If you were to tell me that one of the most fast-paced, well-choreographed action films out there was to be converted into a game format where actions happen second by second, and pause by pause, I would have called you crazy. But, crazy as it may sound, Bithell Games’ John Wick Hex manages to distill the action of the film franchise into a top-down, tactical, almost-turn-based game. And quite frankly, it was very successful in its mission. Is John Wick Hex worth your time and money? Find out in our review below.
Bithell Games provided a review code for John Wick Hex for this review.
Starting Up
The main menu greeted me upon first booting the game up. I always consider that a plus, as it give me the chance to tweak graphics and audio settings before being thrust full-force into the game. There weren’t many graphics settings to adjust (to be entirely fair, there’s not much to modify of what I would describe as John Wick Hex’s cel-shaded style), and after adjusting some audio levels, I was good to go.
Familiarity with the timeline is the key to success in John Wick Hex
Setting the Pace
The enemy’s timeline is shown under yours. An intended action is shown, and the timeline extends. It’s up to you the player to decide what actions to perform to best subvert the enemy within the given timeline. Any intended actions will appear in a hypothetical timeline displayed at the top, even providing raw number outputs. Using this timeline system is a unique take on the more traditional turn-based tactical RPGs. Through this system, John Wick Hex gives off much faster-paced gameplay than its cousins, which fits given the game’s pedigree. Players looking for a more significant challenge will find a mode that only gives the player 5 seconds in each pause cycle to decide on what move to make next.
Within the core gameplay, there’s, of course, health, which bandages can heal. Bandages are a limited resource, and using them takes precious in-game seconds. The same can be said for ammunition. Oftentimes, switching between guns dropped by enemies is a necessity. Once again, picking up a new weapon takes in-game seconds as well, in which all manner of things can happen in the environment. There’s also the ‘focus’ gauge, which modifies various factors during gameplay. This is limited as well, but it regenerates slowly as time passes. John Wick Hex is epitomizes the saying: “Use your time wisely.”
Conclusion
Past that, there’s not really much else to the gameplay loop. A layer of difficulty gets added due to health and ammunition not getting carried over from level to level. The cel-shaded art style is done well and is unique, with vibrant colors popping out at the player. Animations can occasionally feel a little bit awkward, but other than that, John Wick Hex provides an enjoyable 9-12 hour initial experience.
Review Summary
John Wick Hex provides a unique take on the tactical top down game, and by adopting different systems, is able to capture the fast pace renowned in the films. The fun gameplay combined with the art style make John Wick Hex a fun, but albeit short, and occasionally awkward experience.
