I really liked this game, up to the part where I, too, fell victim to Jet standing in the damn way. I feel like this game has a good basis, but it's also got a lot of little issues that hamper the experience. Obviously, it's a marvel how much of the game you were able to put together, but at the same time, many of the activities were just downright boring. Fishing, for instance, just involves having the right items and standing in the right place, then crossing your fingers. In fact, the whole apprentice thing doesn't really pay off in any interesting gameplay. I liked the writing, tho I felt like a lot (most?) of it was first draft. That, again, is understandable given the time constraint. (This might just be a personal preference, but I really dislike getting a text box with the last word of a sentence in it and nothing else. Either rewrite the text box to be more concise or add more text.) I'm really interested in seeing where this goes, so I'll be keeping on eye on the game page! Good luck on the contest, btw, you have one of the more promising games I've played.
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Thank you for the feedback!! This was very much a passion project of mine and regardless of the results of the jam, I plan to make a sequel after making a few more games. I feel like there's so much I want to learn before making this the game its meant to be (shame you couldn't see the ending though, I try not to spoil it, but it may answer some of your questions (there's a lot of future potential for the apprenticeships and how it affects her adulthood)
As for the boringness of fishing, YES. Definitely. 100% with you there. I plan to create a mini game for it, and many more varied rods you need with many different types of fishing grounds. The fishing will tie in a lot more to the cooking system too, making a key system that will tie into the fighting aspects.
As far as the writing, you caught me. I did unfortunately have to use a lot of first drafts in this. It being my first published game, I didn't have the knowledge I do now on how to more quickly enter in written dialogue. I now have quite a few tricks I plan to implement in the future!! Especially in regards to the text box. I feel like I got much better flow in the newest game I made for a jam. I really need to redo this game from the floor up with all the comments people have given me.
It really means a lot that so many of you have enjoyed my game!! I plan to expand it to potentially be my first commercial game (though again it won't be for awhile. I acknowledge that this is a good showing of my limits and where I need to improve). I plan to have the apprenticeships expand into Matsuki's adulthood and how she deals with the events that happen at the end of the game!
While I succeeded in fleshing out all the systems I wanted, it's fair to critique just how bare bones a lot of it is. I'm amazed I finished as much as I did, but I genuinely should have polished it more. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. This feedback really helps me as a developer!!
I did really enjoy the game, and I plan on playing this demo to the end at some point, I just ran out of time this weekend and wanted to give it a rating before the contest was over. I'm sorry if I came off harsh in my critique, you have one of the best entries I've seen and I'm really looking forward to seeing it develop. Your game really has a lot of potential, and it's already very charming and fun to play.