Review: A Space for the Unbound
Oh buddy. When I first heard about A Space for the Unbound, I was immediately hooked - pixel art graphics? 90’s teen life? Magic powers? All of that seemed right up my alley, and I was beyond excited to give this indie game a try.
If you have no clue what A Space for the Unbound is about, here’s a description from the publisher Toge Productions:
“A Space For The Unbound is a slice-of-life adventure game that tells a story about overcoming anxiety, depression, and the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers.
Follow two high school sweethearts, Atma and Raya, on a journey of self-discovery at the end of their high school years. When a mysteriously supernatural power is suddenly unleashed threatening their existence, they must explore and investigate their town to uncover hidden secrets, face the end of the world, and perhaps learn more about each other.
Set in a small town inspired by 90s era rural Indonesia, A Space for the Unbound presents an endearing story-driven experience with a vibrant environment waiting to be explored.”
The game took me about 14 hours to complete, which seems to trend towards the long end based on what I’ve seen online - most players have reported taking between 10-12 hours to finish the game. I also chose to play on the Switch, although the game is also available on practically every other platform out now. Now, let’s (space)dive into the details!
Combat and Gameplay Mechanics: B
For the vast majority of the game, your teenage character, Atma, spends most of his time running around his Indonesian town seeking specific individuals to complete various tasks. One movement aspect that grew tedious for me was the running feature - to make your character run instead of walk, you need to double-tap your joystick in the direction you are moving. This wouldn’t be such a hassle if weren’t for the fact that you have to do it every single time you move, and you do a LOT of moving in this game. The running speed also isn’t quite as fast as I would like, so there were a few times when I grew frustrated at what felt like incredibly slow movement.
On the other hand, the combat mechanics in this game are DELIGHTFUL. There isn’t a huge amount of traditional “fighting”, in this game, but starting in Chapter 2, there are times when you are thrown into Street Fighter-esque battles against various neighborhood foes, and you must press directional buttons in specific orders in order to block and attack these enemies. None of these battles are particularly difficult, and instead are a great chance to appreciate the phenomenal art style A Space for the Unbound utilizes.
Finally, there’s spacediving, a tool that Atma possesses which allows him to dive into the psyches of many individuals he comes into contact with. Each spacedive is like a unique itty bitty dungeon, where you must use clues you’ve gathered about that person to help them unlock a level of their subconscious in order to advance the story. I never had a bad time spacediving, though as the story progresses and you see how messing with people’s minds can impact them later, you might feel quite differently!
Story: A
Without spoiling anything, I’ll say this: If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit in with others, especially during your teenage years, you will find something to appreciate about the story in this game. The characters are flawed, sometimes deeply, but the ways in which you’re privy to how they change and grow is truly something to behold.
The story’s pacing is shaky in the beginning, and Chapter 1 (out of 5) left me feeling like I was missing something. However, from Chapter 2 onwards I was DEEPLY invested in Atma’s growing concern for Raya, and his confusion and panic about the slow collapse of the world around him. By the end of the game I had fallen in love not just with the protagonist, but also with his classmates, community members, and even the cats (and there are a LOT of cats. Yes, you can name them. Yes, you can pet them. Yes, this is delightful.)
No matter your age, I believe there is something in this game that will speak to you, whether it’s the nostalgia of entering the old-school arcade and the Internet cafe, or the pain of watching a loved one suffer but refusing to leave their side. Trust in the story, and you won’t be disappointed.
Vibes: A
An easy way to tell if I love a game? If the ending makes me cry.
Reader, this game left me sobbing. It wasn’t just the cathartic way the story wrapped up, but also the beautiful music, the breathtaking art, and the way this game was just long enough to fill a couple of Sundays with its magic before releasing me back to the real world. Playing handheld on my Switch definitely contributed to my love for this project; there was something preciously personal about being curled up under blankets and holding this world in my hands, versus experiencing it on a larger screen.
My recommendation? Get the game on Switch or Steam Deck, give yourself 2-4 good afternoons or evenings to power through it, and enjoy every moment.
Overall Rating: A
Play this game. It’s short, sweet, and achingly human. Your past and current selves will both thank you.
