Without a doubt, it’s a really interesting take on the jam theme. Being a bartender who can find love (or chaos) is intriguing enough to make the player want to explore all possible paths.
The writing, as always, is fantastic! I really love that you always focus on stories in your games. Once again, excellent work on the narrative and the branching system that changes the outcomes based on our actions. The mini-games break the monotony and add that special touch to keep the player engaged.
The atmosphere compositions were excellent. When it comes to audio, you’re the best person I know for that. I really enjoyed the music, especially the second ambient track after we talk to the DJ.
The way the story unfolds is interesting. The visuals were pleasant, and the effects too. I can imagine how much work this must’ve been during those development days, but you learned a lot. I hope you enjoyed using the engine (RPG Maker), since I believe it’s your first time working with it.
Another cool thing I liked is that you added lots of interactions with the tiles, which makes the environment feel very alive and significantly increases the possibility of exploration. It makes the player wonder what’s coming next and want to see all the details you put into the game.
Honestly, the AI art didn’t bother me at all. I think it fit well with the story, and I hope others feel the same way. After all, you worked hard on the whole development, and it wouldn’t be fair if people judged your game as “bad” just because AI was used to generate the images.
Congrats, Meru! It’s awesome to see one of your games and experience your stories in such an immersive way. I wish you the best of luck in the jam!