Dear me, I was...

It costs you as much as going to the movies and lasts as long as a TV series episode, but if you were one of those fans, it's probably the best rotoscope drawn experience you can enjoy today in games, and plus it may move you as well, on top of having watercoloured kitties, after all.

Dear me, I was... is a visual novel that minimizes interactivity and pushes the medium of video games to its most extreme limits, telling a story of ordinary life in a delicate and evocative style, but one that requires a certain mood and sensitivity to be truly appreciated.

Dear Me, I Was… has launched at a very low price point ($11), which feels appropriate for what is, essentially, a lightly interactive short film. It’s a gorgeous piece of work, and, right now, maybe the most visually gorgeous Switch 2 exclusive, even if it’s not pushing the hardware particularly hard.

Dear me, I was… is a very short narrative experience, affordably priced, where player interaction is stripped down to the bare minimum, just light touches that move the story forward. And yet, the storytelling is outstanding, despite not using a single word. It’s the images that speak instead, the extraordinary art of Taisuke Kanasaki, returning to illustrate a video game after a long time. His mastery of the rotoscope technique reaches new heights here, gifting the characters with moments of exceptional visual intensity. It’s certainly not a game for everyone, and not the kind of comeback fans of Another Code or Hotel Dusk might have expected. But it is a bittersweet portrait, capable of stirring emotion with great subtlety. It’s worth the price of admission for the hour of beauty it offers alone.

Though brief and simple in its gameplay, Dear me, I was... delivers a heartfelt and realistic story, capped off with a touching final twist that might even make you tear up. It may not appeal to everyone, but fans of Cing are sure to appreciate it for its beautiful art direction and emotional impact.

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 looks absolutely stunning, with every screen of the game feeling like a work of art in its own right. But taking less than an hour to complete, the story here lacks substance, and being told entirely through visuals makes it more difficult to connect with.

This thrilling journey with its striking artistic beauty is stunning to behold, but it's extremely difficult to believe that you're watching a video game.