Until Then

This is fundamentally a visual novel with very little interactivity other than pushing a button to advance the dialogue and occasionally having to wander to the left or right to expose new parts of the scene. Visually it's styled very much like a LucasArts adventure from the 90s but don't be misled, there's nothing like that here. No inventory, no puzzles, just storyline. The only way in which it really counts as a game is that occasionally there are mini games that are mostly arcade in nature that you have to sit through or try to play. They are an extreme drag, and almost seem to be intentionally made to be bad. Instead of letting them time out I wish you could just skip them. Luckily the novel part of this is quite good. The writing is interesting and the storyline has fun and challenging twists and turns although it also deals with some pretty emotional and mature content (and I don't mean sex). It's not perfect, the pacing is rather slow, and I definitely feel like there was some stuff that could have been cut. There's an awful lot of dramatic pauses in the playback and while you can skip any delays in presenting the dialogue, you have to sit through the dramatic pauses. This is a tolerable trade off though. I enjoyed the game certainly enough to play through all the way to the end. A note on that: when the first credits roll you've only finished about 1/3 of the game. You might be confused and think that what happens next is just a replay of the game and quit forever but if you enjoy the story keep on going, that almost immediately diverges into a continuation of the story that thoroughly enhances what you experienced the first time around without really being redundant. Indeed that second third of the game is by far my favorite part. The third act is maybe the weakest.

Merci infiniment aux développeurs pour cette œuvre. C’est l’un des meilleurs jeux auxquels j’ai joué de toute ma vie. L’histoire est riche, captivante et profondément touchante. Les personnages sont incroyablement attachants, au point qu’on finit par se perdre et se retrouver à travers eux et à travers leur univers. On passe par toutes les émotions : la joie, la tristesse, l’espoir, le doute… On a véritablement l’impression de vivre une autre vie. Très peu de jeux parviennent à faire ressentir autant d’émotions. Pourtant, il n’y a pas besoin d’un gameplay révolutionnaire : l’histoire se suffit à elle-même pour offrir une expérience absolument inoubliable. À tous ceux qui hésitent à se lancer, je n’ai qu’un conseil : allez jusqu’au bout. Et surtout, ne vous arrêtez pas au jeu de base. Faites absolument le DLC After Image. Il apporte une magnifique conclusion, répond à de nombreuses questions et donne encore plus de sens à l’ensemble de l’aventure. Enfin, un dernier conseil : vivez cette histoire à votre rythme, sans vous faire spoiler. Une aventure comme celle-ci ne se vit qu’une seule fois, et je vous envie presque de pouvoir la découvrir pour la première fois. Encore merci à toute l’équipe pour ce chef-d’œuvre.

goofy

Une histoire marquante et bien ficelé, une vrai petite pépite narrative.

10/10 please buy it

Until Then is a beautifully crafted narrative adventure that stands out thanks to its exceptional storytelling and breathtaking artistic direction. Set in a world that feels both ordinary and quietly mysterious, the game follows the life of a teenager whose everyday routine gradually unravels into a deeply emotional and thought-provoking journey. What truly makes Until Then unforgettable is its masterful storytelling. Every conversation, character interaction, and seemingly insignificant moment contributes to a rich, emotional narrative that explores themes of friendship, loss, identity, and the passage of time. The writing is subtle and authentic, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters while uncovering the story's many layers. The game's art direction is equally remarkable. Its stunning pixel art blends nostalgic charm with modern visual techniques, creating vibrant environments filled with atmosphere and emotion. Combined with expressive animations, dynamic lighting, and a carefully crafted soundtrack, Until Then delivers an immersive experience that is as visually captivating as it is emotionally powerful. Overall, Until Then is much more than a story-driven game—it's a memorable emotional experience that showcases how outstanding storytelling and sublime artistic design can come together to create something truly special.

don't know if i'll ever find a visual novel as great as this again

Peak