dropped during development [[/note]], which is set to release on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice acted dialogue.

** When quitting, the game will inform you how long it's been since your autosave. Not that it really matters, since...

** Most enemies' weapons do the same, firing bright beams or bs of power.

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/SolarAsh'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which is set to release on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice acted dialogue.

** When quitting, the game will inform you how long it's been since your last autosave. Not that it really matters, since...

** Most enemies' weapons do the same, firing bright beams or blasts of power.

* LastOfTheirKind: The Drifter's race. Only three may be seen in the game, and they all seem to be dying of the same mysterious disease.
** The Drifter. Their illness seems to have energized them to FindTheCure and survive.
** The Guardian. His wife and child have already died, and he seems to share the Drifter's quest for a cure. However, he is quickly succumbing to the illness. [[spoiler: He dies of it before reaching that goal.]]
** A third character can be found in the middle of town. This man sits surrounded by bottles and seems [[TheAlcoholic usually drunk]]. His response sounds like a weak, hoarse hiccup, suggesting that he is sick.
** This last character tells how, after he came to the town, he was beaten by a mob for no apparent reason. It might imply FantasticRacism against this group -- the others might not be sorry to see them die off.

* AfterTheEnd: One of the few concrete details about the world the Drifter travels through is that it almost certainly was once much more advanced, and the small villages dotted across it are almost completely unaware of what most of the technology around them does. The opening cutscene appears to show the event that led to thiis was a massive explosion.

* BrightIsNotGood: ''UpToEleven!'' The primary colors are [[OrangeAndBlueContrast bright, pinkish reds and pale, sickly blues and greens]]. Sounds like a jogging outfit from TheEighties, but instead it dips the world straight into the UncannyValley and underscores the setting's violent past.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hyper_light_drifter.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[SceneryPorn Soak it in.]]]]

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrNgfmkf0uI Solar Ash]]'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which is set to release on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice acted dialogue.

Heart Machine have announced a SpiritualSuccessor, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrNgfmkf0uI Solar Ash]]'' [[note]] Originally titled ''Solar Ash Kingdom'', with the last word dropped during development [[/note]], which is set to release on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 PS5]] on console and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games Store]] on PC sometime in 2021. While taking inspiration from ''Hyper Light Drifter'', ''Solar Ash'' is also dramatically different, being in full [[VideoGame3DLeap 3D]] and has a much more expansive story complete with voice acted dialogue.