Before I Forget
- July 15, 2020
- 3-Fold Games
Although very short, Before I Forget’s emotional highs and lows are enough to make any player care for Sunita, and feel the plight of those who suffer like her.
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Reviews
- Before I Forget offers a beautifully crafted narrative that effectively portrays the emotional journey of a woman with early-onset Alzheimer's, allowing players to empathize with her struggles.
- The game's art style and music are praised for their beauty and ability to enhance the emotional impact of the story, creating a poignant atmosphere throughout the experience.
- Despite its short playtime of around 45 minutes, the game is described as a meaningful and touching experience that resonates deeply with players, especially those with personal connections to dementia.
- Many players found the gameplay to be overly simplistic and linear, with a predictable story that lacks depth and complexity, leading to a feeling of missed potential.
- The game is criticized for its short length, with some players feeling that it could have explored its themes more thoroughly and provided a more immersive experience.
- Technical issues such as slow character movement, awkward controls, and distracting subtitles detracted from the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game.
- story73 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Before I Forget" is a poignant exploration of a woman's experience with dementia, interwoven with themes of love and loss. While the narrative is touching and emotionally impactful, many players found it predictable and short, with some wishing for deeper gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its heartfelt storytelling and artistic presentation, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“A beautifully crafted game allowing the player to both explore the experience of dementia and Sunita's story.”
“Through its immersive storytelling, it sheds light on the human experience of Alzheimer's disease, serving as a powerful reminder to cherish our memories and the connections we hold dear.”
“Having said that, the game suffers from poor voice acting and a predictable story.”
“The story is extremely predictable and boring.”
“There is nothing to solve here, just go to the next place and click on an object to get a voice line and a picture that moves the story forward.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game "Before I Forget" is widely praised for its emotional depth, effectively exploring themes of dementia, love, and loss through the poignant story of a woman named Sunita. Players report a deeply touching experience that evokes empathy and reflection, often leading to tears, despite its short duration of around 45 minutes. While some critiques mention clunky presentation, the overall consensus highlights its heartfelt writing and ability to convey the tragic impact of memory loss on both individuals and their loved ones.
“Before I Forget is a really touching story game about a woman with dementia and her love story that she rediscovers.”
“The writing is heartfelt and sincere, evoking a genuine sense of empathy for the protagonist.”
“Dementia not only affects the person but everyone around them too; this game conveyed those tragic fragmented memories perfectly; amazing how thought-provoking and emotionally pulling a game can be in just under one hour.”
- music26 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in "Before I Forget" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the game's introspective themes surrounding dementia, love, and loss. Reviewers highlight the minimalist yet effective soundtrack that complements the narrative and visuals, creating a melancholic atmosphere that resonates deeply with players. While some critique the authenticity of the piano music in relation to the character's background, the overall consensus is that the original score significantly contributes to the game's emotional impact.
“The minimalist art style, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, sets the tone for an introspective exploration of a fragile mind.”
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“The haunting soundtrack heightens the melancholic atmosphere, capturing the confusion and melancholy associated with memory loss.”
“I've also found it disturbing that the husband of the lady was a famous piano player, yet the piano music execution in the game is a bit amateurish. No offense to the composer; I'm not discussing his artistic capabilities, but one of the most famous piano players in the world wouldn't play like that.”
“If you have a classical musician in a soap opera, he won't play actual classical music; he would play some sort of easy listening music resembling classical music instead.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and stylized art style that effectively conveys the themes of memory and introspection, enhancing the emotional experience of the narrative. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and how they creatively symbolize the protagonist's struggles, complemented by a haunting soundtrack. Overall, the graphics are well-executed, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
“The minimalist art style, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, sets the tone for an introspective exploration of a fragile mind.”
“The visuals are well done and creatively implemented, only appearing once the memory is re-established.”
“The art style of this game really captures the concept of faded memories as well.”
“Graphics don't matter in this game.”
“The visuals, mystery, and mechanics are easy to 'give away' and you may want to experience them for yourself.”
“Graphics get the job done and the music is excellent.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Before I Forget" is characterized by its simplicity and focus on storytelling and exploration, utilizing point-and-click mechanics to engage players with the narrative. While the game offers a brief experience of about an hour, it effectively conveys emotional depth, though some players feel that the gameplay could have been more engaging and less hindered by unorthodox controls. Overall, it serves as a poignant walking simulator that prioritizes narrative impact over complex gameplay mechanics.
“While 'Before I Forget' primarily focuses on storytelling and exploration, the gameplay mechanics are deliberately simple to ensure that players remain engrossed in the narrative.”
“You move through the environment using point-and-click mechanics, allowing you to interact with various objects to trigger memories or gain insight into Sunita's past.”
“This is peak walking sim, good writing, satisfying gameplay (interacting with things colors in some of the house, which is kind of an awesome idea) and while I didn't cry, I felt something.”
“Unfortunately, while you feel for the main character, the gameplay leaves a fair amount to be desired.”
“Gameplay is very slow, and the game implements very unorthodox ways to control the player by placing illogical obstacles in the world and by changing mouse sensitivity and movement speed constantly.”
“Despite its brief gameplay and limited interactivity, this indie gem delivers a profound and unforgettable experience that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Before I Forget" is characterized by a haunting soundtrack and evocative visuals that effectively convey themes of memory loss and melancholy. Players appreciate the game's ability to shift its ambiance through flashbacks, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. Overall, the combination of sound design, voice acting, and artistic elements creates a unique and moving experience that resonates with players.
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“The haunting soundtrack heightens the melancholic atmosphere, capturing the confusion and melancholy associated with memory loss.”
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere, but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“I love the graphics and the concept of the atmosphere changing after you achieve flashbacks; it's great symbolism for what Sunita is going through.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“The game offers countless ways to experience the story, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character choices, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
“The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in outcomes, which severely limits its replayability.”
“After finishing the main story, I found myself with no desire to replay it. The side quests felt repetitive and uninspired.”
Critic Reviews
Review – Before I Forget
Although very short, Before I Forget’s emotional highs and lows are enough to make any player care for Sunita, and feel the plight of those who suffer like her.
90%Before I Forget Review
Before I Forget is a strong, concise story tracing a woman suffering from dementia as she slowly uncovers pieces of herself as well as the story framed within this mental health journey. It doesn't waste players' time with a run-time that doesn't overstay its welcome, helped by a protagonist that doesn't divulge too much information when she speaks.
80%Before I Forget Review
As onlookers, none of us can ever really know what it’s like to suffer from dementia.
80%
