Review: The Kids We Were for Nintendo Switch

By Sean Robbins (SeanBird) Host / Executive Producer of
The J-Pop Exchange

The Kids We Were deals with the juxtaposition of childhood and the struggles of adulthood. You play as Minato, a young kid living in a small Japanese town with his sister Mirai and their mother. Early on, it becomes very evident that there are many hardships that the family is facing. For instance, Mirai has a terminal illness, and their mother experiences many coughing fits. Though their mother insists she's fine, one can't help but worry about her, as this happens to her frequently. In chapter 2 of the game, Minato receives a surprise visit from an adult version of himself, from 30 years into the future. His future self insists that there is a way to prevent and minimize the hardships that the family is facing.

The main game-play comes from the progression of the story, collecting coins and answering questions about events that transpired in the story thus far. The game has a unique graphic style that is full of heart along with a gorgeous soundtrack. The atmosphere and art-style lend an endearing nature to the characters, leading you to care about their struggles and become invested in their world.

Here is some advice to help you early on, and throughout the game:

- As you progress through the story, you learn that there are hidden coins scattered throughout. If you notice the word "examine" appear on the screen, be sure to press the A button. This usually indicates that you have found one of the hidden coins. Additionally, if you view the status screen, you can see how many coins there are left in the area to find.

- While it is generally clear what you need to do to progress through the story, there are 2 ways that you can receive hints if you are ever stuck. First, you can view the status screen to view a hint on what to do next. If this does not provide enough detail, you can talk with the fortuneteller in town to receive a more detailed explanation on what to do next.

- Try to retain as much detail as you can in regards to who you are talking to and what is happening throughout the story. For example, at one point of the game, you will talk with a police officer, you will later need to remember that his last name is Takahashi.

Review copy provided by GAGEX Co., Ltd

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