 |
| ©Freebird Games 2011 |
To The Moon is an indie RPG released in late 2011 to critical acclaim. It won many awards, including GameSpot's Best of 2011 award.
The first two paragraphs of this article were written over a year ago when I played this game. The memories have stuck with me since. I don't know why I didn't finish this post when I first made it, but I know why I'm going to finish it.
The first two paragraphs of this article were written over a year ago when I played this game. The memories have stuck with me since. I don't know why I didn't finish this post when I first made it, but I know why I'm going to finish it.
To The Moon isn't great because of any gameplay element. In fact, there is little in the way of player choice or interaction. That's not why I love this game. I love this game because of its story.
The Sigmund Corporation specializes in altering people's memories. They give you the life you've always wanted, well, inside your head that is. Didn't marry the person you wanted to? Sign up. Dreamed of being richer than you are? We've got you covered, Sigmund replies. The only catch with this operation, you ask? Because of how much it alters your reality, it's only legal when I person is close to death.
Johnny is sick, and Johnny is dying. He contacts Sigmund and asks them for their servives, and they send out two doctors to help him 'remember', Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts. When thd doctors arrive, they ask Johnny what his dying wish is. He simply replies, "I want to go to the moon."
The strangest part? He doesn't even know why.
That's all I can really say without spoiling it. The truth is, for our discussion, it's all we need.
To The Moon poises an interesting question, a question that you, dear reader, should ponder: is this the right thing? Here are some follow-up questions to clarify: Is changing your life right before your death right? Does it cheapen your real experiences? Does it matter as long as you're happy in those last moments of life?
I don't know. I don't know if I'm even qualified to talk about it or not.
If you know me personally, you'd know I lost someone about a month or so ago. My grandmother on my mother's side passed. It's been hard. I just wish I could speak to her again. Maybe get around to giving her those books back I borrowed. Even just to say goodbye.
I played To The Moon around exactly a year before she passed. I remember that because I had been thinking about replaying it right around when it happened. It got me thinking about how many choices life has and how easily one of those choices could end up being the wrong one. Would it haunt you till the day death took you? Would you change it if you could? Even if it does an injustice to your entire life? The biggest question To The Moon poses is this one however: does it really matter?
We don't know what's beyond the veil. Does the truth matter when you're that close to the true Final Frountier? Let that question simmer in your mind. I don't know an answer. You don't either.
