Really good! Definitely worth your time and attention. Take the content warnings seriously.
The mystery unfolds nicely, for the most part. Familiar VN features like memory loss and differing routes are used to explore things like the impermanence of identity and what that can mean about relationships and self-image. The romance between the two principal characters is definitely in the realm of the stylized and fantastical, thanks to the horror (which I normally don't go for) and magic, but it doesn't leave behind those relatable questions and difficulties. Altogether it's much more than just giving you a pretty face to smooch on - not that I don't mind that, and not that the faces aren't pretty. If that weren't enough, the world outside the game is intriguing, bolstered by gorgeous art and environments. It really begs to be explored in more detail, though I think the restraint is very appropriate for such an intimate story.
Structurally, the story suffers a little from the way that you explore the game's mysteries; replaying the game several times to find new content. The ending is buried behind a lot of digging, and while some of it is very satisfying and thematic, other parts get caught up in leaps of logic that are easier to solve with trial and error than anything else. It all makes sense in retrospect, but when you're trying to tackle the puzzle without that foreknowledge, in a game with endless possible combinations of dialogue options and a dedication to keeping things as diegetic as possible, it's hard to know where to look. Totally doable, just occasionally frustrating and time-consuming, especially for people who don't play a lot of VNs. If I cared about the star rating I would probably dock one for this, but I don't, so
It's wild to me that this is the devs first game; the voice and style here are so fully realized that it feels like part of a long-running series. Even if it doesn't become one (and I sincerely hope it does) I'm going to be keen as hell to see more from them.
The mystery unfolds nicely, for the most part. Familiar VN features like memory loss and differing routes are used to explore things like the impermanence of identity and what that can mean about relationships and self-image. The romance between the two principal characters is definitely in the realm of the stylized and fantastical, thanks to the horror (which I normally don't go for) and magic, but it doesn't leave behind those relatable questions and difficulties. Altogether it's much more than just giving you a pretty face to smooch on - not that I don't mind that, and not that the faces aren't pretty. If that weren't enough, the world outside the game is intriguing, bolstered by gorgeous art and environments. It really begs to be explored in more detail, though I think the restraint is very appropriate for such an intimate story.
Structurally, the story suffers a little from the way that you explore the game's mysteries; replaying the game several times to find new content. The ending is buried behind a lot of digging, and while some of it is very satisfying and thematic, other parts get caught up in leaps of logic that are easier to solve with trial and error than anything else. It all makes sense in retrospect, but when you're trying to tackle the puzzle without that foreknowledge, in a game with endless possible combinations of dialogue options and a dedication to keeping things as diegetic as possible, it's hard to know where to look. Totally doable, just occasionally frustrating and time-consuming, especially for people who don't play a lot of VNs. If I cared about the star rating I would probably dock one for this, but I don't, so
It's wild to me that this is the devs first game; the voice and style here are so fully realized that it feels like part of a long-running series. Even if it doesn't become one (and I sincerely hope it does) I'm going to be keen as hell to see more from them.