Jose Romero
editor-in-chief
Despite its short length, “Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery” manages to tell a compelling story that surpasses equivalent products in gaming.
The title is an indie game made by a team of eight people, and the passion from each individual is tangible as the game tells a beautiful love story about an artist’s muse. Its narrative is mysterious at first but is meticulously unveiled as the story progresses. Everything about the story is well thought out, answering each question players may have during their experience.
The game is presented and played at a 360-degree panorama camera angle, akin to sitting still in a chair and spinning in it. Even with its seemingly limited playfield, the environment is brimming with detail thanks to the outstanding hand-drawn art style. The cutscenes are absolute eye candy because of the gorgeous animation that brings the characters to life.
The dialogue is told through text boxes that can make character development difficult, but Behind The Frame has no issues creating the main character into a charming artist that lives a pretty normal day-to-day life. The game makes an everyday task like writing an email into a crucial character moment.
The title’s short duration may seem like a fault, but it uses every minute to develop its characters and its world, never failing to keep the player engaged with its gameplay.
The gameplay revolves around puzzles that don’t ask for too much but also aren’t overly simplistic. Near the final act, the puzzles require more thought from the player, but it’s never frustrating. For people that don’t play video games, this is the perfect entry point. The game has only two button commands, meaning a beginner can pick up this game with ease.
And one should do so for the music alone. The soundtrack blankets players with soft, melodic jazz as they go about their day. It’s like a gentle hug from a loved one. It comforts players, ensuring them that they’re in a safe place where they can de-stress and reflect on the smaller details of life.
Far too often, game developers think the only way to draw in customers is with loud, violent displays of ludicrous action, but Behind The Frame disagrees with that. It’s gentle with its approach, allowing players to do tasks at whatever pace they like. No timers or large setpieces are pushing you to progress. The game sits back and lets you do what you’re going to do. If you want to pop a tape into the cassette player in the game, you can do that. The only thing that matters at that time is living in the moment.
