Half Past Fate [Switch] Review – True Love?

An interactive romantic comedy film isn’t a bad idea. Just not a particularly exciting one. Which perfectly sums up Half Past Fate.

A point and click adventure which sees you play a range of lovestruck characters – from a schlubby videogame fan to a constantly fretting businesswoman – who you have to gently nudge in the direction of true love by solving a range of simple puzzles.

The game is split into chapters, with each one taking part in lovingly designed pixel-art environments. Buildings open up like dollhouses once you go inside them, and there’s a great level of detail evident throughout – the aesthetics are hugely charming.  

Sadly a game that focuses so much on its characters, their stories, and how they overlap has to rely heavily on the quality of its script. And this is where Half Past Fate comes a little unstuck. 

Although never overly cloying or irritating, it falls short at offering the kind of sharp and effortless sparkle the best romantic comedy writing possesses.

It’s knowing without being truly witty, and is often overly sentimental without earning the right to be so. Although its characters aren’t unlikeable, they’re nowhere near as lovable as the game seems to think they are.

So although seeing all the character arcs come together at the end is satisfying, it’s not something that will have stuck with you by the time the credits have rolled. 

So ultimately considering the game’s price tag you’re probably better off with either Florence – that packs more of an emotional wallop – or something like The Lions Song, which boasts more involved and satisfying puzzles.  

Half Past Fate isn’t a bad game by any means, and is a fine way to spend a few hours – but it’s not much more than that. So really it’s the perfect representation of the lightweight romantic comedy films it looks to mimic.

The good

• Lovely presentation
• Gently entertaining

The bad

• Writing lacks sparkle
• Puzzles are too simple

60 out of 100

Maria Alexander