I completely enjoyed the 6 hours I spent playing this game.
There is not a lot "to do", since it is mostly a story game,
but the story is really interesting and also quite unique.
People who enjoy these kinds of games, should definitely get this game as well.
It's great, maybe their best game so far, even if you could argue that it fails in the "game" department, but that was never the reason anyone played their games so I actually appreciate the streamlining.
However the store page is a complete lie. You should play the other games first (To the Moon, the free minisodes and Finding Paradise in that order. A Bird Story is optional and weird, but you can play it before Finding Paradise if you feel like it. It doesn't add much to be honest). If you enjoy them you'll most likely enjoy this as well.
The third main game set in the To The Moon universe, I feel that IF is both a successful continuation, and to an extent a welcome reset of the series, ten years after the first title. Finding Paradise, for all its virtues, suffered a bit from Second Game Syndrome- trying to build on the astounding success that was TTM while at the same time trying to step things up a notch, more narrative acrobatics, more self-conscious video game action. (Unpopular opinion, I know.) IF on the other hand feels like a mature and confident return to simplicity, while at the same time bravely charting new territory: No centre-stage end-of-life patient destined to provide tearjerker moments, but a bunch of random characters mysteriously murdered - over and over again.
It's not a different game altogether - the lovingly crafted RPG maker graphics and perfectly timed atmospheric soundtrack are there, and Act 2 in particular feels familiar, with Quincy collecting memory links in order to progress. Gameplay is pared down to a bare minimum even by the standard of the series, but I trust nobody plays these games for their mechanics, so IF really just focuses on the core experience. As others have stated before, the absence of the trademark back and forth between Neil and Eva is another departure, so Freebird's tagline "Ruining sentimental moments, one badly timed joke after another." applies here only so much- but honestly, it's been ten years since TTM. Things change.
Beyond this, it's hard to go into detail without massive spoilers. The emotional impact of the game is sometimes direct, some of it unfolds when you think about it more. If you have some time left after the 3-4 hour experience, you're invited to ponder some of the ethical and philosophical points the game touches upon (lightly): Is the best life one that is free of strife? Are there different levels of nothingness? And how do you know yours is really the best rice in the world?
While true that To the Moon, Bird Story, Finding Paradise and Impostor Factory have their own stories to dig through, they do have connections to past parts so it is recommended to play them in order.
Every game has their own topic to handle and it can frankly fall into personal opinion which tears you the worst (in sincerely good way). For me it is this one.
Admittedly not having Eva and Neil as playable characters did first feel a bit bore, but in the end it didnt bother at all.
Story is intriguing and builds well during its short spawn of time. This and all the games in the series are worth to play through to indulge yourself with something i would call "experience".
I am quite disappointed in this game. I understand this is not the majority opinion but I believe this review can help. My biggest gripe with this title is the non-existant game play. Unlike previous titles, this "game" has no puzzle elements and it's not an exaggeration. The orbs are impossible to miss and the barriers has no puzzles. If you want some gameplay to break the story telling, then this title is not for you.
Some people may like the stories, I am not one of them. The "game" doesn't have nearly the stakes like the previous 2 titles. What's worse is that it doesn't peg on to the great clifhanger from the second title. Furthermore, the pacing is incredibly slow with two main characters (yes new main characters) that I find not very likable.
But to put the icing on this bad testing cake, the ending did something that completly destroyes many established story lines from the previous 2 games.
In conclusion, you will be viewing a slow visual novel with no game elements. Once you managed to craw to the end, it punishes you by making you realize you wasted many emotions on the previous titles.