Thanks for playing and writing such a detailed review!!! I’m so glad that you are back at the jam again, in addition.( You deserve way higher than 7th place!!!)
I feel like using the meta references(a term I just searched the meaning of, haha) is a bit of a way for me to hide my own imperfections with dialogues. I found that it kind of distracts the tone of the actual narrative, which could be a good thing to utilize.
For the instructions, I think you are absolutely correct: as your review on my last game also reflects, us developers are masters on our own games. I didn’t need to read the instructions, so I wasnt focused on balancing.
For the synonyms, I used some of the vocabulary I was using while studying for the SAT, haha. Since the test is next week and I have to finish the game… I just put them in. Counts as studying(somewhat)!