This review and note has spoilers for Arches ending.
This game has a weird place in my heart. In a sense I look back at it in a negative light because of how real, deeply emotional and horrifying it's story is. It left me genuinely taking multiple breaks in this two hour experience because at times it was genuinely effecting my physical health, yet a part of me is glad I finished it.
Yes, I wasn't a fan of the horror at all, but reading the journey of Cameron and Devon was genuinely such a nice refresher lately. The biggest and most blaring reason is because of the gay representation- but also because it doesn't sugar coat it as a perfect life where they live happily ever after. Cameron and Devon still have battles to fight for the rest of their lives, It's an interesting dynamic to the point I wouldn't of minded an entire game itself to serve as a proper, fleshed-out two-hour epilogue, because if im honest it felt like the true story of Arches.
Cameron and Devon have this genuinely and almost real-feeling relationship that its hard to not get attachment as the reader, it's something I've only experienced twice with any form of media and that was Outer Wilds and Forrest Gump lmao. Their relationship was such a highlight that I found a lot of the "Supernatural" and Physic side of the story to be quite jarring.
The realness of their relationship also breeds an insanely tense and at times straining experience. Unlike practically any other genre of game, with a VN (Especially one where you are given ZERO choices,) you are simply an observer to everything. Every scene with Brian had my heart beating out of my chest because having played Echo before this, i knew this writing team doesn't pull punches with "Main characters."
The addition of the amazing use of more real problems, like drug abuse and mental health issues, truly grounds the story into a realm of plausibility. It tells a hopeful tale that no matter how fucked your life can get, there is always someone a phone call away to have you in a loving embrace. That was the magic of Arches for me, the love at the end of the tunnel. The message that no matter how much shit you go through, how much you change, as long as you stick by someone you love it can turn out okay.
Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes, its 2am over here and I've just come down from an insane emotional high haha.
Now finish Khemia or Interea.