When The Past Was Around

 Switch
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

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  1. BattleMouse
    Jan 2, 2021
    3
    Protip for anybody checking metacritics for anything - ignore the so called reviewers.
    Sorry but no. Its beautiful - I give it that - but its barely a game. PowerPoint presentation I did in high-school had more gameplay than this. And the whole thing can be beat in 30 minutes. Most freeware games from itchio or newgrounds will grant you more entertainment... and for longer!
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Dec 22, 2020
    7
    When the past was around
    more like a point and click sadventure
    When the past was around is a point and click adventure that’s about to have you all up in your feels as you relive the memories of you and youre violin playin owl boyfriend.. youll be going through these memories, collecting items and finding clue to unlock other items to progress, pretty simply concept, something you’ve    When the past was around
    more like a point and click sadventure
    When the past was around is a point and click adventure that’s about to have you all up in your feels as you relive the memories of you and youre violin playin owl boyfriend..
    youll be going through these memories, collecting items and finding clue to unlock other items to progress, pretty simply concept, something you’ve seen a million times, but the story, art, and music here made this hour and a half worth going through for me…reliving the memories, and trying to find a way to let go.. gameplay wise I kinda got over the click on stuff til I find something probably halfway through and just wanted to get through the story.. but that just goes to show how good the story was for me.. I was willing to retrace steps in the chapter, finding all the clues I needed to set up the answer to the final clue to move on…
    When the past was around reminded me a lot of Florence, while it doesn’t do much to engage you as much as Florence does, and there isn’t anything crazy special here, I found that this was still a point and click adventure worth taking..
    I give when the past was around
    a 7/10    … Expand
  3. CasualTap
    Oct 16, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand 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.    … Expand
  4. PrincessMoshi
    Aug 28, 2021
    10
    The visuals, artwork and music of this game is very impressive and beautiful. Combined with a well written and touching story makes this game a magical experience.
  5. 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.
  6. 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

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. Gaming Age
    Aug 20, 2021
    83
    When The Past Was Around finds a way to include some interesting puzzles in the mix — but Florence found a way to be interactive without letting its little challenges get in the way of its story. It’s like that at every turn, in every respect. When The Past Was Around is good — but it’s no Florence.
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  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.
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  3. GameMAG
    Feb 19, 2021
    80
    When the Past was Around is a very atmospheric and warm game about relationships, experiences and the fact that love does not go away after time and years. A very positive experience for those who are depressed after a breakup or are experiencing the melancholy of a cold winter.
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