(Note: only the Conclusion portion of the review is included here in order to comply with the 8,192 character limit. Full review is available at https://itch.io/post/5122125)

Conclusion

Lucid9 is a powerfully crafted visual novel, but also one that forces the reader to stare fixedly into the abyss of some of life's ugliest experiences. If you are looking for a happy, relaxing or uplifting visual novel, you may want to steer clear of this one.

Also be sure you are in a healthy emotional state before starting in. I made the mistake of consuming this novel during a night of severe insomnia; by the time I reached the devastating end in the wee hours of the morning, I was exhausted, hungry, and an emotional wreck (thanks to having to navigate the climactic life-or-death scene over and over earlier in the night). The novel does a perfectly adequate job of yanking one's emotions around, and that is only amplified if one goes into it in an already vulnerable state.

It will be a long time before I can pick up this novel again. There is an Achievements section that suggests there are many miscellaneous accomplishments I can go for with my choices, but I cannot bring myself to relive the events of the story again any time soon. The intense psychological impact of the characters' experiences certainly made an impression upon my own psyche.

If anything, that is a testament that Fallen Snow Studios has succeeded spectacularly in their storytelling. Well done.