There were some weird errors in the dialogue that you'd think would get noticed and fixed, but other than that it's a cute game. Which is weird to say considering there's talk of lynchings, rape, terrorism and the government taking even more control over our world. But this is all background lore. Jill is just a shy lesbian bartender trying to make it. This doesn't mean Jill is unimportant. The Valhalla bar is Heaven hidden within capitalist Hell. The regulars all find comfort there and Jill often gives advice that helps these regulars, even if that advice can be cliche. The bar is often a safe haven for those who need it. Dana and Jill explain at one point the security system is so high-end and the walls so thick, that the people within are genuinely safer there than anywhere else they could be. When there is chaos in the streets, Dana houses Jill in the bar for the night. When a young girl nearly killed herself, Dana knocked her out and let her sleep in the bar. Streaming-Chan falls asleep for the first time in a month. A gay biker learns to be himself. Take any character, any interaction, and you can tie it to this bar being a place of comfort and safety in a world where that is hardly ever found. It's a bit like real life in that way. Don't we all have that Heaven within our own Hell? It's both comforting and scary at the same time to see a futuristic society that's basically the exact same way as things are now, just with cool cyberpunk stuff like androids and cybernetics. The idea that things aren't going to get much worse is comforting. But there's also that scary idea that things will never get better. That capitalism will continue to rule over our world forever and ever, our only escape from it being that bar down the street. At one point, an idol visits the bar and breaks character to explain to Jill how important her role is. She goes on stage and sings songs and just for that short concert, her fans forget all of their worries. And in a capitalist Hell, that is more important than anything to keep us all alive. What Jill doesn't seem to realize is that she isn't any different from that idol. Every time she serves someone a drink, every time she listens to their worries, every time she gives someone comfort in that bar, she is giving them the gift of forgetting about their problems, just for a little bit. In a world like ours, someone as simple as Jill are more important than anything.

"Time to mix drinks and change lives"

Reviewed on Sep 21, 2023


Comments