The Holy Gosh Darn from Perfectly Paranormal, published by Yogscast Games, brings a unique blend of time-travel mechanics and offbeat humor to the narrative-driven adventure genre, set within a whimsical version of Heaven that’s on the brink of destruction. You play as Cassiel, an angel with a mission to save the afterlife by wielding a time-traveling clock given to you by none other than Death. The premise blends absurdity with urgency, as Cassiel travels between Heaven, Hell, Earth, and Helheim, gathering clues to prevent an army of Phantoms from overtaking Heaven, where the unconventional storytelling constantly keeps players amused. We played it on a PlayStation 5.
The game’s use of time travel as a central gameplay mechanic is refreshing and brought back fond memories of Day of the Tentacle, this time encouraging players to jump freely between past and present moments to influence events across different timelines. This mechanic is thoughtfully incorporated, letting players uncover new narrative paths based on their choices across both time and space. The puzzles follow suit, with inventive twists that require an intuitive grasp of the time mechanics. That said, these puzzles can occasionally veer into obtuse territory, making the gameplay flow uneven at times, especially when trial-and-error approaches break the immersion. The game’s “shut up” button, a clever inclusion, allows players to skip dialogue at will – a practical feature for those keen to press on.
Visually, The Holy Gosh Darn leans into vibrant, quirky art design that complements its unusual characters and locales. The environments are packed with detail, from the lavish chambers of Heaven to the chaotic depths of Hell, creating a dynamic atmosphere that pairs well with the game’s wild narrative. This visual flair is backed by a fully voiced cast that breathes life into each character, although the dialogue’s rapid-fire humor can sometimes feel excessive, detracting slightly from the more subtle moments of the story.
The game’s audio, with a playful soundtrack and comical sound effects, contributes to the overall vibe. Despite being well-suited to the game’s tone, the audio occasionally becomes repetitive, especially during extended puzzle-solving sessions when you start noticing loops, but it still adds personality to Cassiel’s escapades. Navigating Heaven and its surrounding realms is also a relatively smooth experience, with controls that respond well to Cassiel’s movement abilities, like dashing and sprinting, though some players may find the jumping mechanics less precise than expected in certain platforming sections.
The Holy Gosh Darn succeeds in capturing Perfectly Paranormal’s trademark mix of humor and heartfelt storytelling, making it a fitting addition to the studio’s shared universe, which also contains Manual Samuel and Helheim Hassle. While it may not appeal to every gamer due to its erratic pacing and occasional difficulty spikes, the game is an excellent choice for fans who appreciate a narrative adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. With a memorable protagonist, imaginative worlds, and plenty of laughs along the way, The Holy Gosh Darn brings something special to the time-travel adventure genre, for a game that’s not to be missed.
Score: 8.7/10
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