The Good Old Days by ヨコゴシステムズ
The Good Old Days is a Metroidvania side-scroller following the adventures of a group of children as they explore the many nooks and crannies of their neighborhood and the more dangerous tunnels beneath.
Complete with secrets, collectable items, an engaging cast of characters, and a variety of quests to achieve, The Good Old Days offers a retro adventure true to its name.
While the story here follows an ensemble of four children – “the Noodles” – the initial point-of-view character is Sean, who has had the misfortune of returning home to find a debt collector demanding he find a way to pay off his father’s bill.
Adding to his woes, the collector also warns Sean that his friends have been kidnapped as collateral and held in the tunnels beneath the town. Sean must set out to find the treasures hidden below his home and save his friends.
Time Keeps on Slippin’
Perhaps the most notable feature of The Good Old Days is a time limit; Sean has been given a deadline by the collector, so the clock is always ticking. Moreover, death knocks three minutes off the timer, so it’s easy to find time slipping away if things aren’t going well.
This never feels oppressive, however, and there is plenty of time to work with while pursuing Sean’s many objectives.
Noodles Never Say Die
Each of the members of the Noodles has a specific skill set to offer. Sean is fast and nimble and can plant bombs both to destroy enemies and unlock new routes. The bombs can also be stood on briefly before they explode, creating an interesting (and rather urgent) platforming tool for getting to tricky locations.
Sean’s friends all bring their own abilities and drawbacks to the table, such as Foodie’s strength, which comes at the cost of jump height. These abilities also key into the many puzzles and obstacles blocking off paths across the town, with new routes opening up as new characters become available.
Each character can be swapped through at the press of a button, allowing the group to work as a team to overcome differing challenges. The Good Old Days offers an array of such trials to overcome, from enemies to environmental hazards (often the most perilous obstacles) to unexpected side-activities such as a sewer-dwelling gambler.
Noodles and Nostalgia
I found exploration to be particularly rewarding, with an assortment of charming areas to discover.
Consistent with its retro aims, The Good Old Days features a delightful pixel-art aesthetic that oozes personality; each character has many endearing animations, and the world is beautifully presented.
A CRT-style filter casts everything in a ’90s vibe, reinforcing the themes underscoring the adventure. Coupled with a wistful soundtrack, all of this helps The Good Old Days carve out its own, very deliberate atmosphere.
The Verdict:
The Good Old Days lives up to its nostalgic aspirations- I was occasionally reminded of titles like Dizzy the Egg as I sought ways to scale treetops or delve deeper into the depths to unlock hidden secrets. Others will no doubt forge different connections as the game tugs on memories of more carefree times.
Anyone seeking a rich Metroidvania adventure that offers more secrets and hidden stories with each playthrough will find a well-crafted experience to explore here.
The Good Old Days is available via the Nintendo eShop and Steam.
Watch the trailer for The Good Old Days below:
