To the Moon

 PC
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1509 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,322 out of 1509
  2. Mixed: 119 out of 1509
  3. Negative: 68 out of 1509

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  1. MsSebie
    Aug 23, 2015
    9
    To the Moon is a single player game puzzle game that is story-oriented. The game is set in a world where the player controls two employees from the Sigmund Corporation where they have the technology to create artificial memories for dying seniors so that they may live out their dreams.

    The nature of the game is very simple. The player has to walk around the memory and find 5 objects    To the Moon is a single player game puzzle game that is story-oriented. The game is set in a world where the player controls two employees from the Sigmund Corporation where they have the technology to create artificial memories for dying seniors so that they may live out their dreams.

    The nature of the game is very simple. The player has to walk around the memory and find 5 objects that serves as a key to the next memory. The game is much less a game than it is a story. I personally do not mind the simple puzzles because it doesn’t take away from the story and rather just prompts the player to do some simple mind exercise.

    Dr. Eva and Dr. Neil are the two employees that you control throughout the game, their dialogue is funny and engaging and serves a comic relief as they travel through the memories of the dying patient Johnny Wyles. His lifelong dream is to travel to the moon however when asked why, his reply was, “I don’t know why. I just do.”

    I would like to say that this is one of the most bittersweet stories I’ve ever played through and that I highly recommend it for its' brilliant story and touching music.    … Expand
  2. SergioVM87
    Jan 24, 2016
    9
    Más que un juego, es una novela interactiva. Debes resolver puzzles y buscar objetos. Es simple, pero a la vez algo nuevo para cambiar de aires de tanto matar, correr o saltar. Le doy un nuevo por ser una historia muy original y bien escrita. Recomendado si quieres despejar tu mente y jugar a algo más tranquilo y emotivo.
  3. JustSomeGamer
    May 9, 2018
    9
    Such a beautiful story. I love how they handled the ending. It was a good ending, but there is still so much underlying sadness. "River died thinking Johnny forgot. Johnny died thinking he never forgot".
  4. langelm
    Oct 7, 2017
    9
    Милая игра, за которую я очень долго не мог взяться, все таки достаточно сильно отталкивал движок рпг мейкера, сомневался что на нем вообще могли сделать что-то годное, но большое количество положительных оценок и наличие свободного вечера сделали свое дело. История рассказанная в игре действительно очень необычная, заставляет немного задуматься о жизни. Шарм в этой игре заключается вМилая игра, за которую я очень долго не мог взяться, все таки достаточно сильно отталкивал движок рпг мейкера, сомневался что на нем вообще могли сделать что-то годное, но большое количество положительных оценок и наличие свободного вечера сделали свое дело. История рассказанная в игре действительно очень необычная, заставляет немного задуматься о жизни. Шарм в этой игре заключается в пиксельной графике. На мой взгляд, именно неченткая прорисовка дает большой простор для фантазии. Каждый сам представляет себе героев такими, какими он хочет их видеть, а соответственно "игрок" переживает историю как свою личную драмму.… Expand
  5. Demon2017
    Jun 19, 2022
    9
    Очень трогательная история, очень жаль, что полное наслаждение не дают получать эти странные головоломки и прочие затянутости, но попробовать эту игру я советую абсолютно всем.
  6. natanfk
    Jan 21, 2017
    9
    There are those crying conservatives that say "this isn't a game" because "it's just story". However, this "no-game" involved much more than many AAA "games" out there. I play because I seek emotions. And if you seek emotions while playing, then play this GAME.
  7. Leo_Manzano
    Apr 28, 2022
    9
    Working........................................................................................................
  8. auditbadger
    Oct 15, 2017
    9
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  9. RagingPoet
    Jan 6, 2018
    9
    To the Moon is not-really-interactive story made with terrible generic RPG-maker engine. But it still works very well because the storytelling is what matters the most and TtM does it perfectly.
  10. DRainbow
    Feb 20, 2022
    9
    This isn't a game for everyone. Mostly because it isn't much of a game at all. This is an interactive story experience that is so good, you'll probably finish it without taking a break. The characters are fun, the music is beautiful and the game deserves every single tear you will shed.
  11. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    9
    Hikaye = 10
    Oynanış = 7
    Grafikler = 4
    Sesler = 5
    Keyif = 10
    Atmosfer = 10
    Süre = 10
  12. Kuniza
    Mar 7, 2022
    9
    THIS REVIEW INCLUDES BOTH THE MAIN GAME AND THE TWO MINISODES

    "9/10 - This is a very good game, and you need to play it. Period." - Bruce Stracci Where do I begin to even describe this masterpiece of an RPG/Visual Novel? I guess I should start by giving some context: This game made an impact right away on my first playthrough a couple of years ago. Something in regards to the    THIS REVIEW INCLUDES BOTH THE MAIN GAME AND THE TWO MINISODES

    "9/10 - This is a very good game, and you need to play it. Period." - Bruce Stracci

    Where do I begin to even describe this masterpiece of an RPG/Visual Novel?

    I guess I should start by giving some context: This game made an impact right away on my first playthrough a couple of years ago. Something in regards to the story, pace, humor, and how everything is perfectly crafted.

    I've recently re-played the entire saga, in light of the arrival of "Impostor Factory". The sheer amount of details that can easily be missed, may become important later on in future games.

    "To the Moon" is, in my opinion at least, the best game of this franchise so far. To even talk about the story in this review would be a disservice to how it was presented to me by Kan Gao and his amazing team, so I won't go into much detail over it. It's one of those games that needs to be played before you pass away. It's THAT GOOD.

    In regards to the minisodes: They are two isolated but very lore-important chapters that can be easily ignored by the player. I think it's MANDATORY to play them, before exploring both sequels "Finding Paradise" and "Impostor Factory" - But perhaps Minisode 2 spoils a LOT of the fun for the future installments of the series (This is especially noticeable in "IF"). I still will recommend playing them despite everything.

    Now, for the more technical part:

    Story: 9.5/10 - This is the strongest part of the game. To The Moon can be played in less than two hours if you are that focused, however, it's best to take the time and take it easy with this. Johnny and River's story is a tragic one, and the slower you take it, the further you understand the main conflict and motivation of his final wish. This is half a point away from the perfect score, however, as I feel the story at times can be too reliant on "comedic" moments where it kind of drives away the urgency of the plot.

    Gameplay: 6/10 - Oof, just OOF. Let me be clear: I'm familiar with RPGMaker games, and with similarly-created RPG titles. An RPG maker game can have both nice gameplay, and a visually stunning graphics, TODAY (titles like Omori, Lisa the Painful, Grimms Hollow came with a more powerful version of the engine) For the time this first title was created, gameplay wise is very similar to older games of it's era, considering titles such as Yume Nikki and Lisa the First, to name a few. If I were to judge with modern standarts, this score would be lower, but cosidering that this game is more than a decade old, and first came out in 2011, I think it's decent enough. The minimalistic style, lack of combat areas, difficult navigation at times, and certain bugs that I encountered during my second playthough didn't make it an enjoyable experience. The most FRUSTRATING aspect of this game are two moments that I can remember: The first being the frustrating "memento activation minigame" which I think adds nothing but extending unnecessarily the game and breaking the pace of this game - this mechanic was further improved in "FP", with the same problems, and outright removed in "IF", so I think it was really unnecessary. The second moment highlights one of the biggest flukes in terms of gameplay: This was SUCH A MISSING OPPORTUNITY, GAMEPLAY WISE! I still think that the game would greatly benefit from some sort of combat mechanics. Overall, It could be so much better, but it's understandable given the context.

    Characters: 10/10 - The main cast (Eva & Neil) have such chemistry together. Their back and forth, not only as playful banter, but also in the more "serious" moments of the story is such a delight to see, and the way they interact with both the patient and the world is what sold me from literally the opening scene. The supporting cast has also a lot of "believability" to them, and I could immerse myself right in the story. This also applies to the minisodes, where we get to meet some of their co-workers and see the relations from a different perspective. Nothing else to add, since that would ruin the fun of the first gameplay for the uninitiated ones.

    Original Sound Track (OST) - 10/10 - Also a perfect score. Not only the ambient music mind you, but the experience really compliments the experience - Fun fact: A couple of years ago, and 5-6 years after my first and only playthrough of this game, a friend of mine played "For River/To the Moon" (the main theme of this game) just for fun at the piano. I instantly recognized the song, despite not having any contact with the game in a long time. It's THAT GOOD.

    Accessibility: 9/10 - Yes, this is a very easy game to pick up, especially if you are new to videogames, or just a casual player. Since it can take you no more than 4 hours if you take your time to complete the main story, and right now is a very cheap game to get, it's very accessible.

    Overall review: 9/10 - This is a very good game, and you need to play it. Period.    … Expand
  13. VG_Alex
    May 26, 2019
    9
    'To the Moon' is a game with wonderful music and touching narrative. I witnessed Johnny and River's vows from Rosalene and Watts'perspectives.

    9.0 Artwork
  14. giannis2001
    Jul 16, 2021
    9
    Incredibly well written and emotional loaded story. It's a small masterpiece.
  15. Lugocain
    Dec 24, 2020
    9
    Amazing and beautiful game, I'm just re-playing it before start with Finding Paradise, and always impresses me with what people can do with very little resources but a lot of passion.
  16. Prometheus1241
    Oct 8, 2021
    9
    I do not actually know, what to write here. Just play this one. You'l have zero regrets.
  17. bancandrei
    May 14, 2020
    9
    This game is perfect for what it is. The fact that it manages to tell an emotional story, when games with hundreds of times bigger budget don't really manage to is a fantastic accomplishment. This is an example of what indie games can be.
    Towards the end, it does get just a bit more melodramatic than it should and there is an action sequence that did no sit well with me, pulling it down    This game is perfect for what it is. The fact that it manages to tell an emotional story, when games with hundreds of times bigger budget don't really manage to is a fantastic accomplishment. This is an example of what indie games can be.
    Towards the end, it does get just a bit more melodramatic than it should and there is an action sequence that did no sit well with me, pulling it down from a perfect rating, but they are of minor concern and you should experience this game.
    Rating of 0 for metacritic's search though, searching for the title, this game was on page 3    … Expand
  18. kezzyhko
    Aug 5, 2020
    9
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  19. MiaBlaiscote
    Apr 6, 2021
    9
    “To The Moon” is one amazing story game. I can’t believe it was made in RPG Maker. Again, this shows the engine can create great games.

    Unlike “Finding Paradise”, there are more “game-y” aspects, like puzzles, and I was stuck at some points. However, I keep on, since I wanted to know how the story end. It’s also rare to have an autistic character in gaming, so I was cool with River.    “To The Moon” is one amazing story game. I can’t believe it was made in RPG Maker. Again, this shows the engine can create great games.

    Unlike “Finding Paradise”, there are more “game-y” aspects, like puzzles, and I was stuck at some points. However, I keep on, since I wanted to know how the story end.

    It’s also rare to have an autistic character in gaming, so I was cool with River.

    Yes, the story does have some bits I liked less (some dramatic events only for more drama!) but overall, I had a good time with “To The Moon”.

    Recommended with “Finding Paradise” and “A Bird Story”.    … Expand
  20. Jattaman
    Sep 19, 2022
    9
    Più che un videogame, è una storia da seguire.
    Grafica in pixel art semplice ma efficace.
    Colonna sonora splendida e trama da urlo.
    Commovente.
    Capolavoro.
  21. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  22. GenuineOpinion
    Sep 8, 2012
    8
    Everything MarkDarkness says is absolutely true. I PERSONALLY felt the comedic relief was a little too much sometimes. Certainly not the best GAME I've ever played, it probably could have been done in movie form and had just as much of an emotional impact. All in all, it was very sad, and the soundtrack is definite fire.
  23. vahn
    Sep 22, 2012
    8
    Really enjoyable story and a very touching ending are the best words to descrive this piece of art. However, this is the issue I had at the start and probably some gamers are complaining or might complain: this isn't really a game, but a piece of art, and some people might not like this kind of "games", although it's mostly a "2 sided" fight which nobody will win and, personally, I don'tReally enjoyable story and a very touching ending are the best words to descrive this piece of art. However, this is the issue I had at the start and probably some gamers are complaining or might complain: this isn't really a game, but a piece of art, and some people might not like this kind of "games", although it's mostly a "2 sided" fight which nobody will win and, personally, I don't care who is right, as long as we enjoy the software, game or art that is. With that big detail, my biggest complains on the game are mostly three: dialogue, length, and replay value. Now, the game has a very well told story (minus some issues to understand), but I'm probably not alone when I say that the dialogue of the 2 characters, for the most part, are unnecessarily funny, and I mean unnecessary. Sometimes the characters tend to put on jokes on jokes that really won't make you laugh, but just facepalm thinking "this wasn't really needed". The problem here is that the unnecessary funny dialogue RUINS the atmosphere, which is very serious and sometimes even dark, and doesn't help at all, luckily the story hooks you in so you'll easily ignore those dialogues and focus on the plot. The length of the game also is very short, clocking in about 4-5 hours tops of gaming to reach the end...not a big deal if it wasn't that other games like this that can last much more (like visual novels). Also there isn't many puzzles (and a small action scene) in this game and that means that there aren't obstacles stopping you at all. This issue can be a big problem, especially when we can find flash games that lasts for double the time, but it's also unfair to compare games of different genres. Still, hope for some more length...especially when there's also issues with the replay value. Now, the game isn't costy, which means the cost won't stop people, but the game has almost no replay value because, unfortunely, there aren't many choices to do in the game: the story is EXTREMELY linear and, unless I'm wrong, there is no other ending. Add the 4-5 hour length, you'll easily get a good "game" but that probably won't be played again for a while, which is a pity because adventure games and story driven games (visual novels, again), have at least more than one ending, which gives us more longevity and more ways to experience a story. I'm still giving a 8 because not only it was a very touching game and a bitter yet sweet story, but also because the concept is "kinda" original and I can't wait to see this concept amplified and to see what other stories we will see like this. It's still a game to try and to enjoy despite everything: even with flaws, the rest of the game will easily make you enjoy the money spent, even for a short time: it's definitely a story to enjoy and I can't find a reason to avoid it or tell people to not play it, so... see you to the moon!… Expand
  24. gmboy902
    Jul 18, 2013
    8
    The main characters occasionally clash with the story they are observing and sometimes plot elements get contrived to keep the story moving, but if you're looking for a moving story and don't care too much about the graphics or utter lack of gameplay, then look no further.

    I usually criticize games for adopting retro graphics. Touted too often as an artistic choice, in most games the    The main characters occasionally clash with the story they are observing and sometimes plot elements get contrived to keep the story moving, but if you're looking for a moving story and don't care too much about the graphics or utter lack of gameplay, then look no further.

    I usually criticize games for adopting retro graphics. Touted too often as an artistic choice, in most games the presence of retro graphics is most likely the result of the developer's laziness. In some, such as Minecraft, it compliments the nature of the game quite nicely and perhaps nicer than more modern graphics would. I can thankfully add this game to the latter list, as the presence of 3D graphics or voice-acting (all dialog is in text form) would actually take away from the characters and story. It is meant to be simple but elegant, and the graphics do suit it in this case.

    Bearing in mind that this game is not trying to be a game so much as an interactive story, I won't really critique the gameplay elements so much. They mostly consist of searching for items with relevance to the story itself, and so fall under the story category. There are a few very simple puzzles that seem a bit out of place.

    Since this game takes the role of an interactive story, most criticisms of it must be based on that aspect. Fortunately, To the Moon really does pull its weight in that category. The setup is simple a man is on his deathbed two years after his wife passed, and his last wish was to go to the moon for some uncertain reason. The two main characters, who act as observers most of the time, are doctors with the ability to enter the man's unconscious mind and alter his memories such that he believes he actually did. In order to do so, they must trace their way back through his memories until his childhood to find out why he wants to go to the moon. The emotional story centers itself primarily around the man's relationship with his wife, and builds to a climax that is both startling and heartbreaking.

    The two main characters sometimes clash with the plot in a non-productive way, however. One of them is meant to provide comic relief and admittedly, there were some pretty fantastic moments in that field but on occasion the comedy will come in contrast to the serious tone of the story which you are observing at the moment. Also, many of the elements of the story feel made up, out of place, and contrived simply to provide a reason for the story to continue in the manner the developer wanted. This is a sign of poorly thought out writing.

    But overall, To the Moon will provide you with about 3 hours of the most powerful writing I have ever seen in this medium.    … Expand
  25. ddrussianinja
    Jan 11, 2014
    8
    It's common to see a game with really fun, solid gameplay to have a really weak, pointless story, but it's far less common to see the opposite. That's exactly what we have in "To The Moon". We have an expertly-crafted narrative with great art, atmosphere, and music, but the gameplay is shoehorned-in, tedious, and doesn't serve the narrative in any significant way. This game would have beenIt's common to see a game with really fun, solid gameplay to have a really weak, pointless story, but it's far less common to see the opposite. That's exactly what we have in "To The Moon". We have an expertly-crafted narrative with great art, atmosphere, and music, but the gameplay is shoehorned-in, tedious, and doesn't serve the narrative in any significant way. This game would have been far better without the gameplay constantly slowing down the pacing. Still, the story is so good that I can't in good conscience give this a score any lower than an 8. The fact that I can care so much about this story in spite of gameplay that literally had me groaning for hours is a testament to just how strong a story it is. Perhaps it would have been a better book or movie, but even if this isn't the ideal medium for it, it's still a strong enough story to deserve praise and make it worth playing.… Expand
  26. BasilZero
    Jun 2, 2014
    8
    Game: To The Moon
    Genre: RPG-Adventure
    Developer: Freebird Games System: Steam (PC) Total Score: 75/100 Value Score: 7.5/10 • Story: 10/10 • Characters: 8/10 • GamePlay: 7/10 • Graphics: 7/10 • Sound: 7/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 3/10 • Replay Value: 5/10 • Player Value: 8/10 Pros +Great emotional and original storyline +Modern style cliches, jokes, etc which is rare    Game: To The Moon
    Genre: RPG-Adventure
    Developer: Freebird Games
    System: Steam (PC)
    Total Score: 75/100
    Value Score: 7.5/10

    • Story: 10/10
    • Characters: 8/10
    • GamePlay: 7/10
    • Graphics: 7/10
    • Sound: 7/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 3/10
    • Replay Value: 5/10
    • Player Value: 8/10

    Pros
    +Great emotional and original storyline
    +Modern style cliches, jokes, etc which is rare in games these days
    +Fantastic soundtrack which fits perfectly with each and every aspect of the game

    Cons
    -Too short
    -Feels like a fetch quest of a game
    -Controls feel sluggish
    -Should of been an anime like Clannad rather than a game (lol)    … Expand
  27. fartheststar
    Dec 13, 2012
    8
    This is a game/story that is well worth experiencing. I'm not a game snob and am not scoring this highly because it's the "in" thing to do. This is simply good. It has a story that makes you want to see it through. I got started today and couldn't stop playing until I got to the end. maybe 7-8 hours later. The interactivity with the characters has some surprising empathetic moments ofThis is a game/story that is well worth experiencing. I'm not a game snob and am not scoring this highly because it's the "in" thing to do. This is simply good. It has a story that makes you want to see it through. I got started today and couldn't stop playing until I got to the end. maybe 7-8 hours later. The interactivity with the characters has some surprising empathetic moments of game play - you might be surprised at your responses. The "horse" scene came closer to conveying "joy" in a game than anything I've seen. The music is especially on point in facilitating the story - and the story has complexity that keeps you pushing forward to unravel what's going on. I don't give many 8s, but this is very well done.… Expand
  28. p360assassin
    Feb 7, 2013
    8
    Firstly, I want to begin my review by saying that people should stop calling this an adventure game. It is more of a visual novel, which there is nothing wrong with that, you just must expect little gameplay with extremely large amounts of text speech bubbles. The game's story I won't say, since that can be read in tons of other places and much better then I could. All I will say is it isFirstly, I want to begin my review by saying that people should stop calling this an adventure game. It is more of a visual novel, which there is nothing wrong with that, you just must expect little gameplay with extremely large amounts of text speech bubbles. The game's story I won't say, since that can be read in tons of other places and much better then I could. All I will say is it is extremely emotional, and feels quite unique. While some complain about the jokes, they are never told during scenes which would be greatly detrimental to the scene, and the game reduces the amount Neil says as the seriousness of the situation pushs him more and more from his usual sarcastic and casual manner, although it never completely changes him from the character you love.
    The 16 bit art style is done well, and the developer showed some real creativity. The music quality is incredibly good, easily one of the best soundtracks ever made for a game. (The guy who said it sounded like what he would play when he was 12 must of been a fantastic pianist) And the music always feels perfect for the scene when it is used.
    The game does have a couple of puzzles which feel out of place and simply designed to make it feel less like a visual novel and more of a game. I would of preferred they not be in the game, but at least they are short and very easy.
    The game has a distinct lack of polish, and there is such a large amount of bugs and lack of responsiveness with the controls (only apparent in the scenes that require the keyboard, which are far and few between, and always very short) except strangely when using a 360 gamepad, which the game does not even remember to claim to support (despite full compatibility). Also, the game has the most screen tearing I have ever seen with no vsync option. This may be due to an oversight or it may be due to the RPG maker engine that I have 'heard' the game uses (although I have never used it, so I wouldn't know) However, these bugs will never prevent you from beating the game with little problems.

    And finally, something I truly found awesome was how almost everything you find in the first part of the game as you explore the house and lighthouse (which is entirely optional) is explained throughout the story and usually has major significance.
    What will likely tun lots of people off is the length. The game is only four hours long, and due to its story based nature and lack of branching unlike many visual novels do; it has very little replay value. Of course, it is still a fantastic experience and only costs ten dollars anyway.

    Overall, a great experience with fantastic story, slightly hurt by puzzles and bugs that don't take away too much on the experience, and I highly recommend the game.    … Expand
  29. Bongo_clive
    Feb 9, 2013
    8
    Perhaps it's only as you get older that this game resonates so much. Do you risk messing with loving memories, even if it's to get rid of painful ones. Lovely story, brought tears to the eyes.
  30. mckw
    Feb 3, 2014
    8
    Such a beautiful and well written story that really hits the spot, despite occasional parts where rather bad dialogue flatten the mood, the beauty is not tarnished. Not much of a game, but the story has every bit of redeeming value. Enjoyed the art style and soundtrack as well to complement the emotions and scenes portrayed.
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Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best PC Game of 2011
22
#22 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
16
#16 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Gamer.no
    Oct 27, 2012
    100
    To The Moon is one of those games you instantly fall in love with. With it's simple, but elegant design, incredible writing, and thrilling, heartfelt tale, To The Moon is more story than game, but what a story it is.
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  2. DarkStation
    Oct 23, 2012
    80
    To The Moon's charming sense of humor and unabashed ease with tossing around pop culture references (from Dr. Who and Animorphs down to Dragon Ball Z) kept the serious, and at times quite gloomy overtones from feeling too self-serious. And so, with John and River's tale being told, restructured and sent to the moon in a heartfelt and memorable way; I am able to walk away from To The Moon satisfied, and looking forward to the next installment in this world.
    Read full review
  3. Thunderbolt
    Sep 3, 2012
    60
    If you're into having your tears tugged at, this will definitely be a change from nights spent curling up on the couch spectating those romance flicks that no one else gets. If you're someone who winds up stuck with the aforementioned individual, originally promised beer and tricked into the awkward Kleenex duty, no guilt will be harbored from missing out.
    Read full review
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