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No, it's still complex. I binged the game and was pretty exhausted by the time I had reached that point, so I was also fairly confused on some things.
It's still worth it though. Ch 51 recontextualizes a lot of what you see in the 40s. 52-57 have been really awesome as well.

I still highly recommend playing through to the current content. This is a game with a lot of foreshadowing, misdirection, and unreliable narrators. It doesn't hand you a clear answer to most of your questions on the first pass. This may turn off some people, but it also make the theorycrafting and second playthroughs a lot of fun.

Seconding: Companion of Darkness, Eternum, MBML, and Goddesses Whim.

GW especially if you like this Koi art style as the visuals are really nice.

Wish I could like this more. Had a similar experience with the game. Binged through it in 3 days, bleary-eyed, heartbroken, and exhausted.

If you haven't started a replay yet, go ahead or maybe wait until 58 (current arc finale) has released to the public. Play through it more slowly this time, and enjoy all the layered foreshadowing you missed on the first pass.

57 should be releasing for the public in a few days, (its really good) and 58 should be out around Christmas. 

Haven't played your game, but I came across it from the recently updated on GSL. I like the way you engage with correspondence and criticism. Big props for going solo and trying to materialize your creative vision.

I think the choice to avoid branching narratives is a wise one. Being able to focus exclusively on a single story will allow you to make one great story instead of 4-infinity mediocre ones.

I don't know how much you let other creative works influence you, but some examples of other AVNs which have avoided branching narratives and benefited from it are games like Out of Touch and Cozy Cafe.

I think I'll be trying your game soon.

You're going to be shocked by how consistent the game actually is. It initially pretends to not take itself seriously, this is a feint.

Nope, most don't.

The game is a little over halfway done by chapter count. There's plenty more to come and Anon's pace is very good.

1/4 - 1/3rd, pre-22 chapters average much shorter.

Love this. Expect that feeling to shift into overdrive around Ch 22+

It's very dense and I became somewhat lost in the 40s through 51. Between unreliable narrators and name confusion it can happen pretty easily. Watching the OotCast or doing a replay will help clear a lot of that fog

Total chapter count will be 100 by completion. Ch 55 just released yesterday.

This is more inaccurate than not. The majority of the scenes are static renders. It is part of the ultimate vision that many x-scenes will be animated and combat system will be implemented.

That said, don't let that discourage you. This is truly an epic story that steps way outside its medium and genre.

There's a lot of potential here for a really special story.

OoT seconded! I adore that story. The discord currently has a person doing a reaction thread for their first playthrough.

I love to hear that. Make sure to stop by the discord if you haven't already. There are periodic next chapter teaser renders as well as the occasional 1st playthrough react thread. If you like the music, check out the Playlist made by Omni.

Keep your eyes peeled for Ch 58 then. It's the end of the current arc and has been proclaimed to be the darkest point of the planned-100 chapter saga.

I almost cried myself laughing when I first saw it.

Make your way to the discord for notifications and renders for upcoming releases. Release schedule paces around 1/month with a few gap months in the year.

Chapter length varies. The first 10 or so go by very quickly, but length picks up significantly afterwards. Depending on reading speed, you've got about 40-60 hours of content here to enjoy.

Afterwards, if you still want more, a replay of the game will show you just how much of the story was expertly foreshadowed. There's a youtube playlist of the soundtrack which has all music, including originals, and the discord is active with Work in Progress renders for upcoming chapters.

Reading you rage about that scene was a treat, thank you. I laughed my butt off when I saw it. I was crying from laughter. I agree that if that was the whole game it would have been completely lame, but then I was more than happy to suspend disbelief and roll with the punches.

This might have been the review that convinced me, and now I'm waiting for a buddy to finish so we can discuss.

Agree 100%

There's so much good stuff in this interview. Way back in the day Anon was dropping hints. Kieren/Cro/Sarah being his favorite to write, being evasive about Sarah's age, etc. Fun watch.

Confused by your question since I don't think there was a club in 51. (Maybe 31) Sounds like you're talking about the lyrics version of the Main Theme "Maschera"

Next chapter comes out for the public this week. Make sure to join the discord if you'd like progress updates and sneak peek renders.

Public releases are now 2 weeks after Patreon release, so ya gotta wait 1 more week. Check the OotCast on YouTube if you haven't yet, or dive into some of the music that has been originally created for the game (+ composer notes) on YT.

58 is allegedly going to be the darkest point in the story, so expect this next year's worth of releases to be progressively more painful.

Not willing to be spoilery here, but there is a thing on YouTube called "OotCast" where two guys play through the game, while discussing the lore implications and the foreshadowing with full spoilers.

When I first played through 47-51, I felt a little confused and drained by it all as well. Some of that undoubtedly had to do with the sheer fatigue of binging everything the way I had. Watching OotCast helped to piece together connections I hadn't made before.

Could be good to do in the last week before the next public release.