My Memory of Us

An incredibly touching story of... being human. Set in WWII, in Poland, it tells a story of two kids under Nazi rule, just after the invasion. It is beautifully camouflaged as something else, but with a clear intention of telling a story in a way that reminded me of "La vita è bella" from 1997 (an amazing Italian film that everyone should see in their life!).
10/10

Bookstores, not just fictional ones, hold many interesting books. Each is filled with various stories - fantastical adventures, romantic encounters, thrilling investigations, tremendous battles… But some of them are filled with stories that are hard to imagine, and even harder to believe. And such a book is found by a young girl in an old bookstore. Hidden in the attic, almost forgotten, the book is waiting for the right reader. When she brings it to the shop owner all the memories locked inside hit him with full power and he begins to tell a story…
To tell a story about two kids, a boy and a girl, caught up in dark times when an army of evil robots begins an assault on their country. With them comes an overall oppression. People are selected, marked as unworthy, separated, and then… taken away. In all this turmoil the kids do their best to survive, to keep a little part of their childhood intact. It's hard, but they try. When people rebel against the robots, the children are there to help with the fight in their own way. But as the situation gets direr with every month, they need to hide or for the best get somewhere safe. There could be a way, but maybe only for one of them… it's still worth the risk though.
My Memory of Us retales a horrific part of our, not so long ago, history - World War II, more precisely that of the events in the Warsaw Ghetto. Although the game itself doesn't refer to our world (Nazis are robots etc.) the parallel is pretty clear. Collectibles open short bios from which you can learn about the real people or events that occurred and were an inspiration for the game.
The stylized cartoon visual in 50 shades of black with a touch of red is very powerful in portraying the overall sorrow. The contrast between cute graphics, funny moments and the seriousness of the events occurring on the screen is with you every second of the game.
There is only one voice that accompanies you through the story and that is the narrator (Sir Patrick Stewart). It works well.
As for the gameplay, well you control two characters and because they have different abilities you need to often switch between them. The boy can sneak around and has a mirror at his disposal. The girl on the other hand can run, jump over holes and has a slingshot. By holding hands they become one and you control both of them with the leader's abilities influencing the other member. The good thing is that you can quickly switch their positions without breaking their bond, which is mandatory in some chasing sequences. But to be honest I was even slightly annoyed by it - I understand that the boy can't jump over a large hole even when the girl is leading the way and stops before it, but I can't understand why they can't both climb over a box! Anyway, sometimes multitasking felt rather overwhelming. I wonder why the game wasn't made in co-op because I believe that it would make a bigger impact on the audience - especially children, as the need for their mutual help through the story would prove even more emotional. But yeah, both of the characters aren't always together on the screen…
Otherwise, it's a logic game where you need to overcome obstacles with your skills and items. Failing means only getting pushed back to a checkpoint. Only if you aim for an achievement you have to be extra careful. There are also various minigames - rhythm, labyrinth, "bullet-hell", etc. I'd say their difficulty is of a higher level and I have quite struggled with some of them, which can sadly interrupt the immersion (like the final battle, which was a pain honestly).
My Memory of Us is certainly worthy of your attention. It offers you an opportunity to look at the dark moments through children's innocent eyes… although I am sad to say that I have felt somewhat detached and not very much emotionally struck by the story. I suppose I am not their targeted audience as it seemed very oriented toward younger children. The Valiant Hearts worked better for me in that way.

An evocative story with lovely art style and solvable puzzles. The world is deep and detailed, with pointed parallels to the historic events, and of course Sir Patrick Stewart's narration is excellent.

Such a beautifull game that delves into the themes of World War II, getting to see this through the eyes of two children helps giving a sense of warm to the game and also makes you feel more connected to the characters, making you worry about their well-being. The game felt both educational and emotionally impactful.
As you play the game, you get engaged wanting to know more about what's going to happen in this story.
The animation style is charming and adds a light hearted touch to the heavy subject portrait in the game.
Just to add something, the game puzzles felt quite hard sometimes, occasionally requiring tutorials or help from Google. This can be frustrating at times, but one you get over those specific puzzles/games, everything continue smoothly.
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A project that is both adorable and heartbreaking—thank you for every minute spent on its creation. I had an amazing time playing it.

Visually gorgeous; music could sometimes tone down drama a bit. Easy but nice puzzles -- and a few terribly clunky "action" sequences which should not have been present. Will take some 4 hours if you rush through. Narration by the nice, familiar voice of Patrick Stewart.

A WW2 Adventure Game Not Set in WW2
"My Memory of Us" offers a unique twist on the typical World War II narrative. Instead of a direct depiction of the war, it presents a children's reimagining of the conflict as a battle with a robot army, creating a charming and imaginative retelling that reminds me of "Valiant Hearts: The Great War."
Story:
The story is both charming and predictable, capturing the essence of childhood innocence amidst the horrors of war. The musical score fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the voiceover in cutscenes is very appropriate, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.
Gameplay:
Gameplay revolves around solving various types of puzzles to progress. Some puzzles require thought, while others demand precise timing. Despite the cute graphics, don't be fooled—the puzzles can be quite challenging.
Graphics & Atmosphere:
The art style is delightful, with a whimsical yet poignant design that enhances the story's impact. The atmosphere is enriched by the fitting musical score and appropriate voiceovers.
My One Gripe:
There are no saves. You need to finish a chapter for the game to save your progress. This lack of a save feature feels outdated and can be frustrating for players who cannot commit to longer play sessions. In today's gaming world, a "save game" button is a basic expectation.
In conclusion, "My Memory of Us" is a delightful and challenging adventure game with a unique take on a WWII setting. It excels in storytelling, atmosphere, and puzzle design but falls short with its lack of a save feature.
Disclaimer: This review was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.