Ohh, this was quite a fun one! I really liked this wholesome take on an estranged couple reigniting their love! I loved putting sparkles in Oleander's eyes during the good ending~ (jokes aside real review down below).
I thought that the game was really well-done overall! The sunset hued background and sprite are beautiful with a little bit of a foreboding quality, and I loved all of the different text effects. They conveyed the emotion of the scene well and added so much dynamicism to the visuals. the sprite is beautifully rendered (putting the personality of the character aside), and the writing is on-point, as always!
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SPOILERS
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I knew this guy was a douche-canoe the minute I saw him strutting around his house in his underwear LOL (okay that might be a generalization, but truly, I don't understand how people do that...) I like the choice of his name - a poisonous shrub is very fitting for such a man! When I was reading, Oleander DID give me VERY strong Lara vibes!
The characterization of Oleander and Orlena is built up well over the course of the story, really driving home Oleander's abusive nature - his jabs at Orlena's weight, his criticisms, his double standards, his shallow and dismissive attitude. By the end you really do sympathize with whatever decision "Orlena" chooses.
The hints towards the second plot twist were also well-done! I didn't see the twist coming on the first play, but on a second playthrough I picked up on quite a few of the hints: Oleander mentioning that Orlena's hair looks different, and noting that her butt looks less flabby than normal, for example. I also thought it was strange that Orlena continuously mentioned that she "saw" the scars and bruises in a very detached way, but by the end it made complete sense - because Venessa only saw the bruises, she never experienced the abuse. So it makes sense that she continuously mentions "seeing" the evidence of the abuse, rather than living through it.
Overall this was an excellent bit of psychological horror, and really unexpected from you! I'm looking forward to nuit blanche ;)