I loved this game. I played it start to finish over the course of a weekend and enjoyed myself the whole way. Eugene's journey through the Dusklands felt deeply satisfying to me and got me to tear up a couple of times, sometimes unexpectedly, and the story still sang in my heart for hours after the end credits rolled.

I was drawn in by the characters and the gorgeous visuals. Each area is small, but unique and visually arresting, from the forest trails and the old train platform to the furniture factory and the abandoned movie theatre, giving each level a sense of variety and wonder. The scenery was incredible and always reflected the story beats of each leg of the adventure in a compelling way. I often found myself draw to take photos of the landscapes, without even realising they'd be important later on.

Eugene's camera is the main way in which you interact with the game. You'll receive riddles or requests from the different animal inhabitants of the Dusklands and you'll have to track down the right object to photograph. It's easy to take nice-looking photos, but there's a really tactile feeling to the camera controls, and having to use the bumpers and the thumb sticks to get the picture to come out just right.

There's an awful lot to photograph, and I didn't manage to find enough to get the true ending on my playthrough, but the regular ending that I got didn't feel unsatisfying in the slightest, and the gentle reminder at the start of the game that sometimes you might miss things, and that's okay, gave me the right mindset to enjoy the journey without the fear of missing out. Since I enjoyed the game so much, anyway, I wouldn't mind a second playthrough to try and collect everything I missed the first go around.

This is a narrative-game, so your experience with it will vary by how well you feel the characters and their struggles can connect with you, but I came through it so pleased by the emotional and narrative arc, about learning to be unburdened by your past whilst still carrying those memories with you, that I couldn't help but write a glowing review. I hope it can inspire someone else to pick up this game and enjoy it as much as I did.