To The Moon

I'm a computer and video game player for over two decades now. In all these years I experienced all kind of emotions in video games: I jumped up in excitement, I jumped back in fear, I laughed with the characters and from time to time I even yelled at the screen. But I can not remember, in all those years, that a game ever made me cry. I am not ashamed to admit, that changed during playing To the moon. And not because of pure grief but because it touched me to the heart. It's hard to explain what's different in that game than in other games before. Maybe the well thought story. Maybe the combination of the storytelling, the graphics and the beautiful perfect fitting music. I think in the end, everyone has to experience it for himself. This game was truly a new gaming experience, so thank you Freebird Games and GOG for letting me experience it. I recommend it to everyone not cold-hearted and open for a new kind of emotion in video games.

If you believe, like I do, that gaming is an under appreciated tool in the area of art and storytelling, not because nobody uses it for such but because​ it is an industry of literally infinite potential in that area, then this is a game you will appreciate. The graphics are crap. The gameplay is basically just moving around to interact with different objects so that the story can progress. There is no a-list voice acting. There is even the occasional spelling mistake in the dialogue. Not one of those details changes the fact that this is one of the best games I've ever seen in my life. The story and the soundtrack are so powerfully moving that they blow away any other concern you could have about the quality. The story will sink it's hooks right into the core of you and drag you along on an emotional journey, kicking and screaming sometimes, to the bitter-sweet end. If you think gaming is more than just distraction and pretty colours. If you can appreciate a game as art, this is for you. Play it. Then, like me, probably try to force as many other people to play it as possible, because it's a great way to figure out which of your friends are replicants.

In short, I loved the story, but the game is probably too simple to fulfill a true gamer's expectations. It is more a movie than a game to be honest. However, I myself got really caught in the story thanks to that occasional puzzles and walking around, and that definitely makes it better than just a movie (not to mention a great plot). So, if you would pay the same amount for a movie, I absolutely recommend To The Moon. If you are, however, looking for a classic point-and-click adventure, you should probably look somewhere else (e.g., the Broken Sword series, or the great Longest Journey). I am not disappointed, cause I usually don't appreciate hard puzzles and most of the time I just want to do something to move forward in the story.

This deceptively cute and funny game has several hidden layers and story twists. I managed to complete it in five hours. Then I cried for an hour. It is not perfect, but the emotional impact was so strong I am giving it five stars anyway. Best Indie game I've played since Sword & Sworcery. You'd be nuts if you miss out on this gem.

Game-wise, not as much. In terms of a game for adventure point-n-click, To The Moon can't not even be called a game, it's more like the Japanese graphic novel style that drives story with dialog with light puzzle element in between. So it's where that one star is missing. BUT, in terms of flow of events, elements of story, the details of little things that was put into it, exceptional. It reminds you why you would cry while playing RPG with perma death in younger age. Limited 2D expression that force your brain to fill the gap and create the imaginative characters that you attach yourself to. The only reliable source to construct the character is tiny sprites and their dialogs. And did I mention the music and sound effects that happens on the right spot and right time like 95% of the time? And the music is good as well, the invisible pillar that also supports this game from falling into the mediocre indie bottomless pit. I would recommend this to people who enjoy the story elements and light puzzles. Dare i say that developer could just make it even simpler so people just want to get on with story won't get stuck at trying to achieve ideal moves. It might actually create a better story rollercoaster that have deeper emotional impact. I will wait and see what's coming in creator's next title.