Jesse Makkonen’s Heal brought a tear to my eye, its narrative of an elderly gentleman reminding of the loving connections in my own life.
Without giving too much away, Heal tells the tale of an old man that moves through various levels solving puzzles. It is one of those stories where the story is guided by the atmosphere itself, and any visual/audio clues along the way.
I played Heal, and the initial levels reminded me of Makkonen’s other game, DISTRAINT. The worlds had an almost ethereal sense to them, and I felt that eerie familiarity as I plodded along the environment, solving puzzles.
The game’s Steam page has this rather cryptic passage, and it really made me think:
Do you find it familiar…?
Maybe it could help you to remember.
… to remember us.
I want to see you again, even if only for one last time.
After I put it down, tears started to well in my eyes. It was something that hit very close to home for me, and the subtle hints helped me understand what Makkonen was trying to convey. The puzzles were interesting, and the lack of overt clues made it all the more fascinating.
I will be forthcoming about this — I have never been someone who was really outgoing. It earned me few (but really close) friends, and a partner who really cares for me. As the game came to an end, I felt more appreciative of the people who already cared for me, and my own place as a person on this Earth. Heal is a game that is seemingly abstract at first, but tells a very moving and human tale at its core. To me, it’s the connections between us that makes who we are.
Heal is available now on Steam, the App Store, and Google Play.
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