Tom's Verdict
⚔️ Hidalgo was one of those games where the visual style immediately caught my attention. A Don Quixote-inspired adventure presented as though its world has been created from cardboard cut-outs is certainly something a little different, and thankfully the game itself proved to be every bit as charming as the screenshots suggested.
📦 The handcrafted appearance gives Hidalgo a wonderful personality. The characters and environments feel like parts of an elaborate cardboard theatre set, and I really enjoyed seeing where the adventure would take me next. It is colourful, imaginative and has a style that is very much its own.
I spent around 53 minutes with the demo and completed as much of it as I could. By the time I reached the end of my session, I was left genuinely looking forward to seeing more from the game.
🧩 The adventure itself is enjoyable and easy to settle into, with exploration and puzzles helping to keep the journey moving along. There is a lovely sense of charm running through the experience, and the Don Quixote inspiration gives the game a familiar foundation while still allowing it to create its own identity.
🎮 My one real niggle was with the controls, which felt a little icky at times. They occasionally didn't feel quite as smooth or natural as I would have liked, and there were moments when I was more conscious of controlling the character than I wanted to be. It wasn't enough to spoil the experience, but it was certainly the main area where I felt there was still room for improvement.
🌟 Thankfully, that relatively small issue didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the demo overall. Hidalgo has a beautiful and distinctive presentation, an imaginative world and enough charm to leave me wanting to continue the adventure when more becomes available.
💜 For me, Hidalgo is a very promising adventure that made an excellent first impression. The controls could use a little more refinement, but everything else I experienced left me keen to see where the journey goes next.
Based on my time with the demo, Hidalgo gets a 💜 Tom Recommends from me, and I am very much looking forward to seeing more.
Game Screenshots
Watch My Gameplay
Prefer to see Hidalgo Demo in action? Watch my gameplay video to see how the game plays before reading my full verdict.
Why I Liked This Game
- ✅ 📦 Wonderful cardboard cut-out art style — The handcrafted presentation gives Hidalgo a distinctive look and plenty of personality.
- ✅ ⚔️ An enjoyable adventure — I had good fun exploring the world and seeing where the journey would take me next.
- ✅ 🧩 A nice mixture of exploration and puzzles — The different gameplay elements help keep the adventure interesting.
- ✅ 🌟 Plenty of charm — The characters, environments and overall presentation make the world genuinely enjoyable to explore.
- ✅ 📖 An imaginative take on Don Quixote — The inspiration gives the game a familiar foundation while allowing it to create an identity of its own.
- ✅ 💜 Left me wanting more — After 53 minutes with the demo, I was genuinely looking forward to continuing the adventure.
What I Didn't Like In This Game
- ❌ 🎮 The controls felt a little icky at times — Movement occasionally felt less smooth and natural than I would have liked, although it wasn't enough to spoil my overall enjoyment.
