| To the Moon | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Freebird Games |
| Publisher(s) | Freebird Games |
| Designer(s) | Kan Gao |
| Composer(s) | Kan Gao Laura Shigihara |
| Engine | RPG Maker |
| Platform(s) | PC |
| Release date(s) | INT November 1, 2011 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure game Role-playing game Visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
To the Moon is the fourth video game by Kan "Reives" Gao and the first commercial production by his indie game development team Freebird Games. Released in November 2011, it is a role-playing adventure game designed using the RPG Maker engine.
Contents |
The premise of To The Moon is based around a technology that allows the construction of artificial permanent memories. Sigmund Corp., a company that uses this technology, offers the notion of "wish fulfillment" as a service to people on their death bed. Since these artificial memories are permanent, it sharply conflicts with the patient's real memories soon after the person awakens, which is why it is only done on those without much longer to live.
The story follows Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts—employed by Sigmund Corp.—as they fulfill the life-long dream of the dying Johnny Wyles. Johnny's wish is simple: he wants to go to the moon. But he doesn't know why. To accomplish this task, the doctors must insert themselves into an interactive compilation of his memories and traverse backwards through his life via mementos. With each leap to an important moment in his mind, they learn more about the patient and what brought him to his current position in life. Upon reaching his childhood, the doctors attempt to insert his desire to go to the moon. The intention is that once the desire is implanted, Johnny's mind will create memories of a new life based on that desire, and he'll die believing he lived without any regrets.
But not everything goes as planned. The two doctors find themselves with a heavy mystery concerning Johnny's desire, his past, and his deceased wife, River. With the clock ticking, Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts must unravel Johnny's complicated past and do whatever it takes to send him to the moon.
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 85.62%[1] |
| Metacritic | 86 / 100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Eurogamer | 9 / 10[1] |
| GamePro | [3] |
| GameSpot | 8.0 / 10[4] |
| GamesRadar | 8 / 10[1] |
| GamrReview | 9.0 / 10[5] |
| RPGFan | 90%[6] |
To the Moon has received positive reviews which praised the story and music. The game holds an average rating of 86 out of 100 on Metacritic,[2] and 85.62% on GameRankings.[1]
In GameSpot's 2011 Game of the Year awards, To the Moon was given the "Best Story" award, which was won against Catherine, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Portal 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles.[7] which were also voted in the same category. To the Moon was also nominated in the categories of "Best Music",[8] "Most Memorable Moment",[9] "Best Writing/Dialogue",[10] "Best Ending",[11] and "Song of the Year".[12]