Looking at Garten of BanBan II… I actually feel kind of optimistic.
This second game feels like it does have more effort put into it- and it’s more genuine, less of a cash grab especially without the merch link right there. I’m not gonna blame the devs for charging money bc it seems they are very low budget, and I’d prefer a game costing money rather than asking you to buy overpriced merch.
There’s a somewhat scarier atmosphere and I think the direction the story is heading could prove to be interesting.
Spoiler alert:
Saw the human experimentation thing coming from a mile away. Not the most original in the mascot-based horror niche, but I’m a sucker for it and am actually kinda interested in seeing why it’s happening in this facility posing as a kindergarten, of all places. Also, BanBan as a possible good guy is very interesting. Yes, Alice and Mommy Long Legs both send you on fetch quests with ulterior motives, but BanBan seems to genuinely care about saving the kids, even if it means he’s not heroic enough to do it himself.
It’s also interesting that he’s apparently not the “major” threat- that’s Stinger Flynn, apparently. Unless BanBan is lying/tricking the MC, which is like a 50/50 chance.
The game also, surprisingly, has a sense of humor. BanBan’s note telling you he’s gonna knock you out, his sheepish apology, NabNab’s misery, and Seline (the snail) reaching the chase scene too late all actually got a chuckle out of me.
However, it’s not exactly the most riveting gameplay. The game still seems kinda slow, glitchy, and like there isn’t as much of an “active” threat. Everything is very … compartmentalized? Until the last chase scene there doesn’t seem to be an active threat chasing you down.
And the story does have some pitfalls and confusing bits. It’s frustrating to me that they are dropping gradual hints in the notes alone- at this point I wish there was more of a why and maybe even more of an admission. BanBan sees himself as human still, yes, but certainly he’s aware everyone else thinks he’s BanBan? And that he’s in a lab? But he never says “yeah they mighta turned me into something I’m not, but deep down I’m human and you can trust me”
And while I like the idea of Stinger Flynn as a major threat I’m surprised NabNab isn’t more of an opposing force. Like they’re literally an obstacle for like the construction section and they peer out as a lil secret when you finish the chase scene and turn back. For someone teased as a big thing, they seem more like a needless red herring and underwhelming extra. It’d be better if they were more present in this chapter.
The … attempt at social commentary in the classroom segment was also just weird? There’s not really a popular kid weird kid bullying hierarchy in kindergarten of all places… and the metaphor is just very bland and fake deep and whatnot. Unless it’s just BanBaleena running the school like she thinks they’re run bc she’s a human experiment with no memory/knowledge of the outside world. Or some sort of commentary on the game community? Eh, it was just weirdly cynical and I didn’t dig it.
And it’s weird that they’re already advertising game 3. It’s a chapter system and it’s bound to happen, but it makes me think they’re rushing it a little.
So it’s not perfect by any means. There’s a couple of glaring issues of disorganization and rougher edges, hell some of the worries concerning it being too “kiddy” still ring true. But it also seems to confirm the game is growing into its own unique self and is a genuine attempt at making a decent game rather than something thrown together to make some money off of children. There’s some heart. It may be small or weak, but it’s there.
I never thought I’d be rooting for the Euphoric Brothers, but I do actually hope they improve from here and actually make something some people can dig. They’re not really some insidious force like people make them out to be, just two people trying in a… pretty flawed way? They gotta work on a lot of stuff, from the game to how they have taken criticism, but they’re not goddawful, the first game was just the worst first impression ever.
And…If anything BanBan’s popularity is inspiring. It’s a good reminder that anyone can make a game- and possibly succeed in getting what they wish.
Tldr: not winning any awards any time soon, but Garten of BanBan is not a total waste. I hope the Devs listen to the criticism they’ve gotten and improve from here, too.
And I. Do like NabNab and Stinger Flynn. And BanBan. I am not immune to silly blob thing.
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the difficult thing about practicing harm reduction is that some behaviours feel so impulsive that it’s really hard to slow myself down and go, “are my tools clean? am I avoiding harm to particularly vulnerable parts of my body? am I checking in with my body?”. ideally, yeah, I would have a list of mechanisms that would help me to slow down and keep myself safe. but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. impulsivity really is the killer
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Thinking about that one scene in book 6 where Idia is talking about the Shroud fam curse. And while, yeah, it’s mainly meant to be exposition for us, the player, but, he’s talking to ORTHO about it. His BROTHER. Who most likely already knows about the curse. So it just kinda gives off the vibes (at least to me) that Idia will just randomly start talking about his curse. In like, full detail. And Ortho’s just learned by now to just smile and nod and to lightly engage to show he’s listening until Idia’s fine again, like,
Idia: you know that technically I can never leave this island, right?
Ortho, internally: oh no, here we go again
Ortho: no, actually. Please, go on.
Idia: so, it all started back when…
Ortho:
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saying that having executive dysfunction is different from physically not being able to do something is not downplaying the difficulties of executive dysfunction. it’s just saying the truth; the issues are different
executive dysfunction can be hard to manage. it can prevent you from being able to hold down a job or engage with your hobbies or maintain relationships. but when it comes down to it, someone with executive dysfunction will be able to do the things once they find the right coping mechanisms for them (which can be a difficult challenge in and of itself, I don’t deny that)
but someone who physically can’t do something just can’t do it, and the accommodations they’re going to need will be different. often it’s a physical accessibility issue or a support issue. those aren’t things that someone can just solve for themselves. I can’t bring an elevator with me if a place only has stairs. my friends with support workers can’t use timers on their phones to remind them to eat if nobody’s there to help them physically eat
they’re just different physical realities. executive dysfunction is difficult, but it’s not the same as a complete and constant inability to do a task
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