Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories Review

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections on PC

Story-driven video games have all the time been identified so as to add just a few twists and turns, thrilling the participant sufficient to wish to play extra. However, within the case of Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections, it as an alternative provides a brand new that means to sudden moments with its stunning outcomes and dark-humoristic dialogue scenes.

In case you aren’t acquainted with Melon Journey, the sport initially made its debut in 2012, by which it will definitely turned a cult classic as an RPG maker. It could then result in an increase in reputation for the builders, Froach Membership, who continues to make much more adorably designed video games over time. And now, they’re returning to the classics with the re-imagination of Melon Journey, that includes a green-tinted 2D pixelated world from the publishers XSEED Games and Poppy Works.

Though the primary storyline doesn’t supply something too sustainable, the energetic presence of Hog City is the place the guts of the narrative really lives, from the chaotic Cavity Crew gang to the facility couple Kitten Princess and Robust Canine. Every time I had a dialogue with a resident, I’d be thrown off guard by each phrase they stated, given how blunt and anomalous characters will be. You possibly can see a superb instance of this firstly of the sport when a co-worker belittles you for not figuring out the place your office is, differing from commonplace tutorial phases that attempt that will help you at first.

Because the story goes, you’ll study that melons are primarily a drug that causes many dangerous negative effects. Whereas Hog City deems it unlawful, Ham City relishes its candy taste and produces a soda manufacturing facility to make use of it for revenue. Gamers will tackle the function of a advertising and marketing worker of this sugary institution as they decipher the thriller of what occurred to their lacking good friend, Cantaloupe.

You’ll largely seek for your companion at Hog City, a wierd place with distinctive characters and areas. When exploring the grounds, I used to be stunned at each flip since nothing was fairly prefer it appeared. Typically I’d come upon a Cheese Cult in a cemetery, and different instances, I’d discover a canine expressing its admiration for the form of a hydrant. 

In case you’re the sort who wonders why online game characters get away with breaking and getting into, you’ll undoubtedly get pleasure from what occurs each time you enter a home in Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections. Normally, residents won’t take kindly to gamers going inside their properties and can name them nosy or downright bizarre. I discovered it refreshing to see this aspect, because it gives a extra practical and comedic tackle this typical recreation mechanic.

There’s additionally a touch of fourth-wall-breaking moments in varied scenes that always made me query what was actual or not. Specifically, when interacting with a selected object, you’ll get the fundamental ‘Do you wish to pull the lever?’ immediate, solely to seek out out that it’s really the lever speaking to you and never the sport itself. 

The gameplay mechanics are comparatively straightforward to observe because it primarily focuses on exploration and decision-making duties. As you could anticipate, decisions closely influence the story’s consequence, even when it could appear minor or inconsequential. One thing so simple as grabbing a bowl of chili might provide help to later down the street and open the door to different narratives for aspect characters. 

I often bumped into hassle once I wasn’t certain the place to go as a result of absence of a map and mission tracker system. Nonetheless, it didn’t take me too lengthy to determine the subsequent plan whereas roaming round, and typically it could lead me to one of many character’s questlines for achievement completions.

The outcomes from selections can also shock you as a result of they by no means actually go as deliberate. As an illustration, a “good” choice might result in a horrendous accident, whereas an “evil” interplay might flip right into a heroic act. Simply once I assume I’ve figured it out all out, the sport throws me a curve ball and makes me query my choice in a virtualized world.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections’ touring mechanic could come off as gradual at first, however you’ll get to unlock Rollerblades to make the method a lot faster and entertaining. Gamers may anticipate others to hitch their occasion, offering them with humorous eventualities that the group often will get themselves into. On high of that, the define of the small display screen can change all through your journey, the place it takes on many types and expands additional throughout horror-esque cases. 

Don’t fear; it’s not a scary recreation in a manner, contemplating that it primarily lies throughout the cozy recreation style. Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections even has an digital and jazz-inspired LoFi soundtrack to make the general expertise stress-free and enjoyable to play. With over 90 songs, I’d bob my head or go to sleep to the soothing sounds of the sport’s composer, markeryjane.

At its core, the characters are what really drive the story, with all their weird desires, difficult relationships, and riveting origins. My private favourite is Ham Ghost Jr., who began as an annoying character till he finally wormed his manner into my coronary heart. There are nonetheless, in fact, quite a lot of different residents that I loved speaking to, and I’m assured that each participant will no less than discover one among their very own favorites with every passing act.

Those that are achievement hunters could have some enjoyable with the sport’s story-driven and hidden trophies. I spent about three hours in whole with the Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections, and I nonetheless have but to do one other playthrough to get just a few that I missed. The achievements are additionally comparatively distinctive in comparison with different video games, as you must assume exterior the field to earn them.

In a gaming world crammed with violence and battle, it’s good to take a seat again and loosen up in an lovable universe like Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections. So, if you’re searching for your subsequent cozy game, it’s best to completely decide it up for a meager worth and get to know all these lovable characters. However ensure to not overindulge an excessive amount of in these candy, juicy melons.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Recollections

Reviewer: Kristina Ebanez | Award: Editor’s Selection | Copy supplied by Writer.

Execs

• Eccentric and cute solid.
• Oddly humorous dialogue moments.
• A shock at each flip.

Cons

• No directional map to information gamers.
• Aspect tales overshadow the primary storyline.

Launch Date
April 6, 2023

Developer
Froach Membership & Poppy Works

Writer
Poppy Works & XSEED Video games

Consoles
PC, Nintendo Swap, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X|S