Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
Fresh from the Summer Games Fest is this trailer of Mina the Hollower, an upcoming title with a heavy dose of Zelda and Castlevania.
With heavy Game Boy Color aesthetic, Mina the Hollower, from the same team behind Shovel Knight, is expected to arrive in October, although a playable demo is now available on Steam.
Mina the Hollower explained
So, it looks like a traditional 8-bit adventure, but it runs on PC. Mina the Hollower launched on Kickstarter way back in early 2022, with 21,439 backers pledging $1,239,584 to support its development.
But what is this game all about?
Here’s the synopsis:
Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurtled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets. Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious music. Encounter a cast of bizarre characters, search out secrets in an array of exotic locales, and illuminate the omnipresent darkness in Mina the Hollower, a brand new game from the developers who brought you Shovel Knight!
It’s a shame it isn’t coming out on the GBC, to be honest, but I suspect that Mina the Hollower is possibly a bit too complicated for that.
Game features
The crowdfunding did well enough for various stretch goals to be attained, no least Linux and macOS compatibility. So, it should run fine on the Steam Deck, or your $2000 Macbook.
Okay, this is the list of features as publicised so far:
- Hauntingly authentic 8-bit visuals in the style of Game Boy Color, refined for the modern era.
- Modern touches abound: detailed animation, widescreen visuals, and rock-solid controls!
- Leap, dodge, and burrow through the ground to battle monsters or navigate the world.
- Lash at foes with your trusty whip, Nightstar- or choose from an arsenal of weapons, each with a totally different move set.
- Discover and utilize a reliquary’s worth of unusual Sidearms to gain the advantage in combat.
- Collect and equip Trinkets to acquire a variety of exotic effects. Level Mina up to suit your unique playstyle.
- Electrifying MSX-style soundtrack by chiptune virtuoso, Jake Kaufman.
- Descend into the depths of madness with a bone-chilling, yet heartwarming tale inspired by Victorian Gothic horror.
- Explore a huge, dark world brimming with secrets, challenging battles, and interconnected level design.
We’re told that the game will be along on October 31st to be specific, and the demo that appeared in the Summer Games Fest is the same one available now as part of the Steam Next Fest, running until June 16th.
The demo features the opening stage and first boss fight, and should provide a good flavour of what’s to come. It will also carry over any progress you make to the full version should you opt to make that upgrade.
For more info on this title visit MinaTheHollower.com
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
