The Good Days is an journey sport with Metroidvania components a couple of group of youngsters determined to lift an enormous amount of money in a single day by any means doable, solely with fight non-obligatory. There are additionally a number of methods to succeed in that objective and endings in consequence. Sound uncommon? That’s as a result of Ryoh Tazaki’s Yokogo Programs is behind it. Tazaki additionally works for Onion Video games as a developer on titles like Black Fowl, Dandy Dungeon, and Million Onion Resort. The result’s a title that’s uncommon, unorthodox, and perhaps a little bit clumsy, however charming nonetheless.
After I talked about The Good Previous Days channeling The Goonies, I wasn’t kidding, because the setup for the sport is extremely related. Within the small city of Arostia, a gaggle of youngsters referred to as Sean, Bruce, Doc, and Foodie band collectively as The Noogies and seek for treasure. Whereas they get the prospect to search out it, it’s sadly below dire circumstances. Sean’s father disappeared and left a $30,000 debt behind. Bruce, Doc, and Foodie obtained captured and thrown into underground cells. The mortgage shark reveals up at 10am and needs cash by the point evening falls. Reasonably than go to the police, Sean heads into the depths beneath the town to seek for his lacking buddies and cash by any means doable. Nonetheless, Biff, Chuck, Frank, and their mom heard about Sean’s household’s troubles and hidden inheritance, they usually’ll trigger hassle for the crew.
The Good Previous Days is a timed journey. You should get by the day, discovering cash by exploring. Possibly you discover a lottery ticket? Maybe you beat foes? There are minigames! You could possibly discover the legendary hidden treasure Sean’s household buried down beneath! This might occur with none or all your mates. You’ve loads of choices. But it surely’s additionally fairly lethal, because the underground is stuffed with bats, rats, ghosts, villainous people, and environmental hazards. Whereas the majority of your time shall be spent platforming and wandering underground, there can even be factors of curiosity above to go to as you seek for money.
A part of the Metroidvania a part of The Good Previous Days is tied to every of the Noogies’ particular skills, very like how every member of The Goonies had distinctive traits. Sean is given bombs by the mortgage shark on the outset of the journey, which can be utilized to progress previous sure areas, and he’s additionally pretty common relating to shifting and leaping. Foodie is sluggish, however he can headbutt foes and transfer bins. Bruce is extremely quick and has the furthest bounce. He can carry out an assault that hits above and beneath him on the similar time too, although I didn’t discover it as helpful as Foodie’s. In the meantime, Doc has a fairly good vertical leap and might use a radar that reveals something instantly round him.
There are different gadgets that assist alongside runs. Sean with the ability to blow up stronger doorways is his “factor,” however that may be upgraded. You may get tools that mitigates some hazards too, like diving gear that removes the menace water poses. These power-ups are maintained by playthroughs whenever you go along with a brand new sport+ run. Given the comparatively quick size and wealth of endings, it undoubtedly appears like a sport to run by no less than twice.
Nonetheless, I did discover two downsides. One is that the platforming can really feel a little bit clunky. Nailing among the jumps is actually attempting and troublesome, particularly earlier than Bruce is rescued. It’s completely doable to beat a run with out Bruce, thoughts you, however among the layouts within the underground are irritating. The opposite situation is I felt like there may have been extra to Doc as a personality. All the children are charming relating to the story, and the narrative as an entire is fascinating! (Particularly since we be taught extra after every ending.) However since Doc primarily acts as a radar for unseen secrets and techniques and is the final character we unlock, I felt like he wasn’t as important to the journey. Is he a time-saver? Certain. However since bombs are limitless and we’re exploring each nook and cranny anyway, I felt like there may have been extra to him.
The Good Previous Days captures the identical kind of spirit as The Goonies, whereas additionally feeling like a singular Metroidvania. There are a lot of methods to strategy it and resolve Sean’s cash issues. All of them will be fascinating. Can it get a little bit clunky? Sure. Nonetheless, the character of it and manner it encourages replays does imply subsequent runs really feel a little bit extra manageable.
The Good Previous Days is available on the Change and PC.
The Good Previous Days
The Good Previous Days captures the identical kind of spirit as The Goonies, whereas additionally feeling like a singular Metroidvania.
