WOW, this was an incredible title. The entire team did a fantastic job, and I could tell how personal a story it was.
The entire game is incredibly polished. There was so much thought and care put into all of the UI/various effects! The use of the "glitchiness"/chromatic aberration scheme really played well into the concept of a "video game-centric workplace" - one that is broken and glitchy. The art is so charming, and I loved how many Easter eggs there were in the backgrounds. From the script to the art, it was clear that the team has an incredible love for video games as a medium. The story was well-written, with natural dialogue, excellent pacing, and good structure. The VAs also did a wonderful job!
All three of our leading characters were very well-written. Diana is very relatable and well-rounded. Although her life is tied to her work, you really get a lot of hints into her life outside, before work consumed her, through her desk/room/mentions of her previous relationships. I like how withdrawn she is portrayed - constantly wearing headphones, listening to music to drown out the world - unknowingly shutting herself off from anyone (her coworkers) who could lend her a sympathetic ear and support. I really liked her design - her muted "autumn" colors really give the impression that she was someone who used to be "colorful" and saturated, who was slowly beaten down.
I like how Godric is characterized - he's not cartoonishly evil, and he almost acts "friendly" with Diana - and yet you can feel the oppression from every line. You can tell how every interaction is laced with the power dynamic between the two of them. He never says anything outwardly cruel, only words tinged with threats and disappointment, but he's absolutely hateable all the same. His black, white and red color scheme is really fitting LOL very demonic, and the fact that he wears a tracksuit to work is simultaneously ironic and infuriating.
From the start, Enya is an adorable bean. I like how "ethereal" their design is - unlike the other characters who have very muted palettes, Enya looks very bright and colorful, almost like a "game" character (as opposed to a "human" working in an office LOL) It really sets them apart from the rest of the cast and hammers home how optimistic their perspective is. Their enthusiasm and love for their work is infectious!
===SPOILERS BELOW===
I really loved the construction of the story and choices here. The choice of giving Diana a mentee to manage was a brilliant one; Diana is in a hopeless situation, with no agency over her work, but here the player is presented with the choice to either perpetuate the abuse/neglect that she suffers from her superior or to change, to avoid putting Enya in the same situation that she faced herself. Over the course of the story, Diana can either get progressively worse, breaking down by herself from stress, or she can receive support from Enya if she chooses to mentor them and give them proper guidance. The use of the dream sequences at the beginning of each day was a fantastic way of showcasing Diana's mental state (and, indeed, how dire it is, considering she acts so dull, detached, and "accepting" of her fate at work). I really liked how, in the bad ending, Diana's dreams get progressively worse - whereas in the best ending, they get better, with Enya eventually coming to her defense (foreshadowing what actually happens IRL).
The development of the relationship between Diana and Enya is heartwarming to see - it's a slow, natural progression, and it was quite cathartic to see them open up to one another near the end of the route. The choice to "making games out of their passion for the craft, as a hobby" at the end of the best ending route really brings things full circle. I also like how the scene portrays a "healthy" working dynamic - in which Diana is not entirely happy with Enya's design, but they are open to critique and exchange it freely with understanding and kindness.
The title screen change was so cute! It was such a cathartic end to the game and such a great pairing to the original title screen. The developers' notes were all really interesting and insightful as well. I am very afraid for the future of game development as an industry - and, indeed, the future of any creative profession. I can only hope that places remain in society where people can freely work out of passion instead of purely out of profit, and I hope that there's an audience that appreciates that passion.
I'll say it again, but this was FANTASTIC! Great work!