Hocus Pocus Review

Hocus Pocus is a game (of many) that I did play growing up. For anyone who didn’t play the game in the 90’s. This game is a 2d platform game (from 1994) in which you play as a wizard called Hocus. Hocus has been sent on a special mission (of completing 4 different trials). In a bid to show Terexin, the leader of the council of wizards of his is worthy of being a wizard.

Granted the name of the game is basic and it doesn’t leave you with much hope of this being unique. Even for any considerations for it being an older game. However I feel that this game does have its own unique charms in its own way. As the story of the game is that you complete 4 different trials (chapters) in the game. Each chapter has its own environments that you get to play through. Such as castles with giant mushroom forests outside, church like castles or even ice crystal caves. Each level does have its own soundtrack and assets in the level. Which I quite like as it does separate level assets on a visual level.

But I did notice that out of the monsters in game there are 6 different styles of enemies. These being slow/fast melee using monsters, ranged monsters and 3 different flying type of monsters. Granted most of the monsters are reskins of other monsters but I liked the visual variety nonetheless. I didn’t like the animation of the monsters because as a whole it is quite basic. However the animations are ok, even if basic.

Gameplay wise this game does play out like your average 2d platformer. However it is more complex than the average 2d platformer as you aren’t running from point a to b. Instead each trial in the game is 9 levels for each chapter. This does include a boss level at the end of each chapter. Whilst you can complete each level around 10 minutes or less depending on your skill (on average). The levels themselves are quite big but not so big that you require a map.

Even though levels maybe big in size, the levels aren’t very empty. Since each level has numerous treasures/resources to find and monsters to fight on each level. As well as various lift/lever puzzles to provide a challenge.

Hocus Pocus Wizard

Whilst I like the gameplay of the levels as it is more intelligent than your average platform game. However I did notice that the game does judge you upon various factors. Namely how much treasure you collect, how fast you are to complete the level and how many monsters you kill. But I didn’t like how when you collect all the orbs the level ends. I would have liked it if you could leave a level at any time. After you collect the orbs so you can collect the treasure if desired.

I did also find out that some of the puzzles are quite flawed. There are lever puzzles in particular are flawed. In these puzzles you pull a lever up/down and it is trial and error on whether you succeed. As all I had to do was try every combination to open doors. However on some occasions it sets off a booby trap. I also have a similar sentiment towards the lift puzzles as if you jump of a lift too early. You cannot access the lift to go back up from the lower floors. As a result of this you wind up redoing the whole level again. Which if you are too fast for the game it will mean you redoing levels until you get it right.

Hocus Pocus Giant Mushroom's

Overall I would recommend this game if you are after a retro platforming game of the early 90’s. I would also recommend playing this with a controller as it is a better experience. Using a controller also has the added bonus of that you are also less likely that you will end up breaking a keyboard. This is because you do end up hammering the control/alt buttons in order to jump/cast spells a lot.

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