Game: Pine Hearts
Genre: Puzzle, Adventure, Lifestyle
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on Steam (Windows))
Developer | Publisher: Hyper Luminal Games | Little Nook
Age Rating: US Everyone | EU 3+
Price: US $19.99 | UK £15.99 | EU € 19,99
Release Date: May 23rd, 2024
A review was code used, with many thanks to Renaissance PR.
Earlier in the year, Yvonne gave her thoughts on the Pine Hearts demo and was impressed with how well it played, especially on the Steam Deck. I’ve had the chance to play Pine Hearts on the Nintendo Switch and share Yvonne’s enthusiasm for the colourful and cute graphics.
Pine Hearts is a poignant story inspired by loss, created with passion and respect, and giving hope to those in grief. I’ll admit I shed a little tear, but was it out of admiration for the narrative or frustration at the gameplay?
Arriving at Pine Hearts
You play as Tyke, a young person who arrives at Pine Hearts in the hope of completing his hillwalking journal. This challenge holds a special meaning for Tyke, which plays out in the form of memories brought back to mind as he wanders around the campsite, caravan park, golf club and beach.
But before any of that sentimental roaming, Tyke is tasked with petting the dog at the train station. However, you’ll have to chase after the dog as she runs back to her owner. This little quest is designed to help teach the basic controls.
Ranger Maddie recognises Tyke and recalls his father, and says that it would be irresponsible of her to let Tyke climb the mountain. He is unprepared and ill-equipped. But if Tyke can help her, she could get him started with some gear. So the next task, with the gift of a hammer, is to clear the path to the standing stone and cave.
Memories of Pine Hearts
Finding the standing stone and clearing the path gives rewards in the form of memory drops (they look a bit like water droplets). Collect enough, 50 to begin with, and the memory unlocks. The memories are not just cut scenes; there is some interaction, and as you journey through them, Tyke will learn a new skill.
Unlike the graphics of the main game, the memories are shown via cardboard cut-outs and sketch-like drawings, although they are clearly set in Pine Hearts Park. It’s a really clever way to demonstrate these childhood reminiscences.
Returning to Maddie, you find out that Bonnie, the dog, has gone to see the kids at the campsite, and she suggests you do the same. And so the journey begins. You chat with people you meet, help them with their requests (be it finding worms, fixing boats, scaring crows, and so much more), and collect the memory drops. Will you collect enough to climb the mountain?
There’s a Lot to See at Pine Hearts
Pine Hearts is more than just a mountain. The world map shows the seven distinct areas, ranging from a beach to a golf course, a castle to a campsite. With quests galore in each of them, apart from the mountain. The main story guides you through the key areas; however, little parts of these areas are blocked with tree stumps, rock faces, etc., and can’t be accessed until that skill or tool has been unlocked. To be honest, it was slightly frustrating to remember where I needed to return to when I gained a new skill.
The world map might not be detailed enough to find all the routes, but there is a local map on the quest log page. This smaller map shows the paths in that area and also helps find quest items and key individuals. Unfortunately, I found the quest log inconsistent. Try as I might, I couldn’t clear the campsite or Thermos task, and when I got to the beach, I collected too many tasks to fit on the page.
The number of drops needed to unlock a new memory ramps up quite significantly, but you do receive several for completing tasks, and there are lots lying on the ground. In the end I collected over 10% more than I needed, so not every task needs completing to finish the game. However, if you like getting 100% in a game, there is no indication as to what tasks are left or where the missing memory drops might be.
Gameplay
Pine Hearts is enjoyable to play in both handheld and docked modes, although there is the odd judder whilst the game saves. The controls are straightforward, and you are reminded of what to press when you get to an object. I did find that sometimes I had to wander around a character or object to get the ‘A’ to interact with it.
The options menu is very extensive. There are settings for accessibility, including run mode, simplified controls (no holding or mashing A to complete tasks), font scaling, and visual support (including high contrast and colour blocking). Seven different audio settings, the ability to remap the controller and screen shake toggle, as well as other parameters.
Pine Hearts autosaves, with an option to reset your saved data for another run-through. Personally, I didn’t like the save mechanism, and I think it accounted for some of the issues I came across. I found Tyke would keep moving without any input if the game was saved whilst running. I got stuck on a rock several times and consequently lost progress when I relaunched. And even though I quit out after the autosave, I wasn’t allowed to progress until I revisited the memory I had before the save.
The music and sound effects are great. They immerse you in the wilderness of the Pine Hearts forests, transport you to the shoreline with lapping waves, and just add that extra vibe whilst creeping around the ruins.
There is no time of day during your exploration of Pine Hearts, and the game takes about 4-7 hours to complete.
Conclusion
There is no denying that Pine Hearts is a beautifully crafted narrative. There are plenty of tasks to keep any quest hunter happy, but don’t rely on the quest log to keep track. The characters are adorable, the graphics are fresh and colourful, and the music adds to the experience.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot 
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