To the Moon (2011)

This game has a nice collection of touching songs, the characters are well made and the dialogues mostly are very funny. Although the main story shows a cute couple and we can observe their lives as we progress through the game, to be honest, I don't think I would give five stars merely for its story. I still think it seems much better than a lot of AAA games with huge teams and resources, but there is something in the main plot (something behind the story of the couple) that just don't feel right. The name of the in game company also reveals to me more to get later, since it seems to have the first name of Freud (and I hate the writings of that man).

Well, judging the graphics, music and basic story, I think it deservers 5 stars, but surely there is more to this story than the eyes meet. So, I reccomend it, since it is not an expensive game and it is very well made. It can be really touching and the music is so nice that I enjoyed to return to listen to it from time to time.

I'm back on my second playthrough of To the Moon after finishing the sequel, Finding Paradise. The story still remains superb. To the Moon is a classic, destined to stand as one of the best video game stories every told.

The game has a lot of glaring flaws. It's not fun, pixel hunting to unlock the mementos. The dialogue, especially between Neil and Eva is groan worthy. And the game is buggy, running on a poorly aged game engine. But this game does so much right that these flaws are easy to ignore.

To the Moon is a work of heart, love and passion that kept me utterly engrossed even after finishing the game for a second time.

A simple game with a beautiful story (made me cry) and just enough to do to keep it engaging. I love the dialogue between Rosalene and Watts, and the music (instrumental). It was just a great experience all around and I highly recommend it if you care about story driven games.

I only have one complaint, really, and it's a bit of a silly one tbh. It's about the song (only one with lyrics in the game) that plays towards the end. It was bad and made the whole sequence a lot cheesier than it actually was. I know the story is sentimental but it was actually well written so it didn't feel cringey and that song was the only moment when I genuinely cringed. They should have just stuck with instrumental.

Oyunda bizim işimiz ölmek üzere olan insanlara hayal ettikleri geleceği kendi anılarında değiştirmek. Hikayede geçmişini değiştireceğimiz kişinin adı Tommy. Tabii bizim de adımız var ama unuttum. Spoiler olmaması için hikayeden bahsetmeyeceğim.

Oyunu beğenmeyenlerin eleştirme sebeplerinden en yaygın olanı karakterlerin fazla gerçekçi konuşması, yani biraz argolu ve küfürlü konuşması. Oyun anlayacağınız üzere biraz duygusal bir oyun ve bu konuşmalar oyunu oynayanlara göre biraz ortamın havasını bozmuş lakin bana kalırsa bu durum bence oyunu daha gerçekçi kılmış. Oyunun mükemmel müzikleri var ama bunu müziklerin kendisi değil, oyun içindeki kullanımı mükemmel yapıyor. Bir müzik oyunun tam başında, ortasında ve sonunda kullanılınca oyunun sonunda dinlediğinizde normal olarak oyunun başında yaşadıklarınızı hatırlıyorsunuz ve duygulanıyorsunuz. Onun dışında yine de müzikleri çok iyi yapılmış.

Oyun aynı zamanda telefonlar üzerinde oynanabiliyormuş ama ben bilgisayarımdan oynadım ve menunum. Eğer ki biraz indi yapımı oyun istiyorsanız ve 2D oyunları seviyorsanız anında satın alın.

Contrary to what is usual in the gaming industry, it is extremely likely that the story of To the Moon was developed before its gameplay. Nevertheless, by emphasizing the construction of the narrative rather than how its events are controlled or guided by the player, the Freebird Games team still manages to create a unique and unforgettable experience. In To the Moon it’s the story that captivates, the gameplay is just a mere tool to narrate it.

The game tells the story of two scientists, Eva Rosalene and Neil Watts, who are hired to realize the dream of Johnny, an old man on his deathbed: go to the Moon. Through a strange machine, the two are capable of enter into the subconscious of their clients and relive their memories, where they must plant the seed of the idea that will lead the subjects to reach their respective desires. As the client of the day wants to go to the moon, both plan to implant in his childhood the aspiration to become an astronaut, with the only obstacle residing in the fact that they can only move through the memories gradually, always starting with the most recent. Because of this narrative structure, it can be said that in a strange cinematic metaphor, To the Moon is the love child of a relationship between Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Inception and Amnesia –with the graphic style of a Super Nintendo RPG.

At first, the game uses a simple but efficient formula: Neil and Eva enter into a memory, relive it, and then begin to collect fragments of the next – these fragments are symbolized by colored orbs – to be able to break Johnny’s subconscious protection and use a specific object as a door to more distant memories. It is at this point that the “gamey” part of To the Moon comes into play. Controlling one of the scientists by click of the mouse, the players must investigate the objects in the environments until they can find those who release these fragments. This dynamic, although very basic, is very efficient when used to guide the players, preventing them from getting lost without knowing what to do. However, to break the “protection” of the object that will carry the scientists to the next memory, the players must solve, for reasons that even the developers probably can’t fathom, a puzzle in which they must turn on the correct order columns and rows of pieces that form the frame of that object. Fortunately, none of these puzzles are frustrating and most can be completed in a matter of minutes.

But as stated previously, To the Moon’s the great attraction is its story. Being narrated backwards, it accompanies Johhny’s life being deconstructed, while both scientists try to understand the reasons why he wants to go to the moon and observe, with an efficient dose of criticism, all stages of his relationship with his wife. Also worthy of praise is the game’s prose, after all, thanks to the use of situations and dialogues that sound authentic, it achieves the feat of making Johnny’s romance cause empathy, especially if it is taken into account that the old man and his wife are two ugly and outdated blocks of sprites. Eva Rosalene and Neil Watts are also not far behind in terms of development, and the dynamic between the two is well-crafted and entertaining, serving as a comic relief at various times. And as the two work invading memories every day, the often cynical way they see the events is extremely curious, with highlight to the nerd jokes of Neil (“Hadouken!”) and the gradual way with which the two begin to construct different opinions about Johhny’s life, which results in a satisfactory climax that draws on the great “Dumbledore” reflection: “It is not because it is happening in your mind that it is not real.”

---> Read the full review at: http://litonthespot.com/to-the-moon-game-review/games/review

I am utterly, utterly speechless.

Played through the entirety of Act 1 yesterday; thought it was cute, though kinda boring. Besides, I've kinda developed a resistance for these indie game love stories with endless piano tunes.

Act 2 amazed me with it's change of pace, atmosphere and music - made me laugh out loud and I actually starting getting more interested in the story.

But Act 3.. wow. WOW. I can't remember being so speechless and moved from a game before. The childhood scenes were touching, but the stargazing scene - seriously. I'm speechless. I forgot, for a moment, that this was a memory, that I was playing a game, even. I was living through the moment.. Unexpected, brilliant, beautiful. Just beautiful.