Overview
Energy Hook is a 2016 PC and PS4 indie game, and the début project of Happion Laboratories. Energy Hook's gameplay is centred on a swinging mechanic, and mastering it to perform better stunts and gain more points.
The game initially released had an early access alpha available for purchase through the developer's website prior to 2015 Early Access release. There were plans in 2014 which discussed an aim to release the game on the PS Vita, Xbox One, Mac and Linux in addition to the current platforms.
Gameplay
So, what is Energy Hook? Well, imagine that 3D swinging-and-movement games like Spider-Man 2 and Bionic Commando had a love child with points-for-style games like SSX, Tony Hawk and Project Gotham Racing.
Jamie Fristrom, Happion Laboratories
Art Style
"Instead of trying to 'art direct' and forcing some kind of draconian consistency on the artists (who are all volunteers, devoting spare time to the project) - they basically have free reign to come up with their own looks for their own levels"
Jamie Fristrom, Halpion Laboratories
Each of the game's levels will feature entirely distinct art styles, each contributed by a different artist.
Confirmed artists include Paul Whitehead (who authored surrealist cover-art for early albums of progressive-rock groups Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator in the 70's), Keegan O'Rourke, Antonio Revard, and Killst4r.
Development
Jamie Fristrom, Energy Hook's sole developer, was the engineer behind Spider-Man 2's highly-acclaimed web-swinging mechanics. After leaving Activision, he co-founded a new company, Torpex Games, which ultimately collapsed. Subsequently, Fristrom created Happion Labs, and began developing a game based upon his previous work in Spider-Man 2. His work on the Tony Hawk series also influenced the game, and its emphasis on trick mechanics and point scoring.
Energy Hook was funded through an unorthodox Kickstarter campaign that set the funding goal at 1$. The project went on to gather 41,535$ from 1622 backers.
In the Kickstarter campaign, Energy Hook was originally announced as a PC, Mac, and Linux game, but the developer has since confirmed it will later be coming to consoles. After being released on personal computers, the first consoles to receive the game will be the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, followed by the Xbox One. The developer has stated a Wii U version is a possibility.
External Links
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