Big Hops Channels Retro Platforming Legends Into Something Fresh
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Big Hops is an upcoming 3D platformer that blends influences from Tomb Raider, Galleon, and Mario Galaxy into a distinct and challenging modern experience, as explored in a recent Eurogamer feature.
Nostalgia in gaming often feels like a safe exercise in recycling past glories, but every once in a while, a project arrives that uses its influences with genuine imagination. Big Hops, an upcoming 3D platformer starring a remarkably agile frog, takes a page from the history books of the genre and mashes them together into a surprisingly distinct experience. As detailed by Christian Donlan in a recent feature for Eurogamer, the game pulls inspiration from an impressively broad spectrum of platforming history, blending the momentum-based traversal of early Tomb Raider titles with the grand, exploratory spaces reminiscent of Toby Gard's cult classic Galleon.
What makes the movement system stand out is how it forces players to manage momentum and position with intent. Your frog companion utilizes a versatile tongue for environmental puzzling, grappling, and combat interactions, while a stamina system limits vertical climbs to keep exploration grounded. The level design expands outward rather than guiding players down linear corridors, incorporating floating planetary spaces that recall Super Mario Galaxy alongside plant-based traversal tools that echo Ubisoft's Grow Home. Instead of feeling like a messy checklist of references, these elements come together to form cohesive, challenging environments that respect player intelligence.
For modern players accustomed to live-service loops and hyper-polished battle passes, diving into a game driven by deep-cut platformer DNA offers a refreshing change of pace. It channels the kind of weird, ambitious game design that defined the late nineties and early noughties, repackaging it for contemporary cross-platform hardware. You can read the full feature over at Eurogamer to get a deeper look at how Big Hops manages to honor its predecessors while carving out its own identity.
Tags: Big Hops, Platformer, Eurogamer, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer