"Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode" Review

Publisher: Freebird Games

Developer: Freebird Games

Platforms: Microsoft Windows (Reviewed For), Linux, MacOS

If you haven't yet played the To the Moon beach episode, please go play it and then come back here, because while I won't be spoiling anything extremely specific, you'll likely be able to figure spoilers out based on what I say.

 

I could've waited to write this review and gotten a better-written, less emotionally-driven account...but I felt like now was the best time, while still fully in the story's clutches. I ended up writing and publishing this review before the one in which I officially intended to mention this, but if you're in my immediate social circle, you'll know that I'm currently grieving my beautiful special needs dog, who passed away just about two weeks ago. Gaming and writing have helped me keep myself occupied and helped keep the really ugly parts of the grief at bay decently well. I've been a fan of the To the Moon series since the first game way back in the day. Developer Kan Gao is the best storyteller in the industry, and every time he puts something new out, he outdoes himself. This little mini episode is a mere two hours long at most, so it's not really possible for him to outdo himself here, so to speak. But this little episode is exactly the kind of emotionally elating and devastating experience he's known for....especially so for people experiencing grief, in this specific case. Each Kan Gao game has some kind of emotional core to it that drives everything, and for the beach episode, that core is grief. Mr. Gao couldn't possibly have known what I'd be going through when he set the release date for this game, but I think this is the most seen I've felt throughout my grieving process. Watching how events unfold and how characters react, wondering about the implications for the future, and beyond all else, just in the moment understanding how sudden and unfair it all feels...I suspect this is going to stick with me for years. I also suspect it's going to take more than a little bit of time for me to suss out what exactly it is about Gao's delivery that makes this such a simultaneously validating and devastating examination of grief. I also also suspect that if you ask me for a breakdown of my score a week from now, I won't be able to give it to you. I also also also suspect that some reading how this is written might be wondering if I'm ok (I am, but it's 1AM after a pretty personally affecting story). So, for now, that's all I have to say. If you're a fan of the series, obviously this is the next required bit of content. If not, you'll be lost. 

10/10 - Masterpiece

Beautiful as always, Kan Gao, beautiful as always