Whoa, thank you so much for this long review! I love reading reviews for my game, it's so much fun.
Yeah, the effects were something I did kind of impromptu while I was adding in the different sfx since I thought it would be a good way to foreshadow what kind of person Milo ends up being depending on what route you take. I (tried to) slowly mix it before they became their new version so you can kind of feel the progression of what they're turning into.
For the expressions (I guess, specifically for the sprites), it was my first time using layered image, but the process is very similar to a type of game modding I like to do, so I kind of went overboard on the expressions. Pretty much every line has a slight expression change for the sprite that you're viewing, which now that I think about it, is kind of insane. But I've always been a big fan of adding in small details like that in games. I wanted to give each version of Milo a specific habit that they might do, like with Pre Milo he hops like a bunny (or binkying, as I've heard) when he's happy, and certain sounds that the Milos make are associated with their mood and whatnot. I'm glad that my previous modding experience let me add in all these things naturally.
Ooh, I'm glad you noticed the name tags! For Valli, I was actually going more for the circuits that a USB or computer has to associate her more with her tech side since we don't really see too much of it in the scene that she's in.
I like your interpretation on Desmond's! I actually don't quite remember what I was going for there... Probably something associated with his anger since he actually has really bad anger issues he deals with.
For Seph, he's supposed to be in a (possible) future game where he (and two other love interests) get lost in a forest with a giant ancient sadistic being that's trying to get out. You are that giant ancient sadistic being. His nametag was an idea of the kinds of symbols that are associated with more ancient drawings you might see. Since there's three different forms I wanted to try out for the MC of that game, I wanted to make it a bit vague. There is some extra lines for him if you use either Cryptic, Abyss or Primal as the MC's name.
Yup!! You totally got it. It also mimics the eyeshapes that the Milos have when turning into their other forms. Easter egg, Ryan and Poison (that's the fighter you see in Violence's route) have the same name tag as the MC. This is because they are both aware and part of the plan of what the MC is trying to make Milo into. You'll also notice that they have an eye design somewhere on them, which is wide open, fully aware of what the MC is doing and powerless to stop them. The two Milos also have eye motifs on their designs but they are never open fully.
Ooh, that's great! I am planning to have an extra story involving Eris and Ryan's past, specifically what Eris has on the USB that is so incriminating. Hopefully that will be something fun to look forward to.
Thank you! I think Eris suits them as a good default name and I'm really glad that you enjoyed the details! Makes putting them in worth it.
Daww, you recommend it to people! That's so cool- I'm always shocked when people recommend my game to others. My next game will be a lot more light hearted, based of characters in Valli's world, called Alpha's Day Off! It's actually the game I was working on before this one. I'm not sure if the people who like this game will enjoy that one, but I hope you'll stick around and try it out.