When The Past Was Around

 Xbox One
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6

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  1. GameIsDiarrhea
    Dec 17, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Past WAS Around, that's the moral after playing this crappy "game." My god, the bad graphics, the 240p, the side-scrolling.... I'm going to get a refund just you like spoiled brats got refund from Cyberpunk 2077 even though the game works perfect.… Expand
  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. Speedie
    Jul 17, 2023
    10
    This game accomplished absolutely everything it was trying to. It's an art presentation combining visual art, storytelling, and music into a short, easy-to-digest package. It takes only an hour or two to complete, making it a perfect game to sit down and take in all at once. It has simple little puzzles and a beautiful story to tell. It is absolutely a game worth experiencing.
  4. 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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Xbox Tavern
    Dec 16, 2020
    74
    As I say, When the Past was Around isn’t the longest game, but it also doesn’t need to be. I enjoyed almost every moment of my time with it, and found the story to be genuinely touching, yet bizarre in its presentation. The visuals and music are excellent, and other than a few slight challenges in terms of drawn out puzzles, it’s just a breeze to play. There’s little replay value outside of achievement hunting, but plop yourself down for an evening and play this through and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by it.
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  2. DarkStation
    Dec 16, 2020
    60
    When the Past Was Around has beautiful art that I, also an illustrator, can really appreciate. However, the unfortunately jarring music and certain parts of the characterization fail to deliver the intended emotionality of the game. The story behind the sketchy, wordless narration is an important one but regrettably, the game doesn’t make it resonate in a way it matters.
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  3. Finger Guns
    Dec 16, 2020
    70
    A dream-like point-and-click story of love and grief told through memory vignettes, When The Past Was Around is memorable but when you can finish it in a few hours, it feels oh so fleeting.
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