This game makes me feel in a way I wish more games would. An absolutely lovely cast with such variety all completely knocking it out of the park, but of course that's natural when the rest of the writing is magnificent. Every new detail I hear about any character or the lands they come from is a delight, and the central conflict always feels like it has enough weight, pulling the rug out from under you when you think you have the hang of things.
A lot of time loop games can over time get really annoying with the busywork they ask of the player and while it's definitely an intended effect from the story to have the player grow tired of some of the routine, the extent the game goes to in order to ease some of the more irritating elements really shows it's being designed by people (or person, rather) who know what they're doing.
In case this game needed more to be complimented on, the presentation is absolutely off the charts. The black and white aesthetic could have made the game feel somewhat flat but there is such life and personality to all the world design and especially the character art. It's always a lovely time to see one you haven't before. This is accompanied by a soundtrack that may not hold the same staying power of some indie juggernauts like Undertale or Omori, but still provides an excellent expression of the constantly shifting emotions this game goes through. Not to say anything outright but track 24 on the soundtrack makes me tear up.
As for complaints, the only thing I can muster up is near the end a few of the necessary steps become a bit cryptic but it's nothing I could knock off a point for.
With all that being said, I can absolutely say that if this game has not exploded withing the year, there is something deeply wrong with the industry because this game deserves as many eyes on it as possible.
A lot of time loop games can over time get really annoying with the busywork they ask of the player and while it's definitely an intended effect from the story to have the player grow tired of some of the routine, the extent the game goes to in order to ease some of the more irritating elements really shows it's being designed by people (or person, rather) who know what they're doing.
In case this game needed more to be complimented on, the presentation is absolutely off the charts. The black and white aesthetic could have made the game feel somewhat flat but there is such life and personality to all the world design and especially the character art. It's always a lovely time to see one you haven't before. This is accompanied by a soundtrack that may not hold the same staying power of some indie juggernauts like Undertale or Omori, but still provides an excellent expression of the constantly shifting emotions this game goes through. Not to say anything outright but track 24 on the soundtrack makes me tear up.
As for complaints, the only thing I can muster up is near the end a few of the necessary steps become a bit cryptic but it's nothing I could knock off a point for.
With all that being said, I can absolutely say that if this game has not exploded withing the year, there is something deeply wrong with the industry because this game deserves as many eyes on it as possible.