Avinash Rohra 
A Birthday Wish Like No Other
If you could revisit the past and meet a lost loved one, would you take the opportunity? Once Again, an interactive visual novel from Malaysian indie developer RB Wolf Games, explores this heart-wrenching concept through the eyes of Sia, a boy who, on his birthday each year, is granted a fleeting chance to meet his late mother. A poignant blend of nostalgia, grief, and the passage of time, Once Again invites players into a deeply emotional experience, but does it truly work as a game? Let’s dive in.
A Time-Bending Tale of Love and Loss
At its core, Once Again is a visual novel with light interactive elements. It follows Sia, a teenager who lost his mother before he could form any real memories of her. However, each year on his birthday, he mysteriously receives a cake with a single candle. When he blows it out, he is transported back in time to meet his mother, but never as her son. Instead, he becomes an unnamed acquaintance, interacting with her in fleeting moments across different years of her life.
Unlike traditional visual novels, Once Again leans into a cinematic, comic book-inspired presentation. Dialogue unfolds in text bubbles rather than the standard text box at the bottom of the screen, and the game’s storytelling is bolstered by painterly visuals and atmospheric music that enhance the melancholic yet hopeful tone.
Story
The narrative is the heart of Once Again, and it’s where the game shines brightest. The bittersweet nature of Sia’s journey is filled with moments of warmth, sadness, and quiet contemplation. As Sia grows older, the interactions he shares with his mother become more profound, highlighting the inevitable passage of time and the realization that some things—no matter how desperately we wish otherwise—cannot be changed.
The game touches on themes of grief, nostalgia, and self-discovery, making it a moving experience for those who have lost someone dear. The writing, while simple, is effective, and the English localization does a commendable job conveying the emotions of the original text.
However, the story’s predictability might be a drawback for some. The game makes it clear early on that Sia’s time with his mother is limited, and there are few narrative surprises. That said, Once Again is less about plot twists and more about the emotional weight of its premise.
While Once Again excels in storytelling, its gameplay is where it falters. The interactive elements, though creatively woven into the narrative, often feel superficial. You’ll be asked to perform simple actions such as wiping away dust from a photograph, adjusting a camera lens, or assembling puzzle pieces, but these mechanics rarely feel engaging.
The game’s cursor-based controls on the Nintendo Switch can be clunky, especially when using the joystick to navigate interaction points. Thankfully, touchscreen functionality smooths out the experience, but it still feels like Once Again would be better suited to a mobile or PC environment. The mini-games and interactive moments serve more as pacing tools rather than true gameplay, making the experience feel more akin to an interactive film or kinetic novel than a traditional video game.
Aesthetic Excellence
Where Once Again truly excels is in its presentation. The game employs a gorgeous, hand-drawn art style that feels like a living, breathing webcomic. The past is rendered in vibrant colors, while the present is depicted in monochrome, reinforcing the contrast between nostalgia and reality.
The soundtrack is another highlight, with a blend of lo-fi beats, soft piano melodies, and subtle ambient sounds that perfectly complement the game’s introspective mood. The final monologue, voiced by Cheer Chen, is particularly powerful, adding emotional weight to the game’s climax.
Who is Once Again For?
Fans of visual novels, story-driven games, and interactive fiction will likely find Once Again a worthwhile experience. If you enjoyed titles like Florence, Before Your Eyes, or To The Moon, this game will resonate with you. However, if you’re looking for a deep, branching narrative or intricate gameplay mechanics, you may find Once Again lacking.
Final Verdict – A Beautifully Crafted Experience, But is it a Game?
Ultimately, Once Again is an evocative, heartfelt story that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. However, it straddles an awkward line between visual novel and interactive experience, struggling to justify itself as a game in the traditional sense. While its touching narrative and stunning presentation make it a memorable journey, its minimal gameplay mechanics and limited replay value prevent it from reaching true greatness.
[Disclaimer – This game has been reviewed on a Nintendo Switch Copy provided by Keymailer.]
