Another Humble Bundle has rolled around, giving us a top rate smorgasbord of indie gaming morsels for a bargain price. Admittedly, the line-up of humble bundle titles are rarely brand new or cutting edge titles, but this in my opinion is a good thing. The state of digital delivery systems now makes it easier than ever to develop and publish games, both for large teams and bedroom coders. Inevitably, some titles are going to get lost in the shuffle, but projects like humble bundle give’s you a second (or third) chance to check out some polished gems of indie goodness. Of all the titles that I obtained this time around, To The Moon caught my eye the most. For a start, it was the only one in the collection I hadn’t already heard of. Secondly, it was clearly an RPG-maker-type adventure game, (which I’ve played a few of) but it had a eye catching sketchbook visual style that I really liked.
It can be incredibly enjoyable to start playing a game with absolutely no expectations. To The Moon is ideal in this respect as one of the most bizarre, heart-warming, confusing and suspenseful adventure titles that I have ever played. The first session kept me playing to the small hours of the morning; like a good book, the plot never reaching a point where you want to put it down. Each member of the relatively small cast are well developed and the premise of the story is so far-fetched that you’ll allow them to get away with anything. The protagonists themselves, scientists who wield technology that allows them to travel backwards through a subjects memory, are pleasant company for the journey, despite the fact that their relationship to each other is a little clichéd.
From the start, To The Moon exhibits a strange mix of themes. Ranging from slapstick comedy to psychological thriller, at times the methods used to tell the story seem slightly jarring. There’s some real fourth wall breaking moments as well, which are handled just well enough to not be off putting. Despite the a tone that jerks up and down on a whim. Yet despite this imbalance, it’s the characters and their lives (experienced in reverse) which will keep the player moving. The entire story is threaded together with an excellent and emotive soundtrack which lays a real foundation for the player, considering the entire game is unvoiced and with minimal sound effects. In this way it evokes the feel of Sword & Sworcery; a playable music experience rather than a game.
Still, the story that To The Moon tells is fantastic. It’s easy to appreciate a game that says a lot but can still be played through in an evening or two. I was prepared for an unsatisfactory ending and I’m happy to say I was proven wrong. To The Moon’s story climaxes as the protagonists move from observer to participant and, bringing together multiple threads and story elements in a finale that is warm and genuine. In fact, the story is so much the focus of the game, it’s a wonder if an interactive experience is the correct venue for it. Still, a semi-sequel, A Bird Story, is in development right now and I look forward to seeing where it takes me.
