It's a little funny that I didn't realize that I haven't left a comment on this yet despite it being my most favorite game for months now.
The characters are rich and vibrant and incredibly full of life. Every time you have a character on screen, they make up the most of every second and every line. Each conversation, each interaction, and each expression feels intentional and layered. It is so fun, and I regularly go back to replay this and each time, I leave with something different.
Magnolia is a wonderful character. Her design is lovely, but the way that she acts and responds to things is even more so. She's selfish, proud, unapologetic, and so refreshing !! She is not a good person, but it is so easy to step into her shoes and follow the path she walks. Most of the time, when games offer dialogue options, it feels obvious when one is for making the players feel good and choosing the "nice" option and when the other is the opposite. Where the immersion is broken for the comfort of the players, but you don't hold our hand like this with Magnolia. Every one of her lines feels very authentic to the woman we come to recognize her as. It's refreshing and incredibly exciting !! I really love her !! Also, the relationship that she has with Mint is so endearing. It's amazing how much his presence influences her character as flavor text with him involves constant safety reminders and indulgences in his whims. "Careful around fire, Mint. I'm just locking the door. Yes, yes, anything else?" They are such a wonderful duo, and their relationship is one that deeply intrigues me.
I am also Incredibly Smitten with Dove. She is on screen for like 14 minutes, and each second is one where I am entirely focused on her. She's very bold and honest, in ways that are easily understood from the very start of her introduction. No wonder they were married, and of course they divorced. I just love her so very much.
There is so much that is said in this game, and so much more that is unsaid, that I find myself frequently over-analyzing the simplest things. This game brings me a lot of joy and I think about it daily. I just want to thank you for making and posting this, and also let you know how much I admire your work 🫶.