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There's definitely a lot of growth between the original and revamp, in terms of writing and everything else.

However! Honestly, going from the revamp to original is not as jarring as you might think. The writing was already good and although there are some rough spots with the visuals, it was still enough to keep me stuck in my seat (think I finished it over two days lmao) because the writing in this one really carries the story (where others might be less story focused and definitely less focused on the inner lives of the characters).

I'm trying to pick my favourite parts and I keep coming back to the way you're able to describe Zack's anxiety. The way he kinda shuts down and retreats into himself and has to really think about things when people speak to him is eerily similar to my experience, so makes sense I would relate.

Braden is such a uniquely sweet (I can't think of another word for him) character, I'm not sure I've ever read or encountered anything like him in any other media. Which is special. Not to say the protag isn't a great character as well, but considering he falls for Braden, it makes sense that we would also kind of fall in love with him through his eyes.

Okay I think I'm done now haha.

EDIT: Forgot to say I adore the ending and when we pan over to see Braden sitting across from him with that lil expression I almost died and it reminded me of a detail I hadn't flailed over enough... in the revamp, Braden sometimes sleeps curled up on his side but with his arms curled into his chest like a little kitty-cat and let's just say.. cutest shit ever.

This is SO GOOD. The story hooks you in completely but it happens gradually so that at some point you realise it's like 2am and you've been on the edge of your seat for hours.

I just finished what you've got in the revamp, and obviously it's so good that I'll play thru the original too while awaiting what comes next. I went to art school and had to participate in a bunch of critiques so I hope it's okay to view through that kinda lens for this instead of just saying that it's hot (it is, though).

The story like I said is really engaging to the point that I had to force myself to go to bed instead of just getting through it in one sitting. Whoever is writing this (I'm guessing the person replying but otherwise feel free to pass this on) has a real gift for plunging readers right into those environments-- specifically, being 18/19, out on your own for the first time, and trying to figure yourself out.

The nervousness and anxiety and pining from Zack is so visceral, it feels like you're going through exactly what he is. Actually, the nervousness from both of them is really well done (being an anxious mess I can relate to the point that I started getting nervous on their behalf hahaha).

The build up is so, SO, SO good. As it should be. It feels so delicate and lovely and comforting. Like, yes there's some uneasiness on Zack's end about ~falling for the straight guy~ but because the characters are so relatable and clearly enjoy each other's company, it's not something that feels like it'll inevitably go tits up (whether it does or not, not being the issue), if that makes sense.

And, yeah, okay, it's HOT. Sexy. Effortlessly. In the way that things are when you're young and aren't fully comfortable with yourself yet and everything is new.

And like can I just say it's nice to have characters with dark eyes. I think it's one of if not the only game I've played, so far, where the characters have lovely dark eyes instead of everyone having blue/grey/sometimes green.

I'm still very early into the (revamp) game but I needed to pop on to say... This is really great. The writing/plot in particular. You've got a really great style that is thoughtful, funny, and engaging. I'll be back when I've played a little more.

Totally understandable on both counts.

I think this is probably one of the best VNs I've played... the story is interesting, the characters are as well. (PS for anyone reading, this comment has some spoilers if you haven't played yet).

What I found most interesting is the relationship dynamics that really only play out if you start dating all of the women. If you only date a couple or a few, you don't get to see the expansion of those relationships (ex: dating lilly or celine and not dating the other one, you lose out on all the Lilly/Celine fall out and reconciliation). Essentially, the game actually becomes more interesting if you end up dating all the crew, than if you only try to date some of them. I bring this up because I honestly couldn't see a way that the MC could date everyone without being a villain, but you actually made it believable. I went into a second playthrough telling myself that this time I would select the, let's say, more "cruel" options whenever we're allowed to choose, because I thought that's the only way the character would make sense while dating all of them. However, I gave up on that less than half-way through when I realised you would be weaving all the relationships together (also I can't stand being cruel, even for a game lmfao).

I do appreciate that when you are cruel, if you choose those options, the girls get pissed off at you. I'm wondering if being cruel cuts off options of romance, or if it veers off into the girls being more submissive? (Kind of like the choice you can make with Jade).

I also don't know if you're interested in this kind of feedback, but I did see another comment bring up dating Thym. I was wondering if something with him could be unlocked, after you've successfully chosen a few things: my thought would be that after you've made it clear you're not a raging homophobe or transphobe (so with Raene and Ziv), and also after you've sucked them off a couple times, AND said you were open to receiving anal, that Thym could become a potential interest. That way, people who are fully not interested in that would likely rarely, or never, even see that option come up, it would only be people who've repeatedly shown interest.

I also thought, in terms of Vess, that something that could bring a little more realism is if her relationship option (or even just the option to let her out of the brig) would not disappear if you originally choose the option to get angry at her. I think what she did would warrant some anger, but I also think that her looking all pathetic in the brig would make the MC rethink leaving her in there. In the first playthrough, I must have chosen anger or whatever one that basically made it impossible for me to let her out of the brig before the whole arch thing, even though at that point I did want to let her out and I felt that that MC's (and everyone else's) feeling of betrayal had let up.

Sorry for the long comment. I know some people aren't super looking for feedback but the story was so interesting that I had lots of thoughts.