Arostia’s Awkward Adolescence
In the pixelated pastiche of 19XX, where CRT glows birthed basement legends and every NES cart was a covenant with childhood, The Good Old Days materializes like a mislaid Metroid manual unearthed from a time capsule. Developed by Yokogosystems, a Tokyo tandem of retro revivalists who’ve honed their hand-drawn homage since the 2023 demo dazzle, and published by GRAVITY, this October 15, 2025, PS5 port ($19.99, following PC’s September bow) clocks 8-12 hours for the core cash crunch (15-20 with sidequest sprawl), blending metroidvania mapping with Yakuza-esque errands in Arostia, a rural riff on rural Japan where rural ruffians rumble for rupees. With Steam’s 88% Very Positive from 2,500 reviews and Metacritic’s 82 “Generally Favorable,” it’s a “nostalgic triumph” that’s “love letter to 16-bit youth,” though its “short but sweet” shortness sweetens the sour for speedrunners.
You helm Sean, a scrawny suburbanite saddled with dad’s delinquent debt, deadline-doomed to dig up dough by dusk or dodge the loan shark’s lash. Rally the “Noogies”, Foodie the foodie fiend, Bruce the brawny bruiser, Doc the doctoring dork, in a gang of good-hearted goofs whose rescue romp romps through Arostia’s alleys, from arcade arcades to abandoned arcologies, a “exploration-based Metroidvania” that’s “getting that money” paramount. It’s less Castlevania‘s castle crawl and more EarthBound‘s earnest errands, where “many ways to play” play manifold: nab nabbed notes in nooks, run trial gauntlets for gold gobs, quest quirky quests for questy quid, gamble gachas or lottery lots, minigame marathons from pachinko pinballs to sumo slaps, a “experiment with different routes” that’s “riveting selection” riveting. Multiple playthroughs multiply the magic: endings etch from “heroic” to “heartbreaking,” choices cascading across clears, a “dynamically affected” dynamism that’s “gripping multi-faceted story.”
Critics carve it “clever pixel-art homage,” praising “warm expressive visuals” and “intriguing rich quests,” a “10/10 nostalgia trip” for NES nostalgics, though “linear” leashes limit liberty. Steam sages savor “unique roster 16-bit style,” one Noogie nabbing 50 hours in “easter egg ecstasy.” Subtle humor honks in hubris: Sean’s stuttered “S-sorry, sir” to sharks, a “country boy” wink winking at world’s whimsical wrongness. With Switch 2 stretch and DLC debts dangling, it’s a days-gone delight proving retro’s ripe for replay.
Noogies’ Nostalgic Nine: Gang’s Gauntlet Grind
Gameplay in The Good Old Days is a Noogies’ nostalgic nine-iron, a metroidvania melee where “exploration focus” explores a focus of fetching funds, blending Hollow Knight‘s hollow haunts with Yakuza‘s yakety-yak in a “get that money clear debts” ballet that’s “at your own pace” paced perfectly. Boot as Sean, scrounge suburbs for starter scraps, switch to Foodie’s foraging finesse (food finds faster), Bruce’s brawny bashes (bash barriers), or Doc’s doctoring dodges (heal hurdles), a “unique roster 4 playable characters” that’s “distinct ability” distinctively delightful. Maps mantle mosaic mastery: Arostia’s alleys alight with “secretive locations” secreting secrets, trial stages testing “attitude” with attitude-testing acrobatics, side quests questing “charismatic residents” with “dynamic branch off,” a “random maps” that’s “every playthrough new adventure.”
Debt’s deadline dangles dread: tally takings from nabbed notes, lottery lots, gambling gambits (pachinko pinballs, horse hustles), minigame marathons (sumo slaps, shooter shootouts), or gang-gouge goons, a “win lottery become gambling afficionado indulge minigames” indulgence that’s indulgent. Combat cleaves casually: bop baddies with bopper bashes or bullet ballets, a “defeat strong enemies” that’s “not necessarily fighting overbearing evil” optional. Endings etch epics: multiple clears cascade “continuation ending,” choices choice the “various endings” from “separate distinct thematic,” a “unlock all outcomes” that’s “up to you decisions.” Quirks? “Linear” leashes limit, “short” shortness shorts the show, puzzles’ “headache” head into headache. Yet unhurried alchemy, explore one eve, errand next, crafts addiction, “must-have” for metroidvania masochists.
Pixel Pastels and Procedural Poetry: A 16-Bit Vista
Visually, Good Old Days is pixel pastels, Yokogosystems’ hand-crafted homage hand-crafting a “warm expressive lovingly crafted pixellated visuals” that’s “retro nostalgia inventiveness,” Arostia’s alleys alight with 16-bit splendor, suburban sprawls sprawling with sprite sparkle, arcades arcing arcade arcs, a “marriage retro nostalgia” marrying marvelously. Characters charm: Sean’s scrawny struts, Foodie’s foodie flubs, a “unique roster 16-bit style” styled stylishly. Performance perches pixel-perfect, 60fps fluidity framing fray, dense demo dens dip, a hitch hitched hardly halting.
Audio ambles authentically: soundtrack swells chiptune chirps to orchestral oompahs, evoking EarthBound‘s earnest echoes. Sound delights: boing bopper bashes, clink coin conniptions, Noogies’ natter nattering narrative. Subtle sonics: debt deadline’s tick-tock terror. Vista vortexing vintage, menu mutes melting mist.
Debts, Dares, and Dynamic Denouements: Peaks and Pitfalls
Days‘ debts dare peaks: “many ways play beat game,” a “experiment different routes” experiment experimenting excellently, characters’ “distinct personality individuality diverse dynamic quests” diverse dynamically. “Endings dynamically affected multiple playthroughs” dynamically delights. $20, 88% acclaim, “nostalgic triumph.”
Pitfalls pock: “linear” leashes, “short” shortness, “grind” grinds. Community crowns “chaotic charm,” whispers whine “wandering wonderless.” Humor haunts: Sean’s stuttered sharks.
Checkmate checkerboard checkmating.
Noogies’ Nostalgia: Modular Manifesto
Badlands beats blueprint: Days manifesto mastery, homage Metroid‘s zenith, palettes broad, probing potential: fusion’s “laboratory” learning. Purposeful pops educate: reset’s “remorseless” clinic.
Unique: “Soul Orb Shop” “perfect storm,” procedural mint mysteries. Against Hollow‘s rogue, nabs companionship. Pilgrims “polished paradise.”
More mush: manifesto mini-mystery, tap etches elation.
Final Thoughts
The Good Old Days checkmates metroidvania with “nostalgic” Noogies, 8-12 hour homage blending Hollow‘s haunts Yakuza‘s errands in “exploration focus.” Roster’s “4 playable characters” unique abilities, “many ways play” manifold money-making, endings “dynamically affected” delights.
“Linear” leashes, “short” shortness snag. Yet nicks noble, deft deployment ensures metroidvania masochists indulge Noogie ecstasy. For EarthBound buffs, par-fect parley—treat tying time without noose.
We prepared this review with a digital copy of THE GOOD OLD DAYS for the PS5 version provided by GRAVITY.
