Until Then is a mystery that we’re yet to unravel, bridging the gap between visual novel and interactive fiction with the help of some truly stunning pixel art graphics and elaborate relationships. The build we could try for this preview was extremely short and ended on a massive cliffhanger, almost as if it was meant to be a deceiving but charming introduction to a world on the brink of a series of significant events, about to turn the game on its head. For now, we can only speculate on the story of Mark, Louise, and other students from a fictionalized version of the Philippines.
Friends in Social Media
Mark is the main character, a student with a penchant for slacking, a group project to deliver, and no work done at all. The game starts on a very clever note, with Mark sleeping on his bed on the background of the main menu. As we press the Start button, nothing happens but a beep from the alarm clock, until we realize it’s meant for the player to smash that button over and over again, increasing the frequency of the beeping until he finally decides to get up. It’s certainly out of the box thinking and a surprising twist to start any adventure. Sometime later, you also get to flip a flash drive a few times because… well, that’s how they always go about, it’s impossible to plug them on your first try.
Playing out as a side-scroller, Until Then is heavy on dialogue and lore, which is a good thing for players who are fans of a great book as much as of a game. Interaction is minimal, despite a few mini-games involving timing, so most of the time you will be chatting with friends, scrolling through social media – where you can leave likes that may affect the reactions of other characters – and trying to create a mental web of relationships. Most guys and even one girl are drooling over Louise, a brilliant student with little time for social gatherings, but who is now starting to hang out more.
As Mark and Louise get closer and some revelations are made, there’s always this looming sensation that Until Then isn’t a mere story about friendships and romancing. There’s plenty of it, certainly, but some hints at inexplicable sightings (Louise says it rained recently, when there wasn’t a drop of rain for over a month) and feelings of déjà vu are surely pointing to something bigger than these students are experiencing. There’s an eerie Twilight Zone feeling to it, but this build ends up precisely when something unusual seemed about to happen.
The locations you explore are crowded, with many inhabitants moving around and giving this busy vibe that is very immersive. Places like the chess tournament pavilion have several characters around that while mere stand-ins, make it feel like this is a rich and bustling place, not an empty setting for the main characters to stand out. The sound also contributes to the atmosphere, feeling chaotic and disorganized as in reality, with dog barks, traffic, and sounds that could just be coming from the outside of your house right now.
Relationships are interwoven and complex, bonds are made and potentially broken in the future, and most of the dialogue seems relatable, which can be quite a feat. While it may drag on for far too long sometimes, it builds momentum and the touching occasions are the more poignant for it, capturing your attention in a way that you weren’t thinking it could at first. It can get quite emotional, even poetic, with a power similar to the best moments in To the Moon or the Life is Strange series.
Until Something Happens
Pointing fingers at Until Then for not providing stimulating challenges and opportunities for interaction would be the same as saying that a horror game isn’t good because it’s too scary. It’s an acquired taste, something that grows on you as you learn more about Mark and his circle of friends and colleagues, and bigger things should be in store to balance the love interests and social media stalking.
From mere curiosity to strong itch, that is how Until Then has introduced itself. The cast is likable and quirky, and their struggles are understandable. With a release pinned for 2024, if this game has something more to offer than teenage wonder, we’ll have to wait until then to find out.
MP1st was given access to a preview build of Until Then for our hands-on session. Until Then is launching for PC and consoles in 2024.