Lost Words: Beyond the Page
- Genres : Adventure, Platformer, Action
- Publishers : Modus Games
- Developers : Sketchbook Games
- Players : 1
- Consoles :Nintendo Switch
- Languages : French, German, Italian, Spanish, English
- Release date : April 06, 2021
Today we’re going to talk about a little indie game developed by Sketchbook Games and published by Modus Games. I bought Lost Words: Beyond the Page after seeing the trailer, which I enjoyed, but I couldn’t remember why…
I had only remembered the diary part written by a young girl who wanted to become a writer and the gameplay part which asked the player to climb on the words. I found the concept interesting and different from the classic gameplays. So I picked up the game immediately after its release, taking advantage of the launch promotion or not, I don’t remember.
I went into the game without any idea about the story that I was going to experience through the game. And honestly, it was a real shock! I cried and held back tears a few times and damn did I really love the game!!!
The script touched my heart!
You will follow two stories in parallel. Izzy, a young girl who is very close to her grandmother, will confide in her diary the most important moments of her life, confiding her emotions through words. Then, in parallel to these anecdotes, Izzy will also write her first story. Indeed, the young girl dreams of becoming a writer and will follow her grandmother’s advice and try her hand at writing her first book.
The passages between real anecdotes and fiction written by a child will then alternate. The fiction is a kind of escape for the young girl. As the story progresses, it is clear that it is greatly influenced by the girl’s own experience and that it helps young Izzy to cope with her daily life, which she sometimes finds difficult to overcome: to let off steam in order to find a more peaceful solution.
The words used and their layout in the diary give a lot of strength to the girl’s story. Indeed, it is up to us to discover each sentence or new word written in the diary at our own rythm, which allows us to take the time to understand the meaning of each word written by the girl. She takes us with her into her life as well as into her fictional adventure.
This double story was written by Rhianna Pratchett, whose words immerse us fully in this emotional adventure. She has also written several novels that are more or less similar to video games.
A beautiful diary
Besides the storyline which really touched me, I found the diary part just beautiful. In addition to having the right words to describe Izzy’s feelings and a touching story, the diary is decorated with watercolours: a just beautiful setting!
The choice of colours used for the drawings also helps us to better understand the girl’s feelings as she writes. It is a wonderful complement to the power of words, which is already very well used.
The drawings are done in watercolour and allow the player to make the connection between the fictional characters and Izzy’s family members. In this way the player can easily draw a parallel between the two. For example, Izzy’s grandmother will be the venerable one in the fictional story.
The passages in the diary recount the events that Izzy experiences on a daily basis in her life as a young girl and offer a break in the gameplay. Indeed, the words are emotionally charged and take advantage of the quiet gameplay, which consists almost entirely of a little girl walking the sentences, to unleash the full power of this beautiful life story.
I find myself partly through Izzy, as I was 12 years old the day my great-grandmother died. I loved her very much and I felt a bit like Izzy at that time. So I cried quite a bit during the Diary passages. Luckily the gameplay was calm.
An enchanting children’s adventure
Alongside the story of the diary, we will also experience the fantasy adventure that Izzy is writing to train to become a writer.
Made this time with brighter colours and modelled as a 2D video game. Izzy will play as a young girl chosen to become the future guardian of the fireflies and her village in the fantasy world of Estoria. Unfortunately, a dragon will burn the fireflies’ nest and her village. She decides to go after the dragon to get the fireflies and save her village.
She will travel through different regions of this imaginary world and meet both allies and enemies. Thanks to the power of words, the power of the village guardian, she will be able to move objects, repair them or even break them.
As this little adventure in Estoria progresses, one cannot help but notice the parallels between the situations encountered in this fictional world and in Izzy’s emotions. So, when Izzy is angry, the gameplay is more rhythmic, but the story is also much darker…
These moments of play in 2D platformer mode give a little dynamism to the game allowing the player, as well as Izzy, to take a step back from the difficult situation that Izzy is living and that she writes in her diary.
Conclusion
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a game that touched me a lot because of the exactness of the words and drawings used in the game parts taking place inside the girl’s diary. I got so hooked that I bought myself some « paper blog diary » material. I figure writing and decorating a notebook will help me settle down. We’ll see and maybe I’ll show you.
But back to the game. I thought the use of the story written by Izzy in 2D platformer mode was a great idea. I loved the connections between the two scenarios, but also the gameplay with the use of words to do actions.
In general, the game offers a calm and easy gameplay so that players can fully immerse themselves in the story. I would say that the game is a kind of visual novel improved by a simple gameplay that really involves the player in the story. It takes about 7 hours to finish the game.
I really loved it even though I cried, this game is still a huge favourite and I recommend it 100%. Lost Words: Beyond the Page is for me, an unforgettable experience.
