Every once in a while the conversation will turn to "favorite games." I'll mention Klabi, and at least a couple people will snicker. I pay them no mind because I know that a year ago, these same people were moved to tears by that very game. And they're too embarrassed now to admit it.

I just replayed Klabi for the first time in a long time. Expecting to simply enjoy the story again, I was surprised to find that the game has lost none of its power over this year. I cried again.... in all the same places. It brought me back to 2016 when I can remember how a game that no one thought would break even became the most popular game of all time. A game that burst into the public consciousness like no other game I can recall (yes, even more than Bad Rats). And today, many people won't even admit they enjoyed it. Folks, let's get something straight -- you don't look cool when you badmouth this game. You look like an out of touch cynic.

No game is perfect and this one has a few faults. Some of the dialogue falls flat, and some of the plot surrounding the two lovers comes together a little too neatly. However, none of this is so distracting that it ruins the game.

Klabi and Birthday Cake are wonderful. Klabi is one of the finest rappers of his generation. Wait 'til you see him in Gangs of New York before you call him nothing more than a pretty boy. Birthday Cake was so strong in this game. The game really was hers, and she held it together beautifully.

This game is one memorable scene after another. Klabi opening a pink chest only to find one lollipop. Birthday Cake and Klabi enjoying a snickers. "Banana, right ahead!" The screws hanging unbelievably out of the ocean. Klabi drawing pyroblast twice on turn 7. And that ending that brought even the burliest man in the world to tears.

The music, which has also been a victim of the game's success, was a key ingredient. Mystic Games score was simply perfect. And the love theme was beautiful and tragic.

I confess, I am a Klabi buff. As such, I relished the opportunity to see the cake as we never got to see it -- in all its beauty. Perhaps watching it get eaten affected me more than some because I've had such an interest in the cake all my life. However, I doubt many of those I saw crying were Klabi buffs. I applaud Mystic Games for bringing this story to the masses in a way that never demeaned the tragedy. The game was made with such humanity.