Title: Last Time I Saw You

Developer: Maboroshi Artworks

Publisher: Chorus Worldwide

Available On: October 10th 2024

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch  

Introduction

Last Time I Saw You is a hand drawn narrative adventure side-scrolling game centered in 1980s Japan.

Synopsis

Follow a boy named Ayumi in his small quaint town of Tsuchida, where peculiar and paranormal greet him. He becomes entangled in a dream and then a journey in which he soon discovers is much bigger than he realized and how everything is happening for a reason and mainly because of a curse. He meets Ami, the lady who he sees in his dreams and is the catalyst of his adventuring and the beginning of a life altering tale.

Analysis

The game reflects real world scenarios that get entangled with mythological and paranormal situations. This narrative side scrolling adventure creates mystery and has plenty of secrets to discover and it is up to the player to solve these puzzles and help everyone he comes across.  

The gameplay

Last Time I Saw You starts off in a dreamscape in which Ayumi is trying to see the face of a girl who is looking out over the forest, but every time you have this dream you wake up before you gaze upon her face. Upon waking you become more and more infatuated with figuring out the meaning of the reoccurring dream. As you progress through the opening portion of the game you will have many chances to read the dialogue with various characters like your parents, friends, police officer, etc. These are what initiated side quests from the main story.

As you navigate your surroundings you learn from your friends and family that a Typhoon is nearing your location. You go to school and learn that that typhoon is coming earlier than expected leaving you injured and being saved by the girl in your dreams. From this point forward this interaction leads you to the forest where no one dares to go. When you realize this, you explore the area to discover the girl who tells you about the curse and asked for your assistance in seeking the shines. You agree, and with the help of a trusty wooden bat you fight the black fog-like enemies you encounter, solve puzzles, and help the inhabitants of the forest.

As you traverse the forest and spend more time helping the inhabitants out you put some strain on your relationships that you have in your life. You can talk to almost everyone so please make sure you discover what they need and help them out. When you aid someone, you make money, Money can be used to help in other side-quests but will add additional lore to your game and make the story more fulfilling. For example, you can help a Kappa you find in the forest by bringing her different foods she hasn’t tasted from your village, this creates more opportunities to acquire money.

The variety of people and creatures you meet make the game feel alive and satisfying as you complete side quests. From crows waging war to magical animals in a lovers quarrel the game has much to offer. The gameplay is smooth and satisfying. I also enjoy that as you unlock shrines, which require some memory on your part by ringing bells in order, Ami unlocks more powers that assist you, like a rapid dash, jump high in certain areas, and lightning assist. Each new power gives you access to new areas.  

The game offers additional mini games such as hitting baseballs with your best friend, and you can play a video game in your parents’ house when you have time. The games are fun and can be difficult, which adds some extra depth to the fun you can have.  

Final Score

Last Time I Saw You stands out to me with its beautiful 80’s inspired theme and hand-drawn art. The game infuses topics that we can relate to such as navigating and maintaining relationships with others, the importance of communication, and the vigilance we must have to be aware of our surroundings. The balance of down to earth characters and the supernatural elements complement each other creating a cause and effect on the story and character development. 

The music wasn’t overpowering and at times didn’t catch your attention because of other things happening in the scene, however the music was spot on and beautiful to experience while in a pivotal portion of the game. One of the nuances that could be a bit much was the repetitive sound effect for dialogue. It gnawed at my attention while trying to enjoy the story and interactions amongst the characters, though I came to be able to ignore it, I know it was a small drop in the bucket for issues in this game.

One last thing that I enjoyed about this game touches home a bit for my family. You meet a ghost named Taeko in the forest who died in the war years and years before. She is searching for family that may remember her and so she folds origami and has Ayumi place them around the village. This story arch was quite moving to me, mainly because my grandma was named Taeko, was from Japan, and a lot of her family was taken away from her by WWII. The game hits the right notes for me and I hope that you give this unique story a playthrough.

Shane Kelley is a Senior writer for Boss Rush Network, as well as a writer for Another Zelda Podcast. His favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can find him on Twitter to talk video games, Marvel, and axe throwing.

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Picture Sources: Taken by Author

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