Hi there!
I'm one of the 6 judges for this RPG Maker Game Jam 2025. I was one of the 2 judges assigned to your game, and we have been assigned to rate your games according to each metric highlighted on the game's main jam page, and submit these ratings to the organisers, who will then appropriate what happens with that. Please contact them in the Q&A if you have any further questions about the judging process. The judges will work on different time schedules, so even if I may have finished playing your game, the entire process might not be finished as of yet. Many of these reviews I am posting while still judging.
All that aside, I'd like to share my VOD of me playing your game, which contains up to an hour of gameplay, and some final thoughts at the end! Depending on whether I stopped the VOD early or not, it will also contain many of the thoughts that I say to you below, which may cause repetition. So just be aware of that.
I will also attach a review below this VOD. I will not disclose my ratings for each category as of yet, but those will be revealed in due time. Not all judges are required to post a review or VOD to each game, but many will do so even if it's optional, including myself.
Here's the VOD:
I found this game, despite its fairly simple usage of RTP and other elements, to be cut down exactly to what was needed. I appreciate the way that it only really includes what is required. The drama that ensues is simply conveyed, with a dramatic urgency and momentum that pushes the plot forward in a very satisfying way.
The puzzles that are included are simple, and have been played out before, but they are included in an effective way, adhering to the tone of the game, and generally being simple yet satisfying to solve. Particularly the clues surrounding the solving of the coloured chemicals puzzle were satisfying to figure out.
The twist that satisfies the Theme of Beyond Expectations is quite funny. I enjoyed the overall concept of the game, and I think it's got character. I really hope to see you make more stuff like this in future. It was concise, clever and really well done. I enjoyed the ride.
If there is any flaw of this game, it is the not-so-bad flaw of something being rather unambitious. Which is fine! In this contest, though, I do think that a winner generally will be one of the more rambunctious, ambitious ones that go all-out. Any games you do in future, you definitely have the taste to execute something well. If you put some time into refining this craft, I think you can just grow and grow into something greater, as your skills improve all the more. But a game like this that succeeds within its means, and makes sense front to back, is probably going to secure itself as a better one of the submissions at least, simply due to it being solid, easy to follow, and dramatically functional. Which is more than I see in a lot of games. It's definitely promising, right here. Keep making awesome games. This one is one of them. Cheers!