Beyond Words…but I’ll Try

“When the Past was Around“ is a point and click narrative from Mojiken and Toge Productions, released on the Nintendo Switch September 22nd, 2020.

I’ll continue writing just as soon as I can stop tearing up....

In my opinion, this game is a masterclass in emotional storytelling and artistic design. The kicker is that there’s not a single word of spoken dialogue between the main characters Eda and Owl.

The story revolves around Ada and the relationship she builds with Owl, while tackling the hard hitting themes of love, loss, and grief. That’s all the description I will provide since this story is worth experiencing for ones self more than any explanation. Every scene, every subtle gesture, leads to a story that I for one will never forget and keep close to my heart.

Gameplay is standard fare for a point and click adventure title, but it somehow felt “personal” in execution. There are a variety of puzzles and locked containers you will need to navigate and for the most part they are fairly straightforward. There are a few, though, that will have you thinking for a bit.

Audio wise this game is beautiful. It is centered around a single melody that it uses in various styles and is even incorporated into the gameplay. Sound effects are on point, and I love the attention of detail placed on what you click in the background. Even if it’s not used directly in gameplay, almost everything you touch responds with a noise or jingle in return.

Graphically, this game literally paints a scene of beauty. The art and character design are astounding and breath life into both. It’s almost like you are playing a hand drawn storybook, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

If you are into narrative driven experiences, get this game now if you already haven’t. It has been an absolute pleasure playing through “When the past was Around” and my main hope with writing this is to stress how much you need to play it. This game will be timeless.

“When the Past is Around” is available on Nintendo Switch for $8.49. It is also available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.