This whole month I'm going to be posting two reviews a week, with maybe some extra reviews peppered here or there for flavor. I'll also be posting a "Which review should I post next?" thread that will allow you to vote on which review I post next. I will post a list of my completed reviews there, and will edit as more reviews are posted/completed. I will also make a separate thread entitled "Which review should I make next?" that will allow you to vote on what review I work on next. Any reviews completed will be posted to my other thread.

And on that note, to kick off this posting competition, enjoy this review of To the Moon!

Such Review, Great Music, Many Tears, So Wow

To the Mooooooooooooooooon!!!!

OK OK, enough with the Doge puns. This game isn’t about that. This game is about life, death, and the bonds that last beyond this life and make us whole. It’s so much more than a game. It’s an interactive story, one that will last in your memory for a very long time.

The story centers around two scientists, Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts, who have been called to perform a special kind of operation on a dying man, Johnny. His last request was that they enter his mind and take him to the Moon, hence the game’s title. They would have to go backwards through his memories in order to do so. As they proceed, they learn more and more about his life, his dreams, and his hopes, and why exactly he wanted to go to the Moon in the first place. Those who put all the pieces together are rewarded with many tears of joy.

The beauty of this game is that it is not so much a game as a story, one that gets the reader to feel grand emotion. In fact, there is very little gameplay at all, and is mostly limited to basic interactions with objects. Some might be surprised to find out that the game was made largely in RPG Maker, especially since RPG elements only appear once in the game, and only as a joke. The graphics, however; are characteristic of RPG Maker. They are nothing amazing, but they don’t have to be. The simplicity of the graphics suit the simplicity of the game.

I can’t help but weep when I think of the soundtrack. The soundtrack is one of the most beautiful and wonderful ever to be contained in a game, and perfectly suits the mood of the game. Like the story, the music gets one to feel! It is the highlight of the game, especially the main theme and “Everything’s Alright”, which plays at the end of the game.

The game features no voice acting, instead relying on written dialog. This dialog, however; is superb. Whether it’s the funny dialog between the two doctors, or the introspective moments that Johnny has, it convinces you that these characters are real, never contrived. The dialog flows naturally, and is often witty, especially during moments featuring both doctors.

There are puzzle elements placed in the game, as well. Between Johnny’s memories, there are puzzles that must be solved. These can lessen the immersion and impact of the game for some, although they are always linked to mementos relevant to the plot. I found them off-putting, but warmed to them over time. Some will like these puzzles, others will not.

To summarize, this game is a work of art. Its graphics won’t be praised by many, but its story and music will never be forgotten. It’s not about the ending, it’s about the ride. And every single minute is worth it. This is a game that deserves to be experienced again and again, not because of its gameplay, but because of its story and music.

Pros:

One of the best stories in any video game ever made
Brilliant soundtrack
Funny dialogue

Cons:

Short, only 3-4 hours long
Not much gameplay


Presentation: 10/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 10/10
Gameplay: 6/10
Lasting Appeal: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

Nota Bene: This is the only game that has ever gotten me to weep naturally and fully. I cried at the poignant ending of TLoZ: Skyward Sword, but not like this. Be prepared to care and to cry.

I also weighted the score a bit in its favor. While there is little gameplay to speak of, there doesn’t need to be much. The story makes up for the lack of gameplay, although not completely.

supernerd117 : Unfortunatley, I have never heard of this game, though it looks like it could be a lot of fun.
A good idea would be to post the links to some of the songs, there's nothing wrong with doing that, or maybe in another reply. This is a good review, once it's closed of old age it will go into the Review Directory as a B review, good job.

zanderlex : Sure! I'll add a few of the best songs of the game.

The presiding theme appears in many forms throughout the game, and adds emotional substance to it. The name of the theme running throughout this is "For River".



This song truly makes me feel like everything is going to be OK. I love it to life and to death. Laura Shigihara did a brilliant job of it.




I really debated about giving the game a 10. At times when I feel like I can't go on and need something to pull me up, it is quite possibly my favorite game, especially since I can relate to it so well (but for the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won't say why). And besides that, it's possibly the most moving, emotional game ever made. I look back on this review, and wish I had given it a higher score.