A Memoir Blue
Short, touching game shows importance of loving family bond.
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A Memoir Blue
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that A Memoir Blue is a casual downloadable adventure game available for Xbox One, Xbox One S and X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows (via the Steam digital store). This is a story-driven experience with minimal interactive elements and imagery that blurs the lines between an animated film and a game. It follows a daughter who has become estranged from her mother. After dwelling on memories from childhood and processing her emotional highs and lows, she slowly figures out how to move forward with her mother. Besides a brief, illustrated depiction of a verbal argument between the main character's parents, there's no violence or other material for parents to be concerned over. Even still, the themes and messages are better suited for older gamers.
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What’s It About?
The nameless main character in A MEMOIR BLUE is a world-renowned swimmer. She has won countless trophies and medals that are spread across her apartment, but she looks unhappy and drifts into sleep. Once she wakes up to her home flooded with water, she swims through the collapsed floor and (literally) dives into a deep dream to relive her memories with her mom from childhood to the present. Through a lot of water- and ocean-themed metaphors, you realize that despite having a loving mother who cared for and raised her on her own, the protagonist is conflicted because her mother was neglectful in other ways toward her needs. The story's about this young woman processing her memories and emotions to understand how she grew apart from her mother, and whether or not there's any hope in restoring that connection.
Is It Any Good?
Some games don't need to be long or complicated to offer impactful experiences. A Memoir Blue is one such example of this being proved in more ways than one. It's a story-driven experience with very simple gameplay to make progress through the story. The only mechanic is a cursor that can either be manually or automatically moved across the screen to select objects, which involves things like swiping away debris or lifting boxes, turning on a phone or flicking on lights, and operating a radio or starting a boat. Solutions are often apparent, and even when they aren't, you can experiment by hovering over what catches your eye until you find the right object. Even if the mechanics are minimal, this design approach allows the storytelling to shine, which is beautifully represented with graphics blending two art styles: cartoon animations to depict the past, and more realistic 3D models and environments to represent the present. Every scene is imaginative and spellbinding, such as a sequence where you repair a dock with wooden panels floating in an upside-down sea, or another where you direct water droplets to slowly reveal a picture on a newspaper. The same creativity goes for the soundtrack, which has indie folk, piano, and ambient tracks that are soothing and relaxing.
This all helps to enhance the emotional weight and presentation of the story, which is conveyed through visuals and audio alone. There's no dialogue or text in the game. This means some of the exact meanings behind the two main characters' actions and feelings are open to some interpretation, but the general message is a hopeful examination on the importance of creating and preserving joyful memories with family. It also thoughtfully conveys how helpful it can be to take time to process your thoughts and feelings. Among other themes that invite reflection and discussion with family members, A Memoir Blue will wash over you with its artistic and emotional waves. The experience may only last one evening, but it's worth plunging into all the same.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about work-and-life balance. Why can it be hard for parents to find time to do all their work and be with family? How can everyone in a family make small efforts to be there for loved ones even when life keeps us busy? How can you be more aware of family members' emotional and relational needs?
When you're not passionate about a certain hobby, family and friends may be disappointed when you show no interest in what they like, so what are some ways you can engage in someone's interests to show your love?
When you're upset with someone's behavior, have you talked about your feelings and impressions? Sometimes, people may not be aware when they do or say things that are hurtful, so how can you encourage communication and honesty in a relationship to avoid prolonging problems?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($7.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
- Release date: March 24, 2022
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures, Ocean Creatures
- ESRB rating: E for No Descriptions
- Last updated: April 21, 2022
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