Developer: Lululu Entertainment
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch
Genre: Action, Adventure
Publisher: Lululu Entertainment, Popagenda
Lululu Entertainment are the developer of Henry Halfhead, and the publishers are Lululu Entertainment in partnership with Popagenda. Henry Halfhead is available on PC, PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch.
Henry Halfhead is an indie game with a twist, where you play as only the top half of a person’s head. Going through life’s journey in different stages, from your childhood to your old age. Henry has the ability to possess objects in the world and interact with them in a way that allows him to solve various tasks whilst exploring. Nothing really poses a threat in this game, but rather the concept of time, as you see Henry grow older and older.
The controls to Henry Halfhead are extremely simple, and the game does a wonderful job at explaining the straightforward mechanics. As you start the game, you are recommended to play the game with a controller, but I found that keyboard and mouse work just as well. There seems to be no delays in the controls, and the game itself works smoothly. Interestingly enough, Henry Halfhead can be played locally with two players, and this was such a fun experience. You can enjoy the game in split screen with a friend, family member and no matter the age, you will definitely love this game.
The art of this is very minimal and clean with a cartoon aesthetic and colours that reflect the mood and environments. Minimalism can be seen in the simple shapes with bold outlines and flat colours. What I especially love is that every object in this world is something Henry can interact with, and some objects are amazing easter eggs. The colour palette in the game is bright and cheerful, with light here and more subtle colours as you progress through life. Every aspect of the visuals is subtle, yet detailed, and when Henry possesses the objects, it creates an even better character, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Alongside the visuals, you have a playful and melodic soundtrack which fits with the light aesthetic Henry Halfhead features. Sound effects, such as chimes or specific object interactions, create such an immersive experience.
I would say what truly brings this game together, besides its gameplay, would have to be the narration. The narrator in Henry Halfhead has to be one of the most compelling storytellers, as he will narrate almost everything Henry does. It’s almost as if you’re living in a bibliography, but one filled with humour and emotions that I enjoyed so much. The narrator will comment on every action Henry makes, whether that may be a bad or a good remark. The narrator’s tone is lighthearted and playful, with layers of several other emotions as Henry grows.
My first impression of this game when I had heard about it was that it would be like that one game where you are bread and need to make your way around the kitchen, but Henry Halfhead was so much more than I had expected. Who would have thought that being able to possess countless objects would actually give you an objective? For instance, if you interacted with a certain block, you would need to build a tower up to a certain height, or if you are based in school, you need to write back a secret letter to your friend. Interactions in this game seemed to reflect some of the interactions we had as we were growing up, and it felt so simple yet rewarding to be able to embark on this playful journey.
What made Henry Halfhead even more enjoyable was the addition of puzzles that were not entirely challenging and placed rather cleverly by the developers. Nothing in the game stood out like a sore eye, but everything just flowed so nicely, which I enjoyed. This quirky, silly idea of being half a head (which I still do not get the premise of) that can possess anything and actually make it work was so amusing.
Henry Halfhear seems to be showcasing the aspect of losing time whilst wondering about all the societal norms and just fitting into the idea of having your own identity. This game sends a message in a way that builds with the player as they play through every stage of Henry’s life, which I thought was outstanding. The game is not as long as it may seem; it took me about 4 hours to complete, but I was so glad that I was able to experience this cute game. One thing that I wish the game was more driven towards were some levels with more in-depth puzzles that would make certain levels more challenging than others. I think the game was relatively balanced overall, so a little bit of challenge would have been nice.
If you are looking to play a silly game that reminds you to just enjoy life as it comes, then this game is just for you. Being able to possess a countless number of objects whilst living through occasions like your birthday, your first day at school, your first job, all come with little puzzles that help you get through your day. Enjoy the message this game has to offer through the amazing storytelling by the narrator. Be sure to check out Henry Halfhead!
Overall: 9/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
