New Indie. Game: "To The Moon!"

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The game "To The Moon" was recently released by Freebird Games (an indie game developer), and after playing it I have to say that it is absolutely incredible, and I would highly recommend anyone interested to try it out! Calling it a game may be a bit misleading, as it actually does not emphasize game play a ton, but rather the story, which is done incredibly well (with a top-notch original soundtrack to boot!). I would personally say that the way the story is presented in this game is better than 99% of games out there. The game's system is set up like an old-school console RPG in terms of graphics, but it plays more like a point and click adventure game. The game has a 1hr free trial for you to see how much you like it. Below I have listed the link for both the game as well as a review of it, which I feel is pretty accurate. Something else to note is that 50% of the proceeds from the game go towards charities for autism (I'm really trying not to give away any of the plot, but the charity choice does indeed tie in to the game's story!)

*apparently I am unable to post URLs since I just registered on this website, so I hope that my half-links will suffice lol.

Official Game Website (Contains description, trailers, and download/purchase links):
freebirdgames(dot)com/to_the_moon/

Review by JayisGames:
jayisgames(dot)com/archives/2011/11/to_the_moon.php

I just learned about the game yesterday, it looks interesting.

It looks like a very good game and from what I've heard it does deal with Asperger's in some way. It's always referred to as 'the condition' or something though.

This game made me cry.

Ditto.

^ yeah, me too. Kan is making another game called "A Bird Story" (clicky) that's supposed to be in the same universe as To The Moon, it's not episode 2 but I'm still excited for it.

This game has the honour of being only the second game I've ever cried at (The first was Mother 3) because the story and the music was just so poignant and powerful. A true gem, you owe to yourself to get this.

Lol it's funny to see my first post ever on this forum brought back to life! Glad that see that it's had a positive effect on people, I still remember it fondly even though it's been a long time since I played it

*checks number of posts: 1k*
*stares in confusion*
*checks date of first post*

Now I get it!

Well, I'll see what it is about, sounds interesting

I love To The Moon (in case my avatar isn't a good clue ). It's got a great story, a great soundtrack, and a couple of characters on the spectrum who aren't portrayed negatively. (Actually, I feel they're portrayed pretty well, particularly since I think Kan is NT?)

I think the 'condition' is never mentioned by name to keep people from getting the wrong idea, particularly before playing it. I mean, a lot of people have strong, but wrong ideas about Autism, so for a lot of people it might be good not to figure out what 'the condition' is until they're at least late in the game. (Those of us that are more-familiar with Spectrum things should recognize a lot of the clues, though. )

And yeah, even Kan said in one of his videos (YouTube video aco9lvygatQ) that he'd like people to play 'without pre-conceived notions about it being a game, book, or Pixar movie, and enjoy it no matter what it's listed as.'

Never cried this much to anything. It's short, finished it in about 3-4 hours. But it was my best 3-4 hours in my gaming experience in form of emotional connection to the characters.

A co-worker told me about this game so I just finished watching a lets play on it. Incredibly story! I have never cried because if a game,book, movie, tv show but I actually cried on this one.
I am planning to actually play it, but had to do some windows updates to get it to work.

Amazing game... or, rather, amazing story, so poignant and beautiful. And yes, I cried too.
I played it before I learned that I probably was on the spectrum myself, but even then it touched something very personal for me.

I didn't know the game has anything to do with the....condition, I found its name among the best 100 games of all times so I thought to try it.

After finishing it tonight, I was certain it would be discussed on wp somewhere so here how I found your thread stargazer.

It's the worst game ever.

But best story in a game.


I feel so melancholic now , good night all.

I loved that "game" too. I cried too. I hadn't cried because of a work of fiction for months, maybe years. But yes, It is more some kind of visual novel with a 16bit console RPG look than a real game.

If you like that kind of things (weird stories focused on psychology and put in the shape of a video "game") I recommend Analogue: A Hate Story, and the sequel Hate Plus. The gameplay is different and it is slightly more a game than To The Moon! (you have several endings depending on what you did), but the general idea is the same. It is not about AS; according to the game designer Christine Love it is about "transhumanism, traditional marriage, loneliness, and cosplay." And it is quite dark and sad, although it is not as much a tearjerker as To The Moon! in my opinion.