Omg thanks for reviewing my game!! I’m surprised you have so much to say based off of this short demo ^^
I’ve never been a big fan of long, windy expositions in visual novels. So, for this game, I wanted the player to learn about shadows and how they impact the world along with Diune. Which is why the information given at the start is so limited.
As for the character designs, my main goal was to showcase as much of the characters’ personality/backstory without saying a word. For example, I wanted Elizaveta, the maid in the intro, to have both a nurturing and mysterious air. I wanted the player to feel at ease and on edge during the short time she’s around. I also wanted their full designs to translate well into smaller sprites. Which is why there’s sometimes a really tiny doodle of a character on some concept art.
Color is also another thing I’m proud of. I didn’t want Diune to blend in, but I didn’t want her to feel like she’s out of place. So, I made sure that the backgrounds weren’t too dark or too bright to lose sight of her (although, her dark green jacket and bright yellow scarf balance this out already). Speaking of backgrounds, I’ll admit that some of the last maps were rushed since I was working on them about 2 days before I went on a trip, so it looks a bit off compared to the rest of the maps.
Thr writing was what i was worried with the most, since I do all of it on the spot. Outside of general planning, I come up with conversations on the spot. So I’m a bit worried that some phrases might be a bit jank. I’m not the biggest fan of visual novels, so I try to keep conversations at a reasonable length, but be as fulfilling as possible. Marisa was a bit of a challenge for me. I wanted her to be soft and caring, but I didn’t want her to feel like she just revolves around Diune. I’ll admit that she doesn’t have enough screen time in this demo to really showcase her character.
By the time this reply is written, the missing sfx should be fixed! Thank you and the people who reported it! I’m planning to add custom sfx and an ost in the full version!!
Oh, and before I go, let me tell you that some the information shown when you inspect the desks in the office is actually a bit of build up before you meet whoever works there :3