Following the the promise of a "groundbreaking" reveal during a broadcast on G4's Twitch stream channel, Yacht Club Games, developer of Shovel Knight, has pulled back the curtain on an all-new title called Mina the Hollower.
Described as a bone-chilling action adventure, Mina the Hollower uses a top-down 8-bit art style that strongly evokes the look of Game Boy Color titles, which is in keeping with the company's catalogue of modern games with retro aesthetics (think of the NES stylings of the Shovel Knight series and Mechanical Head's Cyber Shadow).
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is an obvious touchstone here, with the dark brooding atmosphere and pixel art and setting — not to mention Mina's whip — suggesting dashes of Castlevania, Gargoyle's Quest, and the merest dusting of (whisper it!) Dark Souls. That's how Yacht Club describes it, at least, apart from Gargoyle's Quest. We just mentioned that because we love it. The developer also points out that the game will run at a smooth 60fps.
The project is mid-production and while it's being mainly financed by Yacht Club itself, the company is launching a Kickstarter in order to collaborate with the community, get feedback on various aspects of the game, and — as designer and director Alec Faulkner states in the press release — "to build a community around Kickstarter, much like we did with Shovel Knight". The Kickstarter campaign can be accessed via MinaTheHollower.com.
Want to know more about the game? Here's some official blurb followed by a bevy of screenshots:
Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurtled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets. Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious music. Encounter a cast of bizarre characters, search out secrets in an array of exotic locales, and illuminate the omnipresent darkness in Mina the Hollower...
The game is still in early development, so there's no news on a planned release date just yet. Check out the Kickstarter for more details, and maybe even watch this space.
Like the look of this GBC-style? Were you hoping Yacht Club might try something a bit different? The Game Boy Color is a very fine and underappreciated system which we've got a real soft spot for — let us know below if you're in the same boat.
Comments 68
Looks cool, and I like the GBC but...I guess I expected a little more out of Yacht Club after all these years?
This looks so good omg. I’m not usually enticed by 8 bit visuals anymore but there’s something about this that looks super authentic.
The Oracle games are some of my favorite Zelda titles, so I can't wait for a GBC Zelda-style game.
When Yacht Club promised a "historic" and "ground-breaking" game, I said that I would bet my house that it would be neither.
I was right, but still, I am really interested in this. Games don't have to be ground-breaking and historic to be good. And they don't need Kickstarter *****, either. Just develop the game and release it, you're not a no-name developer anymore.
This looks fantastic! It's cool to see Yacht Club branch out into new territory, and everything about this project just looks like it mixes together a lot of things I love into one slick game. I wish the physical copy wasn't so expensive in the Kickstarter, but they'll hopefully do a retail release like they did with Shovel Knight. I'm definitely looking forward to Mina!
Looks awesome. Really digging the Links Awakening and Oracle aesthetic.
I backed this so quickly, it looks fantastic and I don't doubt their ability to deliver on this game.
Especially as a fan of the GBC-Zelda titles.
@dartmonkey
Is it Mina the Hollower or Mina the Follower?
I hope Hollower more than a Follower 😁
Edit:
Since you fixed the title it is clearly a Hollower.😜
I'm sure folks were expecting more Shovel Knight, but you know what? A new IP is a smart move!
Get that diverse catalog of characters and worlds going nice and early so you're not sitting on the laurels of one well-earned success. (I say "early", but Shovel Knight is almost 10 years old if you start with the Kickstarter...)
This might be the first Kickstarter project I back. I love the gameboy Zelda games and I also absolutely adore Shovel Knight, so I trust Yacht Club Games will do a good job with this one.
Brilliant!! They are some of the best Devs in the industry. I bet this will be amazing.
Curious as to the need of another Kickstarter, especially considering that site's recent ickiness, but I'm excited nevertheless. Plus, Yacht Club's probably the only game developer with a good track record in crowdfunded gaming, so we're in good hands.
I've watched the stream and the demo makes an awesome impression. Even though I rarely play demos, I'd love to lay my hands on this one. I wonder when it's available.
@Gavin
It's Mina the Hollower, not FOLLOWER
It would make a nice subtitle, though, as the game is past-oriented in many ways.
Looks (and sounds) fantastic. Glad they are doing an all new thing.
I'm not sure I feel the need to back it on kickstarter, but I'll play it when it comes out.
Mmmm I won’t look at the video because others have pointed out this is several years away. I like me indie games to be revealed and then with the tag line launching on the e shop next week. Oh well, back to mega man 3 xx
Looks neat but I'm concerned about it being another Kickstarter. It took them forever to roll out the Shovel Knight content and kept jacking up the price and I don't feel ready to wait 5ish years after release to play the full thing
Very keen on this as someone with an immense amount of nostalgia for this era of gaming and a healthy respect for Yacht Club Games.
Them using Kickstarter for this feels weird but...eh, I went in on it for 20 bucks.
110% yes!! Wow, I simply cannot wait to get my hands on this. With YCG at the helm, we're in for a real treat.
Looks great but I was expecting a 3D game. Still gonna play this, Shovel Knight was an excellent game.
This looks great! People can be deceived with the simplistic graphics… but YCG sure do know how to pack a seemingly simple game with content.
Looks really nice! Not what I was expecting but that's by no means a bad thing.
However Kickstarter announced they are.moving to Blockchain for 'reasons', and doubled down on that when questioned. So once my current kickstarters are fulfilled I won't be supporting any more projects on it.
Is this one actually being developed by Yacht Club as opposed to Cyber Shadow? I would probably have passed on a GBC Zelda rip off if it wasn't being developed by these guys in house. Shovel Knight was just so full of love and care though. I trust this will be fantastic too
I love Shovel Knight's aesthetics but am terrible at side-scrollers. A top-down GBC Zelda-like is right up my alley. Plus the coach driver is a horse wearing a derby hat. That's comedic genius.
Eh, hrm. I've really had my fill of this genre, honestly. I'm sure someone else will enjoy it.
Looks awesome, day 1 purchase for me!
This looks really good.
Looks like a winner! Anything these guys make is retro gold. I will definitely grab this physical on the switch when it goes retail.
think you mispelled the title.
No video?? I’m sure the gameplay will be a treat. It looks interesting. The use of Kickstarter is interesting. Obviously they know they’ll have swaths of instant support, so why wait to get paid later.. I guess
@NeonPizza I’m not exactly a super-fan of YCG, and didn’t “treasure” the entire Shovel Knight project, but I’ll say there aren’t many devs in the current retro game hullabaloo that have the game making foundations this group has. They understand how/that the art style serves the mechanics, and that’s surprising uncommon within the pixel art fest these types of games nakedly are most of the time
@eleven I think they meant groundbreaking as in "you can burrow underground and hollow it out, therefore BREAKING the ground," and not groundbreaking as in "this is gonna change video games"
@Freek came to say the same, lol. Title says "Follower". Article says "Hollower".
I'm interested. Not enough to float them a few bucks, but enough to maybe buy when it releases.
I hope it works better for me than Shovel Knight, which just... felt so bland and uninspired.
@NinChocolate there is a video on the Kickstarter page if you want to check that out.
This looks great! I'll definitely pick it up.
Definitely looks Zelda-like. Maybe a bit darker?
A love letter to classic Zelda & Castlevania?! Hell yes!
Looks good so far and they really captured the Game Boy Color style. Yacht Club Games really nailed it with Shovel Knight as far as I'm concerned. As a result, I'm likely to back their Kickstarter campaign since their track record is well established. Plus they went above and beyond on Shovel Knight. If it wasn't them, I'd be extremely reluctant. I need to see a bit more info, but I expect I'll get the game.
This oughta look great on the Switch screen.
Eh, it looks fine I guess. Looks like it reuses a lot of shovel knights menu. Kinda disappointing for how much it was hyped up.
I love the GBC Zelda aesthetic!!
@sdelfin thank you, I will check that out
Yes to this. I backed it. The GBC arrived at the right time in my life to make a huge impact, and I was always hoping developers would crank as much awesomeness from the handheld as possible. Shantae, Link's Awakening, the Oracle Zelda games, and Metal Gear Solid were amazing examples of this. Yacht Club Games doesn't simply wax nostalgic. They refine something that was already cherished and update it for new audiences.
Goes to show how up their own backsides they really are by calling this ‘groundbreaking’. Also, crowdfunding again? Despite the popularity and success of Shovel Knight they still can’t find other investors or better yet, fund development themselves?! Seems nobody wants to risk their own cash these days but instead hide behind meaningless phrases like ‘we want to build a community’
@appleseedeon ‘groundbreaking’ though? Hardly is it?!
Still waiting for Shovel Knight Dig
This looks great...because they copied a great game.
I normally refuse to get hyped, but I can't help it this time.
Gargoyle's Quest? I'm game!!?
@HamatoYoshi No, not these days. I figured they were baiting us with a shovel-related pun. Instead they were baiting us with a "hollower" pun. I'm doubtful Mina will receive the same acclaim Shovel Knight did because a "brand-new old game" still felt like a novel idea circa 2014ish. However, I missed out on backing Shovel Knight, so I want to participate this time--especially since the GBC is dearer to me than the NES based on my age.
@HamatoYoshi Oh, great username and photo! Are you looking forward to Shredder's Revenge?
It looks and sounds really wonderful. I'm happy that a high profile studio is tackling a traditional Zelda formula at last. In the last years Zelda-likes were mostly resigned to rather unoriginal nostalgic ripoffs.
To everyone. Yes, it's Mina the Hollower. Apologies.
Mina the Follower will be the sequel, obvs.
I like the look so have to back it, especially with a physical on offer
If you steel the aesthetic from a 2D Zelda, you might as well go for ALTTP. I'll keep an eye on it, I'm just not giving a single penny to kickscammer
@appleseedeon thanks, I cant wait for Shredders Revenge, hopefully we’ll get it soon!
I don't know. I feel like it's just me, but I tried watching the trailer 5 times (because its yacht club and I love shovel knight), and it looks...okay? It just looks like Zelda with a mouse to me (with game boy color style visuals and shovel knight-style music). I wish I was more excited, but I feel like I've done all this stuff before (and don't get me wrong. I love Zelda, and I love indie games). I know commenters will probably eat me alive because reception has been overwhelmingly positive. But I can't feel the hype that everyone else is feeling. I felt practically nothing. Maybe I'm just getting old or something.
Did they really boast 60fps on a game like this? That’s like bragging how you can slice bread without cutting off your fingers. WELL DONE, YOU’VE DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE HERE’S YOUR STATUE AND STREET SIGN
@eleven I agree. There is no reason to go GBC with this and have the character sprites be only 2 colors. It's honestly a bit ridiculous.
And they are using Kickstarter money on top of that easy and safe design idea? Not going to bother with this one unless they have an updated styling option. If I wanted to play with 4 colors on the screen, I have plenty of old games I can already do that with.
I would like a physical copy but I think paying $100 is absolutely ridiculous (I don't want or need all the extras). I guess I will just wait and see if it gets a retail release. Shovel Knight did so idk why this wouldn't.
@Browny bland an uninspired you say. Wait until you run around an rpg with the same 5 tile sets and only 4 colors on the screen for a few hours.
Yeah 100 bucks for physical seems rather steep. I’ll wait and see if there’s a retail release
@Krytture
I wasn't referring to the visuals of Shovel Knight, but nice try. My dislike of Shovel Knight shouldn't ruffle your feathers.
@Browny I didn't think you were, I was just saying if you thought shovel knight looked bland and uninspired, this looks even more bland and uninspired. No feathers ruffled...I was agreeing.
@Krytture
Actually, I disagree with that assessment. This game looks quite fun and nostalgic. As others have compared, it reminds me quite fondly of the GBC Zelda titles, or something like Bomberman Quest.
Well I wasn't interested until I learned it was basically a brand new 2D Zelda. Colour me intrigued now.
I am absolutely stoked to play this one. It looks like exactly what I want to play currently. It is a shame I will be waiting for a year or two before getting to explore this game's world though I am sure it will be worth the wait. It is hard to find a good top down Zelda game that is actually as good as a Zelda game. I think this one has a solid shot and I will be giving it a chance if it reviews well. Oh, and that Shovel Knight 64 joke? Please make it a reality.
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