Say No! More Review

What’s your limit? When would you say “no” to someone?
If a friend asks to borrow a fiver for the third time this week? Being asked if you could work overtime? How about when your boss loots your lunch that your bestie prepared for you on the first day of your internship? By that point - I think it’s time to discover the super-secret hidden ancient mystical power of the word… no.

Up until then, that word just wasn’t in your lexicon. You get a glimpse of your utter powerlessness when your roommate asks if you could pay their part of the rent… for the ninth time in a row. Fumbling your words, your feeble attempts to say the forbidden ”no” are misconstrued as a yes. But at least they made you a nice packed lunch!?

Speaking of which - It is after your induction into your internship, ears still ringing from the platitude of people-pleasing performed by your senior that your supervisor snatches your supper. Last Straw: Given, Camel’s Back: Broken. Luckily for you, the force of your head slamming against the make-shift desk leads you on a path of self-discovery via a cassette player, a self-motivational tape, and possibly a concussion.

All the knowledge needed to say “No” is found on this walkman by way of a charismatic coach who will teach you the artistry of the anti-yes.

Upon knowing your no’s, you are set loose on a rampage in the office to reject your colleagues' menial errands in pursuit to take back your luncheon, and on the way - take back your power too, and inspire everyone around you to follow suit.

Not quite an on-rails shooter, but also not quite a visual novel either - Say No! More shares remnants of both genres, yet plays more like an interactive movie rather than your typical videogame; an experience that is refreshing as it is basic, and more about novelty & narrative.

With one “No” button, a quick press for a succinct dismissal or holding it down for a supercharged refusal, four tonal variants to switch between (Heated, Cold, Lazy, and Wacky) along with four additional pre-rejection taunts, every encounter can be met with a tailored response - maybe personal favourite being a long laugh, followed by a slow clap, finishing with an ultimate max turbo-charged cold/lazy “нет”.

Yes, you can personalise your experience to truly relive your unpaid office internship! But now with the benefit of destroying the workplace without any repercussions, in a multitude of languages (seeing “Irish Gaelic” as an option available was a neat little surprise). I would love to see more languages be introduced, and perhaps a randomise or toggle function to enjoy all of the various “no’s” the game has to offer.

The vibrant visual low poly art style and quirky animations accompanied gave the experience an additional layer of charm and fun, tapping into that 90s & 2000s zany nostalgia similar to titles as Katamari Damacy and Incredible Crisis. Both of which happen to hark on the caricature of ordinary life taken to the extreme.

With all that being said, Say No! More runs for just under two hours on one play-through, the asking price of £13.49 runs a little steep for such a short (albeit sweet) experience.
Ultimately, Say No! More says no more than it needs to. It’s a great example of how videogames can use modern-day problems as a way of escapism, gaining catharsis in real-life aggravations by hyper-inflating the issues and finding the fun exaggerating them - all the while being grounded in the morals and themes conveyed.

And it’s not always about saying no; that sometimes listening is worth more than giving any input. That we aren’t only limited in our options of care, and that saying no can be an act of care - not just to ourselves, but to others. Boundaries y'all, boundaries!

Also, just don’t mess with people and their food... no matter what the mood.