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True love feels elusive to those who want it and fleeting to those who have it. Everyone can agree that true love is rare and is something to be treasured. The Indonesian studio Mojiken has partnered with Toge Productions to release When The Past Was Around. You might remember them for A Raven Monologue or She & The Light Bearer. If you’ve ever played one of Mojiken’s games. You will be familiar with their astonishing artwork. When the Past Was Around is a superb point & click with a touching narrative about love, pain, and letting go of the past.

The game is about a young woman in her 20s named Eda. She’s just starting out in life. Like many others in the same situation, she’s a bit lost and looking for something to give her life meaning. That is until she met Owl, a musician, who like Eda also plays the violin. From the moment they meet, they know that they are made for each other and belong together. When the Past Was Around is all about the story, so I don’t want to give away too much. After their budding romance we are shown their life together, however a tragic situation unfolds. Unfortunately their romance wasn’t meant to be, so Eda has to live with this new reality. She’s forced to live with the pain, and learns to let go of the past without forgetting her most cherished memories.

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The artwork is simply stunning. The graphics are made using a series of hand-drawn images. These drawings are exceptional, and the artist is obviously very talented. For that alone When The Past Was Around is worth playing. I love the overall style, and how well each image convey the story. They are colorful, but still soft with their pastel colors, and represent the narrative so well. There are also several darker scenes representing Eda’s pain, and emotional turmoil. It takes a certain talent for a developer to communicate their story through visuals alone. Despite having no spoken or written narrative, When the Past Was Around still manages to convey its story, and evokes a huge emotional range.

The soundtrack, like the artwork, is exceptional. The music is powerful, and portrays the emotional narrative superbly. One detail that really sets it apart is the section of the soundtrack played by a real violinist. What a thoughtful and amazing detail to add to an already very complete game. It gives more credibility to the story since When the Past Was Around is all about pleasing the senses. Furthermore it adds a tremendous amount of personality.

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The game is quite short, and can be finished in two to three hours if you like to take your time. However after finishing the game, I was satisfied and not left wanting. It is divided into five chapters plus a prologue. Each chapter deals with a certain phase in Eda’s life, and is composed of many different locations. Every one of these locations is set up like of those ‘Escape Room’ type of puzzles. Each room/location has several puzzles that need to be completed before moving on. When the Past Was Around is for the most part linear. However in some puzzles, you might need to backtrack a bit.

The puzzles are interesting and the majority of them fit rather well into the storyline. It’s not the kind of game where you’ll be perplexed by a puzzle. They are always logical and easily solved by reasoning alone. Most of them involve finding a specific object or deciphering a code. The puzzles are all on the easy side, but it actually works to the game advantage. The flow is never broken by getting stuck on an overly difficult puzzle. On the other hand, the puzzles being easier means that there’s not much incentive to do a second playthrough. I though that every puzzle added value to the game and enhanced the narrative. They are beautifully crafted and perfect in their simplicity.

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When The Past Was Around is a timeless and universal story that will reach everyone regardless of their ages. The artwork is simply breathtaking. It was a treat to play and one of the best point & click games that I’ve experienced this year. The superb aesthetics, the hauntingly beautiful music and the simplicity of its puzzles work in complete unison and perfectly complement the amazing story. Whether you’re a fan of point & click or new to the genre, this game is for everyone and a perfect introduction to the genre. The replayability value is low unless you want to relive the story, but don’t let that stop you. It is a real hidden gem. Once in awhile you come across a game that stays with you long after you have finished playing it. When The Past Was Around is a must have whether you a fan of point & click or just appreciative of gorgeous artwork!

• Fantastic artwork
  
• A touching and relatable narrative
  
• An extraordinary soundtrack

• Not much replayability
  
• Very short

With its stunning artwork, its beautiful soundtrack, and an emotionally charged narrative, When the Past Was Around is an absolute feast for all of your senses!

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