I went into this sequel with a deep love for Loner_Dog, in fact, Loner_Dog was my primary inspiration for entering Toxic Yuri Jam 2 myself.
This feels like a very fitting sequel. A lot of the same feelings explored, as well as a lot of different ones. Still playing with and pushing the medium of visual novels to its fullest extent.
Harsh Noise and Roaches are such rough-around-the-edges characters in general, it's very sweet seeing them spend time together and be sappy with each other. Xelia felt more fleshed out, with her flair for dramatic wording and absolute intolerance of bullshit. Death Industrial is fascinating, I have a lot of emotions about her that are hard to sum up in words.
SPOILERS FOLLOW
.
.
.
I was touched by how quiet and peaceful the scene of Harsh Noise's actual death was. Despite all the build up, I wasn't expecting that — I thought there would be a violent element to it, like ritual sacrifice almost? Maybe that was me assuming things about these characters that weren't true, that they would erotocize the process of death as much as dead bodies. Opiod overdose is one of the least painful ways to go.
Seeing Roaches, Argo, and Xelia's very different reactions to Noise's death felt very grounded. It feels true to life and grief.
I have mixed feelings about Snek's appearace in the back half of the VN. I was incredibly touched to hear from it, initially. Especially since the works it created are so unique, and so important to me. 4th wall breaks feel fitting for a story like this.
But the pacing of the sections that switched between Snek and the cast of characters felt very drawn out after a while — I kept thinking the VN was over, but there were like 10 scenes left. This was disconcerting, and caused me to rush through the later part of the VN more than I wanted to.
I think I will probably end up re-reading portions and revisiting this. Such a mix of hope and sadness and anger and grief. Everything about this hit closer to home than I'd think a story about trans necrophiles could, Despite my critique of the pacing at the end, this was a really incredible work.
You are beloved.