I admit I thought that the vn was slow. And I felt the mc wasn't engaging enough...
...until I realized that was the point. I went in expecting a slice of life vn and assumed the mc was another reactionary blank slate for the reader to latch and self insert themselves onto. This was until coming across certain scenes and going "oh." and eventually "wait a minute." Suddenly I had to reflect on how I had been engaging with certain aspects in the story.
Putting myself in Aidens shoes changed my entire perception of this visual novel. Reading his internal monologues as he goes through his daily routine became vastly more interesting after understanding where he is at in his own life. Its shudderingly realistic and immersive and I appreciate how far the dramatic irony goes.
This novel is an exploration of Aiden as a character. And the way this is explored from his perspective is very nuanced and in my opinion: very well executed.
Blossom City has quickly become of my favorite visual novels and I sincerely hope it isn't as overlooked as it seems. Its art is great. Its writing is fantastic. The music, UI, and other touches of polish like sound effects go so far in adding to this gem of a game. I can't wait to see more and I hope more people pick it up.
Also, the sex scenes are REALLY HOT.