I can't remember if I left a review saying the same thing on the demo, but even if I did, I'm gonna say it again: it made my face light up when I saw bigender as an option for the player character. It feels like I never get an option to be myself in games, even ones with options like this, so it made me really happy!
As I said, I played the demo, and was very intrigued by the concept and was super excited to see it in full! Disclaimer that I've only played the Limbo routes so far (read: DJ and Noelle), but I LOOOVED both DJ and Noel's writing, as well as their banter with each other. DJ is one of the very few activist characters I've ever seen that actually reads as sincere, rather than a parody. And Noel is EXACTLY my type of character. Fallen angel genderfluid with anger issues? PEAK mecore. Thank you. I will GRACIOUSLY eat my meal.
-SPOILERS-
I try not to talk too much about representation in game reviews when part of the game's main appeal is the LGBT+ aspect (it seems redundant a lot of the time), but DJ also mentioning that they're intersex made my face light up. Also, I took a look at the Kickstarter to see who was 'romanceable' (Noel said he was ace, which isn't the same as aro, but even a lot of LGBT+ games act like it is, so), and I made an involuntary happy squeak when I saw that one of the romanceable characters is also bigender like me!! I can't wait to check out their route!!
This isn't helpful to the review but I had a Physical Reaction to DJ suggesting dressing Noel up as a mid-2000s emo kid. As someone super interested in scene culture, again, I will graciously eat my meal AND probably make fanart.
I liked that DJ's route ends with a throuple situation. It felt like I and the both of them were a trio of sorts throughout the game. It felt a little bit wrong to get with only Noel for his route. Plus, DJ and Noel definitely had chemistry of their own. A polyamorous situation is the perfect ending!
EDIT: Came back to specifically edit for Rosita's route and holy moly, dude. Only once in my life have I seen this sort of story attempted to be told; about the type of people who, even when they 'try their hardest', can't become any more than average. It's not a matter of lack of trying, it's them. It's them that the issue is with them... But that that's okay, too. Rosita's storyline resonated so deeply with me, as someone with a mental disability. Especially with the way that she handles what she percieves as a mental disability in Hordes. The team did an amazing job, and this story made me feel so seen!
Speaking of Hordes though… I have but one major complaint about the storytelling, and that is that, despite multiple people pointing out that Hordes is very clearly not mentally well, nothing is done in any of the routes about it... Or at least, not directly. The closest that I can think of is the ending where he's brought down into Hell by Faye, but even then, it's never explicitly stated that he's going to get mental help, even though it's established in Ramon's route that therapy does exist in Hell.
And I'm not asking for a Hordes redemption. I respect that the message of his character, and especially Rosita's route, is that he's not redeemable! I do! I just think it would be cool to have, like, a route or two where it's mentioned that he'll go to therapy, and maaaybe get on some meds? Even after playing Rosita's route, I still can't help but feel bad for him, because I know that he's not getting the mental help that he needs... Especially since it's not mentioned in Rosita's route alone that he's unwell! It's brought up in multiple routes, so it feels odd to just leave that idea hanging?
Maybe this will be addressed in part 2, but, I feel like it would make for a more satisfactory end for him to be able to get help, even if it doesn't make him a better person. I guess I just don't like other people's mental suffering, even that of capitalistic bastards.
-END OF SPOILERS-
My main criticism of the game was the way that Kalei's accent was written out with his dialogue. It's more difficult for me and many others to read dialogue when it's done like this, and breaks immersion, as well. I haven't gone on any Heaven routes yet, but I can't imagine I'll like having to endure that more. Although, the emphasis on his accent seemed to lessen as the game went on, so hopefully, that's consistent.
I've only played through the Limbo routes so far... But I'm so excited to get the rest of them, as well! It's so sublime, and I am incredibly grateful for all of the hard work everyone put in!
If the devs see this, I have a question: were any of the characters written to have any sort of disorder? And if not, can I see them that way anyway? I personally got HUGE BPD vibes from Noel (which for the record is a compliment, as I also have BPD) so I was wondering!