![]() It’s an interactive, visual novel type narrative with minimalist graphics and sprinklings of magic realism, and is semi-autobiographical, based on the lives of the two main developers, Cel Davison and Hana Lee. ![]() Somehow ethereal yet substantial, ephemeral yet lasting, remarkable yet mundane, it’s a tiny window into the human experience that leaves you feeling, well, all the feels.Īvailable on: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PC, Xbox One Publisher: Fellow Traveler Developer: Humble Grove Players: 1 Released: October 7th, 2021 ESRB: T for Teen MSRP: $14.99Įditor’s note: The publisher provided a review copy to Hey Poor Player.From developer Humble Grove and publisher Fellow Traveller comes No Longer Home, an atmospheric and dreamy little point and click game exploring the nonbinary experience, in the stylistic vein of Kentucky Route Zero. It also felt like whatever was growing beneath the flat was largely ignored in the long run.Ī small handful of issues aside, No Longer Home is a unique experience. While undeniably beautiful, they felt a bit disjointed with the game overall and I honestly can’t decide if they improved the experience or hindered it. My other issue is with the strange fractals that you come across. The game felt just a little too short, and I don’t think the demon-y roommates were utilized nearly enough. While charming and excelling at evoking emotion, No Longer Home is not without its flaws. The soundtrack is okay nothing about it really jumps out at you, but it’s not terrible, either. And it’s used to incredible effect quite frequently memories will be triggered by conversations or by examining objects from time to time, and the walls of the flat (which is set up rather like a diorama) will slide away in pieces, almost like a theater set being rearranged before your very eyes. The art style really gives the game an even homier, intimate feel to it, allowing you to connect with the characters even more. I found the low-poly look charming at first, and it only grew on me from there. There are quite a few conversations between Ao and Bo to be had as well, and I noticed that sometimes you’ll be given the option of replying with Ao or Bo, which can give the dialogue a decidedly different feel depending on what you choose.Īesthetically, No Longer Home is oddly beautiful. It’s a fun little effect that will open up early on in the game, and again somehow manages to expand the game’s little world. But I mean that literally – doors and objects you couldn’t see or interact with before will appear. Or they may even build a fort in one of the rooms where you can all play a game together (the game-within-a-game was done quite well, too).Īs you explore and interact with your surroundings, you can rotate the camera, which will allow you to view things from a new perspective (sounds obvious, right?). ![]() You’ll occasionally also interact with Ao and Bo’s group of friends, who will reminisce about all the good times they’ve had together. It really makes the game’s world feel much larger than it is, especially considering the flat consists of only a couple of rooms and a backyard area. In doing so, you’ll be given glimpses into their thoughts and feelings, their wants and worries. ![]() Players will alternate between controlling Ao or Bo and wandering around the flat, looking at the monuments to their past year together. The gameplay of No Longer Home is a fairly straightforward affair. It’s a story about grappling with uncertain futures, life changes, relationships, mental health, and even identity. And, with the exceptions of the strange, demon-like roommates and whatever is growing beneath the flat, it’s quite human and relatable. I don’t want to give away too many of the story specifics, as the game is rather short, but I can say that it is a surprisingly intimate experience. Faced with an uncertain future for both their career prospects and their personal relationship, Ao and Bo have to look back on the life and memories they’ve built over the past year of living together. Complicating matters is the fact that Ao has to return to Japan thanks to government rules on their visa. No Longer Home focuses on the lives of two non-binary people, Ao and Bo, who are figuring out what to do with their lives now that they’re graduating university. Such as No Longer Home, from Humble Grove, a semi-autobiographical game centered around the post-university lives of two people. But every now and then, it’s nice to take a break from the usual difficulty and drama of saving the world and experience something a bit… cozier. That’s not to say that I turn my nose up at other genres, but they usually just don’t catch my interest as easily. Typically, I’m a gamer that leans heavily into JRPGs, dungeon crawlers, roguelikes, and deckbuilders. No Longer Home Review: An Intimate Peek Into the Human Experience
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