Hello!
I just wanted to leave a comment here because I have played through your demo around 4+ times, and when I do something like that then I definitely have to tell the person/team who made this why I did so!
Usually how I play games is to play as close to myself as possible, and I was stunned by the amount of customization that is present in just bringing about the MC, not just through looks, but their background and the preset powers they can have and other such things!
The reason why I played multiple times is because I found it quite amazing that where the MC comes from, their background and what age they are, are really baked into the dough of the story itself, even from the intro screen!
I played as a moderately younger MC, a very old MC, a very young MC, and as Tanya (I also went to the age brackets a few times to see what would be said about a moderately older MC and an MC that was of age range).
The mentions of grave robbing made me laugh out loud a bit when it came to that kind of thing, and I really enjoyed finding all the differences and nuances to all the routes you can go and how that not only lead to how you interacted with the world, but how the world interacts with you.
A part of me is very super excited to see the expansions of these things simply so I can play this story on different ages, though I can totally see why that would be A LOT to do!
The differences between Tanya and MC were very interesting to look over as well, the similarities as well as to what they would do if they were in a very similar situation of arriving to the Church of Ichor, even if they do not have similar backgrounds or reasonings.
Which brings me around to the worldbuilding.
Holy fuck this world-building swept me off my feet in a sense, because not only is it complex and enchanting, but the way it kind of mirrors our own world and a certain religion within it, and shows all of this within a sermon was just awesome to me!
I really can't wait to see expansions of the 'Gifts' that everyone has, I have a feeling you've put a lot of thought into it, and I am so curious as to what Ramon has, as it was the only one that I couldn't see being hinted at like it is with Eden, or told explicitly like with Louisa and Ariel.
Which brings me around to talking about the characters.
Louisa is a sassy older woman, I'll give her that, but I appreciate that with Tanya and a younger MC she tells Ramon to be careful with their hearts. I truly envy her design, I love hearts and heart-eyes, and it works very well with her bright pink and purple hair and her overall look in general.
Eden is the perfect set up person for the Church of Ichor to use as an introduction. Eden saying that they didn't really have the same beliefs but just come in for the community and the sermons is the perfect non-threatening hook you would want for a Cult. And she is quite lovely, the flowers blooming in his long hair, the green eyes with pink flowers- even if it may be on some level a facade (Or not, who knows), I consider them to be quite the lovely introduction.
When it comes to Ariel, I find it very interesting that she is only seen in Tanya's view for the briefest window of time. It makes me wonder more about her, and she seems like a very sweet person.
Which brings us to Ramon.
Whoa. This man really helps break the mold, him and Boone from 'See How the Cat Jumps' are the only love interests from Yandere-labeled games who are explicitly from the older side and cater to those who have a taste for older men (In Ramon's case, a DILF considering Ariel is his daughter).
His brightly colored hair and boisterous demeanor, a part of me wonders if the type of yandere he could be is a Steamroller.
Like, 'Yes, I see you are fighting this destiny of ours, but it is what it is, and there is nothing you can do to change it, even if you try to run, even if you try to fight, in the end your place is here by my side'.
I'm sure I will see in the future.
Tanya is an MC whom I deeply sympathize with, and want to see good things happen for her. She is prickly and mistrustful, because that came from all the ways people had treated her, and continue to treat her even in the present time.
Seeing how alone she is shows how perfect she would be as the target of a cult.
Because it is an offering of structure, safety and belonging.
Of course she mistrusts it, of course she sees that there are things hiding underneath here.
But... If the outside world always treat you like a dog (as she had compared herself to with her facemask), and there is only one place that seems to be holding out a hand to you, then won't there be a voice inside you that tells you to take it?
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The artwork is beautiful, the character designs for all of them are unique and lovely, and I hope to see more from you in the future, I will be following this game where and when I can.
(Though of course, take your time. You said that your motivation for creating has been on an all-time low, so please take care of yourself.)
All in all, an incredible demo that I recommend for everyone to play if they love good world-building, cults and DILFs.