Hylics was always one of those games that was just a fact that I'd play this game someday. Yesterday was that day and honestly it was everything I'd thought it'd be. Vibes off the charts with its 3D models digitized into RPG Maker VX Ace (seriously how TF did they make those maps so well???) And the experimental guitar riffs to accompany the odd journey of Wayne and the crew. When I heard the soundtrack as a younger gal I wasn't really into it but since listening to more experimental tracks I've grown to love it!!

My one major gripe with the game is progression. I spent like a solid 2 hours bashing my head against the wall as I tried solo Graveyard with just Wayne. I didn't realize that you could recruit Somsnosa and Dedusmuln so early on and that made my journey so much more difficult 😭😭😭. I wish there was a better way to find out. Other than that progression was alright. I really liked the idea of fights being limited, the enemies permanently die when you beat them, and you get a ton of spoils after you're done. No leveling is a neat take on the RPG Maker formula too. Instead, once you die, you can grind meat in the Afterlife to gain more health which incentivizes said fighting. Ultimately, if you learn to play by Hylics's obtuse rules then the difficulty isn't bad.

Speaking of obtuse, how about that dialogue. The fact that it's randomly generated just makes it all the funnier because you're not supposed to get what people are saying. I kinda love it. I feel like in that regard the game is just trying to get me to not question everything and instead just enjoy the world.

Overall as a project, I am well-pleased with Hylics and what Mason Lindroth set out to accomplish. However, if I were to have a thirst for those vibes again I would go for Hylics 2 instead.

I don't have much to say on this game other than yeah I had childhood nostalgia for this one. I would play this over and over on the computer, exploring every little itty bit of this stylish and downbeat world. What really sold the replayability was the world was full of interactible doodads. Click a baseball and a bat, and they could start playing a game with each other. Click on a tree, and it might wag its finger for bothering it. It's all so imaginative and I enter a dreamlike mood whenever I reminisce about this game.

Not to mention, the game changes slightly every time you play it so there are different side content that you may unlock per playthrough, also adding to the additional challenge of finding socks and finding every piece of equipment.

Replaying this as an adult, I was able to beat this game within 45 minutes. It's so tailor made for kids but that's what made it perfect. Pajama Sam not only rewards you for your puzzle-solving, but also rewards you for being curious. For being thorough. For being able to slow down and enjoy the nighttime and the simple beauty it brings you.

This game will ALWAYS be a gem from my childhood. So many hours were melted away on it playing on the computer at the YMCA waiting for my mom to finish her Zumba lessons at 1:30pm on a chilly Saturday. It's such a specific vibe, I know, but I think that checks out for such a distinct game like this.