Release Date: June 25, 2024
A narrative adventure game with elements of visual novels and pixel art graphics. Until Then tells the story of Mark Borja and his friends. We explore environments inspired by the Philippines. We must decide how Mark will evolve and will he become a better person.
Until Then is a 2.5D narrative adventure game with visual novel elements, in which we take on the role of high school student Mark Borja. It is the second game of Polychroma Games studio, which is based in the Philippines.
The game begins in the bedroom of a teenager, Mark Borja. Along with his friends he struggles with the typical life of a high school student. Everything changes when one day a chance encounter turns his life upside down. Mark has to uncover the mystery behind why people are disappearing. His memory is failing and he needs to find the answers before it's too late.
Until Then consists of twelve chapters, called scenes in the game, during which we can explore and interact with the environment.
Apart from exploring the world, an important aspect of the game is building relationships with Mark's friends and acquaintances. We can do this by talking to them in person or through online messengers and short messages.
Social media is also an important element of the game. It serves not only for conversations with other characters, but also allows for liking posts and posting comments, which has its consequences. As events unfold in the game, it is thanks to social media that we are able to discover the necessary clues.
Between exploration, communicating with other characters and browsing social media, the gameplay is diversified by mini-games inspired by everyday activities. For example, we can try to insert a pendrive into the USB port for the first time, or compete for who can pick up more balls at the food stand.
The graphic design of Until Then combines two-dimensional sprites with a three-dimensional environment. Our movement is limited horizontally, but an illusion of moving deeper into the location has been created.
The creators' inspiration with the landscapes of the Philippines, including the bustling capital and seaside towns, is important for the appearance of the game.
Platforms:
PC Windows June 25, 2024
Nintendo Switch June 26, 2025
PlayStation 5 June 25, 2024
Developer: Polychroma Games
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment / Zordix
System Requirements for Until Then Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-4460, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 3 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-6400, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1650, 3 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10/11 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Until Then Video Game.
PlayStation Universe: 8 / 10 by Joe Richards
Until Then stands as a heartening example of a narrative adventure game and manages to strike a chord with its delicate balance of the supernatural and highschool drama. Managing to deftly avoid the tropes that dominate the space, every choice in Until Then feels intentional and every interaction feels far more earnest than some of its contemporaries. I very much enjoyed experiencing this story and being able to almost relive some of my own silly highschool stories through the eyes of Mark. Lying underneath the teenage awkwardness is a story about growth and acceptance, and it is one that everyone will be able to see themselves in.
Eurogamer: 4 / 5 by Jason Rodriguez
While the setting and inspirations are Filipino through and through, the themes of friendship, love, loss, and acceptance in this visual novel are universal.
COGconnected: 80 / 100 by Mark Steighner
My feelings about Until Then evolved the longer I played. What at first seemed like a slow-paced visual novel with retro graphics gradually began to reveal itself as something much more sophisticated. Excellent character development and a surprising, emotionally varied narrative are at the heart of Until Then, but its storytelling mechanics are fresh and contemporary, too. Mark and his gang have interesting stories to tell, and so does Until Then.
![[1:32] - Nintendo Switch Release Date Trailer](https://cdn.gracza.pl/galeria/filmy/640x360/2076516125.jpg)
