Review of John Wick Hex Switch: tactical battle, second by second
Our Verdict
Rather than capitalise on the John Wick IP with a generic shooter, Bithell Games has carefully captured the spirit of the franchise
You'll need to stay one step ahead of your opponents while navigating backstreets and managing your arsenal of weaponry, even though there's still a ton of killing going on. The fact that John Wick Hex is a canonical narrative that takes place prior to the events of the first film is among its most intriguing aspects. The developer even went so far as to have Lance Reddick play the concierge and Ian McShane play the proprietor of the Continental Hotel, respectively.
John Wick adheres to a strict schedule at all times, exactly like the movie character, and Hex is no different. Every action is divided into milliseconds by the timeline system, which forces you to make difficult choices when your opponents surprise you. There is a probability rate associated with each tactical move you take, which helps you choose the optimal course of action in each situation.
Do you take the additional time to defeat an adversary that's close by? Or is it more effective to shoot them? Your time, ammunition, health, and other resources are all depleted by the choices you make. Consideration must also be given to the focus meter. When this bar is full, John Wick may roll or disengage from opponents to use melee assaults to deflect incoming gunfire. Focus draining might put you in a vulnerable position and make you stop and take a little break. It is crucial to remember that mishandling your attention may rapidly put a stop to your run.
While John Wick Hex is a game that can be finished in a matter of minutes, it is meant to be played through several times in order to get the ideal run. This is made clear when you get to witness the run unfold in real time at the conclusion of each level. Inadequate decision-making may lead to amusing, but uncomfortable animations that seem very artificial. Every repeat ought to play out like a scene from a movie; if not, you may wish to try again.
You get Continental coins in addition to a fashionable replay that is ideal for sharing on social media when you achieve a good score. Before beginning a task, you may use these coins to improve your skills and get new weapons to be ready for harder stages. Devoted viewers will recall these coins from the movies, and it's wonderful to see little touches like these included into the game.
It's unfortunate that several of the special portable capabilities, such the touch screen, could not have been used in the Nintendo Switch port. It's unfortunate that the devs didn't go over and above since this kind of assistance would have been fantastic in a game like John Wick Hex.