Last Day of June (Nintendo Switch) Review

What would you do if you thought there was a chance a tragic event could be bypassed? Most would likely do everything in their power to rectify the wrongs done to them. In the case of Last Day of June, a husband is left wheelchair-bound and without his pregnant wife after a horrendous crash on a rainy day. What had started out as a beautiful trip for the loving couple, celebrating their joy and happiness, turned into something very sour and so disastrous, and consequently life was dramatically altered afterwards.

The way the story is put across from the very start in an emotionally driven manner, but not laid on too thick, with smatterings of well-timed interactivity interlaced with, first of all, the introductory credits, and then the events leading up to the crash. Sure, it could have benefitted from actual voice work rather than the strange utterances used, and the sunken, eyeless characters are rather creepy and can lead to some connection being lost, but the soundtrack is gorgeous and background settings beautifully visualised, creating a strong ambience in which the tale can be told. It is all carried out in such a way that players will soon be drawn into the scenario playing out before them, and not released until the very final moments.

Everything takes place within the vicinity of the widower's home, initially with him being controlled in his wheelchair to interact with a painting in the back storage area. He is then drawn deeper into past memories where specific others that had a role in the run-up to the crash can be directed to adjust their actions and, with any luck, allow the tragedy to be wiped from history. A young boy playing football, a woman moving home, a gentleman shooting away at a bird that stole his medal, and an old man delivering a gift - they all played their part, and their actions had severe consequences, unbeknownst to them at the time. The question is, though, whether or not you, the player, can influence their movements to ensure a happy ending. Is it possible, or a fruitless endeavour? It is not long before the answer is revealed, in a moving fashion.

Last Day of June is not a lengthy experience, which is ideal as its theme only has a finite amount of fascination for those at the helm before it verges on growing tiresome. The same goes for the gameplay elements, which do not outstay their welcome thanks to the overall brevity. Switching between various characters brings with it intrigue to a certain degree, trying to understand how best to adjust happenings, whilst also opening gates that other characters can then access in their version of the timeline. Fortunately, before any stale feeling creeps in, or frustrations with traipsing back and forth across the same landscape several times, new areas actually begin to open up, and the conclusion starts rolling into view at just the right moment.

Chasing a bird from tree to tree by shooting at it, but needing to make sure your dog is on guard at the correct nearby tree to guide the avian thief towards a place where the stolen item can be safely retrieved, can indeed be trying, to say the least. However, on balance it works well enough, and, on the whole, the way this game has been overlaid on top of a poignant yarn is thoroughly impressive, providing more interaction than initially thought following the introductory sections.

There are also 20 collectible memories, separate to the main adventure, that can be found dotted around the area, each offering up some insight into the supporting cast, which is proves to be a pleasing touch once the final credits roll. The majority are quite easy to spot, but as with general progression through the story, it is a case of figuring out how to open certain routes to get around with the appropriate person.