Hapunan is a horror game based around the sensitivities of a financially struggling household in the Philippines. You play the role of an adolescent teenager, Niko, who has risen to his responsibilities of becoming an earning son for the family to support his father by selling the traditional Filipino snack combo of balut and chicharrón on the streets. Life-threatening horrors are looming in your vicinity, and you will have to fight them off with bravery. We played Hapunan and found it to be a cultural treat with some solid horror infused in it. The earthy and gritty appeal of Hapunan feels exciting.
Hapunan Game Review
A sneak peek into financially struggling households
Sitting on your gaming chair, sipping delicious gulps of energy drinks and simultaneously having a snack on a fine weekend, you are about to be shaken up after seeing the house of Niko and the dread-filled air of poverty that could be instantly felt in that makeshift house. Bunk beds, a claustrophobic level of closed spaces, a constant sense of worry in Niko’s mom’s demeanor about keeping the finances afloat, and Niko’s questionable academic performance and flirtatious gallivanting, a young brother who is unaware of the family’s poverty, and a killer on the loose – you are going to feel the burden of responsibilities on Niko’s young shoulders.
It’s an emotionally charged experience, seeing no joy on the faces of your mom and dad, and Hapunan does an excellent job of delivering that.
Creepy customers that gaze into your soul
While you’re trying to sell the balut and chicharrón, you’re going to encounter arrogant idiots who just speak because they don’t know how to keep quiet, genuine characters who ask about your work schedule and warn you about the increased crime on the streets, and insanely creepy characters who look so dirty that you could literally feel their stench through the screen—you are going to feel cared for, prayed upon, and rudely talked to while interacting with the somewhat obnoxious, somewhat nice-yet-eerie, and somewhat evil characters while playing Hapunan.
The textures used for characters are goofy, unsettling, but somehow intriguing—you might recall the rough textures and old-school charm of the early 2000s video gaming era. The awkwardly eerie silence of the game works as a character of its own in the gameplay, adding a layer of mystery and suspense to the experience.
A budding teen romance
The budding teen romance angle comes off as a major relief in the turbulent ride that is Niko’s life. The neighborhood girl wants Niko’s attention and likes to share her life with him, and their entire interaction has a very youthful, innocent, heartwarming, and slightly flirtatious vibe to it. You are going to cheer for Niko and hope that they meet again soon. Their evident ‘sparks flying’ chemistry is endearing, pure, and simply too cute, and it just might trigger the fond memories you had shared with a loved one. The neighborhood girl, Ashley, is smitten with Niko and you’re going to feel terribly lonely if you’re single in real life after watching her antics.
You will feel a strong sense of masculinity
After being alerted to the news about the local murders, Niko decides to sell the leftover snacks to gather some getaway funds for his family, but he ends up being chased by a member of the same infamous ‘pay-per-kill’ killer gang. I won’t give away too much of the climax, but let’s say that Niko gets betrayed by the very same people he trusted. After a desirable turn of events, Niko gets his revenge and ends up saving his family from the murderous onslaught of the pay-per-kill gangsters. The entire ordeal will spike up your testosterone levels to astronomic levels and make you feel like a Filipino John McClane who just saved the day.
Overall, Hapunan is a nerve-wracking masculine experience that every boy will love playing.
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