To the Moon: A Heartfelt Journey Through Memories
Goodness… there are very few words to describe a game like “To the Moon” and as someone who does not generally like novel-type games… this one cut deep.
Unlike traditional adventure games, To the Moon forgets all the mumbo jumbo of crazy combats and weird puzzles, but instead focuses on story…story…story…
Players step into the shoes of Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts, employees of the Sigmund Corp, a company specializing in memory-altering technology. Their job is to create artificial memories for terminally ill patients, allowing them to experience their unfulfilled dreams before passing away… I mean, just that intro alone already had everyone saying… “This is going to be an emotional train wreck, and we are not ready.” Anyways… their latest assignment takes them into the mind of Johnny Wyles, an elderly man whose only request is to go to the moon… simple…right? No, Johnny himself doesn’t remember why he wants to go there, leading the doctors on a journey backward through his memories to uncover the truth. What they find is a deeply personal story of love, sacrifice, and missed opportunities, centering around Johnny’s relationship with his late wife, River, and the mysterious significance of the moon in their lives. Warning: If you want to play the game yourself first… the rest below contains some spoilers!! Go play the game… come back and then we can chat…
What makes To the Moon so powerful is its exploration of human emotions. The game dives into themes of memory, grief, and the choices we make throughout our lives. Johnny’s story is one of loss and longing, but also of love and connection. As we piece together his past, we witness moments of joy and sorrow, seeing how small decisions shaped the course of his life.
River, Johnny’s wife, is a particularly touching character. She is on the autism spectrum, and her unique way of perceiving the world adds depth to their relationship. Her desire for Johnny to remember their shared experiences, without reminding him, speaks to the game’s theme of unspoken emotions and the way people express love in different ways. What adds more emotional weight to the game is the beautifully composed soundtrack, which feels like it is pulling at our heartstrings as you continue to play the game… particularly the beautiful theme “For River,” which adds a bit more tone to the theme of the game and show how important River was to Johnny. Many players, myself included, found ourselves moved to tears, not just by the story itself but by the way it is told—with sensitivity and genuine human emotion.
Beyond the touching narrative, To the Moon raised a lot of questions within me about the nature of happiness and the impact of altering someone’s memories. Is it better to die with the truth of one’s real experiences, or with the comfort of an altered past? This question struck me very hard because it would be very easy for me to say “what happened, happened”… but we are all human, and sometimes we cannot help but wonder.
As Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts manipulate Johnny’s memories, we are left to wonder about their actions. Did they really do the right thing? Why would anyone seek comfort in doing something like this…did they choose the easy way out, how do we know if life was lived to the fullest for them… would I have my memories altered… These are all very tough questions that anyone who played the game would ask… but we need to dig deep and really try and seek the answers for ourselves… It’s not easy, and the emotional aftermath the game leaves is both powerful and unforgettable… some might say…unforgiving even… I truly felt alone… even while playing the game with my community… I felt powerless, sad, and heartbroken… a few very hard questions that came up for me were: ” Am I living life to the fullest… Would I change anything if I were magically granted a wish to turn back time”? The game doesn’t offer easy answers, instead, it leaves us to find our own conclusions and perhaps seek our own comforting answers. And despite its pixel-art graphics and simple mechanics, To the Moon remains one of the most emotionally impactful games I have played so far… I know its success has led to sequels (Finding Paradise and Impostor Factory), which continue exploring similar themes of memory and identity, and I look forward to diving into these games, hopefully soon, to continue my search for the questions the game has awakened in me.
I cannot emphasize how much I want you to go and play To the Moon, whether you enjoy virtual novels or not. This is just one of those games that leave you with so many questions and emotions, feelings you cannot explain. It’s a story that really gets you thinking, and believe me, there aren’t many games like this. To the Moon is sure to take you on an unforgettable adventure, filled with questions, and will leave you to seek your own answers… I highly recommend it, just be sure to have a box of tissues close by when you are brave enough to boot up the game.
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