• Title: Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories
• Developer: Froach Club, Poppy Works
• Publisher: Poppy Works, XSEED Games
• Release Date: 04/06/2023
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One & Series X/S, PlayStation 4 & 5

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a story-driven exploration game for those that long for the Game Boy days. Despite its simple graphics and cutsie characters, there’s a lot of charm and fun to be had. Froach Club originally made Melon Journey in one week in 2012, calling it a “cult classic RPG maker game”. Let’s see how Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is, shall we?

*Author’s Note: Due to the story-driven nature of this game, spoilers are avoided entirely*

SYNOPSIS

You play as Honeydew, an employee of a major melon-soda factory. Ironically, melons and melon products are forbidden in some parts of this world! Your best friend Cantelope has gone missing, and you must find him.

Starting off at the melon-soda factory, you get to know your fellow employees, explore the facility, and get a not-so-subtle dark taste for this organization that is obsessed with making everyone wear bunny ears (in the likeness of the CEO).

You’ll meet new friends, bump into old ones (including a swimming dog who takes you to a little vacation island), and get into shenanegans with a ghost who so desperately wants to join a local gang. Despite how silly some of that sounds, most of Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is full of fleshed out personalities and kept me engaged until the very end.

When you leave, you take the train to Hog Town–where melons are illegal–and explore the area. Various missions are available as you pick up clues to Cantelope’s whereabouts. The further you dig into the town and its people, you realize there is shady business occurring, much worse that being caught with possession of melons.

ANALYSIS

Graphics and Sound

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories has the classic monochrome retro style graphics; however, instead of shades of gray, its shades of green. It does remind me much of the Game Boy era, especially the “squishy” character models that fit well into the games whimsical nature. The music blends in with a lo-fi beat with a hint of jazz. Given that the sound chips weren’t the best on the Game Boy, it makes a wonderful experience playing a retro-looking game with an immersive sound track.

Gameplay

The gameplay is as simple and simple gets; however, it works only to this game’s benefit. In fact, its strength lies in how much you can interact with! I could walk up to almost any object, and if there was no action, there was at least a funny comment. In fact, writing is definitely a strong point to the game. I really appreciate games like that where you can tell a lot of love and attention went into creating Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories.

However, because it’s so simple, there isn’t much else to comment on. I will end with the fact that the game is well paced. There are “side quests” so to speak that fall naturally with the overall progression. Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is fairly on the easy side, but I never felt bored.

FINAL SCORE

I know, I know. A five out of five? The reason I rate it so is because Melon Journey: Bittersweet excels in what it aims to achieve. This is its description on Steam:

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Journey is a story-exploration game about getting caught up in outlandish happenings of a small town where melons are illegal. Silly and cute on the surface, but are things really as peaceful as they seem?

–Froach Club

The highlighted features list:

• Mystery at every turn
• Silly characters with intricate backstories
• Jazzy Lo-fi soundtrack
• Gorgeous retro-style graphics

I believe this game hits all those dead and center. It is quaint, thoughtful, and surprisingly deep. Also, with millions of video game options out there, I feel that Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories has a stand-out character/personality that is worth your time and money. For those that miss playing a chill and witty retro game, please check out Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories!

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Source: XSEED Games

Featured Image Source: XSEED Games