Game #906: The Missing - JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories

 50% platformer, 50% horror, 100% Swery 65.

 A game that took about as long to get a physical release as it takes you to say its title, The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories is a game that caught my eye the moment it released because it was another game by Hidetaka Swery.

 The game deals with hot topics such as gender and sexuality, so, y'know, if you're afraid of 'hidden agendas' this is not the game for you. Also, it's a game from a Japanese auteur, so even if you are into these topics bear in mind that this comes from another culture, from a guy that tried his hardest to understand people very much not like him.

 The game is as pretty as it is gruesome, JJ Macfield must mutilate her body in order progress, think Wario but without the slapstick. While JJ turns into a black silhoutte whenever she loses a body part, gets bisected or catches fire, there are plenty of disgusting fleshy sounds to accompany her screams. 

 The game is a nice blend of platforming with puzzle solving, but man, some of the puzzles are obtuse to say the least. There's a train you have to move by throwing logs into the furnace, but there's no way to realize that you should use the furnace for anything other than catching on fire. Another puzzle has you matching cardboard cutouts with images in the background, but there are no proper hints to aid you with which cutout goes with which background.

 The platforming does have a few frustrating bits, while JJ is close to immortal, as she needs to be down to her head and take a hit then for a 'true' game over, the game is very slow paced. Regenerating your bits, having to trigger 'states' while you figure out what to do... It can feel like you are wasting more time than necessary.

 The plot has some neat twists, and I think is as tasteful as it can get from a Japanese viewpoint.

 You can collect Donuts to unlock test messages with JJ's friends, further developing her character, as well as alternate color palettes, pretty nifty, although I think something as important as JJ's interactions with her friends shouldn't have been tied to optional collectibles.

 Not my favorite Swery65 game ever, but it was a fun little adventure that didn't overstay its welcome.

 6.5