I've played a lot of games and, if you're reading this, it might be safe to assume you have too. RPG's especially have always had a special place in my heart; I grew up playing Pokémon and Fire Emblem. With the (semi) recent takeoff of indie games, the market has expended beyond belief. The success of games like Undertale, Cuphead, Stardew Valley, and Hades has launched their popularity forward in a short period of time, and I couldn't be happier.
Last weekend, I finally caved in and bought the game that had been sitting on my Steam wish list for around a month. That game was In Stars and Time. I opened the title screen with a bit of knowledge of what I was going into and a few trigger warnings that I was aware of (mental illness, self-harm, trauma, death, children in peril/dying, and general violence just in case). The game presents itself as rather cute with it's two dimensional, black-and-white gameplay. Even the concept is simple. You're part of the hero's party gone off to face the King and save the country. You play a pun-filled, mysterious rogue name Siffrin. You journey with your party of quirky-but-loveable adventurers who all share the same goal.
Simple. But it's not. In Stars and Time is a loop game. Each time Siffrin dies, they find themselves looping back to the beginning, though the game does give you some leeway as to where you start as you get going, so worry not. I admit I was a bit nervous when I heard this and it was part of the reason I hadn't gotten the game yet. It was a fear of repetition. The last thing I want out of a game is to run the same thing over and over without change. Luckily, Adrienne Bazir, the developer, walks this line with grace. Each loop has something to be gained. The goal is usually to find something you may have missed or something you just didn't know was there. Each loop can present you with new information and new parts to the full story.
I could go on and on about what I love about this game, and I will in another blog, which you can read after you finish the game. But, for now, let me tell you about what really had me gripping my seat. The first thing you'll notice when you start playing is the art. It's basic but so full of emotion. I saved
countless screenshots of character combat cards, setting's, and even full panels. One thing to look out for as Siffrin loops is the subtle yet telling differences in how he's drawn. When I say the art is basic yet full of emotion, I mean that every expression reveals something about a character; whether it be in their silence or what they're saying. Every single piece of art has meaning.
As you watch Siffrin's story unfold, you'll slowly be pulled into the mystery of the game. Because it encourages you to explore and ask questions, you'll find yourself starving for every piece of information you can get. Every single thing has meaning in some way or another. You just have to uncover it and put the pieces together. Start asking why and how. Fill in the gaps that are left in the narrative by talking and reading. Loop to see how differently things can play out. And it's not just about the characters, even though I do adore them, it's about the world. Why does the King want to freeze the country in time? What are you missing? These are just some of the questions the game pushed me to ask and it had me digging through every nook and cranny that the small-yet-full world had to offer.
The cast of characters, your companions through every loop, are the life of the game. While you do play as Siffrin, they have their own full personality and interact with the others in their own way. This means that some relationships are already developed. Each of these characters, despite not being the lead, are fully realized. They're fun and quirky while also having goals and dreams of their own and Siffrin has the opportunity to sit down and learn about them. Every piece of information you unlock reveals something not just about he world but about your companions in the way they act and react. To top it off, the cast is unabashedly queer. Every character is celebrated for their difference and who they are.
I loved this game. Bazir did an amazing, outstanding, fantastic job of creating something that didn't just play well, but one that spoke to me as a person. In Stars and Time is a game that handles trauma in a gentle but real way. Siffrin's fears and issues became my own. I found myself teary-eyed more than once. This is a game that can speak to anyone in one way or another. Whether it be in Bazir's masterful storytelling, her careful handling of trauma, her lively art, or just in the simple gameplay, I would recommend this game for any fan of RPG's looking for something new to pick up.
While I kept this blog as spoiler-free as possible, I have every intention of fully diving into the themes of In Stars and Time and pulling apart the plot and characters within the near future. If this is something that interests you, be sure to subscribe to my email campaign or just follow me on Twitter (sorry, X) at @PlotPoinBlog. I would love to talk with other fans or anyone just looking to get into something new!
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