So, I actually did not play MalViolence (the game this is a prequel for) before playing this VN. I had only seen illustrations from the director, whose artwork I've been a fan of for some time. I have to say, once finishing this game I went straight to Steam to download MalViolence so that I could see what happens next for these characters. I found the story we were shown here that compelling!
This is a tight, well executed, and emotionally gripping story. I was moved deeply by the characters we meet and was genuinely shaken by quite a few of the story beats. The first "shoe drop" moment we're given made me gasp out loud. The way the story is presented to us through the lens of a researcher taking notes, recording interviews, and even texting a friend was very creative and immersive.
I definitely recommend checking out this VN; the couple hours it took to play went by quickly (in a good way). No prior context to who these characters are is needed...though, be warned, you may be left itching or more of them once you're done. :) I look forward to seeing any further work from this team.