Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing
- February 14, 2021
- Serenity Forge
Get on Steam"Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing" is a charming romantic adventure game with pixel-art graphics. The story follows six individuals navigating their relationships amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, facing various challenges such as remote work and virtual dates. The game offers a heartwarming and humorous exploration of how people come together, even when they're physically apart.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a charming art style that enhances the emotional experience.
- The narrative is relatable and well-written, capturing the essence of online dating during the pandemic.
- Despite its short length, the game provides a sweet and wholesome story that resonates with players.
- The game is extremely short, with many players feeling it lacks depth and meaningful content.
- There are minimal interactive elements, and the gameplay feels more like watching a story unfold rather than engaging with it.
- Many players believe the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers, especially compared to free alternatives.
- story44 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around a relatable romance during the COVID pandemic, is praised for its emotional depth and charming visuals, though many reviewers note its brevity, with playtime averaging around 30 to 90 minutes. While some appreciate the concise storytelling as fitting for the narrative, others feel it lacks depth and leaves the experience feeling incomplete. Overall, it is recommended for fans of story-driven games, despite its limited interactivity and replay value.
“Living through the pandemic, the story of the game is relatable on a personal level.”
“It tells a beautiful love story that tries to develop during the pandemic.”
“It's not a long game, but the story definitely melts your heart.”
“It's extremely short, and I feel like it cuts off without offering any meaningful story or message.”
“It was about 30 minutes long and what feels like a half-finished story.”
“The story only just starts getting going when the credits pop up.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics in this interactive story are praised for their charming art style, smooth character movement, and comforting color choices, contributing to an overall pleasant visual experience. While the game features pixel-graphic sprites and detailed portraits in a visual novel format, some reviewers noted that the graphics are mostly recycled from the main game, with only a couple of new locations. Despite this, the visuals, along with the music and writing, create an engaging atmosphere that enhances the short narrative.
“The art style, the color choices, the music, the dialogue, everything about this game is so nice and so comforting.”
“That aside, this spin-off features the same gorgeous art style, good writing, and down-to-earth and relatable characters.”
“We get to play the parts of both lead characters, who are depicted by controllable pixel-graphic sprites and also displayed as more detailed portraits during conversations which are presented in a visual novel format at the bottom of the screen.”
“The music and the dialogue were up to par with the full-length game, and the graphics were fine - mostly recycled with two new, small locations - but there just isn't enough here to justify spending money.”
“Enjoyed the writing, which isn't twee, even if the graphics have strong and intentional throwback vibes.”
“The graphics have strong and intentional throwback vibes.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic quality, reminiscent of classic NES and SNES soundtracks, contributing to a comforting atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of music with the game's visuals and dialogue, enhancing the overall experience despite the game's short length and limited content. Overall, the music stands out as a key element that elevates the interactive story.
“The art style, the color choices, the music, the dialogue, everything about this game is so nice and so comforting.”
“The game design is seamless and my favorite part (aside from the music) was the way each scene transitions into the next, specifically when you walk into different rooms.”
“I find it easy to relate to Stephen (one of the characters), also the SNES feel is great, the music is nice... reminds me of some NES and SNES music, that brings a lot of memories.”
“The music and the dialogue were up to par with the full-length game, and the graphics were fine - mostly recycled with two new, small locations - but there just isn't enough here to justify spending money.”
“The music and the dialogue were up to par with the full-length game, and the graphics were fine - mostly recycled with two new, small locations - but there just isn't enough here to justify spending money.”
“It will take you less than a half hour to play through this interactive story but the visuals and music are a treat.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience in a brief timeframe, evoking strong reactions through its charming narrative and character dynamics. Players report feeling a wide range of emotions, from joy to heartache, as they engage with the interconnected stories and romantic tensions, making it a memorable and impactful journey. Overall, it is described as sweet, wholesome, and deeply resonant.
“The game is an exceptional emotional experience.”
“I don't think I had such strong emotional reactions to a game in such a short time span ever.”
“It was really short (around an hour or so) but it really made me feel all the highs and lows of their relationship - a huge smile on my face in their sweetest moments and a pain in my stomach whenever they fought over the same fears we know so well during this awful year.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its engaging mechanics and fluid controls, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, it offers a blend of enjoyable elements but may not satisfy all players seeking variety and challenge.
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers a compelling story for its low price, but its short duration of just over 90 minutes limits its replayability, making it less appealing for those seeking multiple playthroughs.
“If you love story-driven games, this is a nice 4 bucks that can make you forget your miserable, empty life like mine. The only downside is that it's pretty short (just over 90 minutes) and there's not much replay value.”
