Hello Goodboy: Yes, You Can Pet The Dog

 *Note: I received a game key for the game for my honest review. Thank you to Stride PR and Rolling Glory Jam for the game key!

I was instantly drawn in by the cute art in Hello Goodboy. The whole premise of the game is exploring the idea of handling death and negative emotions, but is done in a way that is gentle and simple. I feel that the game perhaps was also done in a simple style for a way to explain death and dying to children in a way that isn't scary and overwhelming. 

You play as Iko, a young boy transported to the afterlife that is called Kuroto and your guide is a cute dog companion named Coco. Coco tells Iko that all he has to do is be a "good kid" and this is where the game sets you on your journey and the choices you make are up to you. Coco does explain that your time is limited so you have to make those choices carefully. I loved that you could take a moment right away to stop and hug Coco, pet him, or give him belly rubs. You can do this throughout the game any time you want so of course I would hug Coco often. 

All the dog hugs! 

You can pick a door to go through among doors that show four different seasons. You have a magic hourglass which shows that your time is limited and when you choose a door, some of the sand in the hourglass is spent. I discovered because of this you can only pick two doors. However, after you finish the game, you can do a new game+ which lets you choose the two doors you missed. I chose the Summer door first then the Autumn door. 

Choosing the Summer door. 

Each area is beautiful and I enjoyed that you could stop and sit for a moment and just appreciate the view. The artwork reminded me of colorful storybooks with the vibrant colors and lovely scenes. It was a subtle way for the story to remind us to stop and savor those moments of beauty and joy. 

Enjoying a mountain view. 

There are simple puzzles in the game where you have to fix things like a broken mailbox or a broken traffic light that erase a darkness clinging to them. The puzzles aren't terribly challenging and after you repair the broken items you get sparks of happiness. These are used at different intervals in the game for helping others which is pretty interesting.

Iko and Coco repair a mailbox. 

There are also a collection of drinks in your inventory that can be used on the different characters you meet. The whole point is helping these characters with a problem they might have and the drinks that are left over are used during a boss fight to weaken it. I enjoyed meeting the characters and helping them. Each one was unique and wonderful in their own way. They also added special layers to the story when discussing negative emotions or processing something that may be sad. 

A cute moment of joy. 

The music for the game itself is lovely and in some settings hauntingly beautiful. It definitely sets the tone for different areas that Iko and Coco travel to. I love the fact that they let Iko stop and play with Coco. Coco's movements are well done and very much like real dogs. Having those moments in the game helped me to not rush and savor each nuance of the game. 

Wow, it's Autumn! 

I'm not the best at puzzles, but I love puzzle games. There aren't a lot of puzzles in this, but the puzzles in this game weren't overly challenging or stressful which I appreciated because it let me continue the story and enjoy the relaxing vibes the game offered making it feel more like a wonderful visual novel. 

Iko and Coco hang out with a lumberjack. 

I think my only issue is the game is rather short, the main story is only two hours. However, I think that is because I really liked the game a lot and I was a bit sad when it was over. The final boss at the end is a little underwhelming, but I feel that their heart was in the right place and it got the message across about remembering and holding onto the good memories in order to overcome the negative emotions you feel in a thoughtful and mindful way. 

The ending itself is heartwarming and explains why Iko and Coco are there. It also says in its own gentle way that even though saying goodbye is difficult, that sometimes we have to in order to move forward and that the people we love are never truly gone if we keep them in our hearts. Hello Goodboy does a great job of showing that journey of kindness and connection and I genuinely appreciated every minute of it. 

High five!

*Hello Goodboy is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC

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