Developer: Swing Swing Submarine
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Seasons after Fall – Review
One of the inevitable changes during a year are the seasons. Each one of them has their own particular characteristics which we love (or hate). Seasons after Fall grabs us by the wrist and takes us into a wonderful world where we meet a strange voice and get the opportunity to change the seasons as we please.
Story
When you start the story, everything is quite dark and you seem alone. In the area, there are little energy orbs, which you need to advance. After some dwelling, our little ball of energy gets to see the surrounding world. On arriving in this beautiful scenery, we’re greeted by a soft and gentle voice. It seems that you’re a Seed, just like her, and she wants your help. It seems our new friend needs some fragments of the Guardians of Seasons. These protectors are scattered across the Sanctuary and it is your task to go and fetch those items. As you’re just a tiny ball of energy, it is hard to really go and head out so our friendly voice has arranged a host: a fox. Although she had hoped for another animal for you to possess, it is the only thing she can offer. The reason why you need these fragments gets more clear later on, but with these items, you can control the seasons to your liking and is a welcome necessity if you want to get to every nook and cranny.
Quite shortly said, Seasons after Fall has a good, solid story that will suck you into the game and will let you crave for more.
Graphics
One of the biggest assets of Seasons after Fall are its graphics. These 2D handdrawn images will blow your mind as they are so beautiful it feels like you’re watching a painting rather than playing a game. Each different season has its own visual characteristics and even though you’re standing on the same spot, you’re always transported to a different setting. The background doesn’t have that much details but it gives the area a distinct look which makes it quite special, especially when you’re changing settings. For instance, the Sanctuary is quite densely forested with a lot of plants and shrubbery, while the underground mine has a lot of mushrooms and a rock-like environment. The fox is a small beauty on its own and certainly stands out. Both moving as just standing still feels genuine and is appealing to the eye.
Sound
If the stunning graphics weren’t enough, you also get treated with a beautiful soundtrack and sound effects. The music seems to go with the flow and doesn’t really seem to be bound by a certain area, although certain events will trigger more intense music that fit the setting better. Don’t expect any loud beats, but rather more classical music that certainly fit this game.
The sound effects on the other hand are present from the start and takes the game to the next level. For instance, the sounds of our little friend’s paws running around changes depending on the season meaning that you’ll hear a more crunching sound in winter than in any other season thanks to the snow. Climbing a wall means you’ll be scratching your way up, which is heard as well. In the end, you’ll be flabbergasted by the amount of small details these sounds emphasize.
Gameplay
Seasons after Fall takes you on a journey in the Sanctuary of seasons, where you’ll need to solve puzzles to get to the Guardians. Don’t expect any monsters or fighting while wandering this colorful world, as everything is at peace. Solving puzzles means you’ll need to change seasons to get to a faraway ledge or to get certain elements react in an appropriate way. For example, some parts in the game will have quite large mushrooms that can be used as a platform, but as these type of plants only really appear in fall, you need to switch to this season before you can continue. This also implies that, at the start of the game, the storyline is quite linear as you will need certain seasons before you can get past a certain obstacle.
Although the game has a good story, amazing graphics, great music and sound effects, it would have been nice if there was more to it gameplay wise. Yes, the puzzles are kind of tricky at times if you don’t know what to do exactly, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough and then it might get a bit tiresome after a while. There are a few extras to find, but it might’ve been a good idea if there was a bit more content to explore, as the game only takes about 6 hours.
Conclusion
Seasons after Fall is a gem with a good story but it shines with its graphic and sound. You’ll certainly get swept away by our little Fox and the voice of Seed while venturing the Sanctuary and its surrounding areas for the fragments of Seasons. Although the gameplay is quite straight-forward and might get a bit dull after a while, it’s certainly worth your while to press on.
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