Oh my gosh this is probably the most high-effort feedback I've gotten on anything I can remember doing ever, thanks tons first and foremost! :D
I'd love to go through my entire creative process but the main thing is that I'm so very glad the story reached you. A writer's biggest fear is trying something weird and different without knowing if it will hit the mark or not. Glad the storytelling worked in the strange way I approached it.
Also very glad to hear the combat worked out. I did not set out to make a game with a lot of aggressive battles, but as the nonlinear story began to click with me, it seemed the way to get the feeling I wanted.
Thanks again and again, this overall fell so short of what I imagined in my head that it means a lot to know things did work in their own ways. I mostly just want to make another game and your honest words will help a lot!