Welcome to "Joy flexing on us her writing talent" saga. Today, we also have her showcasing her programing prowess; we need to stop this woman.
I really missed playing long RPG maker games, so this really scratched an itch. On an aesthetic level, everything is very cohesive and pleasing to the eye, it's absolutely unbelievable it was made in 3 months. Each map has a distinct vibe that fits very well the narrative moment they belong to.
The world feel rich with the numerous quirky NPCs and lore (I hope Lawrence will remember Manuel one day). I played Rectifier: In Bloom first, so now knowing the origin of things is so cool (Justice, my man, is truly a timeless icon). The most notable for me was how each region really changed/became worse overtime between Lord of Lies and Rectifier. Really the beginning of the end vibe.
The most important part is the characters and Joy truly excelled with making each their own person. It's easy to guess who is talking even without checking the name tag (ok there's a (cool) cheat for Lawrence but shhh). The dynamics make me either happy or want to scream, so think it can attest how invested I am in the cast (King when I find you...).
The plot, can't say much without spoilers, so imma just say that I was glued to my seat for 3h straight and a lot of moments were hilarious (Dad will come back, trust me bro).
I think I am midway-ish into the game, coming back when I finish it, I am sure it gonna be peak though with how it's currently going.
RPG MAKER GAMES WE ARE SOOO BACK
Edit: IT WAS SO WORTH IT. Lot of attention to details (things that get mentioned and seem insignificant at first do come back SO READ WITH YOUR EYES OPEN). Very well crafted narrative and plot, and also an important message. Absolute cinema