14 DAY TRIAL // A quick dash gets me to the next platform. While in the air, I launch one rocket from my trusty pink stapler, eliminating a wall of documents that stood in my way. As I land on the platform, I quickly look up to see where I need to land then shoot another rocket at the ground to launch myself into a massive jump.
I land where I wanted but I neglected to fire another rocket to clear another set of obstacles. Because the floor is lava and constantly rising, I can’t make my next dash, which means a fiery death is waiting. I quickly hit R to start another attempt.
Hell of an Office is developed by 43 Studios and published by Joystick Ventures. I played a preview version of it on the PC, with the full experience set to arrive later in the year. The title offers a first-person platformer with a focus on carefully timed moves.
There’s not much story. The player seems to be the only employee of a stationary supply company that is working inside Hell. The Devil is the boss and it seems the job is not providing the right incentives because he is ready to try and escape. There’s no narrative info about the stapler that has the ability to launch rockets.
But it’s a good idea that the stapler delivers high explosive projectiles and that our character is immune to the resulting explosions. This method of propulsion is the only way of reaching higher points in the level. Rockets will also eliminate obstacles that stand in the way of progress.
The other big mechanic in Hell of an Office is the dash. It works on a timer, which players can clearly see in their user interface. Using it gives players a way to cover the big chasms between platforms. Combine it with the rocket jump to move between sections that seem impossible to bridge.
The levels are relatively short and the game scores players based on their time. Even getting bronze requires a good plan and solid reflexes. And there’s a constant stream of new ideas, like disappearing platforms, that force players to adapt their approach.
Hell of an Office makes a good first impression, although it might struggle to . It is easy to fail and get into the lava but a restart is just one button press away. It takes a few tries to see exactly which moves are required to clear a level. And then it’s time to run through it until the sequence becomes familiar and there’s almost no need to think while moving.
Hell of an Office has a decent look but don’t expect gritty realism. Levels combine the idea of Hell with a classic office building but the focus is not on the details. Players are in constant motion and move fast enough that there’s no time to take in the sights. It’s easy to see where you need to go. The soundtrack is designed to get the adrenaline pumping, with some weird demonic noises thrown in to suit the theme.
Conclusion
It might be harder for newcomers to engage with it. Even the first world features some challenging levels that require almost perfect timing (even with the rising lava turned off). Hell of an Office has a cool core idea but it needs to deliver variety to keep gamers playing in the long run.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
