The Indie Informer

My heart squeezed in my chest as I began Afterlove EP’s musical journey. Having already experienced the opening of the game last year, I knew what was coming. I knew I was about to experience the jubilation of an amazing show followed by the devastation of tragedy. The knowledge didn’t make it any easier.

Afterlove EP’s first notes are tumultuous but its primary focus is more subtle. The majority of its runtime hones in on the difference between post-loss empathy and enabling. It examines the messiness of grieving and self-care. Though the themes are thoughtful and authentic, their execution didn’t always reverberate with me. Some events happen offscreen which may have been more effective if given the spotlight and sometimes I wished the narrative would dig deeper. Afterlove EP is missing some high notes, however the game never hits a sour one.

Rama’s partner, Cinta, is dead. That’s not a spoiler, it’s the narrative setup. He cuts himself off from the world in the year following her sudden passing. No word to his bandmates and friends pass his lips. He makes no attempt to rebuild a functioning life. In his isolation, he begins to hear Cinta’s voice.

I immediately clock its tone. It’s a mixture of fawning and critical, which leads me to believe the disembodied voice isn’t some supernatural phenomenon. Rather, I think, it’s his deeply wounded mind attempting to avoid the enormity of his loss while inadvertently reflecting his unshakable sense of guilt about moving on. Though that’s my interpretation, it’s admirable the team can create a narrative element so complex that it allows for other valid arguments.

The game really kicks off after a year has gone by. Rama contacts his band for the first time, ready to start up again. He will soon discover his neglect has badly damaged their dynamic and will need to contend with that before the group headlines for a major show at the end of the month.

With an end date set, the player has the month to explore the world and interact with the people in his life on his journey to heal. How he goes about this is up to me. Each day has two phases: afternoon and evening. Choosing to engage with a person or activity will take up an entire phase and there is too much available to do it all.

Is it better to work out my feelings in a therapy session or strengthen my weakened bonds with my friends? Should I leap into a new romance with the flirtatious record store attendant or make a little money busking at the coffee shop? The paths you pick will inevitably lead to a different ending and the expanse of choice is fantastic (and, thematically fitting, overwhelming).

Not every narrative thread hits for me, mostly because Rama feels unrealistically dense at times. He seems utterly shocked that there are people out there who would be antagonistic to the queer community, for example, and his complete disregard for his friends’ lives pushes beyond the limits of grief-fueled ecocriticism. I also found it difficult to suspend my disbelief in the band members’ reactions to some of Rama’s confessions.

This can dampen the vibes on occasion, but they never completely overwrite its heart. The characters are all endearing, with well-formed dialogue. The visuals are simply stunning. Each frame hums with bold, clean color. Looking closely at the outlines, I discover a pleasing and apt messiness, which ties together the look with an endearing bow.

Afterlove EP doesn’t always hit the right pitch for me, but its art style is captivating, its gameplay gripping, and its story is authentic.