Game unexpectedly left a very big impression on me.
The counselor PoV is such a great idea. Having the clients visit regularly and talking about their progress, really feels I have impact on them.
Being allowed to freely roam feels really uh... "liberating"? It didn't have to be implemented, yet it's here. A whole 3D environment where you can look around and move (even if outside of the office is just halls to infinity - Which would win the Infinite Hotel prize: Eientei, or Chireiden?) It's kinda funny to see the walfas in the sober 3D environment, styles clashing will never not be funny.
And the couple silly things in here are cool extras: spinning on the chair, the clock set to your system's clock, the radio, calling Remilia for RPS.
Related to the environment is the sound design. Everything is ambient. The footsteps echoing, the clock ticks omnipresent, the loud clap of the book closing, the strident sounds of the telephone, the radio as the sole breaker of audible routine.
Somehow that sets the mood of being stuck and alone forever in this big, cold palace, it's so uncanny yet so cool and kinda real? Can you tell these sounds easily entered my mind?
And of course, the writing and character building - I did get to appreciate it greatly. Mostly the job going well enough, but also the mystery about why Satori is doing this in the first place
Like I said, I can really feel that what I say has impact on the clients. Seeing them come back and telling about their progress.
Also seeing the interactions with Remilia, and wondering about Satori's (apparently) conflicting feelings when she gets asked.
And then there's the ending. It all lead up to this, the very first dialogue choice I had made. Simply incredible.