Afterlove EP Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, & PC)

Grief is probably the most tragic emotion everyone has to go through at some point in their life. Because of its sensitivity, most games either shy away from exploring it further or don’t do its stages enough justice. But Afterlove EP dares to defy the odds and craft a truly authentic masterpiece. Granted, its commandeering officer, creator, and director Mohammad Fahmi, passed away before he could see the project to completion. Yet the developers over at Pikselnesia have picked up the pieces, referring to Fahmi’s notes to bring the awaited visual novel to launch. 

Now that it’s finally here, though, gamers will ultimately rip it apart for flaws and all, as is the custom with every other game. After all, it’s your precious time that will be channeled into exploring the game’s roughly eight-hour playthrough. Yet I’m inclined to think the game isn’t the kind to be judged outright. Merit alone may not be enough to ascertain whether it’s worth playing, as several more factors are at play here.

For one, Afterlove EP has immense artistic expression stemming from personal experience with grief and loss. It has been channeled into the music and visual style, so much so that the game in its entirety becomes a matter of experience rather than quality. In any case, we’re putting all factors into consideration as we go down the emotional rollercoaster that is the Afterlove EP review.

Hit By a Truck

So, a quick intro into Afterlove EP’s whole story and setting. Rama is your main guy pummeled by the grief and loss of her long-time girlfriend, Cinta. Rama was a part of the up-and-coming indie band Sigmund Feud alongside his friends Adit and Tasya. But since his girlfriend passed away, he’s been a no-show, whether to further the band’s musical career or simply hang out with friends. No two human beings respond to grief the same way. And Rama’s outlook is just one of the many ways you might cope: recede into nothingness, losing touch with friends, the world, and reality itself. 

The latter is made more apparent when Rama begins to hear Cinta’s voice. It’s clear his girlfriend is the voice in his head. Yet, with the shaky state of mind, Rama and the player might at times mistake the voice as real and present. All of this happens within the span of a year, which Rama decides is the time he needs to return back to society. Yet, as soon as he reconnects with his friends, it’s clear he may need more time to work on himself. 

As you can probably already tell, Afterlove EP is no casual game, as much as the life simulation side of the gameplay might lead you to believe. At the core is a deeply disheartening story that while saddening and even offensive at times, depicts quite authentic and messy truth that you’ll quite so find common ground. 

Grief is Messy

The expectation in everyday reality is to show up, whether for work, friends, or society at large. But when grief enters the picture, everything you deem reliable can shift on its head. And it goes both ways. As much as it can feel like the world has moved on without you, it’s difficult to also stretch out your hand to ask for help or keep in touch. Afterlove EP shows how easy it can be for Rama to recede into himself and see no fault in the effects of his actions on his friends and the success of his band.

Yet from the outside looking in, the player and Rama’s bandmates easily take Rama’s behavior to heart. They reprimand his withdrawal and how it has affected their lives. It’s a tough pill to swallow on both ends. And the beauty of Afterlove EP is that it isn’t here to say who’s right or wrong. All it does is besiege you to tag along on its emotional rollercoaster. That’s it. 

It’s not all sorrowful and depressed here. As those who may have experienced grief may relate, there comes a time when you have to find your way back to society. Often, it’ll be writing a new story where you’re not entirely running at full speed but are trying to regain who you were and who you might become. Afterlove EP handles this part of reintegrating back into society quite well by introducing you to a vibrant slice of Jakarta. Many places you’ll see are authentic representations of the Indonesian city, including some real-life places. The shops you visit and people you interact with cement you into a lived-in world where anything seems possible. 

Finding Love Again

Yes, even the possibility of meeting someone new exists in this part of Jakarta. But again, Cinta’s memory is only but a little marred. Many of the moments you shared with Rama remain fresh in your memory. And if forgotten, there are sections in the game where you can revisit places where the memories between Rama and Cinta remain alive. And if that’s not enough to hold you back from moving on too quickly, Cinta’s voice echoes in your mind nearly every waking hour.

I admit the voice in your head can be a bit too much. But again, Afterlove EP is a game that emphasizes that grief doesn’t always comply with your needs or reality. It behaves however it wants and will go away at its own time. But there are certainly actions you can take to ensure that you make it through the worst of it. And that includes going out there to meet some hot potential love interests. 

Besides romancing three main characters with unique personalities and branching story paths, you may also choose to go to therapy. And I promise, this isn’t anywhere close to the rushed therapy most games portray. Afterlove EP actually takes its time during your once-a-week therapy sessions, allowing Rama to pour his soul out and actually be heard. But also, the therapist is pretty great in the way they challenge your thought processing with empathy and understanding. 

Back on Track

No matter how long it takes, though, to process grief, the world won’t sit by waiting for you to return back to form. It’ll move on, and for Rama, he has a timeline to abide by. In a month, Sigmund Feud will disintegrate if Rama doesn’t step up and write some new songs the band can perform and get back on track. But, as Afterlove EP constantly reminds you, grief isn’t something you can command to your will. You can try, sure, to take the steps necessary to get your life back. You can write new songs and practice with the band in a rhythm minigame, which Afterlove EP has graciously created for you. Or you can make new friends and perhaps find love again. 

However, the forces that pull you back in the gutter will be ever-present. Cinta will continue to be the voice in your head that wants you to cling to a past life. Walking around near-open-ended Jakarta will feel strange. As much as you might pursue new love interests, guilt will still rear its head. All the while, the band is counting on you to deliver. The question at the end of the day is which path you will take in your journey to returning back to normalcy. Whether that path will prove successful in overcoming grief and loss, well, that doesn’t really matter. In the end, Afterlove EP shows you that winning isn’t the goal. The experience of feeling every emotion, no matter how uncomfortable or downright mad, does.  

A Few Buts

Before closing our Afterlove EP review, there are a few buts you might want to take note of. Cinta’s dialogue can sometimes cut off midway, though I believe this bug will be fixed soon. Also, the rhythm game is no challenge you should be looking forward to. It’s extremely easy and may even have you leaving it on autoplay. But the soundtrack is great, perhaps even making it into your personal playlist. There may also be an issue with the pacing, sometimes seemingly too slow. 

Lastly, gamers looking for a resolution may leave disappointed. No matter how careful you are with the people you talk to and the decisions you make, the game has a set parameter of how it would like to tell its story. No matter how much you want Rama to get over himself, the game is set on showcasing the often uphill climb it takes to get past grief, even if it’s frustrating for your friends, society, and, yup, you, the player.

Verdict

Afterlove EP is quite the rollercoaster ride about processing grief and loss. The story is quite heartbreaking, as is the long, hazardous journey toward getting back to normal. But the story isn’t all depressing. There are cheery moments jamming with the band and chatting up potential love interests. Just don’t expect a gameplay system that is too in-depth, as the rhythm game can be too easy, and the love interests mere sidetracks to Rama’s attempt to heal.