Review – Lost Words: Beyond the Page
Courtesy of the folks at Modus and Sketchbook games, today I’m taking a look through the beautifully presented emotional journey which is Lost Words: Beyond the Page on Nintendo Switch. This one has been a real tearjerker, which has seen me lay in the foetal position on the floor for some time. Beautifully presented on the Switch, this one is definitely worth a look for anybody currently after a slower, narrative-led title.
The Basics
While this one is available on pretty much any platform you can think of, it’s beautiful here on Switch in both handheld and docked modes. Lost Words isn’t really like any kind of game I’ve played before. Set within the pages of a young girl’s journal, as well as within the world she’s creating, this slow-paced platformer really pushes narrative to the fore. You’ll travel through the pages of a journal belonging to Isabella Barbara Cook, an aspiring young writer who will soon be taking a significant emotional journey.
Journeying through the journal, as well as navigating the written words, you’ll need to make some choices along the way. Some of these, such as character names and colours, will also have an impact as you move from the pages and into the land of Estoria. Izzy’s words will transport you to various different biomes, with puzzles and a beautifully woven story touching on some hard-hitting emotional points.
Through your travels, you’ll use word magic to raise, break, repair and otherwise alter the world around you. While it’s fairly easy to get to grips with, it provides some innovative gameplay which really pushes it out from the general platforming crowd. Some words available for a short period, depending on requirement and even on your character’s mood, and some will stick with you throughout your journey, helping you to navigate the diverse biomes and challenges.
Parent’s Eye View
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is rated by PEGI at 7 and above, and by the ESRB at E for Everyone. Without giving too much of the story away, this one really touches on some strong emotions. While there’s no troubling content in terms of violence, fear, sex drugs or any of the other warnings, I do think it’s one to bear in mind. I would say that for the majority of micro-bandits out there, it won’t be a problem at all, however for any families currently dealing with loss it may cut a little close to the bone.
It’s one which has had me, as a 35 year old, blubbering on the floor due to the emotional journey, as well as one which has provided a great deal of comfort. This isn’t to say that Lost Words: Beyond the Page should be beyond the reach of young ones dealing with loss, as I have also found equal amounts of emotional validation. We’re trying to remain spoiler free here, but if you’re concerned regarding the impact this may have, feel free to get a message over and we’re happy to discuss the emotional journey here in more detail.
Accessibility
In terms of accessibility this one can be played by anybody. There are some great puzzle moments in Lost Words, where you’ll need to figure out which word magic to use to move your way forward. Beyond that, it’s one which is non-punishing and which provides a great narrative experience rather than hopeless challenges.
The Run Down
Visuals – Great: The watercolour style of this one really suits the narrative as well as the Switch platform. As you move between the pages of the journal the splashes and reveals bring a nice dynamic edge, and the world of Estoria has been lovingly created. While travelling between the ripped pages of the journal transitions are backed by some wonderful dynamic effects, and the colourful and varied lands of Estoria have had some serious thought go into them.
Audio – Great: The soundtrack begins tugging your emotions from the outset, and the voice acting has been great throughout. It really captures the emotional journey. The orchestral pieces are woven wonderfully throughout your time, and it’s a pleasure to even just listen to the music on the main menu.
Narrative – Great: This one benefits from an original story written by gaming-narrative veteran Rhianna Pratchett. It’s a story fraught with deep emotions and one which I can’t say hasn’t had me bawling on the floor. We can’t go into much more detail without giving some serious spoilers, but this is one I’ve been very happy with overall, and the focus on narrative is great to see.
Replay – Fair: There are little bits you can change throughout the story but these are mostly aesthetic. There are a good number of fireflies to find in each area which can help add a little replay value for those completionists out there.
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The Verdict
Overall the Pixel Bandits Firefly Guardian Level for Lost Words: Beyond the Page is Grab It! . This has been one which has really helped me through my own real life period of whirling emotions. While it hasn’t been designed as therapy, the narrative provides an emotional journey which deftly touches on some pretty heavy issues. Even without the backing of these pretty strong and recent emotions, the title remains a fun and innovative platformer.
The use of word magic to navigate the lands of Estoria really helps it to stand out from the regular crowd of platformers, and while it’s a complete contrast to fast-paced platformers such as Dead Cells, it’s refreshing to have a title which looks to provide a story rather than simply a challenge. It’s a very low price point for the experience provided, and it’s one which I would recommend to anybody in search of a laid back and narrative-driven experience, though it is one which will tug hugely on your heartstrings.