YESTERMORROW

Bitmap Galaxy

WEBSITE https://www.blowfishstudios.com/game/yestermorrow

Yestermorrow opens in a cosy, sunny village. There’s hide and seek to play, and dresses to lament wearing, as The Light Festival approaches. Sounds too good to be true? Of course. What happens next is (at least initially) unclear, but vibrant lanterns and grassy meadows become spiders, robots, alien technology and choking, Cthulu-esque vines, as the player character wakes from a memory, experienced as a dream. Yui’s previously cute ponytail now reaches her waist and swings prettily as she hangs from filthy chains. She’s also wearing a bright red mask over her face. Times have (clearly) changed.

Given the volume of platformers I see, I always ask what sets this example apart from the genre. Blowfish told us that time travelling is a key feature of puzzling and story. It is, even if Yui’s changing age (and hair) get a little confusing. Personally, I was hooked by the sheer beauty of the game, especially the dynamic music, where melodies and textural stems are seamlessly mixed (in and out) depending on time period and location. I’m also a sucker for an aesthetic day/night cycle that considers both clear and apocalyptic air quality. Every animation, from patting a cat to flailing your arms while falling, is delightful.

I would mention that, even in this short demo, platforming can provide a challenge. I quickly gave up on a section where, after dodging acid and assorted spiky creatures, I had to climb the web attached to a moving spider, then jump between two disappearing platforms and duck under a swooping bat. My 10 year old son, Lyndon, managed to beat this after maybe ten attempts. It’s possible I’m too old for platformers these days, but Yestermorrow is definitely something I’d watch someone else play. If platforming is your jam, this beautiful experience is a treat for your eyes and ears.