Dear Me, I Was... Reviews
In some ways, it feels counterintuitive to write a review of Dear me, I was… - a title which centres upon capturing heavy feelings that can't be so easily put into words. However, it's not every day that a visual novel successfully manages to craft a moving narrative about art, life, and the passage of time solely on the merit of its visual and musical storytelling.Even if the game itself remains silent, Dear me, I was… is worth talking about.
Dear Me, I Was is a masterpiece that transcends the traditional limitations of a video game to become pure art. Arc System Works and Maho Taguchi have created something extraordinary: an experience that uses interactivity not as a game, but as a means for direct emotional connection.
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Dear Me, I Was offers reflection on a life accompanied by eye-catching art and gentle piano music. There's very limited interactivity though, and while the story is relatable at some points, it's not particularly unique. It is worth picking up if you're looking for something that will make you sit back and reflect, but it feels as though Dear Me, I Was will only appeal to a very specific audience.
Take a moment to sit down, put on a headset, drink a cup of tea and get lost in this artwork. It's something you'll remember.
Dear Me, I Was… is a great showcase for how to present narrative games in a hand-drawn watercolour style. After letting the emotions felt from its story settle down, the immediate thought is that it is hoped that there will be an actual video game in this style from Arc System Works in the future (a Hotel Dusk remake perhaps). Dear Me, I Was… is a story that can be enjoyed in bed like a book, or watched during a lunch break instead of a YouTube video essay or Netflix TV episode. It’s not a video game, it’s a beautiful short story, and if that sounds like a great time then put some headphones on and give it a watch.
Dear Me, I Was tells a moving story that's grounded in ways rarely seen in video games. Paired with the gorgeous audio and visual style, it's well worth experiencing.
The way colours are used throughout to contrast the emotions of each person is astounding, paired brilliantly with the core themes of expression through art and what happens when our own colours stop shining through.