itch.io

Good game. I haven't 100% done everything yet, but I did what I wanted, and was mostly satisfied with it. I don't got any notes, so any thoughts are off the top of my head.

As what is pretty much a newbie to the genre despite playing a few of them before, I had a wonderful time playing through this game to its many endings that I wanted to get. This is the kind of dating sim I can get behind~

The characters (despite me turning voice off all the way as soon as I heard they had voices) felt real in what dialogue I internalized, which lead to the good and bad moments getting to me more. I noticed how much I was laughing, getting flustered, and having my nerves shake me to my core. The queer experience is very much realized, as the characters aren't afraid to talk about their experiences with it, which, considering that real people wrote those, makes me feel like I'm not alone in the specific hardships I, and many people experience. Repurpose is the kind of game that will have you care about what happens, so much so that I would make a save at any choice I didn't feel confident in, so that the digital words on my screen wouldn't get mad at me.

The ability to choose your pronouns and gender, and have them actually matter is wonderful to see, as someone who doesn't often fit into the options most games have. Yes, I do get gender envy from cherry, this game knows me too well.

That isn't to say this game isn't without faults, though. I do actually remember a few of the problems I have with the game, but they're actually pretty minor.

First up: on my first playthrough, I did what I myself would've done given the choices offered to me, and ended up with a neutral ending. I didn't know this, since the little "NAME - X ending" thing that pops up is as tiny as the chapter thing in the same place, and doesn't stay long. Guess who had to replay that sequence to progress? Me! Thank cherry for the skip button.

Secondly: with the specific ending I got on my first playthrough (Kalei neutral), I was genuinely surprised when the credits started rolling. It didn't expect it to just... end like that. After playing through the other stuff, it kinda felt like a minor stepping stone to the "good stuff". Minor, but still something that rubbed me the wrong way for a bit.

Third: to anyone who wants to play this and get multiple endings: please don't make a save at a crucial moment that decides what path you will take. This is a dating sim, so it should be obvious when choices like that occur. If you do, then as far as I know, that ending either won't count if you do another on the same save, or you won't get the proper prompts if something new has shown. I don't know how this game works, so don't get on my case about this if you're reading, Eros, but this little issue made me replay three whole endings just to make them count, so be warned.

Fourth, and the most minor: I wanted to take one of the CGs for my own purposes (discord pfp lol), but uhhh. Finding them in the files was not possible for me, so now my little screenshot has an "activate windows" in the corner. If it were possible, I'd love if all the CGs were accessible easily in the files, especially considering that they absolutely exist somewhere, seeing as the "images.rpy" has what seems to be file paths in it. Not too big an issue, though, so don't fret over pleasing specifically me for this. (Also this is kinda me asking permission to use those cherry CGs as my discord pfp, teehee). Disclaimer: I used the itch.io release download for this, as I didn't know it was on steam before I got it. Maybe that changes some files around.

Fifth, and certainly not least: as a card game nerd, I can't help but feel ashamed that my character would be so disgusted by the thought of touching a playing card. It's only kinda justified when I realize that the only game people play in the afterlife is Essence. I'm more of a "King of Games" enjoyer, myself.

All in all, I think Repurpose is a good game to try out, and currently goes for the equivalent of, say, 2 cents Canadian if you buy the bundle going on right now. I'm excited to see what more the developers have in store for the game, and I hope any new enjoyers can feel the same.

As a final rating, I'd give it a "Save to make sure I choose the right path so this attractive angel will like me" out of ten.