Lost Words: Beyond the Page Review

A diary allows you to keep track of all the things you want to remember. It is a place you can share your thoughts and feelings, a place you don't need to hide anything and where you can be you. It can feel intrusive and invasive to read someone else's journal, but Lost Words Beyond the Page allows you to access the thoughts of someone who is going through one of the most difficult moments in life: the loss of a loved.

Izzy is the young girl behind this diary. She dreams of becoming a writer. She decides to write her own story, urging support from her wise Gran. You suddenly find yourself in two stories: Izzy's diary, and Izzy’s novel. Although this may seem confusing at first, there are clear distinctions between them. Izzy's journal is on lined paper, and the main character in the novel is a heroine for whom you can choose a name.

Like many stories, Izzy's novel contains reflections from her own life. The heroine must save her village and the Elder she is close to, as well as rescue all the dragon-attacked fireflies. The story's main plot revolves around the Elder giving you a magic book that allows you to use words in order to navigate the various environments you encounter. The game is very simple and you'll find yourself quickly running through the levels in order to collect fireflies. It's not difficult to play. You can use the words "rise" or "ignore", to move a platform upwards or make it disappear.

You can also play Izzy's diary by jumping between the sentences and words as she writes them. You must get from A-B to B until you can return to the novel. This is even simpler than the novel. Although Lost Words won't win any prizes for its gameplay design, it will get your attention. The characters' light and floaty movements are a stark contradiction to the story being told. This will be a lasting impression on you long after you have finished the game.

The heroine wants to save her village but Izzy still hopes for a miracle. Her Gran is ill and she continues to write in her journal. Izzy is desperate to finish the novel and get better. Izzy's journal becomes more and more difficult to read and can sometimes feel like an emotional struggle. Keep a stash of tissues handy if you feel vulnerable. Lost Words is a great way to tackle difficult subjects through young eyes.

Izzy/the heroine's voice acting is amazing and will make you feel for them while they struggle to adapt to the changing world. The soundtrack matches the emotions you feel during the story. Lost Words shows that stories and real life can have happy endings and not so much. That's okay.

Lost Words doesn't have any boss fights or enemies. There is very little puzzle solving in the game, which can make it feel somewhat empty for a part-puzzler. You can use words as your weapons and tools to move through the story. NPCs can talk to you and make minor changes to the game. They will also help you solve small puzzles (such as repairing broken bridges or breaking blocks).

You will find beautiful photos and scenes in the diary as well as Izzy's story. There will be many places to see, including underwater caverns and lush green lands. This could have been used more with the diary pages. There are many that are simply lined pages. It's a shame. It's a bit disappointing to see plain lined pages following one with a moving car ride, or a colourful background.

It's not just the story that is being told. There's something missing from Lost Words. Although it's difficult to identify what it might be, it feels like there should be more. It would be great to have more gameplay and more puzzles. You are drawn in by the story of Izzy's diary and feel emotionally invested. Unfortunately, the rest of the game doesn't live up to that level.

Although Lost Words was not a long game, you will still feel exhausted after the credits roll. Even if you're slightly disappointed with the story, it's worth it. Although the lack of extensive gameplay or in-depth puzzling is disappointing, this is not the goal. You should be focusing on the stories being told and enjoying both Izzy's journey and the story that they tell.