If Found... (2020)

I really enjoyed playing this game, even if there wasnt much playing, if youve ever played an annapura game you know what youll be getting into, its a short inactive game that takes you through Kasio's story.

Played on switch controls were very good, I'm not sure youll get the same experience on pc compared to a console.

Story: 10/10 its pretty easy to follow and overall very well written

Sound: 9/10 the sound design in itself is good but in some parts there are silences or static that couldve been replaced with ambiance

Art 10/10 the design and overall feel of this game is really well made and I honestly just love the artstyle

Overall: 10/10 this is not something you play for gameplay its something you play for story, it has such a short story that you can easily complete it in one sitting, my switch is saying I played an hour and a half, however saying how short it is, it is honestly so worth the play, that said it is $13 so I would probably look for a sale because of how short it is.

I'd tried a visual novel before, but dropped it pretty quickly because it just felt like a slower, less efficient novel. But If Found... makes great use of visuals and sound, elevating it above a typical novel. It's beautiful to look at, and the adaptive soundtrack is very immersive. It took about an hour before the story and its characters hooked me (the turning point was the cute flirty attic scene with Shans), but I was so engaged and in love once it did.

My only complaint is the side story (with the Astronaut-Kasio-from-another-dimension coming from the future to deliver the drawing to Brid). I think it was a completely unnecessary inclusion, and the game would have been much better without it. I expected the black hole - an entity that destroys everything around it - would be a metaphor for Kasio's feelings about herself, or a metaphor for the town of Achill, or something. But instead, it was just a literal black hole as part of a weird, convoluted sci-fi plot. What a disappointment.

4/5, I'd recommend this to anyone and I'm glad I experienced it.

I bought this game on Steam and looking at Annapurna's catalogue, I see that every single game they published which I've played was a hit with me.

Outer Wilds, Journey, Gone Home, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sayonara Wild Hearts, even The Pathless, which is relatively short and one-note was a joy. They also have a lot of games that I've been interesting in playing, such as Gorogoa and Florence.