izigame.me

Wow, I don't even know where to begin. Things in Lil Guardsman start reasonably innocently. Lil is the daughter of Hamish, a guardsman who operates the gate at a kingdom called The Sprawl. He wants to bet on a Goblinball game and drafts his daughter to fill his position. As the days go by and the situation in the city changes, Lil ends up with increasingly strict restrictions from significant authorities in the kingdom, handling greater responsibilities and night shifts, and becomes a test subject for a Chronometer 3000 device that can let her rewind time.
Much of the comedy in Lil Guardsman comes from the obvious and blatant silliness. That part of it is excellent and reminiscent of LucasArts classic titles. But I also appreciated when said humor involved critiques of modern society and issues stemming from corruption and intolerance. For example, the state of the working class and the nature of politicians are handled well and in genuinely funny ways.
Speaking of those deeper issues, while Lil Guardsman is a humorous game, it also addresses them and allows players to make decisions to stand up to authority and for equality. For example, racism runs rampant. Species like Goblins are discriminated against, with specific "rules" on some days threatening punishments for Lil letting non-humans in or telling her she should treat them differently than human visitors. We also see firsthand how power struggles work and have moments during which we could be part of the problem rather than the solution.
Those complexities can also be wholesome. There is way more heart to Lil Guardsman than I expected. The relationship between Lil and her father, Hamish, is absolutely exceptional. It pairs typical goofy dad humor with more serious moments between the two. Hamish constantly jokes with his daughter, but we also get asides that reveal precisely how much he's doing for her sake as a single parent. At another point, a choice that shapes the Sprawl involves Lil debating if she stays positive for him or is honest about how challenging the situation is for her. I hesitated because both sides could be the "right" answer or have "negative" consequences.
As for the gameplay, it is a mix of Papers Please and classic point-and-click adventures. When Lil is at her post, there are certain daily restrictions and goals. She can talk to the person trying to get into The Sprawl, teasing, trusting, or doubting them to gain additional insight. Three advisors can be called to get an understanding or because it's part of the mandates for that shift. You can use a Bullwhip, Decoder Ring, Metal Detector, Truth Spray, or X-ray to analyze people further and handle the situation. It is also possible to confiscate items, then either use them later or sell them for money for the crystals needed to power and upgrade the tools you use each day. Of course, there's also the Chronometer 3000, a significant plot device that allows you to rewind at will or if you get a bad ending. After taking three "turns" investigating, you admit someone to the city, deny them entry, or even sometimes jail them.
The only downside is that the array of tools only carries the same weight. The Decoder Ring, Truth Spray, and X-ray proved vital to me throughout the game, but I never needed the Bullwhip or Metal Detector. The Metal Detector was a backup item in case I'd spent my X-ray for the shift. However, I appreciate that the developers even realized this about specific tools, as it can come up cleverly depending on your approach in one encounter. However, since you choose how you invest Lil's paychecks into upgrades, you can… prioritize the equipment you see as crucial to you and focus on that throughout your run.
I also appreciated that while the focus is on the guardsman shifts, occasional adventure elements involve logical reasoning or finding specific items. When these segments come up, they always keep their welcome and are well-integrated. There's a reason for Lil to be called upon to help make an important decision (adults are corrupt and incompetent)
Lil Guardsman is one of those games that I took a chance on because the trailers made me smile, and I don't regret it. It's entertaining, sometimes touching, and even shocked me at specific points because of the immediate results of my decisions. Speaking of which, this is also a game during which you face the consequences of your actions, and I'm curious to go back and replay it to see how different choices will affect the city on another run.
Imagine you're a 12-year-old, suddenly in charge of the guard shed at the castle gate, where you decide if elves, goblins, and 100+ other characters should be admitted. It's a combination of deduction, narrative, and puzzle games.
Lil Guardsman's detail, depth, humor, and heart surprised me. I highly recommend it.