Until Then Reviews
While the setting and inspirations are Filipino through and through, the themes of friendship, love, loss, and acceptance in this visual novel are universal.
Until Then stands as a heartening example of a narrative adventure game and manages to strike a chord with its delicate balance of the supernatural and highschool drama. Managing to deftly avoid the tropes that dominate the space, every choice in Until Then feels intentional and every interaction feels far more earnest than some of its contemporaries. I very much enjoyed experiencing this story and being able to almost relive some of my own silly highschool stories through the eyes of Mark. Lying underneath the teenage awkwardness is a story about growth and acceptance, and it is one that everyone will be able to see themselves in.
Until Then is still a visual novel, clinging to a large cultural stratum of contemporary culture. However, it is also a very emotional and lampooning story about growing up, friendship, betrayal and love.
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In the end, Until Then is a bit like a pixelated Life Is Strange. And like the best Life Is Strange games, it strikes a near-perfect balance between the mundanity of every day life and the joyous and devastating moments that occasionally perforate that normality.
My feelings about Until Then evolved the longer I played. What at first seemed like a slow-paced visual novel with retro graphics gradually began to reveal itself as something much more sophisticated. Excellent character development and a surprising, emotionally varied narrative are at the heart of Until Then, but its storytelling mechanics are fresh and contemporary, too. Mark and his gang have interesting stories to tell, and so does Until Then.
The visuals are a standout in this regard too. For one, the graphic a friend makes in honor of a “date” you went on with a new classmate is so overblown (complete with doves) that it would look right at home memorializing someone’s tragically premature death. These jokes are funny, but they’re also emblematic of the way in which these kids—all of whom have their own deeply felt emotional baggage—ultimately lift each other up. It reflects a genuine and kind-hearted rejection of the kind of cynicism that’s far too often romanticized in other teen dramas.
Until Then made me cry multiple times. Some lines hit me like a ton of bricks and buried me under the weight of their emotional significance. The game allows you to continue after the end and even expedites things a bit. After your first loop, you’re going to want to go back. Remember, “you can always begin again, you just have to find that spark”.
Until Then is a story-rich adventure full of standouts: its beautiful pixel art, relatable protagonist, realistic character dynamics, and thoughtful representation of Filipino culture. It's a coming-of-age tale worth experiencing.
The devil really is in the details in Until Then, a heart warming narrative adventure.
Until Then has an interesting art style and some decent writing, but mundane pacing, limited interactivity and contrived, poorly delivered drama make for a forgettable adventure.
I’ve wanted this game ever since I heard about it, and it seems like I waited forever, but it was absolutely worth the wait and I’m so glad I was able to play this game to its fullest extent. Polychroma Games made something special, and I believe they’ll be a studio to look out for.
Until Then was missold as a mystery, instead, it tells an intense and beautiful story of coming of age, dealing with loss, and making hard decisions in friendships and relationships. It is an experience that is begging to be replayed, not just because it is a great story, but because each subsequent playthrough comes with its own ending.
In the context of firsthand retellings of personal life stories, Until Then shines as an excellent example of using every clever advantage an interactive storytelling medium can use. Employing a charming art style and witty writing that feels just right, within its 6 to 8-hour playtime let yourself be transported to a bygone era where everything felt more easygoing yet catastrophic at the same time.
Until Then isn’t just my game of the year (so far) it’s up there with my favorite games of all time. The jaw-dropping artstyle alongside the witty dialogue and emotional beats all combine to make a visual novel that is In my opinion, a masterpiece, and a true labor of love. Some mini-games slightly sour the experience, but winning is not necessary to progress the story. And that story is too good to care. This game is 100% worth your time and money. Give it a go…or three.
Until Then offers a compelling coming-of-age story infused with supernatural elements. Set in a post-disaster town, players follow high schooler Mark and his friends as they navigate personal challenges and mysterious occurrences. Despite some narrative pacing issues and a lack of supernatural exploration, the game's immersive setting, relatable character dynamics, and unique visual presentation make it a captivating experience.
Kudos to Polychroma Games for making a game that Southeast Asians can be proud of, standing tall amongst the likes of other similarly good games from the region. While there are some issues regarding the minigames & overall pacing, the story in Until Then is worth experiencing, at least for its more exciting second half.
Until Then isn’t the best narrative adventure game I’ve played but it’s definitely one I’ll remember for a long time. Don’t sleep on Until Then, it’s a worthwhile experience.
Until Then is more than just a game; it’s a narrative cinematic masterpiece that immerses players in a thought-provoking exploration of memory, reality, and emotional turmoil. At its core, the game introduces players to Mark’s profound struggles with self-doubt, anxiety, and loneliness, weaving these themes into a deeply personal journey that resonates long after the game is over. By the end of the journey, players are left not only pondering the mysteries of Mark’s world but also reflecting on their own perceptions and assumptions. Until Then is not just a game to be played; it’s an experience to be felt, remembered, and cherished for its ability to provoke thought and evoke emotion.
I'm tempted to say your mileage may vary with a game like Until Then. As a Filipino American, its cultural impact certainly made everything hit that much harder for me. As a narrative gamer who's gotten a lot out of visual novels and the like, its dialogue-driven adventure was easy for me to digest. And as a fan of pixel art, I loved the work Polychroma did here to bring its recreation of the Philippines to life. But even if none of those boxes are checked for you, I'm still tempted to recommend Until Then regardless. Its deeply human story, told with emotionally sincere dialogue, its ability to showcase the beauty of Filipino culture, its mind-breaking second half are all worth experiencing for gamers from all walks of life. Go play this game and let's go meet at the Jollibee to decompress after. Salamat, Polychroma.
Until Then is a must-play for lovers of narrative-focused games everywhere. The game already depicts living the life of a teenager in the Phillippines in the 2010s beautifully with its thoughtful and authentic writing, combined with a picturesque world. That alone would be enough, but it goes above and beyond, adding breathtaking pixel animation, an intriguing mystery and a palpable geopolitical subplot. The cast of characters is incredibly endearing and you'll grow to love them all, building to the final emotional gut punch of the game that takes the wind out of you. Joining the plethora of quality narratives in 2024, Until Then is a game you won't soon forget.