Review by edenb August 9, 2007

I’m generally not a fan of games that have poor production values. Those games that have their buttons on the selection screen scrawled on using Microsoft Paint. The games that have a hodgepodge of graphical styles and music. The games that don’t give a toss about spelling of instructions. Sexy Hiking is one of those games. But unlike the vast majority of those rough efforts, Sexy Hiking is one of the most enjoyable and surprising games I’ve played in a long time.

I start off on a little platform with a tree. I can move forwards and backwards (no innovation there), but I can also use my pickaxe to hook onto the tree, and indeed anywhere else I want to. Movement of the pickaxe is 360, so the little 2D avatar of me (with a 3D hand) can move in amusing ways- most of the initial fun of Sexy Hiking is in playing with your little character and attempting to hike with it.

“Attempting” is the important word here though. ‘Hiking has blistering difficulty, although I didn’t actually feel the usual emotions associated with trying to do something over and over and over. There was no frustration, or anything like that. I didn’t really care that I wasn’t progressing at a fast rate- it was just plain fun to play with my pickaxe. The pickaxe mechanic creates this euphoria and joy for me, probably since it’s such a novelty. It’s a new experience, and for some developers (including me), a new experience is one of the main things they wish to create with their game.

The problem with Sexy Hiking being so difficult is that it’s not going to encourage people to play on. It’s a deterrent to all but the most hardcore, challenge obsessed gamers. This is quite cruel, really (not to mention a waste of a great concept). As a player, I’m tantalized by the prospect of all the fun stuff I can do with the pickaxe; but then boom! I get frustrated and press the escape key.

That’s the crux of this game: a great concept that unfortunately paints itself onto a canvas that is too hard for most people. This doesn’t make Sexy Hiking any less fun, though. It just shortens the length that you’re probably going to play it for. Nevertheless, Sexy Hiking is one of the most original games I have played this year. I’d even go as far to say it’s one of the best indie games ever made, in terms of concept.