'Afterlove EP': A game about music, grief, and new beginnings
In numerous conversations, you choose between different dialogue options, thus influencing the course of the game. — Fellow Traveller
BERLIN: Dealing with the loss of a loved one isn't easy. Rama, a young musician from Jakarta and the protagonist in the visual novel game Afterlove EP , experiences this after the death of his girlfriend Cinta. He's at a low point and he can't get her voice out of his head.
While he continues to struggle after a year of mourning, an important performance is coming up. His band finally wants to release their first major EP. Time is running out and Rama wants to overcome his personal crisis and become the band's frontman again.
After the indie games Coffee Talk and What Comes After , Afterlove EP is the final work of video game designer Mohammad Fahmi, who passed away in 2022. It tells a quiet and sensitive story of grief, new beginnings, and the power of music. The focus is not on action, but rather on an emotional journey.
In numerous conversations, you choose between different dialogue options, thus influencing the course of the game. There's also time to explore the Indonesian capital and there are repeated short rhythmic passages where you play guitar riffs in the style of Guitar Hero . These usually sound melancholic, fitting the mood of this indie game.
The visuals of Afterlove EP can best be described as a hand-drawn 2D look in a manga style. While the animations are sometimes simple, they still appear very lively and create a special atmosphere. The whole thing is accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack that perfectly underscores Rama's personal journey.
Afterlove EP is available starting at around €20/US$20/RM49 on Steam for the PlayStation 4/5, the Xbox One/Series, the Nintendo Switch and PCs. The age rating is 12 years. – dpa/Tribune News Service
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'Teman Sejati' marks as Nidji's first OST for animation film
KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian pop-rock band Nidji is honoured that their heartfelt single, 'Teman Sejati', has been chosen as the official soundtrack (OST) for 'Ejen Ali The Movie 2'. This marks their first-ever collaboration with an animated feature film. The song, from the band's latest album 'Manifestasi Hati' released earlier this year, was composed and written by Nidji's guitarist, Andi Ariel Harsya. It was originally penned in 2019, long before the band envisioned its future on the big screen. "Actually, the song had been written for quite some time, since 2019. So, when we were approached by the film production for the song to become an OST, we felt very honoured," said Andi when met at a press conference held at Balai Berita, here, today. He added, "When we recorded it, we never set a target for it to be chosen as an OST for any production, so this is beyond our expectations. It's really divine intervention." The track, with its stirring lyrics and soaring melody, perfectly complements the themes of friendship, courage, and resilience explored in the movie. Other band members — Yusuf Ubay, Randy Danishta, Ramadhista Akbar, Adri Perkasa, and Andro Regantoro — were also present at the event. Meanwhile, according to Azri Yunus, the film's score composer, music plays an equally vital role as the story itself in shaping a cinematic experience. "When a film is made, while 50 per cent of it is its story, the other half comes from its audio, including sound effects and music," he explained. "When I first heard this song from Nidji, it was a spot-on choice. From its lyrics to its melody, it's a perfect song as the film's OST." Azri, along with Usamah Zaid Yasin, founder of WAU Animation and creator of Ejen Ali, carefully integrated the song into the film by aligning it with pivotal scenes through detailed storyboard discussions. 'Ejen Ali The Movie 2', which premiered on May 22, sees Ali become the pilot for a high-stakes mission under Satria, an elite programme powered by an AI-assisted mecha suit. Once again set in the futuristic city of Cyberaya, this time Ali's mission takes a darker turn when the renegade Ejen Rizwan enlists Ali's help to uncover the true mastermind behind escalating threats in Cyberaya.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Reviving Indonesia's textile heritage at country's fashion week in Jakarta
JAKARTA (Bernama-Xinhua): Models strutted down the runway of Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2025, transforming into living canvases that showcased the rich heritage of the archipelago through meaningful garments, under dazzling lights and resonant musical rhythms. The country's largest fashion event takes place from May 28 to June 1 in Jakarta, featuring works from over 200 designers and tenants from across the archipelago, alongside fashion shows, exhibitions, talk shows, and creative forums to support a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable fashion ecosystem. Designers from Armenia and a guest designer from Malaysia also took part in this vibrant celebration of cultural fashion. One of the highlights of IFW 2025 was the collection by Essy Masita from Yogyakarta, titled "Timeless Tradition." Her pieces blended lurik textiles from Yogyakarta and Central Java with other Indonesian heritage fabrics such as handweaving (tenun) Badui from Banten, hand-drawn batik from Java, ulos from North Sumatra's Batak culture, and tenun Sumba from East Nusa Tenggara-all reimagined in contemporary urban silhouettes. A standout look featured a tenun Sumba-based dress paired with a long lurik outerwear adorned with original tenun fringe-an ensemble rich in both aesthetics and meaning. To Essy, traditional Indonesian textiles (wastra) are more than just material -- it is a medium of storytelling and cultural identity. "I want younger generations to wear wastra with pride, not just during traditional ceremonies, but in their everyday lives," she told Xinhua. Since 2000, Essy has been dedicated to bringing wastra into the fashion spotlight, working directly with local weaving communities to ensure an ethical supply chain that empowers women. She recently showcased her collection at fashion weeks in Australia, following appearances in London, Milan, and Paris. Another standout designer was Yuni Pohan from North Sumatra with her collection "Melayu Megapolitan," which featured 11 looks blending the traditional Deli Malay kebaya and songket from Medan with megamendung batik motifs, floral patterns, bamboo shoot designs, and delicate embroidery. Yuni chooses to work with wastra because she believes that behind every motif lies a philosophy of life. "Batik and Malay songket are not just beautiful. They tell stories about humanity's connection with nature, about love and struggle. For example, the bamboo shoot motif symbolises hope, fertility, and humility," she explained. The presence of designers like Essy and Yuni proves that Indonesian wastra continues to evolve, no longer confined to traditional wardrobes, but stepping onto the global runway as a symbol of identity and contemporary expression. Poppy Dharsono, chairwoman of the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) and president of Indonesia Fashion Week 2025, emphasised that Indonesia's heritage is rich with diverse textiles and adornments from hundreds of ethnic groups, from Acehnese songket and Lampung's tapis to Javanese and Balinese batik, and Papuan handweaving. She stressed that wastra is a living cultural identity that continues to grow within Indonesia's fashion industry, with each motif and technique reflecting deep-rooted philosophies and local wisdom. "Fashion is more than appearance. It is a form of cultural expression and identity. Indonesian wastra is more than fabric, it is a living heritage continuously developed by creative designers," said Poppy. Through Indonesia Fashion Week, she hopes traditional textiles will become a main source of inspiration for world-class modern fashion, while also grounding cultural values within the global fashion industry. - Bernama-Xinhua
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Melly Goeslaw gives Malaysian fans a most colourful 'Prom Night'
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular Indonesian singer-songwriter Melly Goeslaw had more than 9,000 guests dancing and singing at their seats throughout her two-and-a-half-hour concert at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here. Her 9pm show organised by Icon Entertainment was the third season of "Ada Apa Dengan Melly & Friends?" which was also staged at the same venue last year. The concert was themed "Prom Night" and saw Melly, her musicians, backup singers and dancers all dressed in colourful and fanciful costumes. The 51-year-old artiste performed 26 songs, with several medleys. Among the hits that she performed were "Ingin Mencintai Dan Dicintai", "Berdua Lebih Baik", "Hey Ladies", and "Ku Bahagia". Melly also performed covers of Malaysian songs "Janji Manismu" (Datuk Aishah Ariffin), "Isabella" (Search) and "Betapa Ku Cinta Padamu" (Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza). Her guest artistes for the evening were Aina Abdul, Nicholas Saputra and Dinda Ghania, and Radin of Era served as the master of ceremonies. Among the artistes who attended the concert were Datuk M. Nasir, Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk Amy Search, Elite and Raffi Ahmad. From their seats, Siti Nurhaliza joined Melly in the song "Betapa Ku Cinta Padamu" while Amy joined her in "Isabella". Born in Bandung, Melly began singing as a backup vocalist for Elfa Secioria while she was still in secondary school. She is the daughter of the late veteran Indonesian pop singer Melky Goeslaw. In 1995, she formed the band Potret with her musician husband Anto Hoed. After releasing several albums with Potret, Melly began a solo career, releasing her eponymous debut album "Melly" in 1999. She reached the peak of her popularity in 2002 when she composed the soundtrack of the best-selling movie "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?". Melly's onstage persona has been compared to Icelandic pop queen Bjork, with eccentric costumes and "wild" hairstyles. "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" garnered her a Citra Award at the 2004 Indonesian Film Festival. She has written and composed more than 500 songs, produced movie soundtracks and judged reality talent contests in her three-decade career.
