Let me start this review off by saying that I loved the Christian morals and ideas shown in this game, and I enjoyed the story about battling with faith and tragedy. However, regretfully, I don't think I can wholeheartedly recommend this game.

First off, the art direction is very pretty and contemporary, and I liked looking at each set piece in the story. It's a shame then that the wonky controls withheld me from fully imbibe them. The mouse sensetivity never seemed consistant, or if there was mouse acceleration on, there was no setting to turn it off. Unfortunately. Also, I would've definitely enjoyed an option to choose to use WSAD to walk instead of point-and-click. I thought it was annoying to use most times and probably lessened my immersion in the game.

Also, I think this game might have been too short, or maybe I was expecting too much from it. The game felt quite quick and anti-climactic. I guess I was hoping more for an emotional journey through a family's battle with child cancer, but it felt to me like they would rather show a symbolic scene rather than the intenseness of how real life must've felt. I dunno. Maybe I was over-estimating this game.

All in all, there were a few scenes I thought had a very clever mechanic or idea, but I never really felt immersed in this game like I wanted to be. I loved its morals, but sadly I didn't love the game.

You should go play The Beginner's Guide instead..

This game is very sad but, beautiful. It was very hard playing this game without a tear. The giggle of Joel kept me going. I can't realy say much about this game. It's amazing and i'm speechless. It's created so well. Thanks for sharing this beautiful but, sad story. sorry for your loss the dragon should've lost.

i cri everythime when i play the gam :(((

Not recommended, the gameplay / navigation is so slow / inconsistent to feel like you're being punished for even playing.

Compared to similarly paced games like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, The Beginner's Guide, Gone Home or even Dear Esther it doesn't offer much beyond face value. You're not really playing through an experience which informs you on loss and grieving, you're just clicking and being read brief monologues on the topic.

If you personally relate to the story and processing loss it may have a lot more to offer you, but it generally feels more like a set of tableaus aligned with no particular depth which suddenly end, and the odd little 'mini games' sprinkled throughout don't help.

I know the creator recommended people who weren't going to purchase to donate money to cancer research. Unless you're confident you'll get something out of this your money would be better spent donating to a worthy cause like that.

(Experienced in VR) No spoilers.

A unique and emotional experience that was extremely immersive in VR even though it was like a semi-cinema mode. I loved this game as a whole and the vast majority of the different parts within it. For me, and I would dare say any parent, it was intensly cathartic. There was one part that was so perfectly designed to provide the perspective of a parent going through this experience I could barely make it through the game. When I was done with that part, I don't want to spoil it, my mind was blown! I barely made it through, it was so emotionally traumatic, so painful, so uncomfortable. I think if I wasn't so thoroughly enveloped in the experience at the time, and had actually remembered I was using a VR headset, I would have pulled off the vive during the specific part metioned previously! I was shaking, crying, practically balled up on the floor in agony. Right after that sequence pulled the tear soaked Vive off my face and I thought: "WHOA, what was that! How...wha....WOW!!!"

My poor little three year old son was excessively snuggled, hugged, and kissed a lot more than he was used to after I experienced this game!

Obviously, I highly recommend this game! I am not sure if I have even reviewed any game before in my life! Seriously though, it is unique, powerful, and I cherish it's influence. I think any person, and especially any parent would feel similarly. I plan to share with some of my friends and family.

To the parents this story involves: Thank you, I am sure this was difficult to make. It is beautiful, I honestly would describe it as a masterpiece! Ironically through experiencing something where your hope was lost and tragically, dare I say violently and cruelly murdered even, this story inspires hope in people who may have to endure a similar experience. You showed others that you can survive it. You may not come through it the same, or without painful or crippling injury, you showed everyone it is at least possible to get through it.

I know it may not be possible but making a full VR/native VR experience of this with a few adjustments to take advantage of the increased immersion VR provides would be AMAZING!!! Even a much shorter version that uses the core of this game would be great to see! I loved the concept and how well this was implimented. I just can't get over how much the VR factor seemed to matter and influence the experience for me! It was revolutionary!

There was a moment in this game when I was forced out of myself, watching a fragile child with a balloon floating peacefully, as I frantically tried to steer him away from the black tumors. Each sickening pop reminded me that I couldn't keep him safe forever, he was running out of baloons, and more and more kept appearing. Pop Pop Pop. He falls. My heart is breaking in two, and I can feel tears streaming down my face. I can't catch him. I can't save him. I can only watch him fall and think to myself "He is just a child."

I honestly can't recommend this game enough.

My one warning would be for those who experience motion sickness as I do, there are a few moments that will make you feel dizzy. Try to take this game nice and slow and that should prevent you from feeling sick.

I took the two hour journey into this game, knowing full well that I was going to be going on an emotional rollar coaster. Needless to say, I was correct. Not only did I feel the sorrow and sadness that the Green family felt, but I also shared in the joy of Joel's laughter and beautiful ending.
As the player, you switch from third person to first person as different people. For me, this gave me the opportunity to understand how the different characters were handeling Joel's situation. The graphics are stunning but different from other games as they show no facial details on the characters, making you imagine what the characters are going through. I did not know going into the game, but the voice actors were the actual family, and the adorable laughing is Joel's himself; looking at this, I would not want the voice acting any other way as it adds more sentiment to the story.
Many people are cautious about playing games with sadder topics like about cancer or death, but I think that everyone should give this game a try as it will affect anyone who plays it. Overall, finding the correct words to describe this game as a whole is difficult as it makes you question uncertain topics on death or if there is an afterlife as well as questioning what would you do if you were in this situation. These philosophical questions only make the game better, and it is by far one of the best games I played. I would highly recommend playing this game with a box of tissues at your side because you will need them.

This is a game that every person should experience. It shows that even when someone is gone, the wonderful memories and their love is always with you. Thank you for sharing these memories of Joel with us all; they are certaintly something I will carry with me in my heart.

Ah Man, This game was for me and absolute tear jerker, full of sad moments and emotive scene's and expressions, fantastic poetry through out the whole game and not a single idea or thought of it went over my head, completely understandable and trully a grieveing heart for The greens, I hope this game has shown the expressions and Emotions that it did for you.

Here is my Video Review for the game. Overall, it's such a moving experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH0QfOdb_N4&list=PLHACe8qwE10WM4HkFjtnZTHYjq3AwUkGX&index=4