The Good Life
- November 21, 2014
- immersionFX
- 7h median play time
Weird, good natured, and pretty funny with it, The Good Life stands apart, like most SWERY games.
Get on Steam"The Good Life" is a debt repayment life simulation game set in a picturesque rural English town. As a journalist from New York, you must uncover the town's secrets while managing daily tasks, relationships, and your own personal growth. The game features day-and-night cycles and seasonal changes, offering a variety of activities and challenges throughout the year.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a relaxing experience with beautiful tropical scenery and enjoyable boat driving mechanics.
- Players appreciate the simple and laid-back gameplay, making it a good choice for those looking to unwind.
- The developer is responsive to feedback and has shown commitment to improving the game through updates.
- The controls are often described as frustrating and unresponsive, making gameplay difficult and unenjoyable.
- Many players find the game repetitive, with limited activities beyond transporting passengers and managing properties.
- The graphics and character models are outdated, leading to a perception that the game feels unfinished or lacking polish.
- story23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a variety of missions that keep the gameplay engaging, including diving quests, rescue operations, and encounters with pirates. However, players have noted that some mission challenges can be intrusive and disrupt the overall experience, leading to frustration, particularly with controls and side missions. While the narrative elements and graphics are praised, the execution of certain tasks can feel repetitive and buggy, detracting from the enjoyment of the story.
“I can see and hear the love of game and story development everywhere.”
“The game is magnificent, is fully changed for good, I liked it a lot, the graphics are excellent, the game engine is fluid, all the new features that were added to the game are suited to the game story, it is highly entertaining and it is not repetitive.”
“There are also missions that have you skin diving to collect treasure and find downed vintage helicopters, etc... you also have the opportunity to fish (which I have yet to get the full hang of).”
“I am already bored and sad that this isn't a simulation game or a free game story... not recommending this game!”
“Mission challenges during fares are typically intrusive and disruptive to the experience.”
“Safari and photo missions tend to pop up at the worst times (like when on a timed ferry mission) and skipping it to deliver the person on time will actually penalize you.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players noting that they resemble those from the PlayStation 2 era, while others appreciate the decent quality and fluidity at higher settings. Although there are criticisms regarding character models and occasional bugs, many find the visuals pleasant, especially in scenic environments like islands. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the game's context, with some standout elements in boat and water design.
“The game is magnificent, is fully changed for good, I liked a lot, the graphics are excellent, the game engine is fluid, all the new features that were added to the game are suited to the game story, it is highly entertaining and it is not repetitive.”
“For a game of this caliber, the graphics are decent – I’m running the game on the 'fantastic' setting @ 1920 x 1080 and I maintain around 60 fps; your mileage may vary.”
“Arriving on the island, the graphics immediately got better.”
“The in-game graphics, combined with that hilarious intro, look like they came from 2002, not 2012.”
“To start off, the graphics look terrible when you’re still in the city.”
“The graphics are a mixed bag; the models for people are so bad, but it's not really a big deal because the game is about boats, water, and scenery.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it shallow and clunky, despite some appreciating the atmospheric visuals and sounds. Controls are often described as sluggish and poorly designed, leading to a frustrating experience, while the mechanics lack clear explanations. While the concept shows potential, the execution has left many feeling disappointed.
“The water and sights are pretty, the sounds pleasant, the gameplay is easy, and if you know how to drive a boat, the controls are fine.”
“And the overall feel is such that even though the gameplay is driving me to distraction, I’m still trying!”
“Gameplay... feels like fun.”
“Seriously, the controls are crappy and the gameplay is shallow.”
“The gameplay and design are boring and clunky.”
“Sluggish controls, boring gameplay, pointless game.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its rich depth and beauty, with an impressive soundtrack that adapts to different tasks and environments. While many find the calming tunes enjoyable, some players noted that certain tracks, particularly in specific areas, can become repetitive or annoying over time. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
“Very rich depth and beautiful music!”
“The music changes to match tasks and the environment.”
“Awesome soundtrack.”
“There is a song by a band named Rebel Son... I'd rather YouTube it.”
“The music in the diving area is calming, but after a while, I got annoyed with it.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes and bugs that hinder gameplay, making it nearly unplayable. While the concept and graphics show potential, poor menu controls and a lack of instructions further exacerbate the experience.
“The game freezes quite often, making it pretty much unplayable.”
“Nice idea and halfway decent graphics, but it's totally buggy with poorly implemented menu controls and barely any instructions.”
“Some side missions seem a little buggy.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite pronounced, as it revolves around accumulating coins to purchase pre-made items and properties, which can feel repetitive and tedious. While some tolerate this grind for the sake of progression, it is generally viewed as a significant element of the gameplay experience.
“Even if you tolerate that the game is a simple spreadsheet management game about grinding coins to buy pre-made stuff on islands, it generates coins so you can pay taxes and grind more coins to buy more of the pre-made stuff.”
“Buying property is essential for victory, but the process can be quite grindy.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its appealing scenery and unique skills, creating an engaging experience. However, some players find certain elements annoying, which slightly detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite this, the atmosphere remains a strong point that many recommend.
“The scenery is nice, and the atmosphere is captivating, although some elements can be a bit annoying.”
“I can wholeheartedly recommend this game because of its incredible atmosphere and the variety of skills you need to utilize, making it truly special.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of the game's mechanics, feeling overwhelmed and unable to engage effectively due to the rapid pace of gameplay. This sense of helplessness detracts from the overall experience, leading some to describe the game as unplayable.
“Eventually you glimpse the tip of the wing and you realize how fast your mouse is scanning the sky – you’re hardly touching it but it’s going so fast that by the time you realize you’ve seen the tip of the wing, you’ve got no chance of backtracking and finding it again.”
