To The Moon

[Wiper]

I thought I'd seen a thread for this, but I can't find it. It's probably the search engine being it's usual, brilliant self, but I may also just have imagined it.

So, anyway, To The Moon. It was mentioned on RPS a good while ago. It's also, handily, fantastic. I finally played it last week, and reviewed it today. The full review (with links and pictures) is over here, but I've spoilered the actual text if you'd rather not have to visit my site.

I’ve sat on my fingers for a little while, because I wasn’t really sure what to say about this. It’s thanks to the wonderful John Walker that this game came to my attention, but it took me a few weeks to give it a look in. I was mostly too busy turning 27, writing reviews, and being deathly ill. Not necessarily in that order.

Finally, last Thursday, I got around to playing it. I started at 23:30, thinking I’d give it a quick go before bed, and finish it the next day. Next thing I know, it’s 3:00, my eyes are sore from sobbing, and the game is over.

So it’s a great game then, yeah? Well, yes. And yet, it’s not quite that simple.

It weaves a great narrative, to be sure. A powerful, surprising narrative which kept me locked in from very early on, all the way through to the close. And beyond, in fact – this was a game which kept me from sleep, exhausted as I was when I finally laid it to rest. A narrative, in short, which is good enough that I’m not going to spoil it by giving you any details. Just know that it is as light as it is tragic, as cynical as it is sweet, and that it’s the balance of all these elements, combined with genuinely likeable characters, which makes it such a success. It’s also a narrative which genuinely explores a romance – a romance amongst non-player-characters, told as the story progresses. A romance neither sappy nor simplistic – an incredibly rare thing to see in a computer game.

As a game, it’s… well, it’s a point and click adventure. A point and click adventure devoid of traditional puzzles, without a functional inventory, and viewed from a perspective more familiar to fans of 16-bit RPGs. And that suits it just fine. The “click to advance storyline” structure works well in such a narrative-heavy game, avoiding the conflict that can affect games which try to mix challenging gameplay with a strong narrative – that juxtaposition of engaged protagonist and passive viewer which breaks so many games’ flows. This is a game that – for the most part – knows that it wants to be a reader’s game, not a gamer’s game, and it benefits from it.

Unfortunately, it seems that the developer panicked and decided that despite the focus on narrative, a few, more obviously gamey elements were needed – notably the occasional, incredibly simple tile-inversion puzzle, and a couple of basic ‘action scenes’ which see you struggling to catch/evade objects. And struggle you will, with neither perspective nor controls lending themselves to the endeavour. These elements add nothing to the game, and while they are short and simple enough not to ruin things, they do sour the deal a little.

More problematically for a game so reliant on narrative is the fact that, well, the script could really have done with an editor. There’s some particularly clunky dialogue in the game, and some grammatical (and even spelling) errors have managed to creep in. It’s not atrocious by any means, but it does detract from a few scenes, which is a shame. The flawed writing also serves to homogenise the characters, as all speak in the same voice – worst are the children in the game, who sound like no youngsters I’ve ever met. This is almost certainly a factor of the game’s limited budget, rather than a damning indictment of the developer’s writing ability – every writer benefits from a good editor (and I should know – my waffling on here distinctly wants for one), but getting one isn’t so easy.

Fortunately, while their manners of speaking may blur together, the characters’ thought processes and attitudes are clearly divergent – and unusually three-dimensional. This is a game that will keep you hanging because its characters are so well observed – by not being simple caricatures their ambitions and histories are so much harder to guess, and the game is all the better for it. It’s a game which allows you to make snap judgements about characters only to realise that there’s so much more to them than you first thought: it’s nice to be wrong about characters in a computer game for once. And it’s because of all this that you begin to care about the characters. You want to know about them, you want them to succeed, and in the end you allow yourself to be affected by the storyline. This is a rare thing in any narrative genre, and it’s what makes this game so compelling an experience.

Oh, that and the music. The music is simple and repetitive, in a good way. This is a score which knows how to build itself up, to install itself in your mind so that it can later call out to those memories in a way which demands an emotional response. It’s the perfect complement to the narrative, and helps to ensure that every dramatic scene elicits an appropriate response. It’s a testament to both Kan Gao and Laura Shigihara’s abilities as composers, and helps the game immensely.

And that’s pretty much it. To The Moon is a game which is barely a game, driven by a narrative told through a flawed script. It’s also one of the most beautiful games I’ve had the pleasure to play, weaving a powerful tale around three-dimensional characters, all accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack. It’s available for £9.83 direct from the developer, or £7.99 from Desura. And it’s worth every penny.

Short version: you should really give it a try. And/or direct me to the thread where people have already explained why the game should be played (and have apparently been ignored, with it being nowhere near the front page, you bastards ), rendering my post moot.

[Wiper]

Ah, that could have been it, yes. In which case it certainly deserves its own thread

[The Bag]

I played through it in one sitting on Saturday and I totally agree with your review, down to the sobbing.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

I want to play this but it seems to be PC only. Is there a Mac version on the cards?

[Wiper]

Not to my knowledge, sadly.

[Bojangle]

Pretty sad to see this thread so empty, it totally deserves more recognition.

I started this today as I've had it sat on my hard drive for a while, was keeping it as a reward for finishing up my exams. Anyway, I've just reached Act 2 and it's rather lovely. There's already been a few moments that have genuinely touched me, though I'll admit to being a rather soppy sod anyway, but if it's like everyone says it is I'll probably be an emotional wreck by the end.

[Broker]

God, it looks like Alundra. Will try the hour trial when I'm home for sure.

[marrakoosh]

God, it looks like Alundra. Will try the hour trial when I'm home for sure.

OMG Alundra! Loved that game so much.

[Sprite Machine]

I'm intrigued. Any sign of a Steam release?

[revlob]

I had a quick nose around on the official forums and apparently the dev submitted it for approval back in November, but has yet to hear back from Steam.

[Mammas_Boy]

I'm in the Mac boat. I'd hapily purchase if it came over.

[Broker]

Has anyone who's got it report upon what format it's in, DRM etc? I'd want to D/L it on my laptop but play on my desktop which isn't online, will that be workable?

[Wiper]

If you buy it directly from the developer, you just need to install the game then input a key which they email you - I don't think it needed a connection to do so, but I can't confirm that to be the case (having already activated my copy, and that having been over a month ago). Can't speak for the Desura version at all, either.

However, you could always email the developer (kan@FreebirdGames.com) - I'm sure they'd be able to tell you!

[Bojangle]

Couldn't help but finish it in one sitting. Not much I can say that Wiper hasn't already mentioned in his review, without delving into spoiler territory but, by God. It all came out with that final moment.

It's an incredibly special game and you all should play/experience it.

[Broker]

However, you could always email the developer (kan@FreebirdGames.com) - I'm sure they'd be able to tell you!

Done I'm given a lot of hope by the demo being a bare .exe which is freely available to d/l.

[shynra]

Darn, was gonna nab it tonight and play it... but:

System requirements:

3GHz processor (Intel Celeron 743 1.30GHz)

GeForce 6200 LE or equivalent ??

1GB RAM

1GB hard drive

Not sure if my netbook can cope :/ Do you recon its worth a shot the tech specs are normally more than needed? Just seen screens (my pc can run machinarium) maybe... just maybe???

edit: Ill just nab the demo @_@; Just asw the link on the main site

[Mortis]

So had a look at the demo since I've had it on my HDD since the end of November and never got round to booting it (damn you steam Xmas sale) - intended to have a 10 mins or so session and the next thing I know the game quit out as I'd had my trial hour. Fully intend on buying this as soon as my wages come in.

[shynra]

Installing to the moon demo now...

To The Moon Minimum System requirements as stated on the installer:

OS: Win 98/2000

RAM: 256 MB

CPU: Pentium 2

CPU Speed: 300 MHz

Res: 640x480 8Bits

My Netbook can run it

Time to cancel this install of the demo and just buy it

[Mr Delabee]

Always nice to see To The Moon getting talked about.

I found the game via a link I recieved in email from Wadjet Eye Games about it, I watched the trailer and didn't even hesitate buying it without trying the demo, game story/premise, music and graphics had me intrigued enough.

Finally got round to playing it to completion over xmas, story certainly was an experience and credit for the music too which was beautiful throughout.

Everyone mentioned that this RPS site had spoken about it, so I went seeking, had a look and bookedmarked the site. They really do have a lot of good PC indie recommendations.

[Hambury]

Just finished playing this. Great game, but not perfect. Wiper captures everything I think about it in a far neater way than I'll ever manage.

Despite not being perfect it's one of those games that I want to see do well. It has a good core and bravely tries to do new things, even if it doesn't nail it.

Didn't make me cry though, but did make me think an awful lot. I'm obviously not a delicate flower like some of you.

[scottcr]

Jesus - I cry at the end of Monsters Inc, every single fucking time. I was choked up at the end of Skyward Sword.

Will I end up an emotional wreck at the end of this one?

[Wiper]

Jesus - I cry at the end of Monsters Inc, every single fucking time. I was choked up at the end of Skyward Sword.

Will I end up an emotional wreck at the end of this one?

With that history behind you, I'd hazard a guess that 'yes' is the answer you're looking at.

[R0b]

This game deserves a substantial audience. It is, without exception, the most powerful, touching game I've ever played. My level of investment and emotional involvement was equal to that of watching a good film or reading a fine book, and it held me captive for an uninterrupted 5 hours. And what a 5 hours. Anyone who believes stories are worth a damn in games (disclosure: I do) and are excited about where the medium could go should play this whichever way they can.

Don't research it, seeking out a balance of reviews and criticism, screenshots and trailers - just buy the thing and play it as fresh as possible. I'll be very surprised if you don't love it.

[revlob]

Apparently there's a "Freebird Games" game in the Steam registry, which is probably this game. I'll definitely be picking it up if it is.

[b00dles]

Hmm... I'm going to have to buy this aren't I.

Dammit.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Mac version is apparently impossible for a while due to the authors having used some obscure PC only "RPG Creator" toolkit.

Shame, I would have liked to play this - maybe I should dig out my wife's Windows laptop.

[Unofficial Who]

I've got a simple formula for value for money with most games.

I have to get an hours enjoyment out of each dollar I spend. Some games come up short. Some are fantastic value like Fallout 3. I bought it and the DLC at full retail and still feel that I got something out of it.

Some games are filler though, like my experience with Kingdom Heart:Birth by Sleep and Final Fantasy:Crisis Core both of which had about ten hours of content stretched out with filler. 30 hours of 'gameplay' is reduced to a marketing point. The reality made me loathe the time I spent with them, in both cases feeling like I'd wasted precious hours of my life.

Then there's the odd gem which fails my simplistic formula. Because they get to the point and leave you with something more.

To The Moon is possibly my game of the year despite there not being much 'game' in the game. It's linear, there's not much you can really do but follow the ride. In a way it's a lot like Dear Esther.

Don't let that put you off.

Because the real game, the real experience is outside of the game and inside your head, piecing together a story told backwards. And it's done with such skill and finese.

John Walker over at RPS talks a lot more elequently about the game here http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/03/wot-i-think-to-the-moon/ although there are spoilers.

His verdict

Games this effective are rare beasts, and when it’s disguised by such simple graphics (albeit with wonderful animation, and such detail), old-school Japanese RPG presentation (something it brilliantly jokes about very early on), no voice acting, nor photo-realistic expressions, it’s something of a feat. What it does have, however, is incredible music by creator Gao, including a perfectly used piano refrain that so brilliantly scores much of the game. When there’s so much meaning to be found just in the choice of notes used in the music, you know you’re onto something special.

A lot of you might dismiss it as something that's disposable or throwaway because it looks like something that was thrown together using RPG Maker. Which it is. But we don't get hung up on writers not creating their pencils or building their typewriters from scratch. We don't expect virtuoso violinists to gut a cat to string their instruments. We don't expect artists to make their own canvas or pluck the hairs off a horse for their brushes. It's what they do with the medium that counts.

In short, possibly the most moving story ever told in a game with virtually no filler. It's four hours I will never forget.

[jonamok]

Is this on mac, xbla or psn yet?

[Unofficial Who]

Windows only at the moment. It's specs are pretty low so you should be able to run it on almost any windows system. (I'd love them to do ports to every system out there, does RPG Maker allow you to compile to different platforms? Bit of a missed opportunity if so.)

[Asura]

Windows only at the moment. It's specs are pretty low so you should be able to run it on almost any windows system. (I'd love them to do ports to every system out there, does RPG Maker allow you to compile to different platforms? Bit of a missed opportunity if so.)

No, it doesn't. That's actually the reason I never got into it, even though I can use it pretty well. If it at least compiles to HTML5 in the next version, allowing people to play in a browser, I'll be all over it.