Rakuen: A Game Review

I don't usually write reviews, much less of a game, but I think this one game deserves it.

When I was browsing about the news of "Finding Paradise", the sequel of "To the Moon" (which is my favourite game of all time), I stumbled upon this game called "Rakuen" (Japanese for "Paradise").

It is made by Laura Shigihara, the composer of "To the Moon" soundtrack. It poked my curiosity. After reading the synopsis, I decided to download it.

(I am trying to write this review without any spoilers, but I hope this will make you curious enough to play the game. I just want to share it with everyone because this game deserves it. It is such a beautiful game.)

So we play as this unnamed boy who had to stay at a hospital "for a while". (One look at his medical record, and you'll see the drugs. They are pretty specific ;) ) We had this old story book titled "Rakuen" that turned out to be magical. We could travel to the world in that book, called "Morizora's Forest". The forest had a guardian named Morizora. He would grant you one wish if you were able to complete a quest from him. Our quest is to help other patients in the hospital, and each of them had their alter-egos in Morizora's Forest. 

Accompanied by our Mom, we would help other patients with their problems. There was this one man and his comatose wife, a grumpy old man with a strange attachment to a broken music box, a delirious man who insisted on going outside to "send a message", and a little girl who missed her best friend. As we helped them, we would learn their stories (which are all beautiful).

This game is so well-made, filled with amazing details (even a village name has an appropriate meaning. I suggest you to pay attention to every details, explore every nook and cranny, and talk to every characters. I even took notes with a pen and paper as I played this game, I'm not lying. I'm glad I did, It made me appreciate this game even more) and cute characters (I love Leebles!). However, the strongest charms of this game in my opinion are its story and soundtracks. The story is so... ah... even I don't think my words will do it justice, but I will try anyway. It is so heartwarming, relatable, and heartbreaking at the same time. One appropriate word would be "bittersweet", I think. After I finished the game, I was plunged in deep thoughts. I thought about what the game has taught me. I even watched its gameplay on YouTube not long after I finished the game because I missed the worlds and the characters so much. Yes, that's just how good it is.

The soundtracks are just wonderful. If you have played "To the Moon", you know what I'm talking about. Laura Shigihara is brilliant. This is my favourite song from "Rakuen":

This may be just my random scribble, written around midnight, but I hope someone who reads this will try to play it and have a wonderful experience like I did. I also would love to have someone to discuss this game with (Please, feel free to discuss it with me!).

Laura Shigihara, I'm glad you built this little world. :)

-Christy Huang-