You know how kids are gross? Not like, playing with dirt and bugs gross, just an inherent background grossness. You share your game controller for 5 minutes and they hand it back sticky, why is it sticky, do your hands secrete slime?

Daniel looks gross. Visually, I can tell he'll make my controller sticky. He's so real. It's an awesome accomplishment of animation and writing.

Daniel has psychic powers which go unexplained (it's a metaphor!). He has to learn how and when to use them. You... are not Daniel. You're his older brother. You can't control Daniel, only influence him through your words and actions. It's terrifying. I don't have children so maybe this is naive, but I feel like I've gotten a taste of how scary it is to realize someone you've raised their whole life is indeed a person independent from you. Making Daniel a separate entity is a brilliant choice that makes story branches natural and meaningful. Gone is the "choose your ending" ending of LIS1.

The story is about anger, and sometimes you can feel that anger directing the story instead of the other way around. The animation I praised earlier also starts to look more budget as the game goes on. Apparently there were lengthy delays between episodes when it was coming out, but that was the only seam I could spot. As a single package I loved this, and I want to replay it with different choices as soon as possible.

It's unfair even to say "It's unfair to compare this to LIS1." It is, deliberately, the exact opposite of that game. I appreciate that.