i'm of the understanding that the later episodes will provide a level of self-reflection on the artist's part and i certainly don't mean to shit on anyone for the sake of making art. with that said, i found this first episode of hello charlotte largely full of itself despite having a tiny runtime with which it essentially serves to throw "emotional" gutpunches at you for characters you've known for half the length of an average blockbuster, constantly throwing rudimentary puzzles and unfair deathtraps at you, and opts for loredumping and nudge-nudge fourth wall breaks instead of actually forming a relationship between player and character, character and environment, or character and character. i walked away from this first episode largely unsure of what the purpose or point of what i'd just played was, and was reminded of a lot of earlier, more competent rpgmaker works from ages before this came out. i did like the "awkward dimension's" art and i will admit some pieces of spritework felt space funeral-esque but this wholesome bean!!! style rpgmaker protag has never done anything for me and hello charlotte isn't on any better footing with me thus far on that level. i'll keep an open mind, and regardless, i don't regret paying for this game because i'd rather see independent and expressive work, even that i don't like, see funding and support.