The story in this game is not exactly something we follow throughout the whole game. We start the game having a flashback of our main character, which we name to our liking but I will call Lil Gator for the review, of when they used to play with their older sister. Then we flashback to the current time where his older sister has gone to college and cannot find time to play with him. She is finally home but doesn't have time to play with Lil Gator so he decides to set a super cool village that the sister can't help but to play with him. Then thats when the main gameplay begins. You go on quests gaining friends to build up your town. The rest of the game is you exploring around getting cool gadgets and apparel.
When you complete all the main quests you eventually get to the point where you once again go back to ask your sister to play but she still says she can't because she is still working which Lil Gator doesn't understand fully. Lil Gator goes back to his main friend group and together they ask Lil Gator what led to his big sister not playing anymore. They find out that his big sister used to make all the materials for the game and as she grew up she couldn't find the time to do all that stuff since she was working which Lil Gator didn't truly understand but with the support of his friend he finally understands that having to play with him is a lot of pressure since she is working hard at school. One last time Lil Gator goes to his sister and sits next to her on the swings and talk once more.
Lil Gator asks her big sis about school and apologizes for putting all the pressure on her but her sister tells him that it's ok and she likes set up the games for him. They end the conversation with Lil Gator telling his older sister that he appreciates that she is here with him even if she can't play right now. Big sis closes her labtop and says that she can play for a bit. That is main story and for me it hits very close to home. I won't go too deep into it but I am close with my sister and we have a similar age gap and the whole final sequence really resonated with me. I almost never cry for emotional purposes only crying when I get really frustrated or upset at something but this game made me shed a tear. Even watching the final scene back to review made my eyes get watery. It defenitely bias but it is my expierence I am reviewing and I can't imagine a story meaning more to me than this one.
I am also reviewing the DLC so I will also explain that part of the story. In the DLC a small (younger than Lil Gator's group) kid, calling himself the Darklord, comes into the cardboard town and proclaims he is the villian and he will attack the village. After realizing none of his supposed minions came with him he heads back to the base where one of Lil Gator's friends tells them where his base is and takes them there to explore and check on the kid. We find him and find him ordering around his group of "minions" but runs away into the base setting up a plan for attack. The game then proceeds to throw you into another set of quests with new gadgets and outfits. You defeat his main group of buddies who to get to join your side playing pretend. The Darklord grows more upset as his group members play with us and lose. We learn more about the Darklord as we face his main group explaining he is very young and doesn't seem to know how to play nice.
Eventually after defeating all of his main group and gathering even more friends the Darklord runs away upset that everyone stopped playing with him and played with Lil Gator not understanding why they don't like him. We briefly play as him seeing him incredibly upset and trying to get people to play with him again but being rude and mean. We then cut to Lil Gator asking his Big Sis for help not wanting to leave the Darklord out of playing. Big Sis comes and talks with Lil Gator explaining he has done his best to try to get him to play with him but inevitabley if the Darklord doesn't want to play nice he can't force him. Lil Gator says bye to his sister and then the Darklord comes out asking why everyone wants to play with Lil Gator and not him. Lil Gator then breaks out playing pretend and asks for his name which he reveals is Buddy.
Lil Gator then gives Buddy some hero gear and plays out a scenario where Buddy is a hero and Lil Gator is innocent civilian and plays out a whole senario with him. This helps Buddy understand how play nicer and they both come back where everyone else is and Buddy joins in the game. There is a nice scene where Buddy is unsure if he'll be able to play correctly without Lil Gator when Lil Gator is called away but someone ask Buddy for advice on their cape (Buddy wears a cape and horns) which Buddy gladly goes to help with. This story doesn't hit close to home like the main game story but I still find it very charming. Buddy learning how to play nice and being helped Lil Gator was very nice. Very cool all throughout the game!
The characters are so funny. They are brimming with personality which is amazing since their are so many. They all have specifc traits throughout the game that relates to their quest and they don't get old. I am always excited to talk to a new character. The dialouge it incrediblely funny with an occasional third wall break. It really is incredible how they made the characters so funny and great despite the E for everyone rating.
The gameplay is really fun. I mean their are a bunch of gadgets that allow to do so much from floating with bubble gum to flying drones. Everything makes the game feel so free. I mean you can do whatever you want all throughout the game. There are probably crazy combinations with the gadgets that let you go super high. I mean it just feels fun the whole time really up to what you can imagine to do with your gear. Controls are nice and smooth. It's never not fun to just run around and mess around with your gadgets and also now your weapon in the DLC also has special abilities that allow you fly high or even levitate. So cool!
The music in this game really fits the whimsy that is present throughout the whole game. It also fits the wilderness setting in the game and I can't help but to feel happy hearing the music like I'm watching a beautiful piece of nature.
I love the artstyle. I mean the character designs are just so nice. I meant hey are brimming with personality that is not only given by their dialouge but their appearances. The game in general just is amazing. It fits perfectly with the concept. It just feel sright. Everything looks nice from the gadgets to the scenery. Thats also part of what makes it fun to just walk around everywhere. Love the style.