Behind the Frame: The most beautiful landscapes (Nintendo Switch) – The test

Lovers of narrative experiences, welcome to Behind the Frame, a small indie with no other claim than to immerse us in the intimacy of a painter. The opportunity to get out of the usual shackles, sometimes heavy, of these boosted triple A with the trigger a little too easy, the time of a soothing and contemplative parenthesis, armed with his only brush…

Courtyard window

At the heart of the plot, the heroine, supposed to complete the final piece of her gallery, nevertheless lets herself be distracted by the intriguing neighbor opposite, this old gentleman who spends solitary days with his cat. Between the two lovers, transfixed, of pictorial art, a curious game of gaze is thus established little by little through interposed windows… Full of her obsession, impossible under these conditions, for the young painter to return to her ultimate tableau as long as it has not first solved the mystery of this fascinating local resident.

Simple as hello, the story follows with real pleasure, effectively punctuated by modest puzzles contributing to the “puzzle game” component of the title. The rare non-narrative game phases therefore call heavily on our sense of observation. Without timer, without rushing, and for good reason: 1h to 1h30 are enough to conclude the adventure.

Art is everything, and everything is art

If it obviously suffers from its micro-lifespan, Behind the Frame like the soft languor of a summer night, seduced very fortunately, this is its main argument, by its atmosphere conducive to daydreaming; between two brush strokes, we nonchalantly carry out a few tasks, sneak a look at the enigmatic dean, come back to our incomplete fresco once we have unraveled a little puzzle, in order to obtain the color which, until now , we were lacking.

Then the cycle repeats. Drawing, painting, eating, drinking coffee, listening to a little music, looking for inspiration and new colors… The game stutters, a little, a lot. The pangs of the ordinary. Behind the Frame However, it is valid for its scenario, finely crafted, which it would be unforgivable to spoiler in view of its brevity. For its ergonomics too, especially on Switch, touch mode requires.

Ghibli the Enchanter

Nevertheless, it is above all by its artistic direction, irreproachable, that Behind the Frame most intensely dazzles. Fine and colorful, the graphics that clearly are in the vein of Studio Ghibli – but if, but if, Princess Mononoke, My neighbor Totoro, and then Neither No Kuni for video games -, alone justify being tempted. A cartoon jewel, or almost.

What to say, if not, of the soundtrack, at least just as magical? A marvelous feeling of calm, fullness, even frank bliss emerges when listening to the softest of rustles or fascinating rattles, the rustling environment of these innocuous sounds of everyday life which, from each other, stand out clearly. . Moreover, prefer wearing a helmet, fully promoting immersion in this brief moment of authenticity, emotionally engaging.