Fragments of Him | Xbox One

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Let me preface by saying that without touching upon some of the game’s major plot points, this wouldn’t be much of a comprehensive review, so expect some potential spoilers.

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​by Sam Sant

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@SlamShotSam

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Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4 (coming soon)
​Developer: SassyBot
Publisher: SassyBot
Players: 1

Fragments of Him is primarily a story of love and loss. You start the game as a young man named Will, beholden to the knowledge that you’re leading him through his final moments and to his inevitable death. Going about the morning routine, players hear Will’s internal monologue as he builds the courage to ask Harry for his hand in marriage, and looks forward to a potential bright future should he say yes. Soon after, Will is abruptly killed in an accident and those best laid plans are snatched away in an instant.
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Memories of Will, both happy and tinged with regret, are thereafter shared by boyfriend Harry, ex-girlfriend Sarah, and his grandmother, Mary. They each grieve in different ways, some more healthily than others, just like in reality. It's often the small, insignificant things that stick with the characters, reminding us to cherish even the most fleeting moments with loved ones.

The game’s simple presentation serves to allow the player to project onto these familiar archetypes, as they lack colour and detailed features. It’s very likely that if you've had the misfortune of experiencing a similarly catastrophic loss, those presented on-screen will become those you know/knew, thanks to an authentic portrayal of the grieving process.

​Your life history will dictate your level of engagement; if you’re fortunate enough to have never experienced an equivalent, many elements will pass you by. As a person that has been through very similar events, and lived raw scenes like receiving that fateful knock at the door, it’s quite poignant.

When the achingly sad soundtrack erupts to accompany an emotional and relatable scene, there’s real clout behind it.

Fragments of Him is secondarily a story of acceptance. Will loves both Harry and Sarah dearly, but he has to make a choice as to which relationship to pursue; they admirably allow Will to discover himself independently, whilst remaining by his side. Less accommodating is his grandmother, who naturally lives to regret her archaic and inherent homophobia. The generational social commentary is perhaps a little ham-fisted in delivery, just as dialogue can occasionally be verbose and pretentious. Being the first to tread these waters in depth does afford a certain degree of lenience, however.

The major stumbling point for a lot of people will likely be the fact that Fragments is a rather poor video game at its core. It’s mundane by design, visually unimpressive, abundant with lengthy load times and lacking in engaging gameplay. It’s a meaningful narrative simply delivered through this means, the one benefit gleaned from which is the fact that an element of control furthers the developer’s desire to place those engaging with the media into the given situation.

​Outside of that and an unnecessarily lengthy retreading of ground - it’s a short game, we just saw this and don’t need reminding - there is a beauty to Fragments of Him. When the achingly sad soundtrack erupts to accompany an emotional and relatable scene, there’s real clout behind it. Rarely does a game prompt the player to open themselves up to a vulnerably contemplative mindset, encourage them to tell those close to them that they love them, and allow them to further appreciate the little things in life. If that’s something you’re open to, by all means give it a try; if you’re only looking for an entertaining video game, steer well clear.

Pros

• Brave, bold and unique direction
• Meaningful narrative and intentions
• Minimalistic art makes things relatable
• Broad character spectrum

Cons

• Functions poorly as a video game
• Weak visuals
• Long and frequent loading
• Unnecessary repetition hampers pacing

Score 7/10