When The Past Was Around

 Switch
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. SpazioGames
    Dec 20, 2020
    72
    When the Past was Around is a meaningful point and click journey. Its puzzles are more than improvable, but the soundtrack and the atmosphere are captivating.
  2. Starbit
    Mar 9, 2021
    70
    While its puzzles are rather simple and the game's length feels short, its use of a fantastic audiovisual environment, a captivating - if not very detailed - plot, a good use of the narrative component and the creative ways in which the sound and music are embedded in the gameplay make this a remarkable experience that should be discovered by everyone who enjoys plot-driven games.
  3. IGN Japan
    Dec 28, 2020
    70
    When The Past Was Around feels heavily inspired by Florence. While it is easy to fall in love with its gorgeous artwork and music, its puzzles fail to support to the story’s narrative. There’s definitely a sense of accomplishment when solving the game’s harder puzzles, but they are often utilized as traditional videogame obstacles rather than meaningful tools that contribute to the story.

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best Switch Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. LastResource
    Jan 26, 2023
    10
    Ughhh the story is sooo freaking awesome. It really drew me back to point click puzzle game. Love it for every single moment of this game
  2. ochjago
    Nov 22, 2021
    8
    I liked it. Simple, easy, slow. I loved the art and the music. You can relax while playing, it's very low-key. The story is moving and sad.
  3. CasualTap
    Oct 16, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. When the Past was Around is developed by Toge Productions and Mojiken Studio and published by Chorus Worldwide Games (eShop link). The main protagonist in this game is Eda, a 20ish girl. The game will invite you to explore her mind and deep memories of love, joy and pain. Obviously, the story is being told in a subjective way, and it rather lets you come to your own interpretations. If you are good with puzzles, you can beat it in an hour or so.

    At its core, When the Past was Around is a point-and-click puzzle game. That said, it does not take the same approach as those classics made by Lucasfilm Games. In this game, you don’t explore a vast world and do a lot of backtracking to solve puzzles. The puzzle itself is usually presented through scenes and is quite linear. However, you still have to solve them by interacting with objects in order to find feathers that belong to a mysterious owl guy that you will meet throughout the game. Also note that some of the puzzles require you to find a key, which is well implemented but also appears to be overused especially in the early game, while the rest seem either fun or okay at times.

    What stands out the most is the art direction and violin music. Emotions are expressed through music, and I could feel it in my bones. Some music feels especially haunting as intended. However, I’m not a fan of the sound choice for the X button used for showing clickable objects. While I was investing into the game, it felt rather annoying all of a sudden whenever I pressed that button.

    In my conclusion, although the game let me experience a unique hand-drawn art alongside brilliant music, the puzzles did not manage to make it stand out from the crowd. That’s a step-down. For me, it’s a 6.5/10 game, overall.    … Full Review »
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