World War II is a very hard subject to talk about, harder to do a game about it.
I was really surprised when I saw how they recreate it, how they showed us the real tradegy and pain through childrens eyes.
I was crying many times because I remember everything from school. There are citations about war heroes, they are also in the game as characters, so this was truly and amazing experience and also a really sad one.
I give this game 10/10 for trying and doing it right.

We are all closely acquainted with the latest and greatest war we decided to treat ourselves to, with plenty of elementary school textbooks covering in detail who did what and why. But only from the perspective of the big players, barely scratching the surface of life during that gruelling period in time. We don't really get a chance to hear about the struggles ordinary folk had to endure.

But My Memory of Us seeks to change that. By donning a fairy tale coat, making its story accessible to all ages. Its core theme - segregation. It's done in such an ingenious and innocent way - colour. While the world is at first clad in shades of black and grey, like in the old noir styled movies, the invasion of the Evil robot army changes all of that, as buckets of red paint drop on unsuspecting folk. Branded the red folk now, friend became foe, all due to this simple paint job. Why? Well, they are red now, different from the normal black and grey folk. Plus, the Robot King says they are not very nice either. But, not everyone is as cold to these red folk, and soon, many jackets find themselves with a patched red-grey pattern, as a small resistance to the false preaching of the invaders is challenged and pushed back. Magnificently narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart himself, this fairy tale sees our two young heroes go up against the Robot King and his minions as they try to turn the tides of war. I will leave it at that and let you enjoy this heartwarming and moving tale without any further spoilers.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2672043629

But, as I already mentioned, the games choice to sport a cartoonish and lighthearted aesthetic makes it possible to easily present its rather serious theme to children without fear of scaring them with the grim realities of the war while still relating the same message on the issue. And some games like This War of Mine had me ponder about games and their involvement in education. I personally think games should not be so distant from it. They can educate if that is their purpose while providing entertainment. Same as books or TV shows. Games are not just mindless violence, gore, nudity or waste of time. I hope to see games in the future be used as part of a school curriculum, as they tell stories in such a way no other medium can match.

But let's move on to simpler things than the outlook on games and gaming culture.

Even tho this is predominantly a story-driven game, the gameplay is far from dull filler. The puzzles range from simple to complex and are fun; Bring a valve here, find a specific pattern to replicate or use a giant hamster wheel to try to place a small ball into a hole while the circular field rotates. And the progression puzzles were always unique and fresh, with none repeating. However, some smaller ones do repeat, as do the stealth sections. They rely on the same concept every time, but there are only a couple, so I really didn't find them that bothersome. But, there was one that required precision, and it could prove a bit of a nuisance to some. Still, the rest are straightforward and rely on just using cover to hide from the Naz...I mean from the evil robot soldiers. Yes, evil robot soldiers.

I also like the duality the protagonists bring to the gameplay. You can only control one at any given moment, and each has a unique skill that you'll need to solve many of the games fun puzzles. The girl is equipped with a slingshot, reaching the unreachable, usually buttons, while the boy pockets a mirror shard and can direct light to the place of his choosing. But that's not all. Since you must move both through a level while avoiding many obstacles, the devs came up with the handholding mechanic. Whoever you control will lead, which affects what the tag team of misfits can do. If the boy takes point, due to being versed in avoiding peoples gaze while doing something naughty, the two can hide from the piercing eyes of the robot soldiers. But, if his better half takes charge, the two can run and quickly get away from danger. And puzzles while relying on their individual brilliance, require teamwork as well. This juggling, who leads and when will be quite a common sight in your rebellious escapades.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2672093215

I already mentioned the aesthetic, but I love how it fits the narrative, as the choice for dull greys and strong blacks isn't a mere coincidence. Besides emphasizing the difference between the normal and the red folk, they also perfectly portray the gloomy atmosphere of the time within the confines of the chosen cartoonish art style. As for the soundtrack, it's excellent. At times, it has a goofy cartoonish vibe to it, while the next is tugging at your heartstrings with a beautifully choreographed dance performed by the fingers of a master pianist. Every piece plays at the ideal moment, complementing the visuals and story, elevating the whole experience.

So if you are looking for a fun puzzler with an engaging story, where you don't play as some macho soldier, but rather as two little rascals trying to sway the tides of war and keep their friendship alive, do give My Memory of Us a chance.

If you enjoy this review, come and read more wisdom from the Gospel of Sv. Prolivije.

The highlight of the game is the story. It’s a bittersweet tale that will play with your emotions throughout, and even though the subject matter is horrific it still manages to entertain and lift your spirits.

Curator Info:

Follow our curator page: OCG-Curations if you like and want to see more reviews like this one.

Rating
79 ️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmpEN8UAHSg


My Memory of Us is a puzzle game with a strong narrative performed by Patrick Stewart.

You will need to solve puzzles by switching in between two characters and working together to achieve your goals. Each character has certain skills, albeit limited, which you need to utilize to solve the puzzles at hand.

The puzzles range from stealth like puzzles where you need to hide behind objects and out of the gaze of enemies, switch and lift puzzles whilst avoiding enemies, arcade sequences with vehicles where you have to avoid obstacles in the road or falling objects from the sky, and a variety of mini puzzles and fetch quests.

👍
❤️Wonderful story excellently narrated by Patrick Stewart.
❤️Excellent graphics and sound.
❤️Puzzles are challenging and quite varied.

👎
⛔Some of the game mechanics are annoying and hard to implement on occasions.

📑
I don’t usually write much about the story in my reviews but in this case the story is the show stopper here.

One minute you are playing gleefully as a child and the next you are thrown into a bloody war.

My Memory of Us tells the story of two children who reluctantly join the fight against their oppressors. The enemy are depicted as a robot army, hell bent on invasion, and the children are trying to evade capture.

There are many poignant moments along the way. The game manages to relay the desperation and panic of the situation and the relentless hope against unsurmountable odds. The story really makes you wonder what life would have been like during the war and touches on an array of issues. The style and feel of the game are child like in appearance so you really empathize with the children as you see the events unfold through their eyes.

The story is wonderfully narrated by Patrick Stewart who relays the story after each puzzle section.

🕹️
Essentially the game is a puzzle game.

There are a variety of puzzles to perform and you will need to switch between characters to complete the puzzles.
Each character has their own strengths. The boy is able to sneak and steal objects whilst the girl can run fast and fire stones from her catapult.

The two characters can either join hands and move together, or split up and do their own thing. A great deal of the puzzle solving is knowing when to stay together and when to split the couple up.

The girl can use her catapult to flip switches which moves lifts, so you’ll often find yourself placing the boy on a platform whilst the girl flicks a switch to move him. He might then sneak past a robot enemy and steal a key. Sometimes they will need to work together to push or pull objects or turn handles.

You will always need to get both characters to the end of the level so you need to work together to achieve this. Holding hands enables both characters to perform their special skills depending on who is in front. If the boy is in front, they will both be able to sneak, if the girl is in front, they will both be able to run. This is sometimes part of the puzzle solving experience. There are quite a few scenes where you will need to switch who is in front depending on whether you need to sneak past an enemy or out run them. You can easily switch with a press of a button.

I did find that trying to hold hands was a lot harder than it should have been. I often pressed the button to hold hands without success resulting in many deaths and swear words. It can become a little frustrating and did mar the experience slightly. This also applied to grabbing objects like wheels and levers. You had to position the characters precisely to achieve this which I thought was unnecessary.

The game saves periodically and mostly after puzzles are completed. If you fail a puzzle you will have to start that puzzle again from the start. On more lengthy puzzles however, the game does save more regularly. It is a little frustrating having to start the puzzle from the beginning but as you learn the puzzle and its solution, the subsequent runs are a lot faster.
The puzzles themselves are quite difficult in places and I found myself consulting walkthroughs on a few occasions. Once you see the answer however you realize your mistake and they are always logical and never non-sensical.

The puzzles mainly consist of getting your character through a variety of screens towards the end of the level. You will need to avoid capture by hiding behind objects and either running or sneaking in between cover. There a few mini games involving vehicles and even a couple of boss battles. Later in the game you will find that certain characters will not be able to access certain areas so you need to split up and work independently. The puzzles are varied and interesting and sometimes a challenge to complete.

🎵
The sound was excellent and added to the atmosphere of the game. The narration is clear and precise and full of emotion. There is a wonderful soundtrack in the menu section and credits screens too.

📺
The graphics are very well drawn and even though they are child like they seem to work well with depictions of war. Animations are smooth and character movement is managed well.

As a puzzle game it is okay. The puzzles are difficult in places and straight forward in others. There are some welcome injections in pace with a few arcade sequences thrown in but the main highlight of the game is the story. It is wonderfully told and will stay with you long after you complete the game.

If you enjoy puzzle games then I would highly recommend this title.

This product was received free through curator connect.

This is a 100% positive review. I haven't found a single flaw in this game! This game is a great way to describe to a child what happened during the Nazi occupation of Poland (so, yes, it's family friendly). It's similar to Valiant Hearts: The Great War (another awesome game), but without its amount of violence and sadness. It's a fairytale about how friendship and love between two kids, can be stronger than segregation and even stronger than a whole military force. This game has the perfect amount of difficulty. You won't regret buying this game, no matter its price. Thank you for creating this game!

It's a good story but it doesn't make for a very good game...

+ Narration is good (but not all that enthusiastic)
+ Artwork is nice

- Puzzles are super easy
- Steering the protagonists feels like you're driving a forklift, especially climbing up and down
- Key bindings don't work, if you switch to WASD some of the mini games force you back to arrow keys. I still don't know what the back button is on the keyboard, I gave up and switched to a controller
- It won't remember what resolution you want to play at
- Achievements seem slightly janked, try something like "Don't be afraid of the dark" and you'll be mystified at how you're not getting it

I want to recommend it because I like the thought that went into the game but it's just not fun. Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a much much better game along the same lines

I've received this game for free on GOG.com and finished it there, then decided to buy it on Steam to support the developer... Yeah, this fact only could say something about the game.

First of all, I have to say that My Memory of Us is incredibly important game for me as a Polish. It depicts what is perhaps the most tragic event in the history of Poland - and does it in artistic, subtle manner. No propaganda here, only cruel world seen by the eyes of kids - and described with the voice of sir Patrick Stewart (yup, THIS Patrick Stewart).

Beside that, it's a solid puzzle-platformer, with delightful graphics and clever level design. It's very much like Valiant Hearts - not so polished and perhaps shorter (it can be completed in 4-5 hours), but worth playing just the same.

The memory of good times must live. The memory of terrible times should live in the memory of generations even more. “My Memory of Us” is like “La vita è bella” from Roberto Benigni, but lived through the eyes of two innocent children. The story is frightening and recognizable, even though the real events in it are depicted in surrealistic images painted by the imagination of children. A boy and a girl find themselves in the ghetto, suddenly some residents of the city became “red” and evicted to separate areas, other people try to pretend that everything does not happen to them, trains are buzzing near the railway platform, and on the horizon smoke crematorium pipes...

I really liked the way the creators addressed their story. She doesn’t squeeze a tear out of the player (almost), doesn’t suit a demonstrative moral defect, they just tell their own story in which everyone can find something of their own. And this is the right approach to such hard material. By the end of the game, I caught myself thinking that I remember absolutely all the characters, even secondary ones, the emotional connection between the story and the player is so strong.

If we talk about the gameplay, the game for the most part is a puzzle platformer with elements of adventure. For the most part, everything is passed and solved by the interaction of two characters, each of which has its own characteristics, which help in the walkthrough. Throughout the entire game, I met only two puzzles, the mechanism for solving which I did not like much, the rest of the time they kept a good level, both in terms of logic and in terms of complexity. It is appropriate to say here that a lot of achievements are tied precisely to the special conditions for performing the puzzles, which makes them even more difficult and interesting.

There are no complaints about the technical aspects of the project either: the graphics are simply gorgeous, like the music, a huge amount of effort and soul has been invested in the project. I really want more of such heart-felt, important games to come out, after which something right and something necessary remains inside the player. Amazing work

Behind this story about love, lost and found, there is a story that tell us about the horror of war in a charmy way, using methaphors to remember how much cruel was the second world war.

The red color, the grey ones and the robots, the big king, the ghetto, the trains, factories and steam have another meaning in this case.

I recommend to read all memories you find to improve your knowledge about those times and how developers tribute the memory of some people that gave their lives in that conflict.

We must remember to not repeat, and don't forget.

Play it and think about it.

My Memory of Us is an artistic, emotional tale of survival, friendship, and bravery. This is a story set in a fictional world, but the events portrayed are clearly inspired by the Holocaust of WWII, viewed through the eyes of two children caught in the middle of it.

You control both characters, each with different abilities, to creatively solve puzzles through a number of levels divided over 18 Chapters. The story is the core of the game, so the gameplay takes a backseat and merely frames and provides a way to enjoy it. However, it does provide some clever puzzles and challenging sections. I will avoid spoilers in this review.

• Beautiful graphics and art design
  
• Emotional story with clear historical significance
  
• Expert narration by Patrick Stewart
  
• Several deceptively challenging puzzles and sections

• Some sections have unclear tasks that can leave you feeling lost
  
• Timed “escape” sections can be frustrating
  
• Unintuitive and clunky keyboard controls
  
• A bit of a rushed finale

Without a doubt this is the center of the game. You merely play the game as a way to live the story alongside the characters. I am purposely keeping this section brief to avoid spoilers. It is a story told from the point of view of a reminiscing narrator, now an old man, recounting his tale to a visitor of his book shop.

It follows his young life and a girl he met, who became his best friend. They must rely on each other to survive the invasion of the Evil Robot King and his army, who quickly began to oppress the town.

I really wish I could say more, but it would take away from this critical aspect of the game. The story draws much from the lives of those affected by the Holocaust but retains its own unique world and playful setting, as viewed by the young protagonists. It does not shy from drawing similarities even if it no scenes were violent and mostly retained the filter of the eyes of the two children.

You control the two protagonists together or independently, and you switch between them for puzzles and as you move about. Each one has their own abilities. The boy is younger and can fit through small openings, as well as crouch to hide. He later on acquires a couple of unique items, such as a mirror and hand-cranked lamp. The girl can sprint and jump over some larger gaps; her unique item is a slingshot.

You can have them hold hands and move together. Whoever leads allows the other to sneak or sprint respectively. Throughout the levels, they often separate so one can clear an obstacle for the other.

One gameplay flaw was that I often found myself roaming around a level trying to see what the game wanted me to do next. In other instances, I knew what it wanted but I could not find out the right combination of abilities. There is no journal or quest log you can refer to, and there is no dialog or hint system to guide you.

The game is not overly difficult, though there were a few puzzles that took some thinking. Other than environment puzzles, you may have to do some math or find passwords (or just guess them). You use the characters’ unique abilities and items to solve them, but the controls were not ideal.

I played the game using a keyboard and it is fairly clear that they had a controller in mind. The buttons were a bit confusing but serviceable except for a few timed events where the clunky controls frustrated me. These needed quick switching of characters for back-to-back use of their individual abilities. Thankfully these were very few.

My Memory of Us does not have actual combat as the characters are just kids. There are two or three vehicle sections where you run away or chase another vehicle, and these sometimes lead into a combat section at the end. One character drives (on autopilot) and you control the other to fight off pursuers. This did well to break up the platform and puzzle segments.

Instead, there are various robot enemies that are patrolling which you must avoid such as troopers, hounds, and flying scouts. The children can hide to avoid them or use the environment as cover. This needs careful analysis of the enemies’ pre-defined path and good timing as well as distractions to get around them or somehow move the guards.

This game is beautiful. The art style perfectly fits and animations are smooth and appropriate. Whimsical design and art direction brilliantly portrays the world.

The character design is great but there are not many unique enemies, although it fits as robots are mass-produced copies. The NPCs in the world have some exaggerated animations to make up for the lack of spoken dialog.

There is critical use of the color red to accentuate the otherwise black and white scheme. Color actually plays a key role in the story (so I actually won’t go into it). This is one of the most striking and memorable games I’ve played, not just due to the childish nature of the story, but because the art perfectly represents it.

The game has no dialog other than the narrator. The protagonists and NPCs only say short gibberish lines followed by a text bubble with icons representing the words or emotions. The sounds and music are excellent and convey the tone of the story, delivering a poignant soundtrack.

Did I also mention it is narrated by Patrick Stewart? The veteran actor shines. I did not care about the lack of other speaking actors thanks to his perfect and emotional delivery of every line.

Perfect. No frame drops, glitches, crashes, or issues other than the few control problems. The game worked flawlessly. Animations play smoothly even with multiple NPCs on screen. I feel fairly confident the game is very well optimized in its code and game engine.

This is a beautiful and significant story with a unique point of view and world. Despite the hardships of the two protagonists, they do not lose that sense of wonder, adventure, and friendship that drives the young heroes forward and unites them. It offers good gameplay that merely allows you to experience a tale much greater than itself, and it fills it with emotion, spirit, visual wonder, and an innocent perseverance.

This product was reviewed with a key provided by the developer for free

Follow our curator page, Alexander's Club Curations if you like and want to see more reviews like this one.

Typical, but not Boring.
Fun, but not Light.
Wonderful.

뻔하지만 진부하진 않고
재밌지만 가볍지도 않고
멋있네요 게임이 멋있어