Until Then

One of the better written narrative games. It does seem to drag a bit in the beginning, but it really hits its stride in the middle. Lots of loveable characters and fun interactions. Felt very personal at time. Would absolutely recommend this game.

There were a few times during my playthrough where I thought to myself that this could be the best story game I've ever played. The characters feel very real, the world is alive around you, and the game as a whole is deeply emotional. I wept many times during [spoiler] the first act [/spoiler] which is unusual for me - I've played many of these emotional story games and they don't tend to affect me too heavily. It all felt so real, even with the pixel graphics and odd sound design choices, janky controls...it's definitely an indie game, but that's the power of good writing. [spoiler] I do feel like the story does kinda go off the rails after the first act...I kinda wish it had ended there, it felt perfect up to that point. It definitely unraveled somewhat after that. By the 3rd act I'd really started losing touch with where the story was going, but it does wrap up well enough, even if it's a bit confusing and open ended. I'll never forget that first act though...it's perfect. [/spoiler] I enjoyed learning a bit more about Filipino culture, which I've had very little exposure to on my side fo the world. I made adobo for myself and the wife a few nights ago and it was delicious! Looking forward to trying a bit more Filipino food in the future. I also played the new Afterimages DLC right after finishing the main game, and I'm not sure what to think of it. It feels like it's missing some of the janky charm of the main game, and the story feels like it really blasts through the script relentlessly, maybe that's the point. Also the camera placement for conversations is just awful, I guess they're trying to make you feel something with the weird way the shots are framed, but I really disliked it. I'm not sure I'd recommend the DLC, and it's definitely not required reading to say you've finished the story. The main game is far superior in every way IMO.