Info about A Hat in Time:

Official game description:
  
A Hat in Time is a cute-as-heck 3D platformer featuring a little girl who stitches hats for wicked powers.
A little girl and her spaceship
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In A Hat in Time you play as a tiny space-travelling girl with a big tophat. Her adventure is halted when all her fuel, the Time Pieces, is lost and scattered across a nearby planet. Hat Kid must now jump, fight and stitch new hats to make her way into every nook and cranny of this new world in order to restore her fuel and resume her journey. On her way, she'll bump into the menacing Mafia of Cooks, the goofy birds of Dead Bird Studio, the spooky shadows of Subcon Forest, and more!
Murder on a train! Parades! Trespassing in a movie studio?
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Every mission in A Hat in Time is unique! At one moment you'll be solving the **Murder on the Owl Express** by finding clues and interrogating the locals, the next moment you'll be the band marshal in **The Big Parade**, or sneaking through the bird-run **Dead Bird Studio**!  
Small child, giant worlds
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Jump freely around in 5 massive worlds with new adventures to discover around every corner! Just like any child, Hat Kid loves to climb and explore, no mountain is too big for her sense of adventure. She can do multiple jump moves, as well as climb walls, and swing over gaps!
Cute hats, magical yarn and snappy badges
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By finding and collecting rare magical yarn, Hat Kid can stitch new cute hats with a variety of abilities, including a witch hat that allows her to cook explosive concoctions, and a wooden ghost mask that allows her to peek into other dimensions. Hats can become even more powerful, by attaching badges that are found, sold and traded by the locals!
Community-funded, community-focused
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A Hat in Time was successfully funded on Kickstarter, reaching nearly 10 times its goal! In order to celebrate our community, A Hat in Time is releasing with full modding and Steam Workshop support, an in-game screenshot mode, and more!

Release date: Oct 5, 2017

Categories: 3D Platformer, Collectathon, Platformer, Sandbox Creation, Exploration, Character Customization, Mod Support, Local Co-op


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique and varied level design (weight 0.97): Each level and world is designed to feel fresh, memorable, and immersive, with distinct mechanics, atmospheres, and challenges. Players highlight the creativity and attention to detail in level construction, which keeps the gameplay engaging and non-repetitive.
- Strong character writing and voice acting (weight 0.91): The game features well-written, charismatic, and often humorous characters with excellent voice acting. Players frequently praise the depth of the story, the emotional connections formed with characters, and the overall quality of the dialogue and performances.
- Smooth and satisfying movement (weight 0.75): The gameplay is consistently described as fluid, responsive, and satisfying, with controls that are easy to learn but offer depth for skilled players. The movement mechanics are a standout feature, often compared to the best in the genre.
- Modding and Steam Workshop support (weight 0.7): The game’s modding community and Steam Workshop integration are highly praised for extending replayability with custom levels, mods, and challenges. Players highlight the ease of access and the quality of community-created content.
- High-quality DLC expansions (weight 0.4): The DLCs, such as *Seal the Deal* and *Nyakuza Metro*, are widely regarded as excellent additions that introduce new content, mechanics, and levels. Players appreciate the value and quality of the post-launch support.
- Outstanding soundtrack (weight 0.39): The game’s soundtrack is dynamic, energetic, and perfectly fits the tone of each level. Players consistently highlight the music as one of the best aspects of the game, praising its composition and execution.
- Engaging collectathon mechanics (weight 0.34): The game features a robust collectathon system with smartly designed collectibles that encourage exploration and replayability. Fans of classic collectathons appreciate the depth and variety of the optional content.
- Fun and well-designed boss battles (weight 0.29): Boss fights are frequently highlighted as engaging, chaotic, and enjoyable, with unique mechanics and themes. Players appreciate the balance between platforming and action in these encounters.
- Memorable and engaging story (weight 0.27): The story is described as unique, charming, and emotionally engaging, with well-developed characters and a satisfying narrative arc. Players appreciate its simplicity and the emotional connections it fosters.

Common complaints:
- Bugs and performance problems (weight 0.44): Players encounter bugs in singleplayer and multiplayer modes, including freezing, graphical glitches, and lag. Performance issues persist even on high-end systems, with stuttering and optimization problems.
- Short game length disappoints (weight 0.39): Players consistently report the game is shorter than expected, with main story completion times ranging from 4 to 18 hours. Many feel the price is too high for the content provided, and some mechanics or levels feel rushed or unexplored.
- Camera issues hinder gameplay (weight 0.37): Frequent complaints about the camera being buggy, stuck on corners, or causing motion sickness. These issues make boss fights and tight spaces particularly frustrating and harder than necessary.
- Platforming difficulty frustrates (weight 0.32): Strict timing and precision in platforming sections, especially in endgame levels, are infuriating for many players. Controls are often cited as not tight enough for the difficulty, particularly with keyboard and mouse.
- Inconsistent level quality and design (weight 0.25): Some levels lack clarity in objectives, feel disjointed, or are shorter than others. The progression and artistic design are criticized for feeling unpolished or cobbled together.
- Story and characters lack depth (weight 0.2): The storyline is described as short, simple, and shallow, with underdeveloped characters and a mediocre ending. Voice acting and storytelling potential are seen as wasted opportunities.
- Controls lack customization and nuance (weight 0.17): Players desire more keybind customization options, as default bindings are problematic. Controls are described as forgettable, lacking weight, and not optimized for all controllers.
- Tedious or unengaging chapters (weight 0.13): Certain chapters, particularly Chapter 4 (Alpine Skyline), are criticized for feeling empty, boring, or tedious. Some acts require external solutions due to unclear objectives.
- Long loading times and high CPU usage (weight 0.11): Players experience time-consuming loading screens and high CPU usage during loading, which detracts from the overall experience, especially on lower-end systems.
- Hats and badges feel poorly implemented (weight 0.11): Hats and badges are criticized for splitting actions, being situational, or lacking practical use. Some players find them fatiguing or poorly integrated into gameplay.
- Art style limits appeal (weight 0.08): The low-age visual style is polarizing, with some players finding it difficult to immerse themselves in the story. Despite the style, the game can still be taxing on hardware.

Gameplay feedback:
- Core 3D Platformer Gameplay (weight 0.94): The game is fundamentally a 3D platformer with collectathon mechanics, inspired by classics like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. Players engage in platforming, puzzle-solving, and collecting items across creative levels.
- Sandbox-Style Level Design (weight 0.62): Levels are self-contained sandboxes with unique themes, mechanics, and visual styles (e.g., Mafia City, movie studios). They encourage exploration, backtracking, and replayability, often featuring community-created content via Steam Workshop.
- Difficulty and Challenge Modes (weight 0.47): The base game is casual-friendly, but DLCs introduce high-difficulty challenges like Death Wish mode, which modifies levels for added complexity. Progression is chapter-based, with optional hard modes for skilled players.
- Hat-Based Ability System (weight 0.44): Hats serve as the primary mechanic for granting unique abilities (e.g., sprinting, invisibility, or combat skills), adding variety to gameplay and enabling diverse strategies. This system is central to progression and exploration.
- Multiplayer and Co-op Modes (weight 0.43): The game supports local split-screen co-op and online multiplayer (up to 50 players), including cooperative modes for two players. DLCs expand these features with additional content like the Online Party mode.
- Story-Driven Exploration (weight 0.36): Narrative-driven gameplay blends whimsical storytelling with exploration, featuring creative scenarios (e.g., overthrowing the mafia, Hollywood parodies). The story is interwoven with open-world elements and collectible-driven progression.
- Modding and Community Support (weight 0.31): Steam Workshop integration allows players to create and share custom levels, mods, and cosmetics, extending the game’s lifespan. Modding is user-friendly and officially supported.
- Humor and Character Interactions (weight 0.14): The game features a humorous, self-referential tone with exaggerated scenarios and playful interactions with characters and environments, enhancing its charm and appeal.

Performance notes:
- Performance stuttering across hardware (weight 0.17): Players report frequent stuttering, lag, and frame drops even on high-end or mid-range systems, suggesting poor optimization or engine limitations. Lower-end PCs and integrated graphics also struggle.
- Mixed hardware performance (weight 0.15): While some players report smooth performance on older or entry-level hardware, others highlight limitations like borderless mode issues or reliance on specific hardware (e.g., Ryzen 5 3600x, GTX 1660 Ti).
- Frequent crashes during gameplay (weight 0.12): Crashes occur during DLCs and level transitions, disrupting gameplay. Some players also report freezing in co-op modes.
- Poor Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.12): Shader issues inflate file sizes on Steam Deck, and the game runs poorly out of the box, though some players report flawless performance after adjustments.
- Unreal Engine 3 optimization issues (weight 0.1): Despite the game's art style, the use of Unreal Engine 3 leads to unexpectedly high system requirements, with performance suffering under heavy effects or models.
- Linux performance struggles (weight 0.04): Performance on Linux systems is notably worse than on Windows, with players reporting significant optimization gaps.
- Audio track inconsistencies (weight 0.03): Minor but noticeable issues with audio tracks, such as mislabeling or incorrect playback, affect immersion.

Recommendations:
- Must-play for 3D platformer fans (weight 0.68): The game is repeatedly recommended for fans of 3D platformers, classic N64-era games, and titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Banjo-Kazooie. Its modern take on the genre and creative design make it a standout choice for enthusiasts.
- Unique art style and charming characters (weight 0.6): The game’s aesthetic, inspired by titles like Undertale, and its charismatic characters are highlighted as major draws. Players who enjoy rich details and a visually delightful experience are encouraged to try it.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.59): Reviewers consistently praise the game as a must-play, describing it as an absolute gem, an instant classic, and a highly enjoyable experience. Many emphasize its creativity, attention to detail, and overall value.
- Appeals to casual and relaxed players (weight 0.57): The game is often recommended for those seeking a chill, pressure-free experience. It’s described as suitable for short play sessions, newcomers to the genre, and players who prefer fun over difficulty.
- Best purchased on sale with DLCs (weight 0.31): Many players suggest waiting for a sale to buy the game, especially when bundled with DLCs. The ultimate edition or versions including expansions like Nyakuza Metro are frequently recommended for better value.
- Great value for price (weight 0.29): Reviewers highlight the game as worth its asking price, even at full cost. Many state they would repurchase it for friends or replay it themselves, emphasizing its replayability and content richness.
- Controller recommended for best experience (weight 0.16): The game is optimized for controller use, with many reviewers recommending consoles or a controller setup for the PC version. Keyboard and mouse are mentioned as alternatives but not ideal for movement precision.
- Speedrun-friendly mechanics (weight 0.04): The game’s controller motions and design are noted as speedrun-friendly, appealing to players interested in optimizing their playthroughs or competing for leaderboard positions.

Other player notes:
- DLC structure and value concerns (weight 0.12): DLC is unlocked post-base game completion, but players debate its quality and pricing. Some find it valuable, while others question its cost-effectiveness.
- Personal and nostalgic impact (weight 0.07): The game resonates emotionally with players, inspiring cosplay, childhood nostalgia, and introductions to 3D platformers or PC gaming. Its cultural influence extends beyond gameplay.
- Mixed playtime perceptions (weight 0.06): Playtime varies widely—some report 20+ hours for completion, while others finish in ~9 hours with collectibles, leading to debates about the game's value and length.
- Crowdfunding origin (weight 0.04): The game's development was funded via Kickstarter, which may influence player expectations and perceptions of its scope or content.
- Voice casting detail (weight 0.03): A minor but notable point for fans: the voice actor for Mr. Joker in *Persona 5* also voices the conductor, adding a layer of appreciation for casting choices.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Players frequently cite technical issues such as camera bugs, performance stutters, crashes, and poor optimization as major sources of frustration. Additionally, gameplay mechanics like fixed camera angles, imprecise controls, and difficult platforming segments (e.g., strict timing jumps) exacerbate the experience, particularly in DLC content like 'Seal The Deal' and 'Death Wish.'
- Excitement (weight 0.09): The game's dynamic and varied gameplay mechanics, including unique movement systems, creative levels, and engaging boss battles, generate excitement. Players also highlight the game's whimsical tone, immersive presentation, and the sheer volume of content (including mods and DLCs) as reasons for their enthusiasm, often comparing it favorably to classic platformers.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players feel satisfied due to the game's smooth movement, creative level design, and rewarding gameplay loops, such as completing challenging acts or collecting items. The game's value for money, replayability, and community engagement (e.g., mods) further contribute to this emotion, with many noting it exceeded their expectations.
- Admiration (weight 0.09): The game's overall polish, unique aesthetics, and high-quality design (e.g., soundtrack, character design, and level creativity) earn admiration from players. Many praise the developers' passion and community engagement, often ranking it among the best platformers of all time for its ability to blend nostalgia with modern innovation.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.08): The game evokes nostalgia by paying homage to classic 3D platformers like *Super Mario 64* and *Banjo-Kazooie*, with its collectathon structure and whimsical tone. Players often reflect on childhood memories or compare it to beloved games from earlier generations, making it a sentimental favorite.
- Joy (weight 0.08): The game's playful humor, charming characters, and creative level design create a joyful experience. Players enjoy its relaxing yet engaging gameplay, often highlighting the satisfaction of exploration, platforming, and the game's ability to put a smile on their faces through its whimsical tone.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players derive enjoyment from the game's smooth movement, fluid platforming, and non-repetitive gameplay. The combination of humor, creative mechanics, and a well-crafted soundtrack keeps them engaged, often losing track of time due to the game's immersive and fun experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): The game's absurd and darkly humorous scenarios, such as unconventional character interactions (e.g., penguin fights, mafia beatings) and creative storytelling, amuse players. Its whimsical tone and unexpected events (e.g., haunted Porta-Potty) add a layer of entertainment beyond traditional platforming.
- Affection (weight 0.04): Players develop affection for the game due to its cute and memorable characters, charming design, and overall warmth. The game's ability to create a special and unique experience fosters a deep emotional connection, with many describing it as endearing and lovable.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Some players feel disappointed by the game's underdeveloped storytelling, shallow narrative, and inconsistent difficulty. Technical issues (e.g., camera problems, crashes) and design choices (e.g., blocking time rifts, unfocused platforming) also contribute to this emotion, particularly in later chapters or DLCs.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players express love for the game's overall experience, including its charming characters, engaging gameplay, and memorable soundtrack. The combination of its creative design, emotional impact, and sheer enjoyment makes it a beloved title for many.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players feel gratitude toward the developers for creating a game that provided emotional support, personal growth, or positive real-world experiences (e.g., cosplay, community engagement). Many also appreciate the game's role in introducing them to new gaming experiences or fostering connections.
- Recommendation (weight 0.02): Players frequently recommend the game to others, citing its strong platforming mechanics, creative design, and overall positive experience. Many suggest it to fans of collectathons or classic 3D platformers, often comparing it favorably to titles like *Super Mario 64*.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's confidence, well-crafted design, and its ability to feel fresh even on replay. The modding community, DLCs, and the game's homage to classic platformers are often highlighted as reasons for this appreciation.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): The game surprises players by exceeding expectations, particularly in its subtle gameplay enhancements, creative level design, and ability to deliver a spooky or immersive experience despite not being a preferred genre.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief when the game provides a relaxing or pressure-free experience, such as avoiding overly difficult platforming segments or enjoying a break from intense gameplay. Some also express relief at discovering the game is more fun when approached casually.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): The game's long-term engagement, modding community, and replayability generate enthusiasm among players. Many return to the game after years to discover new content or mods, highlighting its lasting appeal.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Some players regret not playing the game earlier, despite owning it, or discovering certain mechanics (e.g., modding) late in their experience. Others wish they had purchased it on a different platform for a better experience.
- Adoration (weight 0): Players adore the game for its story, controls, and community, often describing it as a standout title in their gaming library. The combination of its charm, creativity, and emotional impact fosters deep admiration.
- Discomfort (weight 0): Certain elements of the game, such as camera-induced motion sickness or dark/twisted themes (e.g., Chapter 3's horror segments), cause discomfort for some players, disrupting their immersion or enjoyment.}