Afterlove EP review: Sigmund Feud’s comeback and farewell is an emotional gut punch

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Experiencing a group performance where everything seems to malfunction can be tough to describe, but imagine being in a room with friends who are trying to produce something magnificent together, yet keep wounding each other with their differing opinions, egos, and emotions. It’s like having a jammed gearbox that prevents smooth transitions, and observing this struggle is intensely painful. That’s the essence of the Afterlove EP.

The game focuses on Rama, the musician who’s the guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist for Jakarta band Sigmund Feud. The game opens with scenes leading up to a performance, as Rama spends time with his two closest friends, Adit and Tasya, alongside his girlfriend Cinta, who struggles with an undisclosed chronic illness. Following a successful concert, Cinta continues to struggle with coughing fits, while the band members head out for drinks. Upon returning home, Rama feels compelled to put his musical ideas into practice, creating a new song, all the while ignoring calls and texts from Cinta. Unfortunately, by the time he realizes it, it’s already too late.

Life After Cinta

A year post Cinta’s demise, Rama embarks on a journey to re-emerge into society. Despite this, he continues to communicate with the spectral presence of Cinta, who is one of only two vocal characters in the game (the other character has voiceover for just one scene). Their dialogues offer insights into Rama’s thoughts, and it soon becomes evident that his decision to resume life is not due to having overcome his grief, but rather because he feels it’s time, having passed a year since her death.

For a month starting September 1st, 2017, we stepped into Rama’s shoes, aiming to rekindle old friendships, revive the band after a year-long break, seeking help from a therapist to address our friends’ concerns, and possibly meeting someone new. However, Afterlove isn’t just about healing and reuniting the band; it’s a deep exploration of a friend who became so engulfed in his own sorrow that he failed to notice the world carrying on around him. Adit and particularly Tasya, as they make clear during our first rehearsal, had to keep the band active by sharing old content on social media, pursuing their own lives, working jobs, discovering new hobbies, and dealing with other bands trying to recruit them.

In these scenes, Rama’s reluctance to address the elephant in the room results in the persistent deterioration of the band, showcasing the raw and unyielding essence of Afterlove. Rama is a tangled web of complexity, flaws, and blindness towards his friends’ problems, which are further obscured by an idealized and self-centered image of Cinta in his mind, clouding his awareness. As events unfold, the band functions erratically, much like an old car that hasn’t been serviced for a long time. Tasya eventually sets a deadline: clean up your act by the end of the month, or the band will disband.

In “Afterlove,” the gameplay shifts towards a social simulation, resembling a condensed version of Persona minus the demon battles and high school angst. During the day, Rama can engage with an individual (or activity), while at night he can connect with another. Each week is marked by escalating band rehearsals that include a mini-rhythm game as you perform. You decide whether to send Rama for therapy sessions weekly or spend time socializing with your expanding group of companions.

Messily moving on

In some instances, Rama seems to be benefiting from these relationships: discussing personal matters with a therapist, although it might be awkward, is crucial for growth. Yet, not all relationships may be beneficial. Socializing with the record store owner and his diverse group of friends could assist Rama in regaining his confidence and possibly exploring his sexuality. On the other hand, spending time with Adit’s former girlfriend could lead to complications if it develops beyond casual interactions. However, you can also use leisurely moments to recollect memories shared with Cinta, the genuine Cinta, and contemplate your past self compared to your present state.

Each decision you make will shape your conclusion, ranging from a joyful victory to a bittersweet resignation, and each outcome leads Rama on a unique path. It’s important to note the genuine depiction of relationships in this story. For instance, you see the strain within the band as they struggle to perform at their best, the wistful reflections as Cinta’s memory fades, or the playful teasing between Satria as he gently nudges you about your unawareness of your sexuality while vigilantly guarding his LGBTQ+ community. All of these interactions feel incredibly real.

The melodies and ambiance of Afterlove are beautifully harmonious, with some challenging rhythm parts skillfully highlighting Rama’s dedication during that period. When the band is in sync or he’s playing a familiar tune, the musical path becomes more straightforward; however, when things get tough or he’s experimenting with a new sound for the group, it becomes more complex (the music, thanks to Indonesian indie band L’Alphalpha, is exceptional throughout). The hand-drawn, animated art style of the game effectively sets Afterlove apart visually while also offering glimpses into urban Jakarta’s culture and atmosphere.

I’d say this instead: The Afterlove EP is mostly impressive, but there are some technical hiccups that I find troubling. On PC, Cinta’s dialogue often gets cut off abruptly, requiring you to close the application and restart from a previous save. On PS5, textboxes break after a while, causing dialogues to scroll slowly. These aren’t game-ending bugs, but they do disrupt the flow of gameplay quite a bit.

In essence, these small issues serve as proof of the remarkable achievement that was bringing Afterlove to market. Behind the scenes, the teams at Pikselnesia and Fellow Traveller played crucial roles in ensuring its release, following the untimely passing of Aftterlove’s creative director, Mohammad Fahmi, in 2022. The game, Afterlove EP, could be seen as a profound tribute to a developer who was always highly respected by his peers. It carries a poignant message that even when things seem difficult, we must continue to find ways to live on.

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2025-02-13 19:28