Posted March 31, 2021 by Galen Games
#nanoreno2021 #postmortem #snowangelgame #raphael #otome
March draws to a close, meaning NaNoRenO does too.
This year we worked on a short otome game called “Snow Angel”. The idea for the project was to create a fluffy feel good game that would soothe you. What if when you wished for company it came true? What if angels were real? That was the premise behind our project.
Personally, it's my first NaNo, as well as my first work on an VN/otome. It's been a crazy and exciting month.
I first became aware of the project through Crysil when she asked for collaborators - and the premise really appealed to me. I was too shy to even get in contact…But eventually, after being encouraged by loved ones I finally put myself forward. So hopefully, that was the right decision and I've done this story justice.
Falling in love with Raphael was easy for me, which was funny considering I had to bring his personality to life.
Crysil had the sprite already made, and from that I let my feelings guide me into creating a personality for our angel.
I go about character creation like a friend I'm trying to get to know. In my case, my friends and I often do fun personality quizzes so I did this with Raph: I got him a MBTI, star sign, fake birthday, and all sorts of background information that obviously doesn't make it into the story. Nevertheless, it helped me build a firm idea of who this character was to me. After I made my character sheet for Raphael, I realized he reminded me of my own life love, which I find thoroughly amusing.
Hopefully you fall in love with Raphael too.
This month has been tremendous fun, and so fulfilling - and yet I wish we could keep going because I want to spend more time with Raphael.
There is such a great team behind this game!
I wrote a lot of this to a playlist I made specifically for the story, but the standout to me is "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King soundtrack. (The movie version is better, sorry Elton.) Some of the lyrics resonated so well with the characters.
Wanting to let your partner know who you really are, hoping they’ll understand you, and knowing your partner is hiding something, and yet still seeing nothing but the best in them perfectly encapsulates the relationship between Raphael and the main character. (I may or may not cry to this song.)
Anyway, it's been a month of great lessons for me and my takeaway is this:
I really hope you enjoy the story!
Let those cute lions play us out.
"Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things
Can you feel the love tonight?
You needn't look too far
Stealing through the night's uncertainties
Love is where they are"
-Liv/LunaMakaio - writer, young warthog and embarrassing Raphael fan.