SEASON: A letter to the future

Overall, the critics' opinions regarding the Story of SEASON: A letter to the future are generally positive. Many critics appreciate the game's exploration of profound themes such as memory, choice, consequence, loss, and community. Critics like Checkpoint Gaming, Gaming Nexus, and Press Start Australia highlight the captivating and unique narrative that revolves around capturing memories before an inevitable end. They praise the game's ability to provoke emotions and thoughts, as well as its carefully crafted script. The game's melancholic tone, wondrous exploration, and the protagonist's journey of discovery are also commended by critics like KeenGamer and RPG Fan. However, there are some negative aspects that critics point out. Some critics, such as COGconnected and Guardian, feel that the overarching plot lacks focus and depth. They find the story to be lacking impact and the protagonist's agency to be lacking. Gaming Age criticizes the shallow and pseudo-deep dialogue, while PC Gamer mentions the constant interruptions and lack of personal exploration that hinder the storytelling. Slant Magazine also mentions a sense of uncertainty and lack of confirmation in uncovering little stories and mysteries. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that SEASON: A letter to the future offers a captivating and reflective narrative adventure. The game's exploration of themes, such as memory, culture, spirituality, and the fragility of both the mental and physical world, is praised. The unique concept of a changing season wiping memories and the focus on capturing and preserving memories before an impending cataclysm are seen as compelling elements. While there are some criticisms regarding the depth of the story, dialogue, and personal exploration, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics appreciating the game's melancholic tone, thought-provoking narrative, and the sense of wonder and discovery it evokes.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of SEASON: A Letter to the Future are varied, but there are some common positive aspects that stand out. Many critics praise the exploration aspect of the gameplay, whether it is on foot or by bicycle. They appreciate the freedom to explore the vast open-world at their own pace, with GameSpew mentioning various game modes and a rewind function that adds to the overall experience. The use of tools such as the camera and audio recorder is also highlighted as enjoyable and providing a sense of freedom to capture and document the player's surroundings. Critics like Press Start Australia and TheSixthAxis specifically mention the ability to add personal touches to the journal, such as sketches and photographs, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. The scrapbooking mechanic is also mentioned positively by Gaming Age and Shacknews, as it allows players to create their own unique memories. However, there are some negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. COGconnected and Gaming Age mention frustrations with the cycling mechanics, with the latter also mentioning frustrations with the controls. Metro GameCentral notes that the gameplay is on rails with limited exploration, which may be a drawback for players seeking more freedom. Some critics, such as TheGamer and PC Invasion, find the movement and bike controls to be clunky and awkward. The lack of markers and objectives is also mentioned by GamingTrend as potentially frustrating for some players. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that SEASON: A Letter to the Future offers a unique and refreshing gameplay experience. The exploration aspect, freedom to document and capture memories, and the personalization of the journal are all highlighted as positive aspects. The game's ability to create a cozy and immersive atmosphere is also appreciated by critics like KeenGamer and Screen Rant. However, there are some criticisms regarding the cycling mechanics, controls, and limited exploration. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics praising the game's ability to provide a relaxing and personal adventure in a beautifully designed world.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of SEASON: A Letter to the Future are overwhelmingly positive. The majority of the critics praised the game's visuals, describing them as beautiful, stunning, and visually appealing. COGconnected commends the game for its vivid color scheme and cell-shaded design, which adds personality to the world and creates a whimsical atmosphere. Checkpoint Gaming highlights the stunning environmental design, blending comic book and Ghibli-esque styles, with evocative use of color. GamesRadar+ and KeenGamer also emphasize the game's stylized and hand-drawn charm, making players want to capture everything they see. TheGamer mentions the cel-shaded pastels and striking landmarks, while Screen Rant praises the timeless quality of the cel-shaded style, which works well with the contemplative ambiance. Despite the overwhelmingly positive sentiment, there are a few minor criticisms mentioned by some critics. Gaming Nexus points out minor issues with camera angles and clipping glitches, which slightly detract from the overall experience. Video Chums notes occasional texture pop-ins, although they still find the graphics attractive overall. The Indie Informer mentions that the opening section plays out in confined, interior spaces, which may limit the visual impact initially. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that SEASON: A Letter to the Future has exceptional Graphics and Visual Design. The game's visuals are consistently praised for their beauty, artistry, and immersive qualities. Critics like GamingTrend, PC Gamer, and PC Invasion highlight the impeccable visuals, well-crafted character models, smooth animations, and picturesque art direction. The use of color, hand-drawn comic book style, and cel-shaded design are frequently mentioned as standout features that contribute to the visually stunning experience. The game's ability to create a captivating and immersive landscape, with sweeping vistas, abandoned valleys, and idiosyncratic settlements, is also highly regarded. The positive consensus among the critics indicates that SEASON: A Letter to the Future excels in its Graphics and Visual Design, making it a visually appealing and memorable adventure.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of SEASON: A letter to the future are generally positive. Many reviewers praised the soundtrack and its ability to enhance the emotional aspects of the narrative. COGconnected commends the subtle but poignant soundtrack, while KeenGamer highlights the beautiful compositions by Spencer Doran and the fluid transitions. NPR and Screen Rant also mention the game's beautiful scoring and sound design, which contribute to the contemplative atmosphere. The atmospheric soundtrack, as mentioned by Checkpoint Gaming, responds to the environment and enhances the magical elements of the game. The inclusion of music-playing flowers and audio-storing objects, as noted by Guardian, adds an interesting and immersive aspect to the sound design. However, there are some negative aspects mentioned by the critics. Gaming Nexus points out that the mouths of the characters do not move during dialogue, which can be distracting and take away from the overall immersion. PC Gamer mentions that the constant commentary from the narrator becomes overwhelming and hinders the overall experience. The voice acting, although generally praised, has some inconsistencies with lip-syncing and the main character not speaking during dialogue, as noted by GamingTrend. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that SEASON: A letter to the future has a strong and immersive sound design and music. The positive aspects mentioned by the reviewers, such as the beautiful scoring, atmospheric soundtrack, and the ability to capture and record sounds, outweigh the negative aspects. The soundtrack enhances the emotional aspects of the narrative, creating meaningful and emotional moments, as mentioned by Push Square. The sound design brings the world to life, with sounds of nature and music playing a prominent role in creating immersion, as stated by Shacknews. The overall sentiment is that the sound design and music of SEASON: A letter to the future contribute positively to the overall experience of the game.

The overall sentiment regarding the voice acting in SEASON: A letter to the future is largely positive, with multiple critics praising the performances of the voice actors. Critics such as Gaming Age, Gaming Nexus, and Softpedia commend the strong and impressive vocal performances from each character, highlighting the ability of the voice actors to bring the characters to life. RPG Fan specifically mentions Maureen Adelson's standout performance as the protagonist, with quiet-yet-powerful emotions evident in every line of dialogue. The quality voice acting is also credited with grounding the moments spent in other people's company, creating empathy for each character, as noted by TheSixthAxis. However, there are some critics who have reservations about the voice acting in SEASON. Push Square expresses disappointment, describing the voice acting as below par. Screen Rant mentions that the voicework can feel stilted at times, which breaks the graceful quality of the conversations. PC Gamer points out that while the voice performance of the narrator's mother is infused with warmth and encouragement, the constant interruptions and lack of variety in dialogue make the overall voice acting less impactful. Taking into account the opinions of the critics, the overall consensus on the voice acting in SEASON: A letter to the future leans towards the positive side. The majority of critics appreciate the strong performances and the ability of the voice actors to bring depth and authenticity to the characters. The serious tone of the writing and voice acting is seen as earnest, but there are moments of levity that provide a nice contrast, as noted by Checkpoint Gaming. While there are some criticisms regarding certain aspects of the voice acting, such as stilted moments and lack of variety, the positive feedback outweighs the negative. Overall, the voice acting in SEASON: A letter to the future is considered solid, impressive, and capable of evoking emotions and empathy in players.

In terms of technical performance on the PlayStation 5, there are some positive aspects mentioned by the critics. Gaming Nexus highlights the benefits of ultrafast load times and the tempest 3D audio feature in SEASON. Additionally, GamingTrend's review of the PC version also mentions good technical performance and stability overall. These positive aspects indicate that the game performs well in terms of loading times and audio immersion on both platforms. However, there are also negative aspects mentioned by the critics regarding the technical performance on the PlayStation 5. GamesRadar+ reports experiencing map loading problems and image display glitches, while Gaming Nexus mentions semi-frequent frame drops, stutters, and camera angle issues in tight corners. Metro GameCentral also notes occasional issues with getting stuck on scenery. Press Start Australia further adds that there are noticeable bugs, performance hitches, and glaring typos in the game. These technical issues suggest that the PlayStation 5 version of SEASON has some room for improvement in terms of stability and bug fixes. On the PC platform, there are mixed opinions regarding the technical performance of SEASON. PC Gamer's review mentions a bug that wiped all save data, which has since been resolved. However, no other technical performance or stability issues are mentioned. On the other hand, PC Invasion reports inconsistent performance with variable framerates and significant drops, even on high-end hardware. The Indie Informer also mentions spotty technical elements but still finds the overall experience memorable. These varying opinions indicate that the PC version of SEASON has had some technical issues, but the extent of these issues may vary depending on the hardware and individual experiences. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that SEASON: A letter to the future has some technical issues across both gaming platforms. While there are positive aspects such as fast load times and immersive audio on the PlayStation 5, there are also negative aspects like frame drops, stutters, and bugs. Similarly, the PC version has had its share of technical issues, including inconsistent performance and occasional bugs. Despite these technical shortcomings, some critics still find the overall experience of SEASON memorable, suggesting that the game's other elements may compensate for its technical flaws.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of SEASON: A letter to the future are quite varied. Some critics, such as Gaming Nexus and RPG Fan, highlight the multiple story paths and endings based on player choices, indicating a positive aspect of the game's replay value. The reviewer from The Indie Informer also mentions being tempted to run through the world again to see different outcomes, suggesting that there is some replay value present. Additionally, PC Gamer mentions the satisfaction of curating a journal with choices, which could potentially encourage players to revisit the game and make different decisions. On the other hand, several critics express concerns about the lack of replay value in SEASON. Softpedia straightforwardly states that the game has no replay value, while NPR mentions that the short run time and memorable experiences may not be enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. New Game Network's reviewer states that they wouldn't return for a second playthrough as they feel they've seen everything the game has to offer. Slant Magazine also points out that the focus on uncovering little stories and mysteries, without confirmation or certainty, may limit the replay value for some players. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a lack of significant replay value in SEASON: A letter to the future. While there are positive aspects mentioned, such as the multiple story paths and the temptation to see different outcomes, the concerns raised by critics regarding the limited content, lack of variety in tone, and short run time suggest that the game may not offer substantial replayability. Critics like Checkpoint Gaming and NPR highlight the need for more content or breaks in the game, indicating that additional elements could enhance the replay value. Ultimately, players who enjoy exploring different narrative paths and making choices may find some replay value in SEASON, but for those seeking a more varied and extensive experience, the game may not offer enough incentive for multiple playthroughs.