🕹 Game Review: Last Desire
Submitted by: Sanj1t
🎯 First Impressions
Right away, I knew I was in for something unique—a narrative-driven game with branching choices, and then… bam, mini-games inside of mini-games! The first run-through was hilarious—Nick, my so-called “friend,” only comes back years later if I let him win one last game of Pong? Rude. On another path, I found myself deep in math questions that tested my mental skills on the fly, leading to a school arc and eventually… a love story?! THEN I’M PLATFORMING TO SAVE MY TRUE LOVE FROM A HIKING ACCIDENT!?
What a ride. I did not expect this game to evolve into so many unexpected directions, and it kept me completely hooked. From narrative paths to math mini-games to platforming rescues—this was a layered experience that consistently surprised me.
🔥 Fun & Engagement
I couldn’t stop playing. I genuinely wanted to explore all the endings and uncover each branching path. The surprise factor of diving into totally different gameplay styles depending on my choices was brilliantly executed. You made me care about the characters, and you made me want to replay to see what else could happen.
🛠 Area of Improvement (Gameplay):
-
The platformer camera felt a bit too zoomed-in, making navigation slightly cumbersome and limiting my ability to anticipate upcoming hazards. A wider camera framing would give players more space to react and enjoy the level.
🎨 Theme Use
You absolutely nailed the theme. “Just One More Day” was explored meaningfully through multiple branches—each showing how small choices led to wildly different life paths. This is exactly the kind of interpretation game jams are built for. A+ on thematic integration.
👁 Visual Presentation
The art was simple but effective. It had charm and cohesion throughout, and each gameplay segment had a clear identity while maintaining visual consistency. Backgrounds were clear, characters stood out, and hazards were easy to identify. The quirky character designs added personality, and everything felt deliberate, not random.
🎵 Sound & Music
Massive kudos for including a volume control in the options menu. Always a professional touch that’s often overlooked in jam games. Music was appropriately selected for each segment, and sound effects for the platformer were serviceable and non-intrusive. There’s still room for more dynamic feedback in some areas, but everything worked as intended.
🛠 Technical Execution
Flawless. No bugs, no soft locks, and all math questions were accurate and well-structured. Bonus points for using correct order of operations—especially in a world where people are still arguing about PEMDAS. Having variation in the questions also helped keep that segment from feeling repetitive.
💡 Originality
Absolutely. A narrative adventure that dynamically branches into entirely different genres is a refreshing and creative approach. It wasn’t just a story with multiple endings—it was multiple experiences. This framework has massive potential, and you’ve already laid a strong foundation.
✨ Polish
Everything felt finished and cohesive, with a clear start, middle, and end. I only wish I had more time to explore all the outcomes. The overall flow was tight, transitions were clean, and each gameplay layer worked well within the broader story.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Last Desire was a grand slam. You hit the theme with emotional depth and humor, and you brought a mini-game anthology format into a narrative framework that kept me engaged the entire time. You’re showing serious design chops here, and this is the kind of structure that could be expanded into something even bigger.
Keep pushing this idea—it has real legs. I’m excited to see what else you build from here. Amazing work, Sanj1t!