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(2 edits)

Trying for some constructive criticism below.


Spoilers for builds 1 & 2 below.










The scene where the MC blew up on his friends for saying what they thought his life was like felt wayyyyyyyy to early in my opinion. We not only never got to know much about atticus, acadia, or Eco before hand but also didn't get much info on his home life before hand as well. The VN gave me the impression that it wasn't the greatest but it wasn't that bad until he blew up and we got more info. This scene had very little build up and was a bit out of nowhere. As a result, the impact it gave felt very damp. Like don't get me wrong, I feel bad for him but after he handled kai being taken away so poorly as well, it feels more like he's gonna just gonna blow up at anything that makes him slightly mad.

This scene would've had a lot more impact if we just got it later down the line maybe after the MC struggles to get the money to pay for stuff, maybe after a big fight , etc. just something more to warrant the big explosion he had and give it more oomph. 

(3 edits)

Thanks for the comment <3 I appreciate any and all feedback. In my mind, the purpose of the scene is sort of just that... to show that the MC will blow up at anything that makes him mad, which inevitably results in him being more isolated and distant with the other characters. The vibe after from Eco was literally "Yo... Okay I need to chill TF out..." Because he KNEW he shouldn't have blown up like that. The randomness of the scene was meant to lend itself to the concept that the MC is not in his right mind (which he isn't) but that he's also self aware of it. This, on top of his deep seeded guilt over the great separation, which is unique to him, is what caused it. He's mad, not at his friends, but at himself, because the remorse that he feels over the great separation is the EXACT reason that he's here... even if he doesn't want to be. It's because this guilt he feels deep down is the exact reason that he got tasked with this responsibility that he never signed up for... He wishes he could be like the other Solarians, and be proud of it... but he can't... "You want me to apologize for what happened during the great separation? Well I WON'T!" Even though we as the reader KNOW that he should. That's what brings the scene the "oomph", and it also sets the theme for the rest of the visual novel. It's the expression of doing ones duty, in contrast with following ones heart. Atticus and Acadia are MEANT to be these egotistical self absorbed narcissists like the rest of their people, but their not. Kai is MEANT to be this stalwart zealot of the faith, BUT HE ISN'T. Vulterus, I can't spoil, but he follows a very similar path for build 3. That scene is never meant to be taken at face value, because of how much it represents in terms of theme and tone, which is why it needed to happen early on. It's not ABOUT the MC, it's about reinforcing the concept that no matter what has happened in the past with any of the characters, we are here for a reason, and that reason transcends our personal desires. In short, the characters have to "Do what must be done." Which is the motto of the entire visual novel :D


From that scene forward youre unsure when the MC's next big overrraction is, and that is meant to create tension. The fact that you're feeling domething along the lines of "I wouldn't have reacted like that, why did the mc? Its not a normal reaction" Exactly! The mc wouldn't have reacted like that either normally... but he did... why? It came out of the blue!  Is this because of starsickness? Is this because he's psycho? Is this because he's just an emotional wreck? Is it because he's just an asshole? Questions we need to answer through the story! At the end of the day, you are reading from the first person present perspective of a character with a condition that makes them more or less insane, which should result in one or two emotional overrractions. This perspective (usually) isn't touched in in VNS for this exact reason... it's jarring, sudden, and at times unexpected and irrational. To me, this is a good thing! If everything happened at an expected pace... then it would be just that... expected and rational.

But as with any art form, not everyone is going to get it, and it's not going to be for everyone, and that's okay! I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and I appreciate you giving it a shot, even if it ended up not being your perfect cup of tea. I hope in the future, it can be something you enjoy <3