going deep down
synopsis
You're a weird naked being with a disturbing serene expression, roaming around a weird throbbing, juicy and very suggestive world full of perverted creatures with a leer. Your quest is to search and bring food to a wicked and twisted bulb- (or bulge-?) like creature, until the unexpected end.
A 2D adventure that will leave you astonished.
Technicalities
Worldbuilding
Graphics
Ok!
It's an isometric-ish 2D adventure with a Procreate vibe. If you're old enough it will surely remind you far more of the old AdultSwim's Flash games/videos. Lines are very neat and the coloring is very simple but very polished.
And it's (almost) all pink.
Pink everywhere.
Perfection.
Story
Ok!
Who nose knows?
What you see is what you get and we're not in a position to ask (for) more.
And honestly I think it's perfect as it is.
The synopsis section has pretty much it all.
It's short but it's intense.
Game Mechanics
Ok!
The mechanics of this game are immensely simple: you move a little naked fella with a face so serene to become creepy. You can do a number of different things with them: you walk, you grab, you slap, you ..nosewater? things.
Then, you explore various different zones where your goal is to find a specific entity you must grab and bring it to your eccentric and unmovable friend.
You will explore only one section at a time and you must complete the previous section before being able to explore the next one!
Every time you succeed in finding what you’re searching for and bring it to that other creature, something very interesting happens every time, until you reach the very (and probably unexpected) end.
However, during these exploration you’ll meet several different other creatures, each one perfectly fitting the whole environment. I’ll often have to interact with them in order to obtain the little critter you will retrieve.
Honestly I found everything pretty easy but there are some points where what you’re supposed to do it’s not very clear.
Don’t despair!
Keep trying, and touch, slap, nosewater everything you see. You’ll find your way in a way or the other, sooner or later!
Character(s)
Ok!
I absolutely ~adore~ the main character's face. I don't even know if he (it?) has a proper name, but I can't help myself. I'd stare at him for hours and feel my spirit at peace.
Maybe it's because back in my ancient days I was in love with " ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) " and it reminds me it a lot.
The creatures that you meet during your adventure deeply amused me. Their concepts are funny, exotic and a little twisted. That's why I'd like to see a full game in this very world.
Duration
Ok!
(unfortunately for me) Average for a free game, around 20 to 30 minutes depending on how fast you understand what you're supposed to do and how to do it or if you're playing without knowing anything.
I'd say 40-45 minutes if you take it as a very relaxed journey and roam a little more around to enjoy the appealing environment.
It goes without saying that I’ll have played it..like forever.
I’d LOVED and eagerly paid for a full game/release, but from what I’ve seen Coal Supper is working on something probably as weird as this but completely different.
Setting(s)
Ok!
It's extraordinarily pink. Almost-white-pink, light pink, dark pink. Everything's pink.
At first glance it can definitely seem too pink and exaggerated but when you start playing you'll see that this monochrome world helps other creatures to stand out. In this way it will be easier to understand which creature and environment items you can interact with.
Pink and wet.
Pink and wet and juicy.
Worldbuilding-wise it's hard to tell: all the story is deeply surreal and cryptic and I've the idea that the land we explore it's just here to serve the need of scattering the different creatures around.
I know it sounds like a criticism but I swear, it isn't. The Good Time Garden is a short, weird and surreal game, so it's very concentrated. You always go straight to the point: in every section you must find a creature and something to bring back.
That's why I'd love an extended and even weirder game in this same world/universe.
I need to know!
Soundtrack
Ok!
The soundtrack is something that juicy and tasty cherry on an already perfect cake.
It's subtle, slow and relaxing, giving you the impression of being out on a spring trip, instead the "trip" you're experiencing is wildly different!
A background music I could really listen to for the whole day!
Creatures
Ok!
The creature design is definitely one of the strong points of this game. Considering them from the point of view of the setting and theme, I find them very original, with the right amount of weirdness, naughtiness and juiciness.
Performances
Ok!
Ok! - Black Screen
Ok! - Crashes
Ok! - Frame Rate
Ok! - Freezes
Ok! - Glitches
Ok! - Lag
Ok! - Loading Problems
OVERALL COHERENCE
Ok!
It would be very bold of me trying not only to judge but even to find a sort of coherence here. I mean, the story is straightforward, what you do is perfectly linear.
But searching for a coherence in what you see and why it's happening is hard, since we don't have a clear interpretation of it, either because there isn't any or because the creators didn't want us to have one to leave us free to give ours, whatever it'd be.
So my vote here is based only on what we can see.
in pills
In my very humble opinion, The Good Time Garden is one of the most original, weird and interesting indie games I’ve ever played. I’d have played it for months if it had such length.
I’ve seen several other gamers playing it and ending up being very embarrassed by it, especially in specific scenes/with specific characters. I must admit not only I wasn’t in any of them but I’ve found all the game/story extremely funny and enjoyable, no matter how lewd it becomes.
Maybe because I’m European and we are more used to sexuality discussions in comparison to our US fellows?
But maybe it’s because I’m weird myself and I really love this kind of “game products”!
Since it’s free I warmly invite everyone to play it and find your own meaning to this surreal adventure, especially if you think you could find it interesting,
Open your mind and let its juicy weirdness conquer you!