Please give me courage. I am a wimp, but pressed forward anyways due to curiosity, and when I saw that Aster's route had unlocked I got SO scared. I can't click the button. I'm terrified of what kinds of things I'll see and hear when I do.
I'm so sorry to hear how this game came out of such a hard situation (I hadn't seen that before,) but I've been following development for a while now and am so excited to play! So glad to hear that your dad is doing better. I've only played the demo so far, but it was so high quality that I can definitely imagine this competing with One Life and Touchstarved!~ And hey, who doesn't want MORE high quality vns? :3 (Plus, this is definitely a bit spicier than one life, and the exploration/crafting elements make it unique!~) So... don't be down on yourself! Looking forward to all of your success >o<
Incidentally, is there a version we're supposed to get if we want it to be compatible with the upcoming *spice* dlc? >.>
I loved this and read it despite knowing that the series wouldn't continue. :) I echo everyone's adoration, and... have a thought? If you ever do want to return to this series, I encourage you to do so. You might not get everything "right." There might be "problems." I mean, real life is full of 'em. Nothing is picture-perfect. But I feel like... the only way for all of us to learn from each other and grow is to... engage?
There was something about these stories that spoke to you, and I feel like that isn't a bad thing to explore, especially in the respectful way that you have done. So, my advice is to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly in an open, loving way. We'll all be here, talking and reading and writing with you. Much love <3
This was so amazing, oh my goodness!!! >o< I hope everyone is talking about this and sharing it.~ So amazing and magical!!
I am excited to go back to replay other routes, but I kinda feel bad about it- I'm so attached to the story I got the first time. <3 Haha, I knew I should've saved the fae prince for last. ;)
Ah, I see! My character hadn't kissed anyone ever before, so since she didn't react to it at all, either, I assumed they must have kissed before... like, more time had passed or something? Anyways, that's the impression I got, so I was confused for a while. x)
EDIT: And especially since she was catching feelings, even if she had kissed someone before, I feel like the first kiss with a particular person*can be* special >o<
As described below, I didn't kiss him in the asking-out scene, only in the hiking scene on the log, and there was no particular reaction there. Maybe you react as if it's your first kiss in other scenes?
Oooo, interesting! Yeah, I went back and chose some other things. Replied above. I do find it odd that you go straight to boyfriend. xD That implies a lot more commitment to me. It's usually a whole thing, I thought, in real life. xD But this isn't discussed really in the game at all?
As for the first kiss, my MC didn't kiss him in that scene. She just hugged him. She kissed him went they went on their nature walk on the log. <3 It was cute, but given the absolute lack of reaction (I guess the first kiss reaction only happens if you do it in the ask out scene?), and the earlier exchanging of keys, I was like, OH, ok, they're in THAT kind of relationship. xD Just a bit more conversation, or thoughts, or something, I feel like, could smooth it all out. But yes, it's all amazing and I adore how much personalization goes into everything!! >o<
I went back and chose some other things, and I see what you mean. What I chose:
***Spoiler land***
B: To cut to the chase, I'm asking you out
MC: I don't treat things that lightly.
B apologizes, expresses his interest, etc. Says he's not incredibly romantic, but... (kinda sounded like "but I like you" >o<)
MC: Maybe... I'd be ok with that.
Then, he doesn't give the suitor of the season line or anything. MC just asks if they should tell people, they talk about it, etc.
When I went to my family, I said I had a boyfriend. Like, not an option to just be like, I am going on a few dates with this guy, full-out boyfriend. xD Which is a conversation I thought most couples usually had after... a while. Not right off the bat xD. Being able to say that you are just casually going on a few dates with this guy might've been a nice option (plus being able to have a first kiss >o<... and actually having some kind of conversation about physical boundaries. Or, it might come up at some point within the story!)
Gah!!! This was so amazing and wonderful, thank you. <3 ^^ I got all the DLC at once and played through everything, and man, my heart was NOT ready. Funnily enough, as I've recommended this game with my friends, one asked if I had taken part in making it because it "sounds" like my writing. I was so flattered, haha. And also happy because I got an amazing sense of kinship from playing this game. <3 <3 I felt like.... there are people out there who feel the same things I do, you know?
The one thing that was a bit confusing for me was *spoiler land*
*
*
In the Baxter DLC, he asked my character out. In the next scene, they had a kiss and it was... like.. no big deal? So I assumed they must just have that kind of relationship? They also exchanged hotel room keys, so I assumed they were intimate. Then though, with the kiss scene in the hotel room, the MC was thinking to herself that this relationship was just supposed to be short term or for the summer or something like that, and I was like- when did this conversation happen? I felt like I had missed something.
When I read your blog, I saw how Baxter wouldn't have been intimate with someone when it was supposed to be such a short time (despite his intro). Which- fair, fine. But then... my character felt like she psychically knew about this somehow? I didn't think I had heard any stipulations in the asking out scene. And from the way they say they are boyfriend and girlfriend, it sounds more committed than that? And other people also treat your relationship as a committed thing?
I kinda understood some of the setup when we got to the most painful, visceral ghosting I've ever seen in my life (oof x)). Basically though, all the pieces feel like they're set up to have the MC thinking they're dating and can continue a relationship but Baxter cuts them off at the end. But, the scene in the hotel room didn't read that way. Plus, would've been nice to have some sort of acknowledgement for the first kiss with Baxter.
Anyways though, this game is amazing and transformative and wonderful and GAH. I have so many FEELINGS. >o< Thanks for giving us a wonderful life.~
Oh no, how could you!!!?! D: And I was so proud of myself for getting the romance ending on the first try, too! xD
I ended up not following the guide exactly and tweaking things so I didn't have to say anything TRULY horrible but still enough "bad" choices to get the different endings >o<
So heart-wrenching!! D:
I full-completed everything, though!! Thank you for this experience, even if you did make us all masochists for it ;)
Aw, thanks for replying! I definitely enjoyed. Buuuuut I mean....
*spoiler spoiler*
How am I supposed to be mean to him to get his bad endings?! T.T D:
You're so cruel! xD
Maybe I'll put it on skip and do it really fast. Or try to only pick the "wrong" choices that aren't so heart-wrenching and hope I can get enough points for the different ends that way. ><
I just played Leonard's route for the first time, and I got the sweetest, most romantic ending in existence. TELL ME how I'm supposed to do the other routes now and break his heart, just to see all the endings so I can unlock the secret route?! D:
Oh my gosh, Yuto is my soulmate, haha. xD Since I had so much fun, I went back to play the other routes and Sol was straight up like "You sure? I thought you would've preferred Yuto." !!! xD Called OUT! (I mean, maybe that's what he always says, but...>.> Still made me laugh!)
This is probably my favorite story game of all time. T.T
It feels like you have relationships with all of the characters. Sure there's the schtick where Cove actually grows and changes depending on your interactions and relationship, and that's super cool, but I feel like I have meaningful interactions with all of the characters. I remember them so fondly, and I love feeling like I'm actually interacting with them.~ I legitimately cried when I opened the game again recently and heard the music. xD
I guess, there's a sort of distance in Otome games because the situations, people, etc. tend to be kind of far-fetched and out there. There's also the understanding that you will get with one of the characters. In this game, it's not like that. You don't even have to be romantic if you don't want to, or if the character you're interested in doesn't like you that way. It's not a given. It feels... realistic in a way that other games don't, and not just because of the slice of life. If you set this game on a spaceship during an alien invasion between firefights, but still had all the choices, variable relationships and interactions, memory system... it would still be amazing.
That being said, I'm super curious about all of the things that can happen in the game! Is there somewhere where all of the different branches and differences are listed? I feel like I don't want to replay making different choices because that wouldn't be MY life. xD
I was so surprised and delighted by this! I have to admit, I've never seen anything like this, and it was fascinating. I'm not really familiar with most memes, probably just the most popular, but I was kept going by the lovely writing, pacing, and the hook of trying to figure out the source of the pun curse!
I probably liked Zeikun and Junoru the best, though I think that's just down to personal preference. All of the routes were so fun!
Let the excited theory-crafting commence!!!
SPOILERS BELOW
My impression in trying to piece everything together was that MC was one of those blessed souls as we found out in Zeikun's route, but other routes didn't necessarily know. For example, Junoru did not know that the "zombies" could be purified (Sachiro/Zeikun) or that they were inhabited by bad spirits. He viewed it from a "scientific" background, which makes sense due to his past. He also didn't know that the MC drew spirits to her and assumed it was because his "essence" or whatever rubbed off on her. xD
My guess would be that the state the "zombie" thing puts humans into makes them a perfect vessel for evil spirits? They can be killed, but also purified, and the cells themselves are also passed down through families as we learn in Junoru's route?
I had the impression that Rasumi's major goal was to drive out and kill the forest demon, which she used the undead to do. In Zeikun's route where you tell her that you would sacrifice yourself, she sees you as a good little minion since it seemed like she heightened your spiritual powers to exorcise Zeikun, as was her goal all along. If you didn't play along with her.... yeesh. O.O I'm not exactly sure what her problem with Zeikun was, but we already know she seems to delight in the pain of others. She didn't even show remorse when she got poor Kurato possessed! >( Used him as an experiment!
In Junoru's route, when you escape from her, she hints that she is using the undead for some purpose... I guess what we saw in Zeikun's route? I suppose we'd have to assume that he probably (at least eventually) dies in other routes. Seems like Rasumi is a patient killer and doesn't mind waiting for things to go her way. ....o.o
I've also been puzzling about Blace. You have to choose some very specific options in order to get the death end where he accidentally (?) fries your memory. Based on the fact that you have to choose "liking" him or "preferring" him somewhat to not get that ending, is the implication that he feels too bad to fry you if he knows you unironically like him? It seemed to be implied that he had a mind-reading power. And he is such a poor lonely bean. D:
For Kurato, I was having a hard time distinguishing between what separated his romantic from his normal end. What really changed, provided you didn't get mind-wiped by Blace? I did all the "ding" choices and, since there was no ding for choosing to wish for Blace or Kaichi, I chose Kaichi since I thought it would bring Kurato more resolution. That seemed to put me on the normal path? What was the thing that didn't happen there to separate his normal from romantic ends? Gaining the cooperation of the twins?
Anyways, you might not even see this since it has been so long, but thanks again for the wonderful time! I hope you are doing well. <3 And I hope anyone else who reads this enjoys the theorizing! It's one of my favorite things to do with this kind of game. I did get some of my answers reading comments below, like about Chain's ancestor with the same CG, or Kaichi's heart, so thanks for that! I was also wondering at what point Roya took the potions, so that helps explain the... murder. x) I was so sure the little jerk had also orchestrated the bullying situation with the poor legless ghost since he had told the boys to come to the school that night, but maybe he just got busy with the teacher. x.x Interesting how two parts of that story were separated by route. I guess the Romantic route one where we learn about legless boy was the deeper memory that Kurato was repressing, so it was more key for him to think about?
Gotta admit, having routes for Chain and Roya would be super hot, but I can't think of any way that would work.... out. xD They're both so.... murdery. xD!!! I could definitely see routes working out for Blace and Kaichi though! Maybe Jace, but I get the distinct impression he's more murdery somehow. >.> Well.... to be fair, Kaichi is also pretty murdery, despite the fact that he tries to justify it. <.<
Gah! Ok, so I'm a wimp. I faint at the sight of blood, have a bad reaction to even the thought of bad tastes or smells.... So... the reason I downloaded this was definitely just a boatload of curiosity.
Definitely glad I did!
Of COURSE the first route I pick turns out to be the vore one. Because of course it is. And I'm shamefully curious to know if the whole game's aesthetic is something people are... into? Because despite the packaging, the whole thing was just so... otome. XD So I'm pretty curious to know why the aesthetic is enjoyed, how that interacts with the otome aspect, etc. (I'm sure it'll be different for different people, but still! :O )
Also curious to know- did you have hopes of inspiring people with such curiosity, perhaps even empathy? Did you have any larger goals besides delivering an awesome game?
I've got a lot of curiosity. >>
Anyway, thanks! This was really adorable. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'm a Nyargh fan. <3
That is helpful, thank you, but we can't select "visual novel" "free" and "complete" in all the same way, right? You still have to hover or click to see if a game is released, rather than the search engine just showing you games that match your filter, whether complete or incomplete, depending on what you're looking for. If the categories are "in development," "released," and "canceled," maybe we could have a function that allows you to uncheck "in development" games so you can be sure you won't pull any?
I play quite a few visual novels, and I'd really appreciate the ability to tag games as "demos," or perhaps "complete." Or maybe not a tag, but an option? Open a bunch of tabs... 3/4 are demos and I don't want to play them until their full release.... -.- )
