Yeo brings his distinct vision to life once more with Fading Afternoon. As with past works like The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa, Yeo crafts a story rooted in realism rather than flashy spectacle. We step into the worn shoes of Seiji Maruyama, a yakuza just out of prison in his later years. Prison has drained his health, reflecting his declining role in a world that moved on without him.
Returned to his home city, Seiji finds his former gang’s influence has waned. Other clans now hold power through strength in numbers alone. With little choice and fading days left, he rejoins his boss, Azuma, to try regaining their turf. But Seiji’s heart no longer burns with the same fire as before, behind bars. Where once he followed orders without question, now he wonders what path truly suits his dwindling time.
Yeo invites us to wander the streets alongside Seiji, immersing ourselves in the subtle sights and encounters that breathe life into his story. No cutscene dictates our actions; we experience his final days as he experiences them, piecing together his fate through the interactions and choices that unfold. In Fading Afternoon, the journey itself shapes the destination.
The Final Act
We step into the worn shoes of Seiji Maruyama, a yakuza just released from prison in his later years. Time hasn’t been kind; his health is fading, and the underworld has moved on without him. Returning home, Seiji finds his former clan left in disarray. Other families now control the streets and carve up his territory.
Yeo invites us to experience these final days as Seiji does. With little money or means of support, he has no choice but to turn back to his old boss for help. Azuma provides a place to stay and a task to help regain their influence. But how Seiji chooses to spend these weeks is entirely in our hands.
Fading Afternoon offers true role-playing freedom. We can embark on different paths, from violence to virtue, rebuilding the clan, or walking away. Every action carries consequences; every person is granted new opportunities. Will we drift through these days without purpose or forge new bonds to find meaning?
Some paths lead to heartbreak, others to hope. We can spark new romances or strengthen old flames; our choices shape these relationships till the very end. Nothing is certain except the passing of time. Seiji’s health is slowly fading with each day. But every experience grants insight into this complex man and a chance to craft his final days as our own.
Yeo’s minimalist storytelling trusts us to piece together these fleeting interactions and uncover multiple endings. It’s a story that transcends its genre, weaving a poignant meditation on life’s brevity and the legacies we leave. In these closing acts, Seiji’s fate lies in our hands, but his humanity remains for us all to ponder.
Weaving Destiny
At its core, Fading Afternoon presents a simple loop: you’ll spend each in-game day exploring three locations of your choosing. But how Yeo expands on this foundation keeps things richly engaging.
Each area brims with detail, from bustling streets filled with characters to isolated shores overlooking the sea. Peer closer, and hidden interactions emerge, triggering cutscenes that flesh out Seiji’s world. But time flows fast, so choose destinations wisely as the days fade.
A map helps navigate this living, breathing city. But forget fast travel; you’ll board crowded trains, feeling every second tick by. Careful planning is key, and delay could prove fatal as Seiji’s health gradually drains.
Combat also lacks haste, capturing visceral throwdowns through precise timing. Learn each foe’s patterns and open with perfect parries to take advantage. Yet damage is unforgiving, so fights demand tactical consideration over button-mashing bravado.
Mastering these rhythms brings great reward, as success unlocks new routes forward. Follow one path, and you may rise again in the underworld, while others point to tranquility away from violence. How your story unfolds depends on how deftly you conduct each moment.
While some find friction in controls tailored for touch rather than buttons, facing each challenge with focus draws you deeper into Seiji’s ending days. Freedom lies not in choice alone but in accepting the consequences of each step taken. By weaving your own destiny from the threads provided, Fading Afternoon’s life lessons linger long after its final scene.
Atmospheric Autumn
Fading Afternoon’s 2D pixel art simply has to be seen to be believed. From rain-soaked back alleys to sun-drenched cityscapes glowing with sunset hues, each scene tells its own story through atmospheric visuals alone.
Yeo packs environments with intricate touches, so exploring feels like unlocking hidden layers with each new vantage point. Subtle details like snow gathering on park benches or waves lapping at dockside beams bring settings to life. His obvious passion shines through in such finely crafted backdrops.
While backdrops dazzle, character design shows room for growth. Beyond outfits distinguishing gangs, most non-player models blend together a touch. It’s a minor nitpick, as individually, each face remains full of expression through animation. But greater variation could further strengthen immersion in this living, breathing underworld.
Aside from visuals, Fading Afternoon lets its setting speak for itself with minimal audio. Speech remains brief and to the point, as in real life. In the downtime, however, ambient noise sweeps you up in the atmosphere. Waves lull as rain patters and trains rumble in the distance—perfect white noise for your journey.
Yeo creates a soulful sensory experience where every element enhances the whole. Though he is still evolving, his passion for authentic storytelling shines through in every handcrafted pixel. Fading Afternoon may be a quiet gem, but its visual language resonates long after the final scene fades to black.
Wandering in a Winter Wonderland
Fading Afternoon takes a deliberate approach to its pacing and gameplay that some may find meandering but ultimately feels quite magical. You step into the weary shoes of an aging yakuza just out of prison, with little direction beyond your dwindling health bar. At first, this lack of guidance feels disorienting as the days fly by. But embracing Seiji’s leisurely pace reveals subtler pleasures.
Traversing the snow-dusted city streets moves at a methodical speed, allowing you to admire exquisite details like falling snow collecting on parked cars or cafes glowing warmly against the evening sky. It feels very much like you’re taking a stroll through a living winter painting. With time no longer of the essence, you can simply absorb the atmosphere of each neighborhood.
While the minimal handholding might frustrate some used to clear-cut objectives, it encourages exploring down side alleys and engaging strangers to uncover your own narrative arcs. Triggering events often happen organically through trial and error rather than waypoints. I found myself lingering longer than intended just to see where casual interactions may lead.
Of course, sometimes you’ll reach a dead end or miss key clues, leading to an abrupt game-over. But persevering opens up deeply moving human stories involving allies, enemies, and potential romances. Success depends as much on your ability to immerse yourself in Seiji’s world as on your combat skills.
Indeed, the sparsely padded combat took adjustment. Complex multi-button sequences aren’t intuitive on the Switch. Yet pushing through and timing each exchange feels viscerally tense, a reminder that staying alive depends on street smarts rather than health bars. Mastering fights unlocks new areas and activities to experience Seiji’s final days as you choose.
While not for those seeking wall-to-wall action or handholding, Fading Afternoon stays with you like the gentle snowfall, blanketing the city in bittersweet beauty. Its pace respects life’s small moments, revealing joy and sorrow through patient wandering off the well-trodden path.
Navigating the City Streets
Fading Afternoon immerses you in a living, breathing underworld. Yet some of its more unconventional choices could put off less experienced players. The control scheme requires adjustment, with some actions like blocking and punching sharing buttons. It fails to clearly label functions, leaving newcomers unsure of how to progress. And the game offers scant preparation, simply planting you on its city streets with limited bearing.
These issues become so apparent during combat. Fights require split-second reflexes and precise sequences that frustrate until they are mastered. With victories and progress on the line, tense showdowns too often feel like fighting the controls rather than enemies. It seems a disservice that such impactful storytelling is guarded by such an unforgiving barrier.
Too often, helpful hints remain obscure, with maps and timings eluding discovery. Simply orienting yourself each day proves a challenge alone. These navigational needs feel like afterthoughts in a world that begs exploration. Without signposting the opportunities, many risk missing key paths and experiences altogether.
Admittedly, such unconstrained experimentation can reward those who persevere. Yet for others, floundering alone risks more annoyance than intrigue. A gentler introduction welcoming beginners could strengthen bonds with its poignant narrative before tests of mastery.
The Fading Legacy
Fading Afternoon tells a poignant tale with real emotional depth. You become fully invested in Seiji’s final days, experiencing moments of both melancholy and beauty as his story unfolds. Developer Yeo crafts a living, breathing world through haunting visuals and ambient sounds. Every backdrop, whether a snow-dusted street or lively bar, feels intricately lived-in.
While the storytelling relies on environmental storytelling rather than cutscenes, it proves an immersive way to discover Seiji’s relationships and your options. Multiple endings incentivize replays to find new paths. The somber tone examines life’s fleeting moments with real profundity. It left me still thinking long after putting down the controller.
Of course, some of its more unconventional choices can prove divisive. The hands-off tutorialization risks leaving new players adrift. Meanwhile, its demanding combat system makes fights feel more frustrating than fun at times. Fixing these stumbling blocks could draw in more to experience their poignancy.
Still, Fading Afternoon serves as a bold exemplar of video games as art. Much like Wong Kar-Wai’s cinematic gems, it finds beauty in everyday scenes and melancholy in life’s brevity. While not quite perfect, Yeo takes commendable creative risks that push the medium forward.
For those willing to embrace its thoughtful pacing over handholding, its moving final farewell makes an impression likely to linger long after its final credits. While it may not resonate with all, Fading Afternoon proves some risk-taking can yield rewards in storytelling.
The Review
Fading Afternoon
Despite some stumbling blocks, Fading Afternoon offers a poignant tale of life's ephemeral beauty. Fans of thoughtful narratives and environmental storytelling should embrace its unconventional pacing for a memorable experience. While its experimentalism risks putting off some, Yeo crafts a world worth sinking into for those willing to explore at their own pace.
PROS
- Engaging narrative with multiple endings and replay value
- Strong atmosphere and sense of place through visuals and music
- Thoughtful exploration of life's ephemerality and loss
- Environmental storytelling encourages discovery.
CONS
- The combat system feels awkward and demanding.
- Lack of guidance risks frustrating new players.
- Technical issues could pose distractions.
