It’s time for another Retro Ad Replay article! This is the series where we head backward in time to reminisce and celebrate the anniversary of some of the most significant moments in gaming. If you find yourself wanting more content like this, be sure to visit Mandatory.com.
In this August 10 edition of Retro Ad Replay, we’re heading back three years in time to when We Happy Few first launched on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. That’s August 10, 2018. Developed by Compulsion Games, this action-adventure game initially spent an early access period evolving into a survival horror title. However, a sudden change in direction turned it into a highly narrative-driven experience.
GameRevolution awarded We Happy Few a 6/10 in our review, giving kudos to the “great visuals and style,” “some compelling story elements,” and “many memorable characters.”
We Happy Few succeeds in its presentation, with a world that is interesting to explore and interact with, at least for a little while. The story it tells is compelling, with dark themes combined with a touch of comedy, further enhanced by documents expanding on lore. And although Arthur is repugnant, Sally and Ollie both make up for him. All of their stories conclude in a satisfying enough way, though BioShock this is not. Combat is functional, aside from that broken sidestepping move, and crafting allows for creative ways of taking out stronger enemies. Stealth has some unique elements, but quickly becomes tiresome, as does behaving and conforming to walking everywhere.
For $60 I needed to see more quality, and instead became overloaded with quantity. Despite the game’s shortcomings, I am excited for the season pass, which promises to explore more characters and take a deeper dive into the world. Hopefully we’ll also be treated to a smattering of patches to add more polish to the experience. In its launch state, however, We Happy Few pleases the eyes and ears, but much like the fictional drug it features, the Joy is great… until it wears off.
Check out the We Happy Few launch trailer below:
