Hi oh my god, I check out otome demos and games for fun, and I think this is one of my favorite if not my favorite demo out of every one I've encountered. I ended up trying almost every combination of choices I could (after I realized that one choice would be mentioned/affect the others) and okay hi!! hello here are my thoughts
As said before, the UI is beautiful and never feels like I'm taking myself out of a scene whenever I take a stop to save. It doesn't feel like I'm pausing the game, just that I'm backing up a memory. The backgrounds are gorgeous and fit the styling of the characters who all have unique faces, color schemes, and personalities. The colors are dull but they aren't lifeless, not at all. The characters are so alive, they have their own worries, fears, and different ways of approaching them. Some are a bit more obvious than others (faine.) but it adds to their charm instead of making it annoying which is really impressive.
---- spoilers
I like how we're given choice on April's reactions to events, even if it doesn't affect much, it's nice that we can share our reaction and feelings on events through her and honestly, she's a lovely MC. Someone struggling to excel in her passion is such a mellow concept. I also am quite curious on how April only "succeeds" on the park picture when she takes inspiration from the mysterious cracked wall picture from the gallery(?). I've had my own endeavors with art/writing, and yeah, it did suck when I only succeeded when I had tried to imitate someone else's work(consciously or subconsciously), and It's so URGhSBS.
(I also happen to have a slight pink-girl bias)
Next, the choices. (Oh this is really fucking good) This is one of my favorite parts of the demo! I'm the player who picks the less romantic-leading choices (or the ones that seem like it), I enjoy seeing how things go if I don't pursue someone specifically, and it led, and I mean it's soooo interesting seeing how you're rewarded in game, The option that seem to drove Henbae- I mean Hendrick away from April was the one where you'd try paying him back? I enjoy the shenaniganry of Hendrick (though I struggle a bit to see him as someone I can romance) The choices with Faine too, it was interesting to see how he'd react because it was all different if I just had one different choice. I like how a combination of choices could lead to a new bit of information. (I seriously love the picture scene.eeasd..)
I like how everyone seems human (?), they feel like their own characters outside of the mc (which is a pitfall i see in a few games) and while I might be a little stand-offish to well honestly BOTH of the possible romanceable characters, It doesn't mean I'm willing to see both of their stories with April pull out.
- For now, I guess I don't prefer Hendrick over Faine or the other way around, They both have their own mysteries so I don't know how to feel /yet/. I like them equal amounts and don't lean one way or the other, I feel like the star of the show is April and honestly I don't mind! She's lovely as heck. Hendrick's teasing personality and Faine's ... well... yeah... It's interesting but I was drawn to the MC and how this felt like her story that just so happened to have two funny little guys involved.
Anyways, I'll see if I can support this on kickstarter, big congratulations on getting your goal in ... 2 days? (might support if I have enough spare money) Really excited for the full game q(≧▽≦q)