Harold Halibut
Release Date: April 16, 2024
Adventure, science fiction, point-and-click, indie games, Game Pass, singleplayer
Steam
Harold Halibut is a science fiction adventure game, which stands out from similar games due to its hand-crafted visuals. The developers - members of the German studio Slow Bros - have created all the elements of the in-game world from wood, metal, gum, and other materials. Moreover, they have transferred physical props into the virtual environment with photogrammetry software.
Harold Halibut for PC is a science fiction adventure game featuring unique and handcrafted visuals. The elements of the environment have been designed as real props out of wood, fabric, and other materials and converted with the photogrammetry software into virtual 3D objects ready for digital processing and implementing into the utilized engine.
This unique game has been developed by a small German studio known for creating two experimental and artistic games, featuring Klanglichter – a laser harp project combining the features of the instrument with the video game environment. Also worth mentioning is VR Outcasted, in which a player can assume the role of a man living as a beggar on the streets of a modern city.
Plot
The action of Harold Halibut for PC is set onboard a spaceship sunk in the depths of an alien water planet. The vessel is huge and has multiple shops, pubs, and even mock-up city streets with lanterns. As befits a ship designed to cover interstellar distances, there are many well-equipped laboratories onboard. The crew, however, is in no mood to uncover any mysteries of the universe – they mooch around the dump corridors engulfed in everyday routines and overwhelmed with the atmosphere of the underwater world.
One's guide onboard the stranded spaceship is the titular Harold Halibut, a cleaner, a conservator and a gentleman. In between his regular responsibilities such as cleaning the floors and replacing light bulbs, Harold helps the scientists from the ship's research department. The chief scientist is trying to find a way to restart the ship's engines in order to leave the water planet. Harold decides to help her in completing this objective.
Mechanics
The gameplay of Harold Halibut does not deviate much from what other adventure games have so far delivered. Players observe from the side perspective how the main protagonist explores consecutive locations onboard the spaceship and interacts with the members of the crew. Among the NPCs one gets to talk to, there are regular passengers, ship's maintenance team, and the science personnel. Even though the action of the game is mainly set onboard the stranded spaceship, the game allows one to explore the depths of an alien ocean inside a crawler track submarine.
Technical aspects
Harold Halibut for {PLAT] is based on the Unity 3D engine. All the elements of the in-game environment – from small items such as furniture and utensils through characters' bodies and clothes, to whole corridors and locations across the entire spaceship – they all have been carved, cut, nailed together, and painted in the developers' workshop and then translated into the virtual world with the photogrammetry technology. The puppets representing the characters have been created from a plastic substance surrounding metal wire skeletons. Then, small clothes and shoes have been sewn and pieces of equipment have been prepared. The in-game locations are actually miniature models, which look like a small film set or a dollhouse. These models have been implemented into the virtual world with the RealityCapture photogrammetry software.
At the beginning of the production processes, the developers have experimented with the stop-motion animation techniques. The characters were supposed to be in the form of 2D sprites with moving sequences recorded in eight directions. This approach, however, would make it impossible to implement dynamic lighting, camera, and other visual effects; thus, the developers have decided to use the photogrammetry software.
Last updated on September 27, 2017
Videos and Screens
[0:43] Harold Halibut Harold Halibut - Accolades Trailer
[2:04] Harold Halibut Harold Halibut - Release Date Reveal
The main pros of the game
- Art Style: The game features stunning handmade stop-motion visuals that are highly praised for their beauty and attention to detail. Reviewers often describe the aesthetic as reminiscent of classic animated films and commend the craftsmanship behind it.
- Story and Characters: Many users appreciate the engaging narrative and character development, noting that the story is emotionally resonant and thought-provoking. The protagonist, Harold, is described as relatable and endearing.
- Atmosphere: The game's ambiance, including its music and sound design, is highlighted as a strong point, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Unique Experience: Several reviewers mention that the game offers a unique and cozy experience, providing a different kind of gameplay focused on exploration and narrative rather than action.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitiveness: A common criticism is the game's tendency towards monotony, especially due to long walking sequences and backtracking to complete tasks or talk to NPCs. Many players found this aspect tedious.
- Pacing Issues: Reviewers noted that the game can feel slow and drag on, particularly in the latter parts of the story. Some felt that certain sections lacked payoff and could have been more concise.
- Limited Gameplay Mechanics: Several users expressed disappointment with the lack of interactivity and meaningful choices, feeling that the game leans more towards a narrative experience than an engaging gameplay one.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Puzzles and Choices: Many players wished for more puzzles or decision-making elements that could impact the story, as they felt the game was too linear and lacked agency.
- Streamlined Gameplay: Suggestions included reducing the amount of backtracking and making the traversal between locations more efficient to maintain engagement.
- Expanded Story Elements: Some reviewers expressed a desire for deeper exploration of themes and a more satisfying conclusion, indicating that certain story arcs felt underdeveloped or predictable.
Summary
- Overall, while "Harold Halibut" is celebrated for its artistic presentation and emotional storytelling, it faces criticism for its pacing, repetitiveness, and lack of interactive gameplay elements.
Summary generated on:
Harold Halibut Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows April 16, 2024
PlayStation 5 April 16, 2024
Xbox Series X/S April 16, 2024
PlayStation 4 May 2025
Xbox One May 2025
Developer: Slow Bros.
Publisher: Slow Bros.
Age restrictions: none
Harold Halibut System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-7400 / AMD FX-8370, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / 4 GB Radeon RX 480, 65 GB SSD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i9-10900K / AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / 16 GB Radeon RX 6800, 65 GB SSD, Windows 11 64-bit
Beautiful Adventure Game Harold Halibut Gets New Trailer
A new trailer for Harold Halibut - an adventure game distinguished by the graphic design using digital stop-motion animation - has appeared in the net. The game's release date remains unknown.
video games
Milosz Szubert
April 8, 2021