One type of game I’m never going to get sick of is the short-form emotional adventure genre. It’s way easier to evoke emotion from a game that’s taken in a short burst as opposed to a 100-hour open-world jaunt. I often feel that my money is better spent on the former, as it sticks in my head for far longer.

I’ve covered quite a few over the years, including Before Your Eyes and Sayonara Wild Hearts, but this time around I’m diving into Mr. Saitou, the second title from Rakuen developer Laura Shigihara. Developed by no more than five people, how does this follow-up to Rakuen fare? Does it capture that game’s magic?

The premise of Mr. Saitou is that you’re spending most of the game in a dream where you are a llamaworm accompanied by a sprout by the name of Brandon. Every llamaworm in your office is either named Saitou or a twist on the name Saitou in some way, like a pleasant dude called Widetou and a frustrating coworker that goes by Irritatou. The same-y feeling here illustrates the theme of monotony and liberation when Saitou wakes up surrounded by his fears.

Ultimately, Saitou decides to go on an adventure with Brandon instead of going to work on the day of a big presentation. Moments of hilarity ensue in the office setting before the adventure kicks off, so be sure to spend ample time exploring here. Interacting with just about anything that looks interesting will bring about some commentary. Some side characters had me busting a gut in laughter.

Once you explore the caverns in Mr. Saitou, the puzzles ramp up and one can’t help but feel the Undertale comparisons. It’s a fitting feeling, as Toby Fox contributed to Mr. Saitou with some songs played to amplify the hilarity. Aside from Fox’s pieces, Shigihara also worked on all of the music for the game, including a hip-hop piece with vocals that’s a delight to encounter near the end of the title.

Additionally, the vast array of colors makes the pixelated art style a treasure for the eyes. Not just with its environments, but the variety of facial expressions you’ll see each character show in cutscenes. Dialogue is cute and funny the whole way through, and my only frustration points were feeling utterly lost in some puzzles and exasperation at having to backtrack for several minutes across the one-sitting playtime that Mr. Saitou presents.

Adventure titles can sometimes go on for too long, but Mr. Saitou‘s roughly 2-hour length makes it a great option for a weekend departure. Its commentary on the droll office life and how to live one’s life in the best fashion possible is easy to grasp. On top of that, the shock ending really tugged at my heartstrings.

As a game, it’s not the best the genre has seen. However, it is still an impressive showing from a small development team and should enter the must-play territory for its target demographic. At a cheap $12 for an impactful experience, it’s easy to recommend Mr. Saitou to those that even have a passing interest.

A PC review copy of Mr. Saitou was provided by Laura Shigihara for this review.

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Mr. Saitou

11.99

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Magnificent Pixel Art
• Stellar Soundtrack
• Heartfelt Ending

Cons

• Too Much Backtracking
• Some Puzzles Make No Sense