Mina the Hollower Review: Burrowing Into My Heart | The Gamerheads Podcast

Platform reviewed: PC (Steam)

Also on: PC (Humble, GOG) Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Price: $19.99

Since I started writing for Gamerheads I’ve realized that I missed out on a lot of games as a child. The only games I had for my gameboy color were Pokemon yellow and Asteroids, so I missed out on the classics like Link’s Awakening until years later. Playing through Mina the Hollower felt like I was making up for lost time, from the 8-bit graphics to the soundtrack, everything is a homage to the classics but with its own Identity. 

Mina the Hollower follows Mina, who you guessed it, is a Hollower tasked with bringing the power back on to a cursed island plagued with a rebellion and roaming monsters. Picking daggers as my weapon of choice I set out to meet Lionel, whose letter summoned me to this once illuminated island to bring the power back. After encountering my first enemy I realize this is not going to be a cozy game where I just hack and slash my way through to the end, instead I have to use the moveset the game offers me. 

Never once did I feel like there was an input delay or Mina did something I didn’t want her to do.

Mina can not only jump but burrow underneath enemies and their attacks, knowing what to do and when means the difference between life and death much like other games in this category. I will admit I was not good at this game in the beginning, I kept getting the timing wrong trying to dodge enemie’s attacks but I kept coming back; not because I had to write this review. but because every hit or death truly did feel like it was my fault. Never once did I feel like there was an input delay or Mina did something I didn’t want her to do. After each death I would take what I learned and try again, I’ll admit I was not a fast learner. This is where I have to pick my camp, there has been many debates about difficult games. Should they provide options to make the game accessible? My feelings on the subject is yes, yes they should, and Mina the Hollower has a suite of options to customize your gameplay. I was very pleased with how even the menus were organized, categorizing each option in its own category from making the game more challenging to accessible. Giving players these choices makes sure everyone can experience the story it has to offer instead of gatekeeping it, and besides if you’re like me and want to prove yourself you can keep the options off and play as the devs intended.

From the moment Mina lands on the shore I’m immediately immersed.

Outside of combat the game’s puzzles also shine, asking me if I understand Mina’s movements and the rules of this game. In a game like this with no tutorial some of the puzzles represent skill checks making sure I understand mechanically what I’m about to be thrown into. I’ve grown to appreciate this way of teaching in games rather than having me go through mandatory actions to teach me a mechanic. It's up to me to seek the knowledge. 

From the moment Mina lands on the shore I’m immediately immersed. The level of detail even in this 8-bit world was nothing short of beautiful. The devs over at Yacht Club Games pushed the graphical restraints to the limit. Mixed with the soundtrack created by Shovel Knight veteran Jake Kaufman, Mina the Hollower establishes itself and its world absolutely nailing the gothic horror vibes. Every time I thought I knew what to expect out of this game it would surprise me, whether with a boss fight that comes out of nowhere or one of the later levels, I was never ready for it.

Final Grade: A

Mina the Hollower is the perfect example of a game with a retro look but modern feel. With fluid combat and snappy controls making for an enjoyable and inventive combat loop, this game became a favorite.. Trying to learn each puzzle and find every secret this great game had for me was well worth my time.

Review code provided by Yacht Club Games