a pretty quick game with a relatable and deeply personal story i feel like a lot of people would resonate with! the mechanics and interactivity were good (i loved the silly running sprites), but the story, sound design and music really shone through
the implications of addiction and/or unhealthy relationships were subtle but pleasantly shown too! i love how the story was set in a resort, so it's like they all got into the same situation at the same time, but nearly every one of them had a different storyline. the different ways people could succumb to any kinds of addiction, peer pressure, or generally getting into the wrong crowd regardless of who they were at the start really puts different perspectives into place. i also appreciate the game showing how everyone starts "rotting", showing that getting into these kinds of circumstances isn't just a one-way thing: mccoy by accident, carmen taking vonnie along, and ryan by peer pressure. the two endings of june either letting herself be dragged down along with everyone else or to painfully swim back up and leave her friends behind seemed to be foreshadowed by the story of her cousin's situation early in the game, about leaving her friend group as well.
i like how the ocean (or water?) was also a metaphor. whether for substances or "fish in the sea" i.e. blending in with the crowd. there can always be too much of anything, including water. the shortness of the ending, i feel like, really fits. the path into and out of toxic bonds and addiction never feels good, whether or not we eventually get sober. it's as hard getting out of the cycle as it is to get in, but what matters is that we do find a way out.
gaaahhhh stories with hidden implications and symbolism>>>>>