REVIEW / Say No! More (PC)

Anyone that has worked a 9 to 5 job knows the stress, the pain, the sheer annoyance that comes with the territory. Every mundane task, meeting that could have been an email, or request to clock in overtime can really get your blood boiling to a point you want to shout. Luckily, Studio Fizbin and publisher Thunderful have a way that could preserve your employment status with Say No! More. 

In Say No! More you’re given one objective and it’s really not hard to guess what it is; say no. In this colorful office adventure you take on the role of a fresh faced intern in their first corporate gig, only to find out corporate life is a real drag. After being thoroughly demoralized, our hero happens upon the perfect motivational tape that gives them the courage and ability to stand up and say the magic two letter word.

While it would be simple to write this game off as a means to vent frustration, a way to scream “no” at all of your superiors in a workplace environment, Say No! More has more than meets the eye. The game isn’t just about vindication and letting out the anger. It makes the point that learning to say no is a vital life skill.

It’s easy to want to say no to your boss asking unreasonable demands. It’s not so easy when a loved one is asking for help at the cost of your own well being. This dynamic is explored in a jaunty, humorous way while still remaining poignant and leaving the player with something to really think about.

Say No! More’s gameplay is about as basic as you would expect. You can say no with several different inflections, you can sarcastically nod, clap, or laugh, and you can charge up your no for extra oomph. You can also choose to not say no in some scenarios, this can take you off onto branching paths from the storyline. It was reminiscent of Star Fox 64 in that it was on-rails, but the choices you made on those rails decided where you went. For example, I chose not to shout “No” during a staring contest and was led to a completely secret society of staring contest worshipers.

The customization in the game is surprisingly deep. You can change every facet of your intern’s outfit, hair, and skin color as well as their language and vocal range. The character creation system was also a lot of fun to mess around in and ultimately allowed me to create the best possible intern for me. The beauty of the customization is that no matter how wild you make your intern look, they still seamlessly fit into the wacky world of Say No! More. 

The gameplay of Say No! More is just enough to keep you into the story for it’s approximate 90 minute runtime. The game doesn’t overstay its welcome and makes the points it wants to make while utilizing the small amount of player interaction that is in there. It’s hard to say I left the game wanting more, which is surprising considering most shorter titles feel like they are short to a fault. With that being said, considering this is a paid experience with a certain amount of expectations for the price tag, it’s not surprising if players would feel like the game should be expanded or offer something more than what’s in the final package.

Say No! More is a funny and endearing experience that makes a valuable point to empaths and those with a nurturing mindset. It’s a game where you can have some fun, laugh at some ridiculous situations, but most importantly, learn valuable lessons about give and take in social situations. The customization options are sure to make most players feel included and the story is an easy one to relate to. While the game is incredibly short and scant on actual gameplay, there is a very good message laying in wait for those that are needing to hear it. 

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.