big shoutout to mado for going all in on the promise to shake off content limiters. i recently read bad faith and this captured some of the best parts. squirming discomfort. girls (women) talking past each other, telling each other what they think they want to hear. I (positive) laughed out loud when I saw the first frame of the life cycle wheel because i knew I would have to settle in for the rest of it. the sound design was like…aspirationally disgusting, especially the opening. impeccable design as usual, mado really shines with sprite Poses in addition to expressions and it all works very well together
SPOILERS ETC
i also laughed when the concept of “toxic yuri about wholesome yuri” unfolded. direct references to media - awesome. directly pulling from literature- awesome. directly making a media about opinions about media - awesome.
every chance I get I say “I want to see writing from people’s niche experiences” and this is one of the hyperspecific drills I’ve been dreaming of. why are so many japanese visual novel greats written with hyper specific locations, weather, net slang, family relations? it doesn’t disturb the game presentation, it adds to it. the designs are just so perfectly a cross between a game design and someone one could meet…more waiter please. or stop here because I feel like I’ve been satisfied (JUST KIDDING!!! WAITER?)
i smell new england in that lake.
if i were a bit younger this would have already been a nuclear bomb but I’ll also give this the best praise I can: listing what would have turned this from impressive to a total nuke for me… for ME PERSONALLY OK because I would easily take in more of it (I got consent to write this in public ok)
- room to breathe. i somewhat understand why anita stuck around right away, and there’s no lulling the reader into a false sense of security with this design … well, maybe there is. I could have been distracted by a “hurt girls comfort each other in a cruel world” bent, or by spending some more time with sunny coaxing her into trust, like a scared animal…maybe a sprained ankle, maybe an argument with her parents on the phone, or maybe even just some longer conversations where sunny doubles down on that manipulation tactic where they tell you personal things so that you feel a sense of obligation.
- more of a drip filter on sunny’s internal thoughts, especially at the outset. the face she made while anita was on the phone was fantastic and said more than an essay coul. I’d love to watch her washing the dishes and guess at what she’s thinking.
- conversely…maybe more time in anita’s head? more time spiraling down the logical puzzle of how to live a life free from sin? more time reading other people’s callout docs…making the cases for and against each thing she feels drawn to…ive never written fanfiction but if i did i’d be in there
nice work brave mado. get some rest. or ride the high whatever i’m not the police. do something nice for yourself!