10/10 game, copious amounts of WIND and TREES, would recommend to anyone who loves wind and trees - Okay I'm joking...
Unfortunately, this game peaked in its first few moments with the introduction of Kawaii-chan, and it never reached those heights again - OKAY I'M STILL JOKING.
In WTWBYA, we are introduced to Peter and Amanda, two childhood friends who become estranged. When Peter reappears suddenly, the two slowly reconcile.
First of all, the character writing is impeccable, as always. If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for childhood friends, and Amanda and Peter are no different. However, even more than that, I love how both parties are characterized. I related SO much to Peter's struggles with social interactions, and I found Amanda's desire to "fit in" very relatable as well.
Amanda's character and subsequent character arc are perfectly encapsulated in the game design. For instance - Amanda and Peter are the only ones with visible sprites, while the others are depicted merely as black silhouettes, highlighting the distance that Amanda feels from them. Furthermore, even while talking with her friends (whose names are mentioned in the script), in the speaker box the friends are still referred to as "Classmate 1/2," reinforcing that Amanda does not feel close to others, even people that she calls her friends.
As the story is fundamentally one about miscommunication, many of the choices are similar at first glance, but are actually very different in context. While Amanda is saying the same things in both options, HOW she phrases the answer is critical. For instance, "I would love going with you" vs. "I wouldn't mind going with you." I love this detail; it really makes you pay attention to the choices while also perfectly reflecting the themes of communication - you need to listen to Peter and communicate the way that he understands.
I won't spoil anything, but the romance is an absolutely sweet and wholesome story that ticked ALL the right boxes for me. I love it when characters in a romance learn about themselves and grow through their interactions with each other!
Can I say that this game just screams polish? From the UI design, to the text animations, to the sprite animations, there's so much care and detail added into everything that makes the experience so much more dynamic and fun. I especially loved the design of the UI. The muted colors and watercolor aesthetic of the backgrounds really give a nostalgic but melancholic vibe, like autumn, reflecting how Amanda has moved past her "bright spring" into a slightly more depressing adolescence. The cut paper design of the text boxes brings to mind love letters, or childhood diaries. I also really appreciated how both the backgrounds and the sprites of the past scenes were depicted with a slightly more monochromatic, red-tinged palette, which evoked a 'sepia" feel, like looking at old photographs. The music tracks were beautiful, fitting the story perfectly while also being incredibly pleasant to listen to on their own.
I was really looking forward to this, and it certainly did not disappoint! There were enough wind/tree references to sate my appetite, and I loved the experience overall! Peter is the sweetest LI ever...