My Memory of Us
- October 10, 2018
- Juggler Games
Considering its length, My Memory Of Us is a tad overpriced, but the game itself proves a charming magnificent puzzler that tugs at both your brain and your heart strings.
"My Memory of Us" is a narrative-driven, side-scrolling game that explores a friendship between two children in a World War II-inspired setting. Players switch between the perspectives of the pair, using their unique abilities to solve puzzles and evade guards in an effort to stay together. The game features hand-drawn animations and a painterly style, immersing players in a somber tale of love, loss, and hope.
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully touching story that effectively introduces children to the historical context of World War II in a sensitive manner.
- The art style is charming and visually appealing, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
- The puzzles are well-designed, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly difficult, making the gameplay enjoyable.
- The gameplay mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, detracting from the overall experience.
- There is a lack of a save feature, requiring players to complete chapters in one sitting, which can be frustrating.
- Some players found the puzzles to be too simplistic or disconnected from the story, leading to a sense of ludonarrative dissonance.
- story115 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is a poignant and imaginative retelling of the Holocaust, framed through the lens of childhood innocence and friendship amidst the horrors of World War II. While the narrative is beautifully crafted and emotionally impactful, some players feel it lacks depth in gameplay mechanics, leading to a disconnect between the story and the puzzles. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic presentation and strong narration by Patrick Stewart, making it a compelling experience despite its gameplay shortcomings.
“The story is both charming and predictable, capturing the essence of childhood innocence amidst the horrors of war.”
“A beautiful little story about the real events of World War II but told in a way to make it more of a parable so it's not so sad that you cannot continue.”
“The story told in this game is presented wonderfully both from the perspective of its naive and hopeful protagonists as well as its in-universe intended audience, lending to a gripping presentation of the real emotions that were present both during the events of Poland in the Second World War as well as the world that was changed after their occurrence.”
“Where it really lost me, however, is in the disconnect between the story it tells (about the persecution of Polish Jews during WWII) and the gameplay.”
“It is just unfortunate that the story did not follow through on giving players a complete parable of the events, changing the subject the moment they got too close to the most insidious aspect of the story.”
“The story can get quite depressing at some points since this is based on actual stories at the time.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and whimsical art style, which effectively enhances the narrative and emotional impact of the story. Players appreciate the charming and cute visuals, which manage to convey serious themes without being overly graphic, creating a compelling atmosphere that draws them into the experience. Overall, the combination of stunning artwork and engaging gameplay contributes to a memorable and touching storytelling experience.
“The art style is delightful, with a whimsical yet poignant design that enhances the story's impact.”
“The graphics are gorgeous and the story is heartwarming and heartbreaking.”
“Beautifully artistic game, where the gameplay, story, and art style all come together to create a moving and compelling experience.”
“At first you may be disappointed with the graphics.”
“Neat idea and art style, but didn't deliver in terms of being a game in my opinion.”
“It feels less like the story is trying to be child-friendly at that point so much as it just wasn't brave enough to go all the way with the parable; which could have gone all the way without being too graphic.”
- emotional32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and heartfelt narrative, often evoking strong feelings and even tears from players. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story balances whimsical elements with profound themes, allowing players to connect deeply with its characters and events. The beautiful art style and warm narration further enhance the emotional experience, making it a memorable and impactful journey.
“An incredibly touching story of... being human.”
“I also believe that this is the first time a video game has actually brought actual tears to my eyes (in a few moments which I will not spoil), which only proves the beauty, sadness, and heart-wrenching realism of this incredible experience.”
“This is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking, game set before and during the start of World War II.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily puzzle-based, featuring a mix of easy to moderate challenges that encourage problem-solving and reflexes, though some players find the mechanics disconnected from the narrative. While the hand-holding mechanic and unique character abilities add depth, the overall experience is described as simple and story-driven, with some players appreciating the variety and creativity, while others find it lacking in engagement. The visuals and soundtrack enhance the experience, but the gameplay itself is often seen as secondary to the storytelling.
“Gameplay revolves around solving various types of puzzles to progress.”
“The gameplay is also fun and brisk with just the right mix of reflex and puzzle solving.”
“Beyond puzzles, there are a decent amount of unique gameplay sequences as well as some stealth, which gives the game a nice variety, keeping it fresh throughout the whole experience.”
“Where it really lost me, however, is in the disconnect between the story it tells (about the persecution of Polish Jews during WWII) and the gameplay.”
“Most puzzle mechanics are not motivated by the plot at all and seem to be pretty random.”
“The story is by far the strongest aspect of the game over the agreeable but not amazing gameplay.”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the narrative, with a beautiful soundtrack that complements both joyful and somber moments. However, some players noted instances of dead silence that detracted from the overall experience, suggesting that the music could have been more consistently present. Overall, the score is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's mesmerizing visuals and engaging gameplay.
“The musical score fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the voiceover in cutscenes is very appropriate, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.”
“Besides the story, the visuals and music are absolutely mesmerizing, and the innovative gameplay makes the game stand on its own.”
“The music was very well done and captured the sadness and hopelessness of certain scenes as well as the happiness and joy of other scenes.”
“There's a lot of dead silence as far as the soundtrack goes, which just further brings down the atmosphere of those oppressive puzzles.”
“In a game such as this, the music is very important, and the one here does not work.”
“The music of this game does not enhance the experience as much as it should.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its fitting musical score and effective voiceovers, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. While it successfully conveys a range of feelings, from sadness to hope, some players noted moments of dead silence that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game's graphics and storytelling contribute to a rich and immersive atmosphere.
“The musical score fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the voiceover in cutscenes is very appropriate, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.”
“The atmosphere is enriched by the fitting musical score and appropriate voiceovers.”
“The atmosphere of the game was very good and helped with this feeling of sadness, but also hope.”
“There's a lot of dead silence as far as the soundtrack goes, which just further brings down the atmosphere of those oppressive puzzles.”
“The music was really good and helped with the game’s mood and atmosphere.”
“It changes with the situation in the game world, building an emotional atmosphere.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game strikes a balance between heartwarming and comical, effectively lightening the mood without undermining the serious themes. It evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Disney cartoons, blending slapstick humor with sobering moments that allow players to engage with deeper subjects while still finding joy. Overall, the humor serves to both entertain and provide a thoughtful commentary on the narrative.
“It's narrative and art style (both of which are marvelous, I must say) disconnects the world of the MMO enough from reality to not make it too depressing or disturbing for youngsters, which is also alleviated by some comical moments that are both heartwarming and funny, but never too facetious for the setting.”
“This is more my speed; it reminds me of the old Disney black and white cartoons with the slapstick humor.”
“Funny but sobering and sometimes sad, though it's not hard to find the happiness.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a casual and accessible experience that enhances replayability, allowing players to engage with its themes of fear and sadness without the harsh realities of war. This approach encourages multiple playthroughs as players explore different emotional narratives.
“The game offers a variety of choices that lead to different outcomes, making each playthrough feel unique.”
“With multiple paths and endings, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
“The dynamic gameplay keeps things fresh, ensuring that no two sessions feel the same.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels repetitive and dull.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game effectively employs its dual protagonist mechanic, making the grinding experience feel engaging rather than tedious.