Hail to the Rainbow is a slow-paced title that has been on PC for a while. I admit that I didn’t pay it any attention until I was offered an Xbox code. Accordingly, I’ve come into this with fresh eyes and thankfully no spoilers. This 13-chapter, dark and sinister game didn’t capture my attention immediately. However, the more I played, the more it got its claws under my skin.
Sergey Noshov is the developer, and Sometimes You have published it. It is a first-person, single-player title set in a ruined and dark world. The classic post-apocalyptic setting dominates proceedings, and you must solve puzzles, gather resources, and work out the many mysteries of a cruel and oppressive world.
Hail to the Rainbow is a tough pill to swallow.
Ignat is a young man who is trying to survive in a bleak and often inhospitable landscape. His parents have both died, and he has isolated himself from the world. This existence ends when he receives a mysterious email. This takes him on a journey that explores his surroundings and makes him face up to his darkest fears.
The story is told through snippets of lore, flashbacks, and cryptic ideas. This links in nicely to the claustrophobic world, problem-solving, and surrounding danger. Thankfully, the further you explore and the harder you push yourself, the clearer things become. However, there are often surreal and scary moments to test you en route.
An array of different ideas.
Unlike other games from the genre, Hail to the Rainbow mixes a handful of elements to create a misleading approach. There are technical puzzles to solve. You will read electrical logs to find clues and piece together information. This can be tough, but as long as you take your time, the puzzles are interesting and well thought out. Alongside this, there are items to collect. Resources help you with your exploration and through some of the combat elements.
The fighting isn’t the most advanced you’ll see in a video game, but it works well. The mechanical beasts make you consider traversing each environment. Moreover, as resources are limited, you’ll need to consider your approach rather than going crazy and unleashing hell on anything you see. I liked this, but it slowed things down considerably. Therefore, if you are someone who likes or needs instant results, this will cause frustration.
The exploration is fantastic! You will look through dilapidated buildings, piece together clues to remove obstacles, and search for key items to help you to move forward. I admit that much of the gameplay is linear, and this helps to keep Hail to the Rainbow flowing nicely.
Hail to the Rainbow offers grim visuals.
Hail to the Rainbow is an incredibly dark and atmospheric title. The grey and oppressive broken world is oddly enjoyable to explore. With crunching snow, hideous buildings, and a cold, robotic nature, this is uncomfortable to play. One of its major downsides is the AI-assisted assets. I’m a fan of AI, so this didn’t bother me, but I understand why gamers will be turned off.
The audio is incredible. The voiceover work is cold and callous, and this adds to the standoffish design. The rest of the audio is deliberately sinister, mysterious, and weird. The use of silence and ambient sounds works well, and the game offers suspenseful gameplay that is tough to put down.
Clunky combat.
I’m not sure the combat achieved the levels that the developer envisaged. It feels dated and clunky, and it breaks up the flow of the action. It’s a shame, but it’s one of a few downsides for an otherwise good title.
I’m not sure I want to play this again. Although I enjoyed my time with it, the puzzles are sometimes ambiguous, and hunting for clues and moving throughout the world can feel arduous. I know this was a design choice, but it puts me off wanting to return for more.
Hail to the Rainbow is good but limited.
Hail to the Rainbow is a good indie title. The solo developer incorporates some of their flair in a dark and uncomfortable broken world. However, it is this approach that causes friction. The puzzles are sometimes hard to work out, and moving through so many harsh and uncomfortable environments was soul-destroying. Despite this, it is a good but limited title, and I recommend buying it here! Can you face your demons? Explore the world, uncover the mysteries, and make yourself whole.
