Afterlove EP

“"Messy emotionally and gameplaywise."”

“When a game makes you feel emotions in the first five minutes, it gives you expectations for a great overall experience. Whilst Afterlove EP isn’t able to fully capitalize on its strong opening, the story remains touching throughout. I have no doubt that anybody who shares a similar life story with any of these characters would feel a strong affiliation with this game.”

“Afterlove EP is a heartfelt project that looks to explore the theme of loss, grief, and moving forward after the death of a loved one. However, it is marred by some bugs that cause loss of key conversations, and you can get softlocked out from seeing the ending.”

“Blemished and imperfect though it may be, Afterlove EP is a moving, heartfelt story that has a lot to say about grief, love, and moving on.”

“The game ultimately has strong, important messages about loss and mental health. Add in some great music and wonderful navigation, and it becomes difficult not to recommend Afterlove EP despite its rough edges.”

“Afterlove EP hits deep, like a song that lingers after the last note. Its heartfelt story and striking visuals resonate, but the barebones gameplay feels like a missed beat. Still, branching choices keep it engaging, and its manga-inspired art and soulful soundtrack ensure the experience stays with you.”

“Afterlove EP pulls from a deep emotional well to weave threads of grief, love, hope, resentment, forgiveness, identity and more through a mostly-good mix of choice-driven visual novel and rhythm game. It has some issues with flow, and the rhythm stuff isn't amazing, but stick with it and you'll fall in love with this little slice of Jakarta.”

“Afterlove EP is an utterly unique collaboration between the creator and the player, an interaction that invites personal thought and reflection. And really, isn't that what art is supposed to do?”

“Afterlove EP definitely fits with the cosy set: slow tempo, heartwarming narrative, and sad story (yes). The themes of grief, mental health and their impacts on our lives are explored in a way that feels gentle, much like Fahmi's earlier releases. There were a few wrinkles as things unfolded, and the dating sim aspect was unexpected, but still there's easygoing fun to be had. If you're looking for a light touch on serious issues, this one could be worth a play, and a replay. If you want a heavy-hitting game to wreck you emotionally, you might want to hit 'skip'.”

“Afterlove EP is an emotionally impactful visual novel that combines a heartfelt story with engaging rhythm gameplay, making for a truly unique experience. As an additional precaution, you should be emotionally ready to take a few tumbles as you go.”

“The music and vibe of Afterlove are both fittingly beautiful with the contrast in difficulty in certain rhythm sections doing a great job of showcasing Rama’s focus at the time.”

“I left Afterlove EP feeling more confused and frustrated than I was moved. It has a lot of interesting things to say about moving on from loss, the vicious hold that grief can have on us, and how art and love are intertwined, and its character writing is excellent, but the whole experience felt too unfocused and directionless to say anything concrete.”

“By Afterlove EP’s closing moments, I was happy to take the needle from the vinyl and put the record back in its sleeve. I will file it away in the collection, an imperfect album, with some standout tracks that make the filler worthwhile.”

“Whether it's just listening to your friends vent frustrations or finding common ground with someone new, there's something special about what these games bring to the table. I for one recommend everyone pull up a stool and listen for a while. You may find a new best friend.”

“Playing Afterlove EP brings the same feeling as reading a slice of life manga on a rainy afternoon while listening to some good lo-fi music. Its gameplay is simple, but it brings a narrative surrounded by moments of reflection. Its visual novel vein increases the replayability factor and makes us want to try different routes not only to see the ending but also to follow Rama's journey in a process of healing and starting over.”