When I got the chance to
preview Skyhill earlier this year, I went into it wondering just what would really be on offer. On the surface, it had pretty much everything I get excited about in a game; post-apocalyptic setting, RPG-inspired crafting and experience mechanics and even the gut-wrenching task of securing survival at all costs. All of the ingredients for a pretty great game, wouldn’t you say? Given the modest set-up, however, you’d be forgiven for fearing that the sum of its parts wouldn’t quite add up to hit the heights.
Fortunately, Skyhill does not disappoint. Developer Mandragora has put together an immensely satisfying experience that can keep its players entertained for either a few moments or even a few hours depending on their skill, endurance and even how well lady luck may be smiling on them.
So, what’s it all about? Well, in short, there’s been a fairly catastrophic nuclear event and the world has turned to all hell. Your character, an average Joe who’d been staying in the titular hotel’s executive, 100th floor suite soon finds the disastrous events have had an effect in the hotel itself, too, and it seems escape is the only chance for survival. Having been holed up in his room for some time, he finds the courage to leave his suite and start the hundred floor descent through the dark and dangerous building.
A quick dash down the floors to safety? How hard could that be? Well, given that the power has shut down almost entirely, most of the supplies are exhausted AND the majority of the other inhabitants have either mutated or turned into murderous psychotics, it turns out it can be very hard indeed. At its core, this is simply a game about survival and the only way to secure this is to make it from the top floor to the ground floor exit. There are no lives or do-overs in Skyhill, though, and so if you succumb to one of the many threats in the hotel, then you’re right back to square one.
[...]
Score: 4.5/5 - Fantastic
Skyhill's set-up is a harrowing reality, while the challenge it offers players is both terrifically fun and nightmarishly difficult. It is a true test of your gaming endurance.
