(MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD)
This game goes so hard - to have achieved this level of polish, cohesiveness, and aesthetic identity, in only 4 days? Incredible. The game oozes with personality, the 90s anime style graphics, the subtitles-style song lyrics, the stylish UI, all the little details in the background + bg variations as characters move around and interact with it, it’s all just so charming and brimming with personality. The programmer has done such a good job - the text effects and glitches really sell the sense of unease and darkness at the heart of the plot, and the point-and-click elements + integrating the choices into a pop-up poem CG, felt fresh and ingenious and immersive. In general the integration of writing/narrative with the gameplay/choice structure was so cool - it’s such a creative framing device, and it was really fun to “figure out” in hindsight/on second playthrough. (After finishing the game, we reloaded to the last save, tried to pick the other option, and audibly gasped at the result.)
Do we even need to mention the music?? This vn has one of the most impressive soundscapes we’ve ever seen in a jam game - having not one but multiple fully voiced songs, with actual lyrics, all of which are complete and utter bangers, is an extraordinary achievement, esp given the time constraints of the jam. Not only that - the songs were consistently plot-relevant and thematically resonant - and having a literal voice change in the “Golden Voice” ending (our favourite! we’re certified Quinn simps. it hurt us a lot) was such a clever touch. The musical variation really helped sell the bittersweet can’t-have-it-all of the endings, and emphasise how much of a different person Willow becomes in them - both artistically and interpersonally.
Thank you so much for this gem - and congratulations on your well-earned victories!