Go in blind for maximum effect! (stop reading and play, then come back)
I really really enjoyed my 15 minutes with this game, and I have no doubt that if I were someone with the temperament to take it all the way to the end, it would be as satisfying as I experienced the rest of the game to be. Don't expect it to be like almost anything you've ever played; it's not for everyone, but if it's for you, you'll find out nice and fast.
Rest of the assessment is spoilers:
[SPOILERS: It's a bit akin to a puzzle, meets visual novel, but the fun comes from finding out what everything does. It's really strong at conveying a particular perspective via game design, something I really deeply respect - it's an incredibly underrated skill. Like I always say, give me that Ludonarrative Resonance!
Now as far as *what* perspective I took away from it... it's probably very much a Rorschach test in that everyone will take away something different; certainly, what was *said* was that this was simply a tribute to for *me* at least, the perspective being communicated was that even incremental, miniscule progress is progress!
In this, I found the game reassuring to the contrary of that little defeatist voice inside of me that has seemed convinced wrongly since before I can remember that "small progress is no progress at all."
*If* I'm close in my assessment of the impressive "trick" of the game, Effie LSC actually insinuated this perspective *as* narrative; then crafted the gameplay to directly communicate it; and developed an overall challenging UI to support the perspective being communicated - one in support of overcoming the fear of small, cumulative actions. If that's the case, that's fuckin' *killer* design!! I mean that shit! Even if it might not have been intentional, it was very effective in my case. That was *my* experience with the game.
The simple gameplay mechanic of presenting the player with a seemingly hopeless, repetitive circumstance designed to scrub away belief in a better tomorrow, but then marrying the action involved in that to a progress counter which provides only just enough information to insinuate that if I just keep at this for long enough, I will eventually reach my goal… I found that combination hope-inducing! I think that's kickass game design, and I will shout that shit from the rooftops. Well done, Effie LSC! I'm very much looking forward to your next game.]