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‘Hirogami’ looks great on paper, but its various issues hold it back from being a modern-day classic.<\/p>\n
Bandai Namco<\/p>\n
Hirogami has turned a lot of heads in the lead-up to its September 3rd release on PC and PS5, and it\u2019s easy to see why. Bandai Namco\u2019s origami-infused platformer is charming, looks gorgeous, and with the right approach to its character-changing puzzle mechanics, it could be a classic for 2025.<\/p>\n
While you can\u2019t doubt Hirogami\u2019s beauty or endearing credentials, it still has its fair share of rough edges. It\u2019s not that it has any truly rotten issues, but rather a constant accumulation of minor frustrations that detract from a game with incredible potential \u2014 death by a thousand paper cuts, so to speak.<\/p>\n
Hirogami sees you assume the role of Hiro, a shapeshifting \u201centertainer\u201d who loses folding powers to the Blight, a vine-like disease that invades your origami homeland of Papyrunia. Despite Hiro being perceived as a coward by warrior Shiori, they begrudgingly accept you as a fighter, if only because you\u2019re one of the few survivors remaining.<\/p>\n
At its core, Hirogami is a collectathon platformer set over ten chapters, told across the pages of an open book on a table in the \u201creal world\u201d. Mainlining the game takes around six hours, but each stage has three core missions \u2014 such as completing the level, collecting paper, or maintaining your health above several hearts \u2014 alongside a trio of additional challenges for collectibles and currencies, catering to those looking for their next ten-hour Platinum trophy.<\/p>\n
Hirogami is reminiscent of a grown-up Tearaway Unfolded with Far Eastern influences, complete with punchy colors and gorgeous landscapes that wonderfully apply a paper aesthetic. Once you get hands-on with the tutorial, it\u2019s a bit jarring \u2014 a mix of free-flowing surroundings playing out at a consistent 60fps, with your stop-motion protagonist juddering and skipping between frames \u2014 but you soon find your feet and learn to love it.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re initially stuck with just your \u201cHiro fold\u201d and wind-wafting Sacred Fan for defense. It\u2019s pretty standard fare: you explore levels, fight initially docile enemies, catch breezes in your flat-paper form, and search for treasure chests. Basic commands are a little quirky \u2014 jumping feels slightly off, and has an odd hang time (though I suppose you are made of paper), while actions and combat moves often lock you in place until they\u2019re completed \u2014 but it\u2019s forgiving, at least to begin with.<\/p>\n
However, platforming sections are pretty tight, even if they lack timing and curation that delivers those real moments of satisfaction, whether you\u2019re reacting quickly, solving a puzzle, or most crucially, forced to transform at short notice.<\/p>\n
Animal magic<\/p>\n
You\u2019re finally allowed to shapeshift once you regain your basic animal folds, which you quickly learn over Hirogami\u2019s first few stages by defeating a trio of Blighted characters: an armadillo with a Yorkshire dialect, a posh frog, and a self-conscious ape. There\u2019s also a stage-specific bird form, which deliciously transforms you into a paper aeroplane when you use your boost ability.<\/p>\n
The frog is a game changer.<\/p>\n
Bandai Namco<\/p>\n
Each one looks believably handmade, even if they all have the same color scheme as the aliens in They Live. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses: the armadillo rolls up for speedy movement and bashing, but can\u2019t jump or walk well; the frog can jump high and spit goo, but lacks defense; the ape can swing from vines, smash boxes, and move blocks, but is a bit average at everything in general.<\/p>\n
Changing between forms is effortless, so long as you always remember which button summons what, which you won\u2019t. Each swap is tied to the flat paper ability, making transformations both very satisfying to watch \u2014 as you deconstruct and reconstruct in moments \u2014 and also a bit frustrating, as you incorrectly cycle through forms and you\u2019re forced to see them all play out.<\/p>\n
Each form also brings other abilities, and while these are introduced with good ideas in mind, some are never used after their introductory progression point, and others make your paper forms unbalanced.<\/p>\n
Far from ace combat<\/p>\n
Initially, Hirogami\u2019s combat is a breeze. However, as more enemies are introduced and combine in different ways, it quickly becomes a minefield that relies heavily on good fortune. The fact that no-damage runs are a recurring side quest means that completionists will definitely tear their hair out on some of the levels.<\/p>\n
Hiro can\u2019t fight animals with his fan, so you have to transform. Initially, you rely on the armadillo\u2019s rolling attack, but Hirogami constantly adds new obstacles to complicate things. Once your frog fold finally gets its splash upgrade \u2014 initially used to bounce higher via toadstools \u2014 you can effectively spam an entire field of enemies without much resistance, especially if you anticipate attacks.<\/p>\n
The absolute bane of the game are shielded enemies, cheap foes that have clearly been created to make you use your frog\u2019s spit ability. They offer no warning of their defensive move and ruin any flow you have.<\/p>\n
Crumple zones<\/p>\n
Combat aside, Hirogami also has several minor issues that hold it back. First and foremost are the camera angles; these are regularly hard-locked to intended paths, rather than allowing for exploration, making some sections, including visit-and-return excursions, challenging to navigate. The distance blur can also be dramatic, obscuring your view of what\u2019s to come and essentially hiding its beauty.<\/p>\n