‘GG (Good Game)’ REVIEW: A visually exciting, albeit buggy, local esports film
‘GG (Good Game)’ REVIEW: A visually exciting, albeit buggy, local esports film
Donny Pangilinan as Seth/Eskape. Image taken from the official trailer via YouTube.
Seth, a.k.a. Eskape (portrayed by Donny Pangilinan), can’t seem to concentrate well during class. His gaze is fixed and determined — not on the teacher before him, but on the virtual game playing out in his mind. His fingers twitch with intensity. Not to jot down notes with a pen, but to click keys on an imaginary keyboard.
This particular moment encapsulates what makes GG (Good Game) a compelling portrayal of the gamer’s experience, all while never forgetting to shed light on the challenges they face in the real world.
As the first esports film in the Philippines, GG (Good Game) exposes the often misunderstood and belittled burgeoning industry with visual flair, adrenaline rush, and typical melodrama.
The Tokwa’t BadBois. Image taken from the official trailer via YouTube.
While the film treads on familiar sports film tropes, it distinguishes itself by delving into the world of professional gaming — a sport not yet explored on our local big screens until now. This film gets it right when it comes to capturing the camaraderie and passion within the gaming community, the dopamine rush that they feel when they press the play button, and how they treat gaming as their haven.
However, certain bugs can be found within the script: the lack of characterization and the unfulfilled subplots in the end, resulting in somewhat rushed conclusions.
At its core, the film explores grief and loss through Seth, who turns to pro-gaming as a coping mechanism after his grandmother's death. As Seth moves into his estranged mother's home with his stepfamily, the new environment overwhelms him, leading him to find solace in front of the computer. Although there are moments when Seth grapples with the emotions tied to his grandmother's death, they still somehow miss the opportunity to delve deeper into these emotional nuances.
The promised family drama also falls short of expectations. At one point, they introduce a dilemma within their family that could hinder Seth’s passion for pro-gaming, but it is never brought up again. Issues like Seth's academic negligence are also resolved too quickly. Though there is a certain plot twist here, as amusing as it is emotionally manipulative, that surprisingly works well in a melodramatic way.
However, a significant drawback of the film lies in its characterization, in which most of them appear as mere stock characters. For instance, what is up with their former teammate-turned-rival? What about Seth’s two other teammates? What about his stepfather? His little stepbrother? His lolo, perhaps? There's also another teammate of his who is dealing with abuse at home, and the only comfort he has is the gaming house, which, frankly, offers a much more compelling story.
The main menu of the film’s in-game Requiem. Image taken from the official trailer via YouTube.
As an esports film, top-notch visuals, animation, and sound design are expected to fully immerse the audience in the gaming world. GG (Good Game) successfully achieves all of these, showcasing a 5v5 multiplayer first-person shooter game called Requiem that is reminiscent of Counter-Strike or even Valorant. The film occasionally makes us feel like we are watching these players from behind their shoulders as they play inside a computer shop. We can’t help but cheer when they win and groan when they lose — it's quite a rollercoaster ride.
Another creative visual choice the filmmakers made here is the virtual communication between Eskape and Icebox, a mysterious masked character. Instead of displaying typical chat heads, the audience is transported to a virtual living space where they communicate face-to-face, which then turns their relationship from distant to intimate.
A mysterious masked character named Icebox. Image taken from the official trailer via YouTube.
The ensemble cast does not disappoint. Donny Pangilinan effectively conveys the angst and reservedness of a pro gamer grappling with grief. Pangilinan's real-life mother, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, plays his on-screen mother, and their genuine relationship enhances the chemistry between their characters.
Baron Geisler brings humor to his portrayal of an eccentric coach, straying away from the typical competent and serious figures found in most sports films. However, it is Gold Aceron, portraying one of the team members in Tokwa’t BadBois, who truly stands out due to his sad backstory, leaving us yearning for more insights into his character.
It has some bugs, sure, but best believe, GG (Good Game) is still a step up in local cinema, offering both gamers and non-gamers something worthwhile to enjoy.
GG (Good Game) is currently on its theatrical run in Philippine cinemas nationwide.
