After a busy, action-packed in-game day slaying monsters and solving puzzles in Dungeons of Hinterberg, I don't even think twice about seizing the opportunity to unwind and take things a little slower the following afternoon. "I feel so much lighter here", protagonist Luisa says after I sit her down at a picnic table nestled in a picturesque relaxation area. Away from the responsibilities of work, the tourist hotspot is a haven of peace and quiet - when there are no monsters to slay, that is - and as Luisa takes a moment to reflect, I let myself sink into the quiet right alongside her. I stumbled upon this spot in Doberkogel, which is the first open zone I venture to. Not only does my decision to sit here rather than enter another dungeon reiterate that I have the freedom to choose how I want to spend my time, but it also serves a practical purpose; raising both my relaxation stat and my health bar.
And that brings me to what I've been loving most about Dungeons of Hinterberg so far: I can take everything at my own pace, and no matter what I end up doing during the game's day and night cycle, I never feel like I'm wasting valuable time. If I want to relax for a day I can, and Luisa will benefit from that just as much as slashing through any one of the many magical dungeons you can try to clear. With the chance to experience 15 days in the game during my hands-on preview session, I've already been having a blast with its mix of action, puzzles, and social activities; the latter of which reminds me of Persona, with social stats and relationship rankings that open up the way to useful buffs, abilities, or features.
