Afterlove EP: A Heartfelt Journey Through Grief and Music

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The most recent creation by game designer Mohammed Fahmi, who is renowned for his work on the Coffee Talk games, is titled “Afterlove EP“. Although there’s a hint of the Coffee Talk formula present in Afterlove EP, it stands out as more intricate, thought-provoking, and relatable compared to the urban fantasy duology. These differences make Afterlove a refreshing change for those who found Coffee Talk less appealing, while still maintaining a sense of familiarity for returning fans.

A year following the demise of his girlfriend Cinta, the game Afterlove EP provides an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the grieving journey, further accentuated by the untimely death of Fahmi in 2022, during the development phase when the game was only partially finished. The absence of the creative lead may have influenced the final product, which is marked by occasional crushing bugs and a noticeable lack of refinement, detracting from an otherwise emotionally impactful journey. However, overlooking these flaws reveals a deeply heartfelt narrative that leaves a lasting impression, one that lingers long after the game has been played.

I’ve completed the “Afterlove EP” twice within two days, totaling around 14 hours of playtime, indicating how captivating I found this game to be. In essence, it was so immersive that I yearned to remain in its gritty yet lively setting even as the night wore on. Truly, it’s an unexpectedly engaging title, but those who prefer faster-paced or more dramatic stories with more complex gameplay might want to consider other options. However, if you’re seeking a unique gaming experience that tugs at your heartstrings, then “Afterlove EP” could very well be a perfect fit for you.

Afterlove EP: Sticky Grief

The narrative of Afterlove revolves around a young man named Rama, who is grappling with the loss of his girlfriend, whom we primarily encounter during the game’s introduction. The specific circumstances surrounding her death are not extensively explained, but it’s clear that it was shocking due to its unexpected nature—an unsettling similarity between the game’s plot and the real-life death of Fahmi. Yet, despite having a brief initial interaction with Cinta at the outset of the game, she remains a consistent influence, both physically and symbolically. Throughout the game, Rama experiences hallucinations where he imagines Cinta speaking to him.

In my perspective, “Afterlve EP” isn’t about the raw, unbridled anguish that one might associate with grief. Instead, it delves into a more nuanced, intricate, and messy form of grief—the kind that clings tenaciously, preventing its sufferers from fully moving on, even as life continues to unfold around them. This is the predicament Rama finds himself in at the game’s outset, as he feels compelled to reunite his old band with a renewed creative fervor. This motivating force—his desire to express his grief over Cinta—is hindered by the emotional and artistic needs of his friends and bandmates, who have managed to find their footing in life following Cinta’s passing. Rama’s trauma, evident in his hallucinations of Cinta, serves as an obstacle to his empathy towards these companions, whom he once considered his dearest confidants before he was consumed by a year-long depressive haze.

In these simple, everyday encounters where Rama often finds himself at fault, the “Afterlove EP” shines most brilliantly. Rama is in a process of re-learning to cope with life after losing his partner. The apparitions of Cinta serve a practical yet stark purpose, creating a dreamlike barrier that both shields him from external light and keeps internal turmoil at bay. This intricate dance between Rama’s longing for progress and his clinging to the past is what gives “Afterlove” its deeply personal narrative, which feels incredibly genuine and endearing, despite some flaws becoming evident as the game unfolds.

The Moment-to-Moment Afterlove EP Experience

In my perspective as a film critic, let me clarify that Afterlove EP is not just a blend of a visual novel and a rhythm game as it might initially seem. Primarily, this production leans more towards a captivating visual novel, enriched with dating sim elements to add depth: the core of the experience lies in the player’s engaging conversations and connections with its well-crafted non-player characters (NPCs). Each character is adorable at first glance yet possesses an intricate complexity that keeps you hooked.

Upon replaying the game, I’m delighted to disclose that a player’s actions indeed shape the plotline of “Afterlove”. Dialogue options seldom lead conversations down a specific path, but the person Rama associates with significantly influences the whole story. The changes in the tale are mainly about new narrative content – if you opt for Mira over Satria, you might miss some crucial scenes involving Satria. These alterations also affect the game’s ending and epilogue, although they primarily result in a distinct final scene and aftermath. It’s fascinating to observe how Rama’s future could be influenced by your in-game decisions, even though most of the noticeable differences seem detached from the main storyline.

In the rhythm section of the ‘Afterlove EP’, there’s a noticeable scarcity and simplicity that’s quite apparent. The mini-games, typically structured as band rehearsals or live concerts, are infrequent and often require multiple in-game days to appear. When they do show up, they’re not particularly demanding mechanically, being straightforward and easily navigated even by newcomers to the rhythm genre. There’s a consistent absence of novelty and excitement in these mini-games, which can sometimes give the impression that they were added as an afterthought. However, if you regard these gameplay segments as emotional markers rather than main events, their minimalistic design becomes more acceptable.

The Indonesian rock band L’Alphaalpha’s music is truly exceptional and greatly enhances the overall emotional depth of the storyline. However, the rhythm mini-games, while accompanied by a great soundtrack, are essentially just prolonged quicktime events. On their own, they’re enjoyable, but they lack mechanical complexity. My suspicion that they function more like cutscenes was validated when I attempted to fail a few of them and discovered that it’s impossible to do so. Regardless of your performance, the music continues, and characters in subsequent scenes rarely acknowledge any mistakes.

Bugs Plague Afterlove EP

In Cinta’s singular voice being the dominant one in Rama’s world, apart from rhythm sections, helps to emphasize her as a dominating, intrusive presence. However, I encountered a recurring issue where all her dialogues were skipped, giving the impression of fast-forwarding. This bug could only be resolved by completely closing the game and restarting it. Unfortunately, this glitch persisted frequently, appearing without any discernible cause. Additionally, other aspects that hindered immersion included character portraits not aligning with whom Rama was conversing with, and characters talking when they were off-screen.

However, despite these minor hassles, the most significant problem I encountered during my initial play was a major plot twist. Throughout the game, players have the option to consult with a therapist who provides insights into Rama’s character as the story progresses. Towards the end of the game, while I was nearing the climax of the romance subplot I had chosen, I decided to speak with the therapist, but instead, I was shocked to discover that Rama discussed scenes that hadn’t yet unfolded in my chosen romance plot, effectively ruining the climactic ending. In a game heavily reliant on its narrative, such an issue is essentially game-breaking.

Despite its shortcomings, such as lackluster gameplay and occasional technical glitches that vary from annoying to catastrophic, I wholeheartedly recommend giving the “Afterlove EP” a try if you’re a fan of intimate, narrative-focused games. While these problems do diminish the overall experience, this game transcends its flaws. The captivating music, endearing characters, profound exploration of grief, and visually stunning manga-inspired artistry make it an enticing package. If the developer, Pikselnesia, manages to iron out the more problematic bugs, “Afterlove EP” could potentially earn a spot among the greats in the visual novel genre.

The “Afterlove EP” can be played right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, personal computers, and Nintendo Switch. For this review, we were given a code for the PlayStation 5 by Game Rant.

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2025-02-20 08:54