Review - over the hill

Roberto Nieves

7 min read

Developer: Funselektor Labs Inc

Publisher: Funselektor Labs Inc

Available on: PC (Steam)

Reviewed on: Steam Deck

The great outdoors and big old nature. Who can remember their first time away in the woods? A big hike? A BBQ in the woods. Seeing the stars at night and camping under a canopy of trees. Gamers these days are encouraged to touch grass, and, for real, touching grass is good for the soul. It's easy to overlook nature these days, especially for those who live in cities and far away from natural environments. Fortunately, the very cool team at Funselektor Labs wants players to take things slow and enjoy the outdoors.

Some of life's best moments are when they are discovered on roads not paved. Over the hill is a game all about exploration and finding the joys of undiscovered country. With its minimalist approach to presentation and simplified gameplay, all that players need is a desire to see the world and have fun, while relaxing to serene vistas and completing objectives. Over the hill is a remarkable game and a very chilled, cozy experience, even with the challenges that are presented.

Slowing It Down

Funselektor Labs are a tight team, known for games like Absolute Drift and my personal favorite, art of rally, a game I reviewed for Stack Up before. Art of rally is a game all about speed and taming the unpaved roads. Taking place in a somewhat surreal world where rally racing isn't restricted, players took to the dirt roads in high-speed rally cars, battling the clock and the elements around the world. The game was lauded for its minimal presentation, synthwave soundtrack, and tight gameplay.

Over the hill takes the concept, and that is the joy of nature's discoveries. Nature, and her raw elements, are full of discoveries and inspiration, as it is a world that has not seen the interference of mankind. It is a philosophy that involves taking time and absorbing surroundings, while equipping oneself for the journey. Over the hill takes place in a surreal 60s, in a world where nature is still untamed and natural. In art of rally, trees are not your friends. In over the hill, trees are your friends.

Over the hill is a driving game with an off-roading focus. Players are introduced to their off-roader and, through a helpful tutorial, learn the basics of driving in the elements. The goal of the game is to relax, explore, and discover items along the way. These items include cabins, mechanics, crates, meteorites, and challenging trails to master. The map unfolds as players explore. The ultimate goal is to 100 % each of the game's levels, to which there are plenty.

Dune Casu, Founder and Creative Director at Funselektor Labs, was inspired by his experiences being nomadic and living out of his camper, wandering the roads and wilderness not knowing what was next. In over the hill, that experience is captured not in getting to a destination but in how to get to a destination, as well as charting a path into the unknown. As mentioned before, the map reveals itself as players explore, meaning players use their eyes and observe the environment to determine the best path forward.

Keeping Things Simple

As with its predecessors, over the hill adopts a minimalist presentation, though the visuals are a little more mature than the previous game, art of rally. Art of rally kept the world simplified, with the focus being on the cars and the high-speed gameplay. Over the hill puts more work into its vehicles and world, with dynamic weather, animals, as well as elemental effects that affect the vehicle. Naturally, as the name and visuals suggest, there are hills and mountains to climb, and tight space to maneuver. Speed is not the name of the game here. On the contrary, taking things slow is the heart of the game.

This begins with the tutorial. Players start off with their 4x4 and learn the controls. Players have High Gear and Low Gear. Low Gear puts the 4x4 at a slower speed but has more traction. High Gear loses traction but gains more speed. The key to navigating the raw terrain is to alternate between these two gears, especially when going uphill. Adding to this is the winch.

Players inevitably struggle or get stuck. A simple button press allows players to winch up to a nearby point, such as a tree, and pull themselves out of a situation. There is also a manual control option that allows more control over where to put the winch and how to pull oneself out. I found this tool useful when flipped on my side. Once again, trees are your friends.

Soon after the tutorial, players meet the mechanic. The mechanic can upgrade your 4x4 with higher suspension, new engines, and even an expansion of the tool set. Additionally, the mechanic can customize your ride with cosmetics found in the field. This is all in exchange for pebbles, the main currency. Pebbles are earned through completing various activities throughout the map. After this tutorial, over the hill encourages players to figure the rest out.

The Joy of Discovery

Remarkable in scope but warm and personal, over the hill is equal parts charming and relaxing, like a cozy blanket being wrapped around you, but at the same time thrilling and challenging as one would experience hiking up the top of a trail. It all entirely depends on the player's experience. What you do is up to you, as you soak in the sights on your way to your destination.

Each map is clouded but does reveal the locations of camps. Entering these camps repairs your vehicle, activates a fast-travel point, and can be used to rest to pass the day. Passing the day is useful in avoiding a time of day or certain weather conditions. They are a good starting point when exploring the uncharted worlds. Players will find themselves going on bumpy rides for long stretches, then pausing to observe the map and their surroundings.

The journey is a barrel of fun. From the Canadian Rockies to the Algerian deserts and frozen tundra, over the hill presents a plethora of vistas to uncover and tackle. For the most part, the game is as advertised. In either single-player or 4-player multiplayer, you scour the environment and explore the map. Driving feels great, with the right amount of gameplay feedback giving the sensation of what you are driving on. Players will see the mud and muck kick up as the tires spin their way through the terrain.

There is a serenity to over the hill. Tackling the elements feels relaxing for the most part. In a way, it feels like you are using your imagination and carrying your Hot Wheels car across a mountain of your own making. It's quaint and distinctive, especially compared to other games in the genre. One of the big highlights is being able to explore any map with up to four players in online co-op. Here, the game becomes special.

The Joy of Friendly Company

It's rewarding to see four strangers traversing and conquering the elements, honking horns and following each other through the terrain. Over the hill is a friendly adventure, keeping the co-op and gameplay straightforward. It's fun to discover things together with complete strangers and be rewarded for those efforts. Speaking of rewards, discovery is another key part of over the hill.

As the map reveals itself, question marks appear. These can be crates, challenge trails, scenic points, portals, or vehicles to recover that have been stuck. Players can even take a camera and take pictures of wildlife. Everything you uncover unlocks new vehicles and a bevy of cosmetic items to customize your 4x4, along with the aforementioned pebbles for the mechanic. At one point, I put Holiday lights on my 4x4 and a wolf-sounding horn, greeting players as I drove by.

The best comparison I can make to over the hill is SnowRunner, MudRunner, and Expeditions. Where those games calculate and incorporate more simulation elements, such as fuel consumption, this game keeps things streamlined. While there are different trucks with various strengths and weaknesses, over the hill puts enjoyment as a paramount part of its gameplay mechanics, which means players don't have to worry about fuel or all-wheel drive. I'd say over the hill is a great entry point for that genre of video games.

Over the hill does get challenging, especially when you flip the truck or find yourself not being able to climb the hill you want. This is most especially true with the game's challenge trails. Scattered throughout each map, these trails challenge players with their mastery of the controls and battling the rough elements. These trails are muscle-clenching and a battle of both body and mind. I found myself battling one for about an hour, in particular. Others were easier, but I was passing through cliff edges that were barely wide enough for my 4x4. The trails do offer enjoyment, especially in co-op.

The Freedom of the trail

There's also the dynamic weather system, which is both beautiful and adds to the challenge. Torrential rains will muddy the turf while blizzards not only obscure visibility but add feet of snow, which, despite the challenge, is aesthetically pleasing. Nighttime means pitch-black gameplay, with only your headlights illuminating what's in front of you. With the game's vibrant and colorful world, these effects are crisp and clear.

Over the hill gives players agency and is designed to be a reachable experience, even on-the-go. I played the game on my Steam Deck and found it incredibly enjoyable, even on medium settings. I just wish 60 fps could've been achieved on such settings, but the game runs well. Even on Ultra settings, when the framerate slows down, the game still provides enjoyment and comfort.

Over the hill is certainly a game that can either be a palate cleanser between bigger titles or a deep experience worth investing many hours. Over the hill provides that choice, and its accessibility makes the game perfect to pick up and play. It's another pillar in Funselektor's pedigree in providing something that is purely enjoyable and yet calming in various ways.

Over the hill is best played in short sessions but can be played for longer. The visuals, coupled with the game's soundtrack by Slava and Giacomo Giunchedi, make each experience distinct and memorable, especially as the music changes depending on the biome one finds themselves in. It's an array of different sounds and ambience that help heighten an engrossing gameplay experience.

Over The Hill

Ultimately, over the hill is the kind of game that I need to play in this busy season, and even after the busy gaming season ends, I'll still be playing it. I laud it for its calming presentation, accessible gameplay, and the simplicity of roaming the outdoors with friends. Funselektor has struck gold again in delivering a great game that anyone can play, regardless of skill level.

Over the hill is great! Its important lesson is to remind players that even as we save the world and go fast in other games, it is important to take things slow. Take a step back, take a deep breath, soak in the moment because that moment will not last forever. Grab your gear, fire up that engine, and go easy on the pedal. There's a whole world to explore!