SPOILER ALERT. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO FIGURE THIS GAME OUT FOR YOURSELF.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I started following Solipsism Reign's development because its initial premise was interesting. I have never seen an otome game that was yandere-centric. I thought at first that was all it was going to be, but once I downloaded it and started playing, I knew there had to be some overarching plot. And boy, was I unprepared for what this game threw at me. Kari, you’re a genius. You had me hooked for the entire time. I had no idea this game was going to be so deep. Playing through the initial five routes was really fun, and it was nice balancing my choices of dying by my enemies or by Kuro (Princess and Detective Kuro are my favorites in the first part). The kiss scene with Kuro in the Princess route had me blushing so much... And I just love everything about the Detective route! My sister loves the voice that plays when you get a bad ending, and when he calls you Anathema. She’s a little weird ;)
For the ??? route, my goodness, I just can’t describe how much I love it. The way it’s set up is amazing! I was so shocked to realise that the first half of the game didn’t really matter. It was all a simulation. Dying after trying to attack Isaac and finding myself at the title screen instead of Raine’s criticism and comforting voice really told me that I had to be in serious mode now.
I loved playing as the clones in the beginning and being so unaware of what on earth was happening. It hurt me so much to see Kuro suffer as he had to hurt the brainwashed 26 over and over... I was legit crying. And it took me two tries to realise that I had to click the knife… I felt so stupid, haha. I wish there was a way to save the angry Kuro… and right after he and MC made up… you can be really cruel, Kari.
I had a feeling that Raine was MC’s mom, but you delivered it perfectly with Lilly! And going through the whole route just to get that bad ending? What did I do wrong??? What do you mean by “certain events”??? I have a whole two page google doc with notes of this game, haha. I ended up trying all sorts of choice combinations to keep OG MC alive. What happens when I recognise Shiro but go outside and then come back? Does it matter if I refuse to hurt Kuro as 26 and then obey afterwards? It took me forever to realise that I had to go through the bad ends that triggered the restart mechanic that happened in the routes outside of ??? but get every other answer right to get the good ending.
I thought everything was going to be done and over with after OG MC woke up and she and Shiro lived happily ever after, but no, you pulled the rug out from underneath me again. I am amazed at your storytelling abilities, Kari, and you’ve got me really inspired to try to make my own VN. You’re my new role model :)
After giving my memories to OG MC, it felt more like I was watching her and Shiro instead of inserting myself. I had been suffering and journeying with 339 all this time that I got really attached and didn’t want to let go... 339’s story with 13 really brought me some tears, but even more smiles :)
I was so shocked (even though I shouldn’t have been) that Isaac made the monsters… and let them run rampant. My sister and I were making jokes about how the creature smoked so much his intestines were black, and that had us laughing for a good minute. And the ending? I was so happy that the monsters were eradicated and that Shiro and MC could be together, but so sad that MC and Shiro couldn’t retain their original bodies, it kinda felt like everything 13 and 339 worked for was in vain… that was the only thing that left me dissatisfied.
My favorite Kuros have got to be the one you meet as 26 and the one who accompanies you as 339. I wish there was a way to end the first Kuro’s suffering without killing him!!! He doesn’t show up after 26 dies :(
And lastly, this game hit all of my needs. I just love the intense love between Kuro and MC/ Shiro and MC! The characters are all so wonderful! Kuro’s definitely my fav, but I love Shiro, Raine, and Lilly too! Not so much Isaac… that’s a given, I think. The art was amazing, sprites and CGs and backgrounds! Please give my praise to the artists, I wish I could draw that well. The voice acting was excellent! So good! Smith has got me swooning over his voice, haha. I can’t forget about the sound effects, either! I was really grossed out sometimes… but they were great. And the writing? It just blows my mind how GOOD IT IS!!! It had me completely immersed in this dystopian world, and combined with the music, Kari, you achieved creating this world and dragging me into its depths.
My yandere needs: check
My dystopian world needs: check
My mystery needs: check
Girl, you checked everything off my list and more!!! I feel this giant hole in my heart now that I’ve finished this game :( You’ve ruined all other VNs for me!!! I can't enjoy them as much knowing this masterpiece exists!
One little thing that I really enjoyed about Solipsism Reigns is that the cursor becomes a butterfly. It was really amusing making it fly across the background, and putting it over people’s eyes to make it look like they were magical. Maybe that’s just the really childish part of me, haha.
I am so sorry this is so long!!! This is just a really long and stupid rant about a game that I’ve given my soul to, but I could find no other way to express my gratitude to you, Kari. I hope I’ve been using your name right. Cody is a great name, though!
Once I finally wrack up some dough I’m gonna give it all to you. You deserve it!
P.S. I’ll be waiting for my dearest cursed one, *wink wink*
P.P.S. I can understand why Kuro's number is 13 (unlucky and stuff...), but is there any reason why the MC copies were 26 and 339?