Over two years ago, this game gave me the courage to open up to my own Emily. Now I'm playing it again, and soon I'll be her wife. This game is a beautiful, painful experience and I can't be thankful enough that it exists.

The Missing: J.J. Macfeild and the Island of Memories has ended up being my nominee for game of the year in 2018. I know this obscure indie game will never be a finalist, and that’s fine. I know the game has a strange clumsiness; and that clumsiness really does bring down the overall experience. But yet in a year where I have played many great games (such as Monster Hunter Worlds, Soul Calibur VI, Verminetide 2 and Monster Prom To name a few) The Missing was the game my mind kept trailing back too when I brainstormed candidates.

So why is that? Why do I keep coming back to this clumsy, gimmicky, ugly platformer? There is the plot. Anyone who has played the game knows what I’m talking about, anyone who hasn’t don’t worry I won’t spoil it. The story is good and unique. There is a twist that gets revealed either at the end or a little earlier if you get the collectibles and pay attention to the character interactions. But I won’t lie, I support the people this game represents, but I’m not one of them and so I don’t think it sold me on the story alone either.

I think what really got my attention was the overall feel and atmosphere of the game. Like watching some pretentious European art film. Most of it is laborious panning camera shots of things the director has decreed as ‘beautiful’. Normally they are right, but it can get a little relentless. However, after every hour or so in the game there would be a moment where I felt like I ‘got it’. I could see what the developers were getting at. I could understand the surrealist symbolism. I was genuinely empathizing with the characters and I think that’s something I will hold onto in the years to come.

As I said earlier I don’t identify with the lifestyle the characters in this game are faced with. But I feel like in these brief moments I mentioned I had an opportunity relate and understand them in a way books, movies and TVs can never quite manage. Thanks to the interactive medium of games, particularly puzzle games, I can’t tune out or half focus. I’m there with J.J. the whole time. I think genuine empathy is a rare and valuable thing these days. That’s that’s why I have nominated it for game of the year.

That or I’m hipster trash and games pretty weird.

When I first finished The MISSING, I wanted to cry.
Not because it made me sad.
But because it understood me, and made me feel a little less alone in the world.

It's overall a lot less crazy than his other games but still very much Swery.
I thought the puzzle design was pretty good, although the platforming was a bit too stiff and occasionally rather frustrating.

In regards to the plot, all i can say without spoiling is, that parts of it felt fairly predictable, but that it is nonetheless a very good, moving story.

Despite the jank, this is a very good game with some very good vibes, i think some swery friends might be disappointed that the game isn't as all out crazy as D4 or some moments in DP were, but i also think that some people are going to really appreciate this videogame, especially the story.

I try to minimize spoiler as much as possible and include some spoiler tags (be aware for wording as English is not my native language). It’s best to try out and experience the story by yourself.

It’s not often to discover the games that manage to tie concept, world design, and story together perfectly. It may fly under people’s radar because of weird preview trailer and self-harm concept that could be very sensitive for someone. “The Missing” is a puzzle-platformer game with story driven narrative developed by White Owls Inc. which is directed by Hidetaka Suehiro (a.k.a. SWERY).

The Missing is story of J.J. Macfield searching for love interest friend, Emily that suddenly disappears during camping trip in remote island. Unfortunately, J.J. is accidentally struck by lightning, but somehow discovers “regeneration” ability that can recover and revive herself. J.J. decides to risk her life even it costs serious pain and suffering in order to find beloved Emily. The question is …will she find what she lost?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2401919136
[The next discussion contains major spoiler, please skip if you haven’t play it yet.]

In my opinion, the story is strongest point of the game. Similar to other SWERY games, there always weird element and randomness represent in some kind of symbolism. As player invests into the story, it slowly start to click as each piece of plot come together and ultimately reveal in meaningful way, fulfill not just for characters, but also to the audience. As a sensible person and the one who used to suffer from suicidal tendencies and depression, the writing does great job to reflect the reality and positively encourage to accept who you are. “Nobody is wrong for being what they are.” Obviously, the message they want you to understand from the start.

The Missing is consider as 2.5D side-scrolling puzzle game which features “self-harm” mechanic to both solve the puzzle and relate to the story. The player will learn to guide J.J. from simple platforming (jump, swing, push, and throw) to more complex and advanced puzzles that requires logical thinking and self-dismemberment. For example, J.J. uses her limbs as a counterweight or throw-able object, neck snap by wrecking ball to turn the level upside down. You’ll yourself put J.J. into various environmental hazards (some are inevitable) in try figuring possible solution.

The puzzles and levels are very well designed and can be challenging (without holding player hand). The satisfaction of completing puzzle in exchange for J.J. physical pain and her cries in agony. Violence is inevitable. It doesn't design to fulfill someone's inner sadist or being unnecessary torture porn, but it intentionally ties to J.J. backstory along with world design that you experience throughout the game.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2401919530
Self-harm consist of 5 stages of dismemberment, amount of received damage depends on angle, force, and gravity that player makes contact with those hazards. A bit wonky, but mostly consistent and predictable. Even, J.J can regenerate to normal state by her will. She can die in decapitated state (only a head left). There also some traps that instantly kill J.J. or forced decapitated state. Luckily, her severed head is easy to control in platforming (can slightly direction in midair which is handy).

The game also has short intersections that break between large areas as it reveals the past in a form of phone messages. It includes chase sequence which I consider as the weakest part of the game due to checkpoint placement and weak navigation that lead to trial and error approach. Manually throwing and turning crane control in general is not terrible, but not fluid either and can be frustrating when they need to be completed in time.

I adore sound design of the game. from the excellent ambient sounds to physical bone cracking as J.J. drag her mangled body part are both unsettled and disturbing. Voice actors do great job and give strong sense of inner feeling, suffering, and emotional pain. There are some details of character reaction to certain event and voice line / tone changes depend on current state of J.J. such as different dialogue when have conversation in injury state.

Most of soundtrack and songs play in certain events, but it slowly emotionally build up from the start and hit in the right spot. Not just by melody, but the lyrics sends hidden message, powerful feeling of reality and hope especially “The Missing” and “Her Song”. I believe that anyone who made to the finale would feel the same way.

The Missing levels are pretty straightforward, but filled with Sleepy Donuts collectibles (individually or interact with Sleepy Donut mascot). They are well hidden and some are very tricky, challenge player to think outside the box. Sleepy donuts are not just cheap collectibles, but it unlocks text messages from the past between J.J. and side characters. The conversation represents teenage relationship and some connects and influence to the main plot. Moreover, it also unlocks extra contents which are concept art gallery and J.J. alternative costumes (skins).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2401919689
The campaign length is roughly between 6-8 hours (but It took me 10 hrs. including all donuts without guide). After you complete the game, it also unlocks music and cheat options which I really appreciated the old-fashioned way they reward player to collect additional collectibles much easier or mess with game mechanic.

The Missing is powered by Unity Engine. It features 2.5D presentation with some colorful scenes and grim / isolated environment. Character animation is smooth and provide strong feedback when it comes to world interaction despite minor clipping issues on geometry.

My old PC (Win 7 / i5 / 8GB RAM / 1050ti) runs this game on 1440p with solid performance and stable framerate with responsive KB+M control. I personally don’t encounter any game-breaking bug except few soft-lock spot that involves invert gimmick. Another time is long freezing credit at the end (if you experience the problem, just let it play and it will unfreeze eventually).

Despite of some flaws, The Missing is only few games that manage to handle this social issue in the most professional and oddly creative way as interactive media could do. The Missing is not just a video game or work of fiction, but a powerful message for all people who struggling in real life either depression, relationship, or losing their identity. It might not sound easy to overcome, but it’s never late to give up on life.

The Missing is a very touching game and deserve more attention. I hope to see more games like this from SWERY or other developers.

If you found this review helpful, please consider and give a thumb up, any feedback and exchanging idea are very appreciated

There are some games that make their entire plot focus about determination and the power of friendship. The characters in those games push themselves through trial after trial, hardship after hardship. All so they can get their happy ending.

Those characters don't have ♥♥♥♥ on J.J.

This is a woman that will reduce herself to a severed rolling head just to try to find her girlfriend. That's next level determination.

In terms of gameplay it's very much like Limbo, with the concept that you mutilate yourself in various ways in order to solve puzzles. The gameplay is fine, the animation is fun, the voice acting is campy, and all in all, it's a great experience. Totally worth the purchase price.

Everyone who's ever felt like they don't really belong somewhere...
When you feel like nobody will ever accept you for who you are..
Play this game and just remember...
You're not alone.
And you are perfect, just the way you are.

Here's a game that knows how to deliver an emotional gut punch, or twenty. Its core mechanic is the injuries that the heroine can suffer without dying, and use them to get through the levels. Get your hand chopped off, and throw it to knock a crate down. Set yourself on fire to burn something. Get your neck broken to have a change of perspective. Then fix yourself and keep going. And the story is... Well, it's very much about personal trauma. Without going too deep into the spoilers territory, I'll just say that the mechanics are used to tell a story in a way so clever that it all clicks together in the end, when you realise what it all was about.
For those who value games that have something to say, and that, instead of trying to be books or movies, say it with the games' unique element -- interactivity -- this game is a must play.

Great game!

God aweful controls with Keyboard and mouse. One of the key mechanics of the game is throwing stuff. So you have to Press E and use WASD to aim... Except it doesn't let you aim with W+D inbetween. Which means you have only Straight up with W and A D for the direction. That's it.

Some menus are mouse driven, others not. ETC.

So play this with a controller preferably.

Content Warning: This review contains mention of self-harm.

The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories is an excruciating horror puzzle-platformer. The player often has to commit several forms of self-harm, mutilation, and immolation to progress through the game’s beautifully rendered magical realist landscapes. But beyond these macabre and gruesome mechanics, lies a heart wrenching tragic love story between two women. A summary of the game follows a female protagonist, J.J. Macfield, who searches for her friend and love interest Emily after she goes missing on a camping trip. After J.J. is struck by lightning, she cannot die and must inflict grisly wounds on herself in order to solve the game's puzzles. A fair review could end here. But such a slapstick summary would be dishonest, because the puzzles are tedious, and often times I found myself asking: “Why am I playing such a frustrating game?”

One reason is that the mechanics bow tie nicely into the overall theme of the game. The mechanics in The Missing serve a two-fold purpose. First, they act as the main interaction by which the player commits self-harm to the protagonist in order to progress each level. Second, they hint at a deeper layer of suffering J.J. and her romantic are experiencing. J.J. struggles with self-harm because she is a gay transwoman whose self-hatred does not allow her to love or be loved. She is a gay transwoman who is navigating the initial stages of a romantic relationship. This thematic is reinforced by the main villain being a monstrous version of J.J. wielding a razor blade: an oft-common tool used for self-harm.

But again, the puzzles are frustratingly demanding and tedious, so why am I playing this game? The art style is certainly unique. It has a 2D presentation of magical realist environments that are grounded enough in familiar places to seem authentic: a bar, a construction site, or a bowling alley. But at the same time, these sites are invaded by monstrous alter-egos, robot monkeys, and sentient moose so as to sprinkle surrealism into the landscape. In addition, more in-game items you collect the more access you have to different outfits, original artwork, and accessories as well.

Despite the unique art-style, the real reason I kept pushing beyond the frustrating puzzles was because The Missing is a relatable experience buried in deep thematic coherence. Most of us have been there, during those initial stages of a platonic relationship where emotions begin to develop. It can be hard to navigate those situations, especially if they turn romantic, and our inner critics can be extremely harsh for any perceived mistakes. Here, self-harm is not just part of the mechanics of the game, it’s embedded in the love story between two women, and moreover, serves as a subplot for internalized transphobia and the hardships marginalized communities can face.