Staffel: A letter to the future likes to preserve the memories of an enchanting world

Memories are an important part of what makes us human. Holding on to them is an important human trait, as we often long to relive the defining moments of our lives: a beloved toy your father bought, your first love, or that record you once listened to so many times until it broke. But as valuable as memories can be, they are fragile and can be lost forever. Season: A Letter to the Future revels in preserving the memories of a world that will soon be lost to an apocalyptic event of unknown proportions. Whether it’s sound, image or drawing, the game keeps showing you how important it is to preserve those memories for future generations.

A ray of hope

You take on the role of Estelle, a young woman tasked with documenting and recording a world’s final moments before a new “season” begins. A season in the game is defined as an era in which major events take place; this could be an era of peace or sometimes an era of war. Whatever form it takes, it acts like a reset button on the world, where everything starts over, including memories, taking all people with it. Documenting the current season is important to Estelle as she wants future generations to know about the past before it’s lost forever. It also gives her the chance to explore the world outside of her village for the first time, which was also a dream of her father. To protect Estelle from the effects of the changing of the seasons, her mother sacrifices her own memories to create a pendant to help protect her before their emotional goodbyes, perhaps forever.

For the record

With a camera, an audio recorder and a sketchbook, Estelle sets out to document the last days of the current season. What sets the game apart is that it doesn’t force you to document everything. it lets the world lead the way. Getting out on a bike and enjoying the beautiful scenery will surely inspire you to pull out the camera and snap some shots. Hearing the buzzing of fireflies and the chirping of birds at night might compel you to record them for future generations. Who knows if they would even be there next season?

An unforgettable journey

On her travels, Estelle comes across the Tieng Valley, a charming village that is sadly destroyed after a flood. The whole village was evacuated, only a few locals were left. For locals, leaving their homes and waiting for a new season inspires both a sense of tension and hope. For example, one of the locals you meet is an aging artist who is highly critical of her work and wants the tide to take away her artwork. But she still hopes that deep down her art will be appreciated and loved by others. As such, the artist vows to create one final masterpiece for Estelle to preserve for future generations. In this she could find comfort to live on through her art.

The Tieng Valley itself is nothing short of an amazing place to play most of the game. Giving the player complete freedom to explore every nook and cranny of the village makes it that much more rewarding. The game forces you to think about how beautiful the world is by depicting this humble valley. From its lush fields to its architecturally stunning structures, each place has a story to tell or a memory to share. The valley offers you a canvas and it’s up to you to create your perfect masterpiece. The flowers, the statues and the landmarks each have their own meaning that will make you curious to learn more about them, including glimpses of the endings of bygone seasons.

In the end, Season: A Letter to the Future is just that; a letter to the future. Memories are at the forefront of the game, and it’s up to you how you collect and preserve them, or which ones you leave behind. Themes of hope, sadness and reflection are prevalent in this carefully crafted, majestic world, making the game itself an enchanting memory.