To the Moon is an adventurous indie game from a small studio called Freebird, led by the talented developer Kan Gao. To the Moon features quite a distinct graphic style that might deter the mass consumer, but the essence of To the Moon lies far beyond its "picture." Kan Gao used the RPG Maker engine (software for developing jRPG projects) merely as a tool to convey his idea, his thought, to the audience. And he succeeded. To the Moon is a deeply moving game that raises the eternal question: "How would my life have turned out if I had done things differently?"
The main protagonists of To the Moon are two doctors – Neil Watts and Eva Rosalene. They are tasked with saving an old man named Johnny, but they do not use pills to save him; instead, they integrate updated memories into his consciousness. At one point in Johnny's life, everything went awry, and he committed several actions he later regretted. Now, lying on his deathbed, he wants the doctors to fulfill his last wish – to send him to the Moon. It's interesting, but Johnny never loved that dull little ball hanging in the night sky, and Neil and Eva must navigate the intertwining memories of the dying old man. You cannot do what the patient unconsciously does not desire.
By diving into the depths of Johnny's memory, the partners gradually correct the mistakes made by their ward. The two doctors literally rewrite the history of the old man’s life, ultimately achieving their goal – Johnny flies to the Moon with his wife.
The gameplay of To the Moon is quite simple. Players must travel through locations/memory blocks, gather information, and seek out special key memories without which they cannot progress further in the story. In To the Moon, one must listen to conversations, solve puzzles, study the surrounding environment, and notice literally every little detail – for any found object could serve as a key to Johnny's earliest and most tragic memories.
To the Moon can leave an indelible impression on those who love dramatic stories in all their manifestations. The graphics may be unremarkable, but the game astonishes players with its internal content, its central theme. The reunion of two loving hearts, the fulfillment of once-unattainable hopes, the realization of a dream – To the Moon plays on the strings of the human soul, evoking a complete emotional storm. It's not just a game; it's an interactive story whose purpose is to convey an important message to the consumer. Everyone understands To the Moon in their own way, but the main idea of the project is clear and evident – one must live life to the fullest and not be afraid to take risks. There is only one life, and nothing done in the past can be changed. Johnny was lucky, but will we be?