Until Then
" Emotionally impactful narrative adventure with unique visuals but uneven pacing and confusing ending "
Until Then Review
Until Then is a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted visual novel that resonates profoundly with players. The game excels in storytelling, blending pixel art with hand-drawn and 3D assets to create a unique aesthetic that enhances the narrative. Players praise its relatable characters, evocative soundtrack, and the way it handles themes of friendship, loss, grief, and acceptance with subtlety and depth. The slow pacing allows for an immersive experience, emphasizing slice-of-life moments that build strong emotional connections.
While the gameplay is mostly reading with some mini-games, these are generally well-received though occasionally criticized for lack of clarity or clunkiness. The story’s ending and some sci-fi elements have divided players, with some finding them confusing or less satisfying. Despite minor pacing issues and a few technical hiccups, the game leaves a lasting impact, often compared emotionally to celebrated titles like OMORI and Undertale. It is recommended for those seeking an evocative narrative journey.
Highlights
Players highly praise the emotional storytelling and richly developed characters, which evoke genuine feelings and personal reflection.
The art style is lauded as a masterpiece, combining pixel art with hand-drawn and 3D elements to create a visually stunning experience.
The soundtrack complements the emotional tone perfectly, enhancing immersion and mood.
The game’s pacing and slice-of-life moments allow players to deeply relate to the narrative, making the story feel personal and authentic.
Criticisms
Some players find the ending and sci-fi plot twists confusing or unsatisfying, detracting from the otherwise grounded story.
Mini-games receive mixed feedback; a few are described as clunky or poorly explained, disrupting immersion.
There are minor pacing issues, with certain chapters feeling slow or overly long.
A few technical issues like audio mixing inconsistencies and control clunkiness were noted but not pervasive.
Visual novel style and heavy reading may not appeal to all players, especially those expecting more interactive gameplay.
Pros
- • Emotionally impactful storytelling that deeply resonates with players.
- • Masterful blend of pixel art, hand-drawn, and 3D visuals.
- • Beautiful and fitting soundtrack enhances the game’s mood.
- • Relatable, well-developed characters with genuine interactions.
- • Pacing allows for immersive slice-of-life and nostalgic moments.
- • Dialogue choices remembered, adding to narrative personalization.
- • Mini-games add variety and engagement throughout the story.
Cons
- • Ending and sci-fi elements confuse or disappoint some players.
- • Mini-games sometimes lack clarity and can feel clunky.
- • Certain story sections feel slow or unnecessarily prolonged.
- • Audio mixing issues occasionally distract from immersion.
- • Controls can be awkward during some gameplay segments.
- • Heavy reading and visual novel format may not suit everyone.
- • Some players find pacing uneven across different acts.
Rating Criteria
A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.