Lost Words: Beyond the Page Game Review

Hello Readers,

I am a little late to the party, but I finally gave in and got a ps4. Obviously, I got all the classic first such at Rachet and Clank, The Spyro Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot Trilogy. But while on the PlayStation store this game caught my eye and when I saw the name Rhianna Pratchett, I knew I had to have this game. I am using a cover image I have found through google (Fair use under the copyright act sections 29 and 30 under use for a review). 

Title: Lost Words: Beyond the Page

Date Released: April 6, 2021

Game Developer: Sketchbook Games, Fourth State, Fourth State Limited

Gaming Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia

Genre: Platform game, Adventure game, Puzzle Video Game, Indie game, Casual game, Adventure

Cover Image:

Plot Summary: Isabelle (Izzy) is a young, aspiring writer who keeps a personal journal. The game takes place in Estoria, a fantasy world which emerges from the diary entries that Isabelle keeps. The player character is crowned as the Guardian of Fireflies and must restore the fireflies to their village after it has been destroyed by a dragon. The real-world turmoil that affects Isabelle's life leads to consequences that affect the fantasy setting of Estoria.

Review

I went into Lost Words: Beyond the Page knowing nothing about it and didn’t know what to expect. I thought Lost Words would be a cute little story game that I could curl up and play in one sitting. Dear Reader, this game gut-punched me HARD! I was lulled into a false sense of security as I got lost in the beautiful storytelling and wonderful gameplay that mixes both platforming and point n click elements together.

The game can be split into two separate worlds. The first takes place in the fantasy world of Estoria. The second is within Izzy’s journal, where sentences are used as platforms, which can be used to navigate through the diary.

The Lost Words comes across like a child's fairy-tale filled with watercolours and hand-drawn images. This may sound a little out there dear Reader but this games walks a very fine line between visual novel and platform puzzle game.

The game's sound design is impressive, and I am a believer in books should be read with a soundtrack and with this game I got the best of both worlds. The game is voiced perfectly, and nothing felt out of place. The use of words in the gameplay is clever and something I loved. The games brings new meaning to the power behind words.  

I’m sorry to repeat myself but the music story and animation are woven together so well that you can’t help but feel what our main characters feel and it gets you right in the heart. This game is a harrowing yet beautiful story of love, loss, and the cycle of grief. I hope we get a sequel, I would buy it quicker than you can say take my money.

Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one – Sir Terry Pratchett

L x

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