A while ago, I played the demo of a game called Undusted: Letters from the Past on Steam. There was something very special about this game, but I recall at the time thinking that it needed a little more polish. Recently, Undusted came out as a full game, giving me the chance to see everything this game had to offer and if my thoughts had changed since I first played it. Let’s just say I was very glad to play this game again, the full version from beginning to end.
Undusted: Letters from the Past is now available on PC and Mac via Steam and Nintendo Switch for $9.99.
Story – Uncovering Memories of a Fractured Family
Undusted: Letters from the Past follows the story of Adora and her parents, told through the various items she cleans up. Each item has its own story to tell, its own memory; good, bad, or both.
As you go through each item, you uncover more of Adora’s past. To avoid giving away spoilers, I won’t say too much, except that Adora’s childhood wasn’t all sugary sweet. Although the gameplay is cozy, the story is less so. It deals with heartwrenching topics such as parental death, neglectful parents, and the harsh realities of pursuing dreams.
There’s something very raw and real about Undusted‘s story, but it’s part of what keeps you gripped from start to finish. You want to know how it all ends, if there will be a happy ending.
Gameplay – Scrub, Polish, and Suck Up Every Speck of Dust and Dirt
The primary mechanic of Undusted: Letters from the Past is cleaning up different objects from Adora’s childhood, whether they’re her own or belonging to her parents. While the story keeps you hooked, the gameplay also succeeds in getting you addicted.
Just Like New
When cleaning an item, you’re presented with one or a few different cleaning tools, depending on the object. Usually it’s a scrubbing brush and sponge, but you may also use an air blow gun or cloth. Using these tools are pretty straightforward: you just point, hold, and clean.
I personally preferred to use the brush and sponge as my primary cleaning tools, only using the air blow gun if required, as I couldn’t really get the hang of it. You only get to use the cleaning cloth a few times, but it’s very satisfying watching an object gleam and shine after being polished.
The art of cleaning and polishing in Undusted: Letters from the Past was immensely satisfying. The process itself felt very cleansing, almost therapeutic. There were a few parts of some objects that were hard to reach, but this only added to the addictive quality of the gameplay.
There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing an object go from filthy dirty to sparkling clean.
A Helping Hand
One criticism I originally had of Undusted when playing the demo was how finicky the completion requirements were. It was sometimes very difficult to get an item cleaned to a point where you could continue. Fortunately, the full game seems to have rectified this.
Once you clean an object to a certain point (which varies depending on the item), you unlock a hints toggle. By toggling hints, you can see what specks of dirt you have missed. It’s incredibly handy for helping you get 100% clean status, or near as anyway.
Another useful feature is the ability to continue regardless of whether you’ve 100% cleaned an item. If you reach 99% of an object’s clean state, you can opt to move forward in the game. It’s useful if you can’t quite find that last tiny speck of dirt or you’ve had enough and want to move on.
If you clean an object enough, you unlock hints on what’s left to clean to help get 100% completed.
Reaching Every Nook and Cranny
Several items you clean in Undusted: Letters from the Past are interactive, meaning you can push a button or open a hatch. This is required, as you must clean every nook and cranny of the object. For example, if you’re cleaning an old cassette player, you need to open up the tape deck to clean the inside. It makes the cleaning process very thorough, but also makes the objects feel that more real.
Every part of an object needs to be cleaned, including any inside areas.
Graphics & Audio – Melancholic and Nostalgic
Undusted: Letters from the Past has an interesting art style that actually suits the game very nicely. It’s realistic, but not necessarily photorealistic. The objects are modelled beautifully, but they have slightly grainy and pixelated textures applied to them. This may sound odd, but it actually works brilliantly. It makes spotting the flecks of dirt and dust much easier when cleaning. Also, it gives the game that much-needed nostalgic, almost dreamlike feel. It kind of feels like you’re looking back on these items in a memory – and they still look wonderfully real and solid and functioning.
There’s also the music, which is just gorgeous. It’s beautiful to listen to and incredibly soothing, whether you’re busy cleaning or following the story. It has that feeling of nostalgia, but also a hint of longing and sadness. It’s the kind of soundtrack that gives you goosebumps.
I should also touch on the sound effects that accompany the game. As you interact with the different objects, the sound effects match whatever you’re touching or moving or cleaning perfectly. Not just that, but when you’re reading the story, the odd sound effect plays to enhance whatever is being told. It’s just so well done.
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- As you clean your first item, you’ve given a tutorial on how the cleaning process works.
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- Every object holds a special memory.
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- Undusted has a somewhat sad story to reveal through its objects.
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- What memories are uncovered upon returning home?
Undusted: Letters from the Past was played and reviewed on PC.
