I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting going into this ("content warning: weight gain" would usually be a pass for me), but this crushed it in just about every conceivable way. Finding gems like this is really the best part of working through all the jam entries.
Breaking down by rating criterion, spoilers from this point forward.
Implementation of Theme:
Seems pretty clear-cut. Adam is the "light" in Emmie's "darkness" of struggling to get by, with a little bit of a twist since she's reluctant to approach that light due to an additional side-darkness of self-loathing and doubt. There are constant visuals added to support this as well, with the dim light from the phone in the car, to the bright lamp post that reveals the characters to each other, and the bright lights and colors of the diner that represent the happiest point for Emmie so far. Excellent reprise of the streetlamp for the post-credits stinger too. Creepy.
Story:
It's a little tough to evaluate since it's just a first chapter, but I think you did really well in finding an appropriate place to pause for the jam. Aforementioned stinger notwithstanding, you honestly could've ended it here and had a thematically cogent story. Characters mostly feel real, if a little exaggerated for effect, and their chemistry was really working, especially considering we're going at a realistic pace where neither feels totally comfortable with the other yet (more of that from Emmie, but still).
I noted a few lines that didn't seem to gel for me though:
- "evicted for depression and mood swings": I... might need a bit more context on how that actually happened. Like unless "depression and mood swings" is code for "unable to hold down a job so couldn't pay the rent" I'm not sure how you would get evicted for that. Or if your mood swings were causing you to like, assault your neighbors maybe. Wondering if this is something that will be expanded later, but considering it's the impetus for Emmie being homeless and desperate in the first place, it feels weird to just blow by that line without a second thought.
- "I've never had someone catfish me back": Like... never? From a basically borderline professional catfisher? Even if she vets all her matches, that just seems... unlikely, I don't know.
- "Why are we having this discussion like besties gossiping about the date": I can understand this one more since it's coming from Emmie's point of view and maybe just the idea of a date not completely sucking is that incredible to her, but everything in the date felt like fairly normal conversation to me. Like, there's supposed to be a disconnect between the objective narrative and Emmie's perspective, but this one felt like that disconnect might have been a touch too great.
Presentation:
Great! Sprites were really well done and expressive, all the CGs were spot on, there was extra effort given to animations, and sound effects were used effectively as well. Really good implementation of the phone images too, and to do all of that on such a short timeline is really impressive.
Creativity:
There's plenty of creativity to go around in this one - double-catfish-romance is original enough on its own, and combined with some really inspired audio-visual choices to sell the themes this is a really impressive effort and I would like that second chapter as soon as possible, thank you.
I give this 15 deep fried catfish out of 18 flickering streetlamps.