“You Just Have to Find That Spark”
Until Then is the first visual novel that I’ve actually had the luxury of sitting down and playing through. I kept seeing it praised for its rich storytelling, so I decided to give it a shot while it was on sale. I have to say, while it ended up being slightly below my expectations, it was still a great game and one that I’m glad I experienced.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the game’s aesthetic. With its mix of perspective shots, pixel art, and 2D art for the characters and environments, Until Then has this very “comfy” feeling to it. It reminded me somewhat of the feeling I got from watching gameplay of Unpacking. There’s something relaxing about simply existing within the spaces the game creates. I especially like the close-up shots used when showing the characters’ faces, as they highlight the small details put into their animations. Things like their breathing, subtle hair movements, and little mannerisms make the characters feel much more alive than they otherwise would.
The game’s setting is also something I really appreciate. Until Then takes place in the Philippines, which already makes it stand out from many other games. If you’re Filipino, you’ll probably have an even greater appreciation for all the little references scattered throughout the environments. There’s something uniquely enjoyable about recognizing familiar places, objects, expressions, and cultural details in a game.
Speaking of its environments, I really like how Until Then uses environmental storytelling. The graffiti on the walls and the increasingly apparent cracks throughout each cycle subtly communicate that something is wrong without needing to explicitly tell the player. The messy laboratories whenever Louise is frantically working on her research also tell us something about her mental state and how consumed she is by what she’s trying to accomplish. Even the random conversations between people inside the mall make the world feel lived-in.
One scene that particularly stood out to me was when Mark and Nicole were making their posters at Nicole’s house. During their conversation, Mark tends to give more cynical answers, while Nicole is more optimistic. As the conversation continues, the scene shows them sitting together with a ray of light shining on Nicole while Mark remains mostly in the shadows. It’s a simple visual choice, but I loved how it communicated their mindsets without having to spell them out. This is something Until Then does surprisingly well. Sometimes the environment tells you what the characters are feeling before the characters themselves do.
Of course, being a visual novel, Until Then doesn’t offer much traditional gameplay. For the most part, you control Mark, or whichever character’s perspective the story currently follows, as you move from one location to another. There are objects you can interact with that reveal the character’s thoughts, as well as optional conversations that give us more insight into the personalities and relationships of the cast. These interactions may be simple, but they help make the world feel less like a series of scenes and more like an actual place where these characters live.
There are also various minigames throughout the game to keep the player engaged. However, I found some of them to be more frustrating than enjoyable. This was especially apparent with the rhythm games, particularly the jeepney section. The timing and inputs didn’t always feel properly synchronized with the music, which made certain parts feel less like a test of rhythm and more like a test of figuring out what the game actually wanted from you. And I say this as someone who has played a decent amount of rhythm games. They aren’t terrible, but they definitely could have used some more polish.
The main strength of Until Then, however, is undoubtedly its story.
At its core, Until Then is a story about loss, regret, uncertainty, and finding yourself in a world that doesn’t always go the way you want it to. It’s about having the strength to move forward and understanding that sometimes you simply cannot change what has already happened. By trapping yourself in the past, you prevent yourself from forgiving who you were and moving toward the future.
I think the game executes this central idea quite well. Its characters are generally well-written, with Cathy being my personal favorite. Her desire to always be there for her friends despite the things she herself is struggling with really resonated with me. Her monologue in the first act especially stuck with me because it gives us a glimpse into how much she carries without necessarily showing it to the people around her.
I also really liked Mark and Nicole’s relationship. Rather than viewing their relationship purely as a romance, I interpreted much of it as two people helping each other confront their own pasts and regrets. They both have things they need to work through, and their time together allows them to grow in ways that they probably couldn’t have done alone. When everything is finally resolved and they go their separate ways, it creates a surprisingly bittersweet ending. They don’t necessarily need to remain together forever for their relationship to have been meaningful, and I really liked that aspect of their story.
That said, there were several characters I wish the game had explored more. I wanted to learn more about Ridel, particularly his experiences with filmmaking and his passion for it. I also felt that Kate could have used a few more scenes to develop her character. Sofia receives more attention in the DLC, which I appreciated because it gave her an opportunity to properly shine.
I went into Until Then knowing almost nothing about it, so I was honestly surprised when the supernatural elements started becoming more prominent. The idea of alternate timelines is really interesting and is ultimately crucial to the story, but ironically, I found some of the supernatural portions to be the weakest parts of the game.
That isn’t to say that they were bad. The final cycle, where Mark and Nicole desperately restart the day over and over again in the hope of fixing things, creates a genuine sense of tension and desperation. However, I personally found the more grounded and intimate moments to be much more effective.
One of my favorite scenes is when Mark, Cath, and Ridel celebrate Christmas Eve together after going through one of the most difficult days of their lives. Their home doesn’t even have electricity, yet they still choose to spend the night together. I absolutely love how the game uses the environment here. The lack of electricity could easily have been presented as another unfortunate circumstance, but instead, it becomes symbolic. Even when everything around them seems to be falling apart, they still have each other.
Another moment that stood out to me was when the truth about Mark’s mother was finally revealed. There are many moments throughout the game where Until Then manages to make you genuinely emotional, and I think that is where the game is at its best. It doesn’t necessarily need the grand supernatural elements to make its story impactful. Sometimes, it’s simply watching people who care about each other try to deal with things that are bigger than themselves.
Overall, Until Then is a great game if you’re looking for a rich story with emotional scenes, interesting themes, a memorable cast of characters, and a setting that feels genuinely personal. It isn’t perfect, and I think some of its gameplay elements and supernatural sections could have been handled better, but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.
Final Rating: 8.20/10
