Having cut my teeth (and my knees and my elbows and my sense of self worth) on the cult classic Baby Steps, I wasn’t sure that I was ready to take on the vehicular version of this kind of torture again so soon. With over the hill, a retro, minimalist take on the genre, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this had much less slamming your head into both a metaphorical and literal wall but rather a super relaxed vibe-fest with soothing tunes and an art style straight from the pages of Art of Rally, another game developed by Funselektor Labs Inc.
Choosing from a selection of vintage 4×4 off-roaders, you’re exploring the wilderness, from vast, open deserts to boulder-strewn mountainsides, each new area having a distinct look and feel from the others on offer. You’ll find cabins to repurposed as camps, fast-travel points that are freely available to jump between, each the catalyst for a new adventure.
Crates litter the landscape in Over the Hill, containing collectibles with which to customise your motor, be it a roof rack full of camping gear or extra jerry cans of fuel to strap on the side of the truck. It’s these little touches that I really appreciate as it takes the vehicle from being just another 4×4 to being my 4×4, even though it’ll make some sticky situations a touch more heart-breaking, as you roll backwards into a ravine. But, fear not, as you can respawn without a scratch at your nearest camp and pretend nothing happened before carrying on your merry way, exploring the trails and plains.
Dropped off at base camp, you’re free to go off in any way you please, your map initially covered in a grey fog, only a few cabins marked to give you a sense of purpose if you think you need it. As you delve deeper through each region, your map will expand showing trails and question marks, points of interest to work your way towards. Some will be easy to trek to, whilst others will require a little more resolve to reach. Drop your gear to gain more traction through uneven terrain. Fire out a winch to help you drag yourself up steep rock inclines. Fail miserably before waterlogging your engine and forcing a tactical fast travel.
With portals to other environments to find, trail trials to overcome and a compendium of animals to photograph, there’s something to find around every bend that will pique your interest. However, as you clear the map of markers, each excursion to find excitement will take longer and longer as you scour the area for those final collectibles.
It’s here that you realise just how much more this would be with friends, chatting crap about whatever takes your fancy. Fortunately, over the hill supports up to four players so as long as you can find a friend or two, each road trip will be as entertaining as you make it yourself.
Over the hill looks gorgeous, with a fully realised day/night cycle and dynamic weather. From the first beams of sunlight in the early hours to the diamond studded skies of late evening, it’s a stunning looking game that will delight you at every turn. Whilst your eyes are treated to some astounding vistas, your aural please isn’t being forgotten. Your radio has a selection of ambient and folk tunes that perfectly suit the relax and explore nature of over the hill. These are not earworms to be hummed when doing the washing up. These are soundscapes that blend with the moment, becoming integral to the experience as a whole. Just an absolute joy.
Over the hill combines some fantastic looking locales with chill off-road driving challenges. Whilst this can be a lovely way to hang out with your mates, it’s a little lacking when keeping the interest of a solo player. The maps are ripe for exploration, there just needs to be a little more to actually do when trekking alone. Grab a buddy or two, drop it into low gear and soak up the chill vibes of the rural outdoors.
