In the setting of South Florida, you embark on an investigation of the titular park, clearly drawing inspiration from Disney and established by Mort Grisley. Once bustling with life as the home of the Mickey Mouse-inspired Randy Rodent, the game injects a dark sense of humor, though it occasionally leans toward juvenile elements, contributing some personality to the experience. With the closure of the park wrapped in mystery, the responsibility falls on you to uncover the truth. At the beginning of the game, Larry, your endlessly talkative guide, transports you to the theme park by boat. However, his thick accent, paired with the absence of subtitles, sometimes presents challenges in understanding his dialogue.
The sound design became particularly problematic when I missed crucial hints from a tape recording, which would have been handy for solving a puzzle. The situation exacerbated when another character’s dialogue drowned out the recording, further complicating matters. The audio issues also meant that I wasn’t really with the narrative some of the time.
The game itself fares somewhat better than its sound design. Primarily, you navigate through the park, solving straightforward puzzles. However, combat is later introduced, requiring you to fend off animatronics. Combat involves swinging melee weapons like golf clubs, oars, and swords at your foes. Despite the slow-motion destruction of your enemies, the combat mechanics feel unsatisfying and are lacking in impact.
“If HappyFunland had simply been a walking simulator, then things might have turned out better.”
The game’s highlight lies in wandering through the well constructed park, soaking in its eerie ambiance, and experiencing its diverse rides, with everything from ghost trains to rollercoasters. Mini golf serves as a slightly fun distraction and sometimes acts as a key to unlocking new areas. However, while it delivers entertainment in a scrappy manner, it’s hardly going to challenge Walkabout Mini Golf for its believable golfing physics.
The game might have greatly benefited from more intricate and challenging puzzles, as the ones included are overly simplistic and lack any real challenge. That being said, it’s best approached as an atmospheric experience rather than a puzzle or combat-focused game, as these elements are noticeably lacking. If the game had simply been a walking simulator, then things might have turned out better.
Speaking of movement, smooth locomotion allows you to move freely, although there’s no teleportation option. There’s a noticeable absence of a smooth turn option with snap turn the only available method, which is an odd decision to say the least. Perhaps this will be added into the game at a later date.
HappyFunland can be completed in about three hours, spanning from start to finish. Optionally, you are able to hunt down and destroy 80 Randy Rodent models throughout the game. However, beyond this task, HappyFunland lacks substantial replay value and feels a bit overpriced at £20. With that said, it’s advisable to wait for a sale with a substantial discount before considering a purchase.
