Reviews from

in the past


She Joshin on my Jumbo until I'm Banban

When I played the first Garten of Banban, I found it… not particularly worth the ire. Was it good? Not particularly, but its faults — and its shameless attempts to copy Poppy Playtime — were more funny to me than anything, and not quite capable of manifesting any particular hatred. It’s short, it’s mostly whatever, and the only role it has to play in the commercialization of ‘mascot horror’ is merely just being the most blatant about it. The idea that it (at the time of writing) is considered the 10th 11th worst game of all time, more than anything, is a sign that maybe people need to play more bad games, and that bandwagons can easily catapult something far past wherever it otherwise should be. I can understand feeling that Garten of Banban is a 1/10 because it has nothing to offer — frankly, that’s where I should probably put it. I’m much more confused at the idea that it’s a game that inspires frothing hatred, worth being considered the death of an entire genre, worth the harassment of the devs off social media. There’s just not enough there to really inspire anything passionate.

Garten of Banban II, on the other hand…

…exists solely, blatantly, to waste your time. There’s a throughline, sure — you go down deeper into the depths of the facility, you get your first glimpses of the Deep Lore as the real horror begins — but it's not nearly enough to sustain the full length of the game. Tragically, however, Steam’s refund settings allow people to buy a game, beat it, and then get their money back if they can do it in two hours. The devs didn’t want that to happen to them, so they padded the game out as much as they could to try and prevent that. Which: I don’t blame them, there’s been some history of indie developers not making back their budgets for otherwise well-received games because of people abusing the Steam refund system, I fully understand wanting to avoid that same thing yourself. I feel like there are much smoother ways of achieving this goal without compromising the quality of your work, especially if you’re releasing your game episodically, but I guess, in lieu of any better ideas, this idea works as well as any.

But god does that make this painful to play. The game does everything to make sure that runtime goes over the two-hour mark. Part of this is by natural padding: adding sections that mean nothing, that contribute nothing to the story, that make the whole thing disjointed and kind of aimless. Maybe there’s a concrete beginning, middle, and end in there somewhere, but it’s like an anime with constant, pervasive filler: so much content for the sake of stalling for time that it dilutes and gets in the way of whatever it is that actually moves things forward. It’s not good content, either. It’s clunky, it’s unclear (you’ll have no idea how you’re meant to interact with puzzle elements even if you know, step by step, what you’re meant to do), and it’s not particularly fair. Which is how it pads the runtime out, partially, since your autosaved checkpoints will send you far back before the point where you actually died. Fail the comically long first-person platformer segment (which has no relevance to the greater anything) because this game wasn’t built to be a platformer? Do it all over again. Get killed by the giant bird in a situation that still doesn’t take advantage of its theoretically interesting bird-of-prey AI? Sorry, you gotta collect all the babies again, and the controls for it aren’t any better this time than it was the first time. Fail the classroom segment because it’s all trial and error where one mistake is instant death? Hope you don’t mind not being able to skip the dialogue. It’s so genuinely frustrating. And so much more so when it’s so evident there’s no greater purpose beyond using up more of your time.

It runs like shit, too. Like, generally I’m not someone who super cares about PC performance stuff — if something lags or has graphical hiccups that’s more on me for playing it on PC — but that’s for, like, high-end stuff. Not Garten of Banban. Why is there so much motion blur? Why can’t I turn it off? Why is the framerate so bad as to be actually sickening to look at? Initially I shrugged and just turned everything down… but it still lagged, and now everything was so dark and low saturation that it’s impossible to see the things you need to interact with. A solid tenth of the game was literally me futzing with the graphics settings to see if I could stop it from chugging, and this is on a decently high-end gaming laptop, so preeeeetty sure it’s not my fault, there. It’s not even just an issue of “the game is normal but laggy,” certain sections are so much harder because they don’t run well. If you turn the lighting down too low (and you have to if you want it to run) you legitimately can't see anything: the buttons you need to press to open a door, the specific corridors you need to go down during a chase scene. There’s this part where you have to grab a bunch of baby birds and put them in a nest, but also the lag makes it so hard to catch them, both because they weave and turn in a way that makes it so genuinely hard to corner them and also because the lag makes it hard to tell if you’ve caught one: so many times I caught then immediately let them go. It was painful. The whole game was painful.

…It’s still not a 1/10, though, and this time, it’s because there’s a little bit of merit in the writing. Not necessarily the plot, or the lore — I didn’t care about those — but… there’s a little penchant for what feels like anti-humour that genuinely, almost made me smile a little bit. The whole section in the classroom, gameplay issues aside, was genuinely kind of funny, whether for the intended reason or not. “It’s okay to have no friends and be miserable like me!” is a quote that has genuinely stuck in my head at least once every couple days since playing this. It doesn’t save the game, even remotely — it plays like shit and it runs like shit all just to try and get past Steam’s refund thresholds — but, having heard that episodes three and onward start to lean into the joke a bit more… I have decent faith, given what works here, that maybe I’ll have a bit more fun when I eventually yeet myself back into the mines. Just not right now. Because going through this put me in a bad, bad mood. 2/10.

When I played the first Garten of Banban, I likened it to the kind of experimental project one makes when figuring out how to implement some ideas to clean up later. The kind of thing you wouldn't even call an alpha, more like a rough draft, a sketch. For some reason, be it naive optimism or just a general belief in others, I thought maybe, just maybe, this sequel would be at least somewhat of an improvement. I mean, surely they would have at least fixed the fact that pausing the game doesn't pause the game, right? Especially now that they're charging money to play it, right?

Right?

Garten of Banban 2 runs about as well as, if not worse than, its predecessor. Not a single improvement over the first game's mechanics, aside from the fact that you can now color and add hats to your drone. I wouldn't doubt it for a second if it were discovered that all the code and assets from Banban 1 are here, completely unchanged. They didn't even fix the pausing.

But what is different? What sets this new, premium title apart from its free-to-play older sibling? The quality of the game may be unchanged, sure, but they didn't skimp on quantity. Several unskippable cutscenes? They got em. Gameplay sections designed specifically to waste your time? They got em! I'd comment on the devs voice acting, but I've also done unprofessional VA for a game I worked on in the past, so, glass houses and all that (granted, it was for a game jam and released for free). In fact, I'll go so far as to say the voices are charmingly campy, I enjoyed them.

Unlike the mercifully short length of the first game, this one is a bit of a trek. Thankfully, my dear friend and mentally ill cohort also joined me for this game, so I at least wasn't suffering alone.

In fact, beyond moral support, they also saved my ass during a couple sections, because believe it or not an overly long and tight platforming section with zero checkpoints is incredibly difficult to get through when your framerate is in the single digits. Perhaps you may be thinking, "PJ, you can't blame the game for being unplayable when your hardware is outdated!", and I'd concede if this game didn't look worse than something I should be able to run on my GPUless family computer from a decade ago, but I digress.

There's so much more I wanna complain about, like the absolutely tiny hitbox for everything you need to interact with, the fact that some of the graphics settings made my monitor crash, which I didn't even know was POSSIBLE, or the STUPID BULLSHIT GODDAMN FUCKING BABY BIRD SECTION, but I've spent long enough writing this as it is. You get the point. This game is bad. It's very bad.

Won't stop me from playing Banban 3 though.

Almost fell out of my chair with excitement when the Opila Bird made an appearance. Refunded after beating.

Someone from the server I streamed the first game on gifted me 2 and 3 so I was able to stream this today. Somehow the game has more gameplay than 1 and it's even worse. Inconsistent, buggy, unoptimized, hilarious. The new voice acting has the enthusiasm of my tio after taking a shit.

I'm gonna post the ARG notepad like I did last time, but the letters that spawned when you died really wanted to spell a racial slur so we had to omit that part.

Click here to die of epic Banbanness {ARG from GoBB1}

Click here to die of epic Jumbo Joshness {ARG from GoBB2}


Garten of Banban 2: A Delightful and Immersive Gaming Experience

Garten of Banban 2 is an exceptional video game that offers players a captivating adventure in a vibrant world. From its stunning visuals to its engaging gameplay mechanics, this game is a true masterpiece that demands your attention.

One of the first aspects that grabs your attention in Garten of Banban 2 is its graphics. The game boasts breathtaking landscapes and meticulously designed characters that bring the world of Banban to life. The attention to detail is remarkable, with every leaf, flower, and blade of grass intricately rendered. This level of detail creates an immersive environment that is a joy to explore.

But Garten of Banban 2 is not just a visually stunning game; its gameplay mechanics also deliver an unforgettable experience. The game follows the adventures of the courageous protagonist, who sets out on a quest to save the mystical Garden of Banban from an imminent disaster. As the player, you are able to navigate the vast world, interacting with various characters, solving puzzles, and battling enemies along the way. The controls are intuitive and responsive, allowing for a seamless gaming experience.

What truly sets Garten of Banban 2 apart from other video games is its storytelling. The game's narrative is deep and intricate, filled with mystery, emotion, and unexpected twists. Each character encountered has a unique backstory and personality, making the player emotionally invested in their journey. The dialogue is expertly written, effortlessly drawing players into the world of Banban and leaving them wanting more.

The soundtrack of Garten of Banban 2 is another standout feature. The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, whether it's a whimsical tune as you explore the enchanted forest or an adrenaline-pumping score during intense battles. The combination of stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, captivating storytelling, and an enchanting soundtrack creates an unforgettable gaming experience.

Overall, Garten of Banban 2 is a true gem in the world of video games. It manages to strike a perfect balance between stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and a captivating storyline. Whether you are a seasoned gamer or someone looking to dive into the gaming world for the first time, this game is a must-play. So grab your controller, embark on an unforgettable adventure, and get ready to be enthralled by the enchanting world of Garten of Banban 2.

Bought this game and THANKFULLY I was able to finish it just in time for the refund window.

Honestly this game was even better than the first! Especially the 3.6 gb raw sketch file includ-
small gnome runs past
What? What the fuck WAS that?!?!

My friends and I went in with a positive mindset and had a good time. It's not a perfect game, but it was certainly not made with ill intent. There were some genuinely great moments and fun horror bits (for example, the snail eyes fake-out was literally genius). This is by no means "the death of mascot horror" and I'm excited to see how the sequels improve in the future.

Cityzen Kane of the videogamnes

Perhaps if I were, in another life, a sticky iPad kid

I spent like thirty minutes rounding up Opila Birds

This review contains spoilers

Even better than the first! there's A L O T to unpack here tht i dont want to get hidden through the spoiler warning.. actually ill tag it spoilers anyways just to be safe

garten of banban 1 was totally just a prologue for the grander ideas tht they wanted to have for this little universe, it was free! had pretty much three examples of the puzzle types it had to offer! and it really stayed scarce with the monsters it was gonna show you to build them up more and more for whats to come, feed the questions and such

And im here 2 tell u... garten of banban 2 is way better than the first!... i mean like duh lmfao theres more monsters going on here, way more confident dives into the backstory of the kindergarten and all around its just a step up in every way

There are still some things im noticing not really being fixed and thats the laughably huge polygon count for so much of the models, the controller alone is probably why the game fluctuates in how well it runs from time to time and when its dark??.. its fucking BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK it is straight up just vanta void ass black like LMFAO LIKE ITS NOT EVEN SOMETHING YOU CAN SQUINT IN IF U INCREASE UR COMPUTER'S BRIGHTNESS.. because of this Nabnab(the spider)'s jumpscare sometimes worked on me and other times i just couldnt even see wtf he was doin it was funny. Tweaking your brightness settings to be max or low can absolutely impact that puzzle, but that puzzle alone is kinda IT! just something funny!

Otherwise the crux and meat of this game shows you the experimentation that goes on, banban's cunning and the shit he's capable of and what he wants to do going forward.. you only really get a taste of it! but he does seem to empathize or sympathize with you and even goes as far as to help you and give you tips for whats to come! Opila is back and im wondering if helping return her kids will make her an ally as well by the next game because despite what the kindergarten mural sayssss.. these guys are NOT working with all the same motives in mind like FNAF would suggest with chica, bonnie, foxy and freddy
infact i think any fnaf comparisons to this series suck rn because this is totally going for something diff
the drone customization is cool and i actually think overcoming each monster's unique little niche is awesome too i kinda hope there's MORE lean into the experimentation aspect of things so that way we can see what all of their REAL identities are...

at the end of the day, its as cheap as a pack of nuts from the gas station and it scared me a few times.. im sorry if this makes me sound less cool to you for having found enjoyment in this but like??? how could i hate this LMFAO
now if this was trying to charge 60 dollars per game or even 40 bucks, then id absolutely understand the outrage
but this(ironically enough especially after my finger wagging earlier a paragraph ago) is something fnaf Also did with releasing an absurd amount of sequels back to back within the span of a year with a myriad of similarities that Can be argued as superficial but also marginal adjustments that lead to be true.

final thoughts: I still unironically like this!!!!!! and no im not being paid or brainwashed swear on my mom! should you BUY it??? MM. dont know bout that
but my venture going forward was out of genuine curiosity and now im interested in whats gonna happen next with the story
Maybe its a little thing i got for weird games! Maybe its tolerance for simplicity with puzzles because of enjoyment i had with roblox obbies when i was young, but at the end of the day i like the models and the vibes these give off!! Now don't get it twisted though, this isnt like a revolutionary game to me and i dont think anyone shitting on these is unjustified JUST because the games are sold cheap, but like
cmawnnnnnnn
u could do a hell of a lot worse

also embarrassing thing to note but like, this is technically a 40 minute long game
like
shorter than space funeral
and yet i clocked in like 2 or 3 hours in it bc i would get lost or googly eyed lookin up and down and thinking at stuff... hrm.
lets see how the third one is
i heard thats unironically the one that a lotta ppl can say feels the most like a Full product of a game but the irony pits are so deep with some people on these games I genuinely cant tell. I've even had to clarify like five times that me enjoying these isnt even a bit or ever was a bit rn which is hilarious but.. YEAH

Why does Banban sound like the principal from Baldi

definitely the 2nd best game i've ever played

i thought the first one was scary.. but this one? blows it out of the water.... i shit myself so bad my chair stink for weeks.... garten of banban 2 is so scary]

A complete failure of a game. Gameplay is tedious and purposefully time consuming. Actors are phoning in their performances. Graphics are both basic and rudimentary yet somehow chug your pc due to poor optimization. Music is uninteresting and window dressing.

If you are curious about the series and want to see what it’s like play the free one. Paying any money for this is a crime against your wallet.

the snail killed me and turned me into turbo

I watched my coworker suck dick and played it for 5 second and quit amen

Se Adicionar mais coisas fica melhor certo?

o maior terror que esse jogo consegue passar é ter que jogar ele.


ansioso para a part 3

GOTY 2023

the funniest piece of shit that ive played in my entire life

Friends screenshared the game and everyone kept comparing me to Banban cause we sound similar

"the shit you cook is shit" - walter white

O que estou fazendo da minha vida?


ok there is no way they are topping this

game still made for youtube shorts

if your game brightness is so dark that you cant even see the jumpscare, you fucked up