These features are whimsy and memorable, though they hide Ghost Giant’s darker side. I’d be remiss not to mention the melancholic soundtrack, the soothing whispers of which still linger as I write. Adorable little-big interactions are hidden in every corner, whether its dressing townspeople in hats you find in the environment or tossing a basketball into hidden giant hoops (which is sometimes an inexplicably difficult task). Louis enters a house and you’ll have to pull a lever to rotate the building or outright lift its roof off to see what’s going on. Each of the game’s 14 scenes is a miniature theatre production with stages cobbled together from nuts and bolts. In fact, just about every presentational aspect of Ghost Giant is a marvel in its own right. It’s both ridiculous and delightful in equal measure. A hard of hearing pelican locked in argument with a walrus keeps mishearing requests (“You collected kelp here?!”). Three cool cats sit on a bridge and complain about the lack of art in town until you paint a giant burrito. The same is true of the rest of Sancourt’s inhabitants, which resemble something like an Animal Crossing cast with a touch of world-weariness. He’s joyfully voiced and often a pleasure to be around, uplifting the already feather-light world. Louis himself is a wonderfully realized bit of work at times he’s a peppy youngster that zips around with an enthusiasm that’s tough to keep up with. Micro fist bumps, constant eye-contact and friendly waves between you and your friend are just as potent as ever here. Ghost Giant first establishes bonds familiar to those that played Moss and Astro Bot. After a flustered introduction, you become an unlikely problem-solving duo, charting a path toward Louis’ deeper troubles. His tears start to flow toward you and, before you know it, form two hands you control with PS Move controllers. We meet him out by an old hangout spot where he’s quietly sobbing. Ghost Giant introduces us to Louis, a young kid from the fictional town of Sancourt. Rarely has it felt so good to simply help. For that, it’s something I’ll cherish for a long time to come. Ghost Giant is a thoughtful game, one that’s not afraid to tackle tough subjects in new ways. Zoink mines virtual gold from deceptively simple concepts: companionship, kindness and, for the deeper crowd, our reliance on and manifestations of those themes in times of extreme distress.
It takes these elements and adds a secret ingredient to the mix: you. But Zoink Games’ VR debut then goes an unexpected extra mile. It doesn’t take long to fall for these charms. It’s got a twee diorama world of small miracles to explore, cutesy characters to fall in love with and even a handful of subversive themes to pick apart. Ghost Giant has all the warmth and wonder you’ve come to expect from VR storytelling.
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