To truly appreciate Mina The Hollower, an extraordinary new throwback of a game, I immersed myself in what I like to call Yacht Club University. While not a formal institution, this self-imposed curriculum involved revisiting the four major titles previously crafted by Yacht Club Games. My anticipation for Mina The Hollower, which has been in development for six years for both PC and consoles, was palpable. A demo I experienced in March hinted at something special, and I was eager to delve deeper.
The premise of Mina The Hollower is refreshingly old-school, featuring a singular move for its protagonist that feels both intuitive and rich with potential. In the hands of adept designers, this core mechanic can be expanded upon throughout an entire game. Mina’s signature move, her “hollowing,” positions her as an inverted version of the beloved Super Mario. While Mario leaps through the air to discover power-ups by striking overhead blocks, Mina dives into the ground, unearthing buried treasures and cleverly maneuvering through walls to confront hidden enemies.
My quest to understand Yacht Club’s prowess in game design led me to reach out to co-founder and programmer David D’Angelo on May 6, just 21 days before this review was penned. I sought his guidance on which of the studio’s games would best prepare me for the new release. His response was straightforward: “Hmmm all of them?”
“Starting with Shovel Knight definitely is helpful,” he advised, referring to Yacht Club’s inaugural title. He even provided a link to a spreadsheet containing over 400 cheat codes for those who might find the game challenging.
“Most folks say Specter of Torment is the least difficult and quickest to finish in terms of playtime, and it refines much of Shovel Knight,” he added. “King of Cards is a grand celebration of everything we did in the Shovel Knight compilation Treasure Trove—it might suit you better if you prefer shorter, Mario-style courses. It’s probably the closest to Mina in terms of polish.”
With this roadmap in hand, I embarked on my journey through four games, none of which were mandatory but all of which proved enlightening. Mina stands as a distinct creation in a new universe, yet my exploration of Yacht Club’s previous works enriched my understanding of their evolution. The experience underscored the value of engaging with a studio’s major titles before diving into their latest offering, revealing the intricate design philosophies that have shaped their games over the years.
