This was such a gut punch, my god 😭💦 Like. Really hitting to the core of me. As someone who has never been confident in how they look and wanting to change literally everything about themself (and who already deals ENOUGH with anxiety LDKAJFDS) I related so hard to Phoenix and I spent half the game wallowing in her misery and half of it desperately hoping that I could somehow... somehow... help her push through everything that was going on in her head. This was just such a visceral experience. And I also really enjoyed how you gave such a variety of different subconscious thoughts for why Phoenix feels the various ways about herself that she does. Because there are literally 50 million different external factors affecting us at all times and trying to tear us down -- some of them related to family, friends, work, the things we see and read, the things shoved into our faces constantly on social medial. There's no escaping it sometimes??? And so it's no wonder when even when we think we're doing fine and can handle things, it'll all come rushing and bubbling up to take the wind out of us at the most inopportune moments, just like Phoenix's sudden shift in mood here right before she was about to go have a fun night with friends.
The art was absolutely gorgeous. I'm in love with the composition of having Phoenix in the mirror and clicking around the different areas that are stuck in her own mind and that she can't let go of, while then having the occasional interruption from her friends in the phone on the right. LOL I HAVE TO ADMIT. AT FIRST. THE TEXT MESSAGE NOISE MADE ME SUPER ANXIOUS EVERY TIME IT WENT OFF LAKDJFAD Perhaps I have a weird relationship with text messages and ppl contacting me already LMAO But here also, it was like this incessant interruption that when Phoenix is still unable to break free of her thoughts, feels like it just keeps hammering away. But if you're able to help Phoenix start to push through and listen to the excited and encouraging messages from her friends, then it starts to feel like a beacon that's guiding her along, helping get her through the rough patch. The wonderful and accepting words of her friends reminding her not only that she has so much support and is loved so much, but that what she's telling herself is a lie and though it's difficult, she can work to defeat it.
JUST SO GOOD. AND MAKING ME SUCH A WRECK, TOO. Dang. I just. Really appreciated this. And the music!! There was something about it. Like. At the beginning, when Phoenix is trapped in her self-deprecating headspace, it felt very morose and heavy, but as it transitioned to (well I got the good ending) her hope beginning to return and the excited voices of her friends, it started to feel more and more uplifting despite it not even changing. MAYBE IT WAS JUST ME but it was just a great piece that fit so well. The voice acting was phenomenal, too!
ALL IN ALL JUST FANTASTIC. An experience that was at times painful but also so so encouraging and uplifting and hopeful. I really loved this so much! 💕