Hello Goodboy (Review)
If someone asked you to conjure up the idea of a cozy game, what features would it have? Minimal combat? A vibrant and colourful world to explore? People to make happy? A wholesome story? How about not just being able to pet the dog, but being able to hug the dog whenever you’d like? The newest title from Rolling Glory Jam (published by Freedom Games), Hello Goodboy, has all of that and more.
Hello Goodboy is definitely a promising-looking title for gamers who love a comfortable, emotional time. The game follows Iko – a boy who wakes up in what we’re told is the afterlife, with no memories of anything before. He’s greeted by the very goodest boy, Coco – a surprisingly knowledgeable guide to the halls of the afterlife and seemingly Iko’s biggest supporter.
Iko’s afterlife adventure does have some rules – time passes differently here, and he will only have four major decisions’ worth of time to spend exploring. The game has four seasons to explore, each containing a major decision within. You can’t see everything, so you’ll have to use your time and choices carefully. It’s a stipulation that fits in well with Hello Goodboy’s most important lesson: everything ends.
The gameplay itself is quite simple. You’ll explore your chosen season and have the opportunity to fix any broken things you’ll find there. Each season also has some other souls making their own way through, and you’ll be able to help them along as well. The few mechanics you’ll face are quite lenient – such as pressing the joystick left and right as prompted. This makes Hello Goodboy good for just about any age or skill level of gamer, putting a heavier emphasis on story and exploration.
If there’s one complaint I have, it’s that sometimes Hello Goodboy tries holding your hand a little too much – especially on repeat playthroughs. In order to visit all seasons, you’ll need to do at least 2 playthroughs – 4 if you want to also get all choices. For all achievements it could take more unless you’re using a guide. I didn’t mind revisiting the halls and seasons of Koruto at all, but sometimes it felt a bit slow to go through the same explanatory dialogue and the final encounter. For some players this may be a deterrent, though I do feel like the payoff was worth it for me.
Hello Goodboy is visually beautiful, with vibrant scenery and uniquely designed characters. The music is lovely as well. I loved spending time in this world guiding Iko through his journey. While short, the storylines all had emotional impact – it’s a game that behind all the simplicity is holding on to some powerful messages about making our lives count, understanding that there’s always an ending, and leaving behind a legacy for those we love.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with Hello Goodboy. I do wish that some areas didn’t require pushing through the same dialogue and experiences, but it was all worth it to adventure with Coco and reach the true ending. Hello Goodboy is probably not a game you’ll replay multiple times beyond unlocking the extra storylines, but my playthrough was a moving one, and such an aesthetic experience. Everything may come to an end, but I was sad to leave behind this world, and I hope to see more of these vibrant, emotional adventures in the future from Rolling Glory Jam for sure.