Behind the Frame, is a story worth visualizing.
I waited a long time to play this, and I’m not exactly sure why. Possibly because I already have an insane amount of games in my Steam library already, but after seeing it come up so often on the front of my Steam page, I decided it was finally time I played it. So happy I did, too.
- Developed by Silver Lining Studio
- Published by Akupara Games, Akatsuki Taiwan Inc.
- Available on Nintendo Switch
- Available on PlayStation
- Available on GoG
Who is this game for?
Game length
Around an hour or 1.5 hours, if you’re also doing the DLC
Genres
Explanation to Negative Feedback
Jack’s DLC has no save points
It’s not too much of a problem, because his DLC is rather short, but if you’re trying to do all the achievements on his end and accidently miss one that you can’t go back on, you’ll need to restart his side of the game in order to try to grab it again. It can become a bit tedious and monotonous–and super annoying if you miss the same achievement more than once.
Explanation to Positive Feedback
Beautiful animations
I wasn’t prepared for this game to have such lovely animation styles throughout playing it, but I enjoyed everything that it could give me where they were concerned. It was enjoyable to see her sipping on her coffee as she watched her neighbor paint through the window. It almost looked like her mood was different almost each time–especially when it was the rainy day. Just a subtle shift in her emotions toward him as she sipped her coffee.
And I don’t know about you, but the squeezing tube of paint onto the palette parts were so satisfying to watch.
DLC for Jack
I’m so happy they put in a DLC for Jack in order for us to get a little more out of the story from his point of view. It puts things into a better perspective on what was going on with his thoughts and work regarding Amber.
Soundtrack is nice
Okay, it’s a bit better than nice, but I always feel weird talking about the soundtracks to games when they’re really nice to listen to, because I just don’t know how to explain it. I’m pretty sure every day gives you new music to listen to through a cassette, and one of those days is even a rainy one. What’s better than music overlaying a drizzly day, right?
Links Worth Checking Out
- Nothing here
Behind the Frame Review
TL;DR Review
Behind the Frame is a beautifully crafted game that gave me intense Studio Ghibli vibes without really matching up with the animation style that is SG–(let’s face it, who can really outmatch SG’s style, am I right?)
The main game makes you think about what went on by the end of it. Who Amber and Jack were, and how were they connected to the woman we were playing as and the old man in the apartment across from her. It’s really open to interpretation, but I believe maybe it was her reminiscing on Jack and wondering what he would be doing now days with his painting career.
So perhaps just a loner who enjoys the company of his cat.
And maybe that even explains why he never truly acknowledges her attempts at conversation.
The whole environment she resides in screams that she owns the life of a painter. I can’t imagine living in a place with so much clutter in regards to paint supplies, but I also don’t have the cleanest room on most days. I also like the fact that she keeps her own paintings on her walls, which I think maybe a lot of painters wouldn’t do, because we’re so judgmental of our own work.
Now, I won’t give out any spoilers, but I was kind of disappointed in Jack’s DLC, just with what he did and didn’t do and maybe how he was disappointed with the fact that he hadn’t gotten many letters from her after a certain point.
It’s really a, “well, duh,” moment.
