Mina the Hollower is primarily a spiritual successor to both the 8-bit Castlevania games, and the three Game Boy Legend of Zelda games. As with Shovel Knight, this title is meant to emulate the experience of these old games as players remember it. That means a higher aspect ratio, and character portraits that do not adhere to the normal 8-bit limits of the system. The game otherwise adheres closely to its inspirations, while mixing in the charm and ingenuity Yacht Club is known for. Fans of old action-adventure games will definitely want to give this project a look. That goes double for those waiting on Nintendo to do something with the old “Oracle” Legend of Zelda titles.
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Mina the Hollower Owes Much to the Game Boy Zelda’s
At first glance, Mina the Hollower looks like a Game Boy Legend of Zelda game that never was. This title’s resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, and Link’s Awakening cannot be understated. Mina uses a chibi 8-bit art style just like these games, and also adheres to the same limitations of having four colors per 8-by-8 pixel tile. Viewed in a vacuum, a lot of these sprites look ripped straight out of the Game Boy Color games, though the environmental assets tend to use more diverse color schemes. The only major cheat is that Mina the Hollower displays at 16-by-9 widescreen resolution, whereas a Game Boy has a 4-by-3 screen.
The similarities to Zelda go more than skin deep. One of the primary items associated with all three Game Boy Zelda games is the Roc’s Feather, which allows Link to jump on command. This is a vital item that players will often find themselves favoring. The simple presence of a one-tile jump brings Mina a lot closer to its Game Boy inspirations than most would realize, and the act of diving into the ground afterward puts a creative spin on it. The ability to pick up and throw small objects and use a wide variety of tools are also present in Mina the Hollower, though these tools work a little differently then they would in Zelda.
Mina the Hollower is a Send-Up to Many Action-Adventure Classics
The sidearms, trinkets, and leveling system in Mina the Hollower all resemble other perennial action classics. Some sidearms and trinkets resemble classic Zelda items like the boomerang-like Gyro Dagger or the spider pet that can serve as Zelda 1’s Stepladder. However, on a whole, sidearms tend to have more of a Castlevania flavor, and the trinkets appear to function like Hollow Knight’s charms. Mina the Hollower owes a lot to Castlevania, as the sidearms also have limited energy and Mina herself uses a whip.
In general, Mina the Hollower’s light gothic horror aesthetic is inspired by a number of franchises that already inspire each other, including the aforementioned Castlevania, Hollow Knight, and Bloodborne. Mina’s level-up system bears some resemblance to Bloodborne as well, as its resource, Bones, are the game’s currency. This is a bit like how Shovel Knight treated its gems, but here it’s funneled directly into different stats in each level. Mina the Hollower also shares Shovel Knight’s chiptune composer Jake Kaufman, and should benefit greatly from it.
The game looks to be a well-crafted mash-up of many games’ strong points with plenty of its own charm sprinkled in, and fans nostalgic for Game Boy games and Shovel Knight alike should watch its Kickstarter closely as it progresses.
Mina the Hollower is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and will release on PC.
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