We Happy Few: A Game Review

     Hello, night owls! I'm not really a gamer - I usually watch games rather than play them - but I'm still interested in games that display good story, good graphics/design, and individuality. So when I started seeing stuff about this game earlier this year, I got very excited. It's unlike anything I've ever seen or heard of and it looks to be very exciting. Though many major plot points are being concealed by the developers as they're putting the finishing touches on this piece, what is known about the story will make you anxious to dive right in.

     This is We Happy Few by Compulsion Games.

     The year is 1964 and the place is Wellington Wells, Great Britain. The welfare of this town (part of which lies in ruins) is dictated by a very simple thing - a drug called Joy. Everyone in the best parts of town takes it to feel happy and to forget about all the bad things in life. But when a redactor named Arthur Hastings goes off his Joy and becomes a "Downer", he starts to realize there's an extremely sinister past behind the present and determines to escape from Wellington Wells.

     That's merely the gist of this intriguing game. 

     We Happy Few is set in an alternative dystopian 60's Britain. Wellington Wells is an island town that was heavily affected by World War II and everything about the place - from the drug Joy to it's heavily censored environment - stems from one horrifying decision the citizens (nicknamed Wellies) made to keep the Nazis away. As of now, there's still no definite explanation as to what that decision was, but you see clues about it everywhere when you explore Wellington Wells, especially the ruinous area - the Garden District. Haunting messages and drawings are scratched on the walls and every child in an old painting has his/her face crossed out. And the mumbles of other Downers suggest that the "Victory meat" the well-to-do Wellies eat may contain very suspicious ingredients.

     In order to escape Wellington Wells, picking up on social standards and cues will be extremely important. Blending into the crowd will insure your survival, especially since you'll have to do a lot of sneaking around. In every district of Wellington Wells, there will be different expectations as to how you behave in public, especially when you get into the main village area. Everything from the words you say to the clothes you wear matter. 

     What happens if you don't blend in?

     Anyone and everyone who sees you acting suspiciously will attack you on the spot.

     You aren't completely helpless, fortunately. In this first-person game, you can put up your fists and stand your ground. However, with villagers wielding weapons like shovels, cricket bats, pipes, and nightsticks, you'll definitely want to make sure you have some similar defense.

     To blend in, you also have the option of taking a Joy pill. There are some places where you need to take Joy in order to make it past the bobbies (police) and to sneak by without causing a stir. Joy must be taken in moderation, though, since OD'ing is a danger in this game.

     In current updates and versions of the game, Arthur Hastings is the only main character present. However, at least two other characters have been said to feature into Arthur's escape.

     There is another character that has been seen and heard a lot in the game simply called Uncle Jack. Who he is exactly and what his role is in all this is still uncertain, but his face is the one you'll see all over town. 

     As of now, there has been no single villain/boss in this game. The villagers and the bobbies are the main threats so far. There has been a character that has shown up in a couple of this game's trailers, however, that appears very sinister and may prove to be a fierce foe.

     There's one final thing I should mention about this game that's very important. There are no saving points and you don't have multiple lives. Every time you play, you've got just one shot. If you're seriously injured during a melee, don't eat/drink enough, and don't sleep enough, your death will instantly restart the game. Each time you die and start over, a new layout of Wellington Wells is made as well, so you can't rely on your last try to navigate your way through this world.
     This game has come such a long way since its Kickstarter campaign back in February 2015, and Guillaume Provost and his team at Compulsion Games have put forth a lot of effort and talent to make something unique and exciting. Now, you'll get a chance to experience that! We Happy Few is being released July 2016 (yes, this month!) for Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Steam. It looks so good, it might be the first game I try to play and complete!
     And if you're still undecided about this game, here's the link to their Official E3 2016 Gameplay Trailer. You'll get a glimpse of Arthur's life as well as a taste of the cool soundtrack in this amazing trailer!
     I also couldn't end this post without a special thanks to M³ for her artistic contribution. You can find her We Happy Few art and other works at M3 Art.
So there you are! Check out We Happy Few and good luck escaping Wellington Wells!

~Maud,
Official Night Owl