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Hot Air Jr Demo
- Adventure
- Action
Mouse
Flash
Hot Air Jr Demo, is an action-adventure Flash game released on May 2nd, 2012[1] by Nitrome. It is the third installment of the Hot Air series, and serves as a demo for what would be Hot Air Jr.
Because of its status as a demo, the game's purpose was for Nitromians to give Nitrome feedback on the engine's physics[1].
Descriptions[edit | edit source]
Nitrome.com 2.0[edit | edit source]
Demo of our upcoming game Hot Air Jr!
Controls[edit | edit source]
Move the mouse - Move fan
Mouse click - Activate fan
P key - Pause the game
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
The player's cursor controls the fan, which propels Hot Air Jr away from it once the button is pressed.
The settings menu is instead replaced by a timer, encouraging the player to finish the demo at the shortest time possible. Because of this, the pause menu can only be accessed by pressing the key, which will give the choice to either reset or resume the game.
Unlike the previous games in the series, touching any surface that isn't covered in spikes doesn't result on the balloon popping, and are safe to touch otherwise.
If the balloon or basket are hit by any enemies or hazards, a game over screen will pop up, and the player will start at the beginning of the demo, losing all their progress in the process.
Levels[edit | edit source]
As a demo, the game is composed of a level made up of five rooms, with 15 stars scattered that the player can find if they so desire.
First room[edit | edit source]
Stars: 2
Interactive objects: Locked gate
Hazards: Spikes
The starting room of the demo with a very minor number of spikes, the player is greeted by a sign explaining the controls, and also encouraging them to open the locked gate protecting the red pad by finding a key somewhere in the level.
The stars can be taken easily, found at the top of the room.
Traveling to the right leads to the second room.
Second room[edit | edit source]
Stars: 3
Hazards: Spikes
A sign to the room's entrance challenges the player to find all 15 stars in the demo.
Two stars lie at the end of two spike-filled paths, while another seemingly impossible to obtain star hides on the top-right corner of the room.
Flying further to the right leads to the third room.
Third room[edit | edit source]
Stars: 6
Enemies: Axe
Hazards: Spikes
The first room in the game to contain an enemy, being the axe, which oscillates on the room, threatening to harm Hot Air Jr. The axe protects two paths that lead upwards.
There are six stars on the room total; two nearby the axe, two on a hiding spot directly under the axe, and one at the end of both upper paths.
Directly above the room's entrance, the player will find a non-solid wall leading to the second room's third star. Following the left path, the player will find the fourth room.
| Video |
|---|
Fourth room[edit | edit source]
Stars: 2
Enemies: 6 Octopuses
Hazards: Spikes
A spike-filled room filled with octopuses, which must be blown away with the fan in order to pass.
The two stars can be found nearby corners on the center of the room.
Going to the left leads to the fifth room.
Fifth room[edit | edit source]
Stars: 2
Interactive objects: Key
Enemies: 2 Mini axes, 4 Mines
The final room in the demo, a spike-less corridor, where two mini axes and four mines protect a key that must be taken back to the gate back in the first room of the game.
The two final stars are located right besides both of the mini axes.
Walkthroughs[edit | edit source]
Ending[edit | edit source]
This collapsible box contains a spoiler! Use [show] to reveal.
After reaching the red pad, a box reading "WELL DONE" will appear, alongside all the stars collected and the time taken to beat the demo.
Interactive objects[edit | edit source]
- Starting pad - Where Hot Air Jr starts at the beginning of the demo, it serves no other purpose.
- Finish pad - Ends the demo.
- Locked gate - Locks Hot Air Jr from accessing the finish pad.
- Key - Unlocks a locked gate. Hot Air Jr has to carry the key back to the gate, weighing the balloon down in the process.
Pickups[edit | edit source]
- Stars - A total of 15 stars that Hot Air Jr can collect throughout the demo.
Enemies[edit | edit source]
- Axe - A giant blade that oscillates from side to side, threatening to pop Hot Air Jr on impact.
- Octopuses - Enemies that float around the room, which can be blown away with the fan.
- Mini axes - Smaller versions of the axe with the ability to do a full rotation every few swings.
- Mines - Stationary mines that will hurt Hot Air Jr if he touches them.
Hazards[edit | edit source]
- Spikes - Pointy objects that cover solid surfaces. They'll pop the balloon or break the basket if they're touched.
Development[edit | edit source]
For a Friday update on April 27th, 2012, Nitrome informed they would release their second demo, but wouldn't mention what game the demo would be for until it was revealed the next week[2].
On May 2nd, the demo turned out to be for Hot Air Jr. The demo was designed to test the new engine's physics, and so that feedback could be directly given to Nitrome[1].
The next Friday update, posted on May 4th, informed Nitromians that feedback for the demo was already being taken[3].
The full version of Hot Air Jr was released some time later, on June 28th[4].
Differences from full version[edit | edit source]
- Hot Air Jr's physics are slightly changed in the full version, being overall way easier when shifting directions, giving him a sense of being lighter. This change also affects Hot Air Jr's physics when holding a key.
- The demo has an exclusive game over screen that prompts the player to restart the level. The full version doesn't have such a thing, instead quickly restarting the level and setting Hot Air Jr back to either the starting pad or to any checkpoint pad.
- There are 15 stars around the demo, whereas on the full version, there's a maximum of 5 stars on every level.
- Additionally, no star token is awarded for obtaining all stars.
- There is no settings gear on the demo, instead being replaced by a visible timer, meaning the only way to enter the pause menu is to press the key. On the full version, while there is still a timer, it is only found at the results screen of every level.
- Stars have to be visibly touching either the balloon or basket in order to count as obtained; the strings can't collect stars, as they will go right through them. On the full version, Hot Air Jr has a wider range to collect stars, including the balloon's strings.
- There is no sound effects present in the demo.
Credits[edit | edit source]
While there are no credits found on the demo itself, it's assumed the credits are the same as those from Hot Air Jr.
| Artwork | |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Music |
Unused and beta content[edit | edit source]
In the game's files, there are leftover assets that are not used in the demo but were later used in Hot Air Jr. These assets include most of Hot Air Jr's enemies, objects, tiles and backgrounds. However, no balloon designs besides the default one, as well as no assets related to Giant spike ball, Squeak the Dog, or Hot Air and his wife are present.
Announcements[edit | edit source]
| Date | Title | Author | Category | Description | Media | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Title | Author | Category | Description | Media | |
| 27 Apr 2012 | Friday Update | Tom McQuillan | News! | Nitrome informs that they'll explain more about the upcoming site update and release their second demo, not mentioning for which game it will be (later revealed to be for Hot Air Jr). | ||
| 02 May 2012 | Hot Air Jr Demo Released! | Tom McQuillan | New! | The Hot Air Jr demo is released, and Nitrome encourages their fans to leave their feedback on the game. |  | |
| 04 May 2012 | Friday Update! | Tom McQuillan | News! | Nitrome thanks the feedback given to Hot Air Jr Demo and also tease the introduction of something next week (meant to be original introduction to the "Pixel Love" section). |
Glitches[edit | edit source]
String-less balloon[edit | edit source]
In the fifth room, if the player collects the key and pops the balloon on one of the axes, they would get a game over screen. However, the balloon would still be intact and would act like it is still attached to the basket, despite having no strings. The player will be unable to blow Hot Air Jr. around until they restart the level.
A screenshot of the glitch in action.
Music[edit | edit source]
The music for Hot Air Jr was composed by Dave Cowen. As it is a demo, the game only features one continuously looping track, serving as the main level music. The track was made available to stream more than a decade later in Soundcloud.
| Official Soundcloud link | Release date | File |
|---|---|---|
| Main level | August 24th, 2023 |
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Logos[edit | edit source]
- Hot Air Jr Demo doesn't have any logos
Icons[edit | edit source]
Nitrome 2.0 icon
Search engine thumbnail
Screenshots[edit | edit source]
The start of the level
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Game Developer's Blog - Nitrome: Hot Air Jr Demo Released!, 4 May 2012, retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ↑ Game Developer's Blog - Nitrome: Friday Update, 27 April 2012, retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ↑ Game Developer's Blog - Nitrome: Friday Update!, 4 May 2012, retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ↑ Game Developer's Blog - Nitrome: Hot Air Jr Released!, 28 June 2012, retrieved 27 January 2025.