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In the day and a half I spent since getting my previous ending, I could not stop thinking about this game. The satisfaction of this well-crafted story and character writing has serious staying power. And now I am finally here for my last ending: time to be so good and compliant.

[obligatory: hello this is a long liveblog comment, meant for dev so beware spoilers, ok here we go]

There's a very minor satisfaction that comes with realizing I've become accustomed to the barista minigame. I am now comfortable with my job. Which I guess is what happens when I spend 2 playthroughs not skipping all my shifts.

This time, I had enough energy + chances on the hill to see all the puzzles scattered everywhere. You will not believe how I felt repeatedly picking flowers and begging the sheep to accept them, over and over, so that I could get to the edge of the map for the dog's stupid ball... and, finally triumphant, finally bearing my hard-won prize, went to go back down the hill only to be stopped by ANOTHER FUCKING SHEEP. Truly insidious of you. MY HOPES. MY DREAMS. How dare you. That was so fucking funny. And I'm so mad. (It's so fucking funny.)

Austin spends so much of this game with those dead, parasitized eyes... which I immediately noticed my first time through, but I thought maybe there'd be moments of clarity. Like I'd see the light in those eyes again sometimes. But no. And now they make me so sad... bring back my son. Bring back my boy.... (He was so cute making faces in the mirror!!!!! He was so good!! HE WAS GETTING HIS SHIT TOGETHER!!!! And now I've seen all those flashbacks and I know how hard-won that responsibility was...you made me love this man, and then you took him from me. Aaauughhh. Wild how effectively you managed to establish character endearment & bond me to him despite how little time I get to spend with the real, adult version of him.)

[this is the part where I took an extended break from gaming to start taking notes for a potential fanfic. I'm realizing I'm gonna have to replay a fourth time to grab specific quotes and descriptions later. I do not mind this thought.]

Haha I understand why Riley sees the construction zone on the TV and goes "OH SHIT SORRY" now. haha.

Oh my god. Ohhhh my goddd. I'm actually getting this deer into my car. Trunk fuuuuull of doe blood. Holy shit. This is happening now. (I love how Riley has become so accustomed to this new, evil Austin--"Austin will be thrilled. He's always at his brightest around meat." ALWAYS, Riley?? Since when was this Austin's ALWAYS? It's only been a few days and Riley is desperately acclimating to patterns of reward and punishment, fighting for those few moments that feel like His Austin is back. This naked desperation for a happy Austin makes the rooftop scene especially hit so much harder....oouuuugggghhhhhh.

OH SHIT. THE DELIGHTED FACE AUSTIN MAKES AS HE RIPS INTO THIS FUCKING DEER???? HIS JOY???? hooooly shit. This sprite is kind of everything.

THE HAPPY SPRITE WITH THE BLOOD DRIPPING FROM HIS MOUTH???????????? IMMEDIATELY AFTER????? HELLO

FEEDING RILEY THE MEAT AGAIN HOLY SHIT. HI??? HELLO??? THIS ENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL. HELLO???? HELLLO??????????????

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Also the fact that the parasite is So Happy, so EAGER to share---it feels like Riley is actually earning this thing's love. And Riley is kind of falling for it back?????? This is truly our toxic yaoi.

The way they look at the mess of blood and deer carcass on the table and Riley's narration likens it to them making a mess during childhood mealtimes..... ohhhh boy you are done for... it's over. You're lost. There's no hope for this guy.

Austin humming a happy little tune while mopping up the blood 😭 I can't take thissssss what the fuck. It's so fucking happy. This fucking parasite. Aaaauuuuuu howling at the fucking moon 

When the shower thing came up, I thought for sure this happy ass parasite was gonna offer to have them shower together (we're bros! We're both covered in blood! It'll save time!!), but somehow Riley making the UNSPOKEN DECISION to just grab Austin's clothes and wear them as if it's so natural...somehow hits harder??? Like, kind of cementing the fact that he's become thoroughly Austin's belonging by wearing his clothing??? Mark of ownership??? Can anyone hear me????

"Thanks for the help, I'll talk to you in the morning" When will my gay ass stop thinking these two are going to climb into bed together? (never)

The way I don't even have the choice to go home anymore...ok. ok. ok.

My man is facing the consequences of eating raw meat. My mannnnnnn. (Unrelated: I didn't expect there to be another day tbh. The last few scenes just felt so Finale-ish. Also my heart is legit racing, idk if I can handle more???????? Where are you taking me Peacg. Peach unlock the car door I need to get out. Peach.)

Austin, twiddling his thumbs and about to ask me to catch a cat: "🥺 ummm... 👉👈"

NO. NOO. I'M IN THE POV OF THE FUCKING CAT. PEACH. YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME. PEACH. WHY AM I THE CAT PEACH.

PEACH THAT WAS SO FUCKING SCARY WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?

My beautiful boy's sunshine smile, painted with blood because he just shlurped a cat. Motherfucker be hitting me with the 😄

Oh...okay...we're hunting Discrete Apartment Ghost together... okay.... (aww when I save I have both their sprites in my file)

I WAS RIGHT. I WAS FUCKING RIGHT ABOUT THE AXE. FINALLY, VINDICATION !!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't like needing to chase the dude :( Austin why can't you handle this part like you did when you grabbed the cat?

Riley has just murdered a man in cold blood and started maniacally laughing, and all I can think about is if Austin (the real Austin) is still somewhat conscious within himself, able to see this... what would he be feeling, seeing this? What thoughts would he have?

the way Riley just... offers up his services for the next day, preemptively. Like he can't wait to be useful. GOD. What a game. What a GAME. Holy fucking shit.

I am too emotionally exhausted to give full comprehensive thoughts, so I'll leave that to stew and marinate in my brain and become a review later. But for now: holy shit. Goddamn. I am literally sweating.

Okay motherfuckers (motherfucker singular, actually. You, gamedev. hi) I'm back for more game commentary. I hope this is entertaining for you. Anyway Sacrfice ending is done and dusted so now I'm going to practice being a responsible young man.

If you pick flowers during the intro scene Austin comments on it??? That's so fucking cute dawg

...what if I just did a fuckass job at work? What then? Do I recieve consequences? I'm trying to earn goodboy points rn but tbh I'm so fucking tempted

...okay I couldn't resist temptation. I have learned there ARE indeed consequences. But I think if the manager knew I saw my best friend get mauled by a bear in front of me and was still missing he'd take a bit of pity for a few mistakes.

Barrels can't fucking stop me anymore. I'm invincible. I'm solving so many goddamn puzzles.

My good boy points have earned me Steak Privleges instead of Sad Ramen Noodles. Riley is like "I earned it!" and all I can remember is purposely fucking up half of all customer orders....

I'm a lot better at cooking when I haven't dragged myself up and down a hill every day. His extreme reaction to almost cutting his hand with the knife, though...is honestly relatable, that's also how I feel when I nearly stab myself cooking. It literally feels just like that.

the CG of Austin eating the bloody steak got me like 😳

Austin waiting impatiently at the table, arms crossed and frowning, as I come back 3 hours late with chicken hearts...feels like a bitter wife staying awake to catch the cheating husband returning home wwww

I love you hyperrealistic eyeball trees. If nobody got me I know u got me

also the dead bear sprite is literally so pretty. gurl i love your red eyeshadow.

This old man and I are so happy in this car. My good boy points and through the fucking roof. I have a sinking feeling I won't feel so Good Boy when I return to Austin and get my ending.

The description of his scar tissue pulled taut, like it's trying to seal something inside... *chefs kiss* such an evocative and perfect description. Hell fucking yea. I love good writing.

....shadowy Austin has the same angry yellow eyes as the bear. Yooo.

Me once I blocked the door of the first floor of the apartment: "Okay, and NOW I grab the fire axe, right? Right?? ...no? Oh."

THE FUCKING CAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This high quality ass park knife cuts So Good, which I love how that was established early on, but also Goddamn The Blade On This Park Knife. Good thing we took it, a kid coulda died if they'd found this thing. That swimming dog might have thought it was a stick to play fetch with and sliced someone open when the sheath slipped off. Imagine the consequences

ooooughh. aaaauuughh. The way we didn't even get to trade last words...I thought maybe there'd be a single moment of clarity. I don't know what Austin would have said. Would he thank Riley? Would he be too pained? Something for me to gnaw on... that start screen afterwards was such a gut punch, too. I want to write fanfic of these fuckers.

Forcing myself not to speed through the last route tonight. I'll get there tomorrow. 

Hello, and welcome to my long-ass live commentary where I tell you my reactions as I play. This is my gift to you.

So first off this art is Fantastic holy fuck. Also I am immediately intrigued by the stamina meter for examination portions. I sure hope that won't be used later in a high stakes situation to add tension!

This is such a healthy and normal mother-son relationship. It's TOO healthy. I know there's something fucked up in this game, and it's not here, so where is it... 

Really appreciating the different art I get looking in the bathroom mirror. Multiple outfits! (Also I'm endlessly enamored with the protagonist, so more excuses to look at him are ofc 👍)

When they finished the movie, and there was a tender quiet between them, I was sure they were gonna kiss...then they didn't. Then my protagonist mentioned weekly movie nights but Not Alone Together. My BFF man is being weird about it, and I was already imagining gay tension so now I'm afraid he's gonna go yandere on me. My mom's not fucked up so it's gotta be you, buddy

OH NO, I'M THE BFF'S POV NOW. I swear to god if I search this dude's house and start finding hints about all the ways he's fucked up—...why does this dude have a double bed? 🧐 who you snuggling in with you homeboy?

Oh shit oh fuck I wasn't prepared for the laundry sorting minigame, wait wait wait I SWEAR I know what a shirt is I SWEAR (whyyyy am I doing so poorly wwww;;;; I'm glad the game didn't make fun of me)

ohhh this dude in the mirror doing his morning routine...so fucking cute...ghghgggghhhh cuteness aggression I need to squeeze him in my fist until he explodes. (Unrelated, I got unexplainable joy from the ability to make a sandwich)

The way you did the different lighting in the morning, afternoon, and evening versions of these environments is so beautiful...like, this living room after playing videogames is Gorgeous. Goddamn.

I've been noticing this ever since I started playing, but you're a phenomenal writer. The way you use little mundane details to create endearing character moments and establish familiarity and familial/platonic intimacy is really effective every time.

Austin seems so fucking nice. SO fucking nice. But I gave him a big cool knife (red flag) and he had narration of lures and mimicry being thematically ominous on his TV and then he crushed this fucking parasitized snail...dude you're scaring me. Dude please. I want to trust you bro I really do but you're making it SO fucking hard bro.

...ok but the bear kinda cute tho. Big old eyes. Cuddly sillohoutte.

.........oh shit wait I bet I'm about to have Game Mechanics now

Austin dude I'm so fucking sorry for doubting you. I feel so bad right now. You're not a yandere you're just being mauled by a bear. Man.

I am choosing Go Back For Austin. I am repeatedly choosing to fight this fucking bear. When I wake up, I am choosing to look for my boy. Buddy I'm coming for you. (Buddy I feel so bad for calling you a yandere. Hopefully you were taking over by an alien while I was passed out and only NOW will you be a yandere—)

Bruh I am NOT making that shift tomorrow

.....okay so at this point i GOTTA keep doubling down on looking for my boy Austin. Who definitely at this point is either dead or not in the woods anymore (probably taken over by an alien). But I didn't kiss him during our movie date and he made that really thoughtful list of car parts for me so at this point I REALLY can't end this game without trying to get my kiss. I gotta. I gotta.

MY FUCKING BOY??? JUST OUT OF REACH??? MY FUCKING BOY???????????????????

...or not. Anyway, the SMART thing would be to check Austin's house, or call him, but I'm back with my tunnel vision. I'm sure my mother's medication withdrawals will totally be worth the great value Exhuasted McGee brings to this search party.

Oh god. The dishes. I haven't even done those fucking dishes. Bruh I am not Taking Care Of It.

I spent so long on Barrel Puzzle. I reloaded so many times trying to see if I could solve Barrel Puzzle. I had one barrel in the water and was trying to get the other out of the fences to no avail, and giving the goat flowers got me nowhere. I thought I'd die in Barrel Puzzle. And then it turns out if I just stopped reloading I'd find my man.

oh no...My Mother's Disappointment. (This woman is maybe the best fictional mother in videogames.)

Um. But. I don't want to sleep on the couch. There's a perfectly feasible half of my boy's double bed waiting for me. Doesn't my man want the constant reassurance that Austin is there, still breathing, any time he needs the reminder? Cmonnnnn game let me be gay.

I feel like my man has deeeeefinitely been body-snatched by an alien.

...oh you can push AND pull items.....!!!!!! (no wonder I was struggling with the barrels...)

My bff is definitely an alien drinking blood out of my hand. Normalstyle. And not helping me at all when i collapse on the floor. This is fine, he's still my bro.

nooooo his steak is overcooked. My alien bestie needs BLOOD not this cooked shit. goddddd. And I spent so much of my nonexistant money on it, too—Austin's disappointment hurts. More than the wound he licked up.

[sees the scratches on Austin's neck] ah. We're doing my favorite part of Higurashi, huh?

...the way he says he doesn't know how he got the scratches. I'm reminded of Riley's musings about the slug—wondering how much consciousness the slug still had, whether he could only watch its body move, or whether it was more persuaded, or whether it wasn't there at all. I think Austin is still there sometimes. And he's trying to kill his slug. Oh shittt.

As someone who would see your devlogs on Tumblr, I must say again that the art assets you made for the meat look so good. (I totally thought they'd show up in a less mundane way than a meat shop wwww)

Every time I see this damn emergency axe in the apartment i am filled with fucking dread. I Know You Will Be Important Later, You Motherfucker

Wow. He's going full freak on me now, easting raw hearts and very confidentally telling me it's no big deal. This rules. Move outta the way Summer Hikaru Died, this is my new favorite bodysnatch codependency story.

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EAT IT. THE OPTIONS FOR BOTH ARE IN ALL CAPS AND VERY URGENT. BUT UH. NORMALLY I'D LEAN INTO THE PRE-EXISTING CANON THAT ESTABLISHES RILEY CAVES TO PEER PRESSURE BUT UH. THEFT WAS ONE THING. THIS?? COULD MAKE ME SICK??? I DUNNO DAWG

noooo don't let your parasitized boyfriend go up on the roof, he's going to ATTRACT BIRDS like the SNAIL

Okay roof scene was fine. Cute. and then I get my lovely little emotional abuse scene, solidifying the the absolutely toxic fucking yaoi I have fallen into. Riley looks so miserable. Pathetic meow meow. I need to draw him.

I'm going through these woods thinking "I'm fine, I befriended the ram with flowers and pet the cow so many times. Animals love me. I'm soooo safe."

First thought getting this deer into my car: "I am sullying my father's last momento with blood." Second thought is "oh shit I'm gonna have to heft this heavy ass carcass up 5 flights of stairs." Immediate next thought is "Ohh shit discrete apartment ghost might see me. That'll be awkward. But he knows better than to squeal. PLus I helped him move heavy furniture, maybe he'll help me move a bleeding corpse in return."

OR NOT. OR MAYBE NONE OF THAT COULD HAPPEn. I GUESS. (I felt so smart, like I was figuring shit out)

buddy buddy wait come back you can lick the blood off my clothes, Austin———

NOT THE FUCKING CAT

oh my fucking god. The way Riley questions whether he deserves to eat. And then my only choice for "what to do with my day" being search for cat search for cat search for cat. The VIBES. Impeccable. Eating this up (much like my bro will be eating cat)

I didn't find the cat. My alien boyfriend is gonna be mad. I'm so tempted to reload my last save. I don't even know if it's possible to get the cat.

...so speaking of cats, you know that thing pet-haters tell cat owners? "It'll eat you when you die"? And you know how some people will jokingly attribute it to boyfriends? Well uh. I'm sleeping on the couch of a very hungry man who wants something warm and fresh. And I don't know if I'll be waking up. He's already slurped me once

I love this fucked up murder coverup flashback and how it recontextualizes Austin's behavior at the junk heap, and Austin's foreboding comments of "I've seen you do worse"...the payoff was SO worth it. This rules.

oh damn he didn't eat me. But he's asking for a human. Am I gonna knock on the Discrete Apartment Ghost's door and take him, after failing to take his cat? That'd be neat. He said I could knock, I have due cause.

...OR WE COULD DO THIS. COOL COOL COOL COOL COOL.

The fucking start screen change??? I'd already been admiring the dynamic save/load screens, but ALSO a dynamic start screen??? This game fucks severely. that was awesome. And this comment is Really Long so I'll leave it here and comment again later once I finish the other endings.

Hello, and welcome to my long-ass live commentary where I give you all my thoughts and feelings about this game as a play.

Right out the gate, I'm immediately intrigued by the opening lines. Evocative, powerful, unapologetic—I'm hit with how shy my own writing is, and how often I disarm or neuter my own ideas, and am filled with the desire to follow your lead and write more boldly.

Holy shit the little looping wire arounf the text box is so cute. Expanding my mind to the creativity possible within GUI...

You have little comic panel-esque sequences in your game...I want to do that. Now I get to see an excellent example. This rules. This is awesome.

I like how the protagonist is extremely caring, but also occassionally says something a little ominous (like missing when Aiyana would cry more). I like how she's not just a perfect, unnuanced caretaker fantasy. She's a full personality, and kind of a weirdo. Hell yea.

I also really enjoy seeing our lovely robot protagonist first in her natural environment, then being forced to interact with Aiyana's friends—because we immediately see such a new side to her, and it informs us about the character so much. Really nice use of perspective and environment to explore a narrator. (Also Adelaide intrigues me so much)

Aiyana's thing about being scared of being around someone who can't hate her, bc she could be getting more insufferable without realizing it...mood. #RelatableFear

As someone who has played caretaker to someone with both insomnia and narcolepsy...so many realistic sleep disorder moments in this. So many familiar, recognizable bits of real life. Big fan.

OMEGAVERSE MENTION

"You don't need to care about how I react." "You slammed me into a locker." "I won't do it again!" "It'll be hard to forget you slamming me into a locker." LMAO

Adelaide is such a dom. And Emma has such a need for control. This story is so fun.

"The urn broke! ...Aiya never comes out here. A rat knocked it over." I like that this robot can lie

[this is where I locked in and got so immersed I was unable to pause for any comments]

Augh. Ough. I really like the resolution to the main story. "I kinda don't want to think about what I need and what's healthy for me, I just want to love and be loved and let someone take care of me." SUCH a menhera toxic yuri, eating it up, goddamn. (Also I'm going to be thinking of the bath scene forever.)

ADELAIDE SIDE STORY LET'S FUCKING GOOOOO
I loved getting to see her and Eva's specific relationship dynamic. It rules. I love them. They're my favorites. (Also as someone who knows a lot of sub butches & has listened to them bemoan their lack of representation, and despair at how often butches are often equated with Strong Dominant Need To Be Tough At All Times: you are doing the good work.)

Absolutely gorgeous, if you ever finished I'd jump on this so fast. Also really compelling character writing and great sound design

Puzzle fun... And it was accessible to me, who is not very puzzle-brained. The opening premise was immediately interesting too.

I'm having a bit too much fun swinging, I think

As someone that reads a lot of old English for fun, this immediately put me in the same headspace as when I'm enjoying Shakespeare or Cyrano or etc. The wit, the subtleties, and the humor that comes from sudden and stark profanities all felt familiar and welcoming.

I'm inspired by the storytelling, how you told so much with so little, and it makes me want to reflect on my own work. Great little game, will be playing the other acts shortly.

This was such an INCREDIBLE game, and has absolutely become an inspiration for me as a gamedev. Not only are the character designs and aesthetics so immediately gripping and memorable (I gotta draw them...I wanna draw themmm...), but the characterization was done perfectly (so many details shared in natural ways, that explained so much and helped them feel so Real and relatable), the writing was so atmospheric and cool, and the emotional arcs of each cutscene and ending was impeccable. I swear I was near tears every cutscene, just because they were so human and well-written and aaauuugh.

Great game. Fantastic game. Ended up rebooting it after both endings to find all the dialouge I'd accidentally missed. Aaaaaaugh. And they are in love!! And it's flawed but it's real and beautiful!!! Aaaaaaaaaa. God. Game. Good game. Game of the Ever.

I actually hadn't thought about it! But I'd like to think so—I have a sequel game planned in this universe to show why Lacerae ended up leaving, and (spoilers?) he's found himself a safe place to be. I think both he and Post-Op would do their best to reconnect once they've settled into their new lives, and bond over finding unexpected happiness. :)

Oh my god, I've never gotten a let's play before??? I honestly never knew I WOULD see one, now I feel like an actual game developer 😭

Thank you so much 🙏

Thank you so much for taking the time to record your experience and share it publicly! And you even took the time to draw a custom thumbnail... 🥹 I really appreciate the time you spent with my game 💚

Thank you for pointing that out, it will be fixed in the update!

(Also, thank you for playing and providing feedback on the game so quickly! As well as for hosting the Intersex Jam in the first place, it ended up being the perfect opportunity explore some aspects of these characters that otherwise might not have had a place to shine.)

(sorry for the late reply!)

Did you download the correct version (Windows/Linux vs Mac)? If that's not the issue... :') others haven't reported an issue, so I wouldn't know where the problem is

This is the exact sort of tool I was looking for when jumping into a new practice project, and I'm endlessly grateful. Thank you so much for making this!

This tool saved my entire ass 🙏

I'm entirely self-taught and had zero coding knowledge prior to throwing myself into Ren'Py, and this is the exact sort of framework I was needing as I was struggling through making my first big game. I plugged this into a smaller project I'm making for practice, and suddenly I could do all the little menu tricks I was hoping for!! I'd seriously been stressing over how I was going to pull off some of the code I was thinking of, and now it all seems possible.

Thank you so much for making and sharing this!!! (I especially appreciate the Simpler Syntax update, but every part of this is cool and great and accessible!)

This was a fantastic game, and inspired an entire VN project of my own (which I'll hopefully be making for an upcoming game jam)! I loved the narrative arc and tone, the writing, the adorable sprite animations—aaaauuughh. Great game.

I just want to compliment how incredible the UI and game mechanics are. I was already absolutely thrilled by how character customization went (so many options!! So smooth!!! Wow!!!), but then inclinations and turn ons/turn off were also so cool and well done, the map prompts and reminders (both in the main sidebar and phone app) are so incredibly helpful in keeping my frustration down, the texting menu if so fun to me, the way NPC information is tracked is so fascinating (and being able to click their name/description at any time to pull it up??? 😍).... So much cool stuff happening in the game mechanics. I'm down bad for the game mechanics. Sexiest thing in this entire game is the mechanics.

There are so many other effective choices being made in this game, but I just had to shine a special light on that. Incredible work. 

Absolutely no pressure, but also if you do you'll have my eternal loyalty (just kidding--you already have it. But I'll be extremely grateful and impressed wwww)

First of all, thank you so much for making this!

My question is: is there a straightforward way to group a CG with it's variations, so they're all under one thumbnail? Preferably in a way that opening the thumbnail would let you click through each version of the specific CG. 

I'd rather not clutter the gallery with near-identical images grouped together 😅

Hello and welcome to my Ultra Long Running Commentary Comment, where I put down all my thoughts and reactions as I actively play for your hopeful entertain. (Spoiler Warning for fellow players.)

Ooooh the opening screen. Love the atmosphere, both from the music and the art. Strong menhera vibes right out the gate with the IV drip, hell yes. I didn't honestly expect the visual menhera aesthetics to be strong in the cyborg game, and thought the menhera would mostly be felt in the narrative themes and writing, so this is a nice surprise. (Also, I like how the start button is "Enter Memory." I love when menu options are creative.)

I'm sorry for thinking the opening dream reminds me of Maria's last words to Shadow the Hedgehog... 😔

The art. Is so good. I love this art style. Aughh. Art good. Essie's hair flowing over the pillow looks so nice.

I loooove the formatting of the text on the first Lie. The red wiggling, scrolling line of anxious thoughts over the command....such good use of atmosphere, and I have no idea how you coded it. Extremely cool.

You know those old dolls that'd have a pull ring on a string, and if you tugged it the doll would say phrases? Well Sol looks like she has two of those and I want to yank them so so bad.

....so I finished, and I immediately, no hesitation hit 'Enter Memory' again. I feel this conviction that if I play a second time there will be New Game + content, and more game, and things will continue, and I can make Sol proud and do my exercises and bust outta this joint.

I feel like this is not actually what is happening, though, so now I'm just really hoping for a part 2. There's so much intrigue here, the very beginnings of a story. I feel very much invested. Rattling the bars of my cage. Aaaaaaaaaaugh. Good game.

Hello and welcome to my Ultra Long Running Commentary Comment, where I share all my impressions as I play for your entertainment. (Spoiler Warning for other players)

I am immediately impressed with the opening menu, I'm not sure I've seen an animated Ren'py menu before. But also all the medical safety that's been drilled into me from using needles is screaming "THOSE SYRINGES NEED CAPS. THEY SHOULDN'T BE MOVING SO MUCH. THEY'RE GOING TO HURT SOMEONE. BIOHAZARD" wwww (any, SO cute and stylish, the menhera vibes are immediately off the charts)

[me, getting to the very first screen] OMOCAT SPOTTED

oh my god, the time-specific references...Kero Kero Bonito...kawaii super bass...I'm guess there's gonna be a lot of namedrops like this and I shouldn't be writing every single one I relate to, but like. One of the most powerful things that I think can reinforce the potency of a piece of art is the power of "Oh, I get that reference!!!!". I think it's why genre comedy also hits so good. And this game is such an effective zeitgeist, so that power is So Strong (not to mention I think you probably have the perfect target audience with the menhera game jam), so like...auuugh. I'm going to have so much fun.

ohhh, I immediately love Sabila. I love that the "awkward comphet boyfriend from high school" is not an uncomfortable part of the past, but a very exciting and happy reunion. I was waiting for "oh no he's turned into a creep and feels entitled to my attention because we dated" and instead she's rocking pastels and is nice and (my current impression) rules.

These fucking. Anime flavored cigarettes. Nurse Miku cigs. God. I'd also buy cigarettes I had little-to-no intention of smoking for the cute factor.

GIRL DON'T TAKE HER SPIRO. SHE NEEDS THAT. (anyway I love how it's immediately evident in the next timeskip that Evee and Sable are soooo together and also cute.)

The OCD writing is really spot on. Someone close in my life tells me a lot about their experiences with OCD, and the narration in this game reflects so much of what they've described. I might ask if they want to play this game, because I think it'll help them feel seen.

oof. I've been in situations where someone I cared about took lethal amounts of alcohol and drugs. That scene with Sable was very realistic, incredibly well written. Augh. Ough. And may I reiterate: oof.

When the call with Pega Studios finished and the screen went to "FIN" I was like "ALREADY???". And then there was more and I let out a breath of relief. (BTW I love the graphic design for the logo and "FIN" and just, all the cute menhera text, holy shit that font design is stellar.)

okay, so. I loved this game. There were a few points where I couldn't quite follow who was talking, but given most dialouge didn't have name tags, it was FAR LESS than one would expect. The context usually made it quite clear, which was impressive. I think you did a good job utilizing the art assets you had to make a visually nice game without much in the way of character sprites, too. Overall everything was really well executed, the story was so relatable and real, and the ending made me a little sad but in a cathartic way (which feels, at it's core, extremely menhera).

This also looks like one of the game jam entries with the most explicitly menhera flare, which makes me really really like it. I'm really glad you made it and submitted it to this jam.

First of all, your logo. As someone who struggles so so bad with logo design (to the point where I just straight up did not make a logo for my own submission to this jam), I really admire how interesting and cool y'all's looks. Very visually impressive.

Second, I love the different placement of the text in the intro to show Mia's speech, her thoughts, and then the narration. It's very smartly done and shows me everything we can do with visual novel execution. Great use of the medium.

The dialogue was also well written, Mia is extremely funny. She is also so unhinged. Scared the shit out of me, which I'm assuming was the goal, and if so it was done very effectively.

Hello and welcome to my long running commentary comment, where I share my thoughts as I actively play the game for your hopeful entertainment (spoiler warning for fellow players)

I immediately love the opening screen, it's such a nice piece of art and the low lighting sets a more ominous tone than I expected from my initial impression of the game. I am now recalibrating my expectations from 'cute and silly' to 'cute and Containing Dark Undertones.'

(Just a note: when I click on the menu tabs like About and Preferences, the font color makes the text on the sidebar basically illegible until rolled over. Not a huge deal, but thought it could be helpful to point out)

The bedroom background...is so cute. Holy shit that looks nice.

So, fun fact: Orchid was on my list of targets for Art Fight this year, I didn't quite get to her in time but I made an initial sketch and everything (will probably send it to you later as an off-season attack). Anyway, I have looked at Orchid's character reference, and saw she was described as a bit of a mean girl. I knew this. But some part of my brain insisted "but she seems so sweet! I am struggling to integrate this knowledge into my worldview because she's so cute." And now I'm reading her narrative voice and...yea. Yea. I see it now wwww

"See. I always knew there was something wrong with me." OOF. That's a great wham moment, and so early on in a game. Good writing.

Gah, I just...love this art. I love your art style. I love the aesthetics in the game and the colors. I love the soft linework. Every image is a joy, I'm eating this up. Augh.

Orchid's various expressions look so nice. Also her fears of "someone is going to recognize what is wrong with me and take me away, I'm watching everyone's faces waiting for them to notice" are so relatable...I feel like the metaphor is right in front of me, and I am relating to it even without understanding the specifics.

Oh this girl's got Anxiety

Orchid nooo stop being mean and standoffish to your friend/crush. Orchid you gotta CHILL. Orchid I am hoping you get smooches by the end of this game and you are Not doing yourself any favors. Orchiddd.

MOUTH ARMS, FUCK YEA

The way that she's like "I used to be kinda cool, now I have to factor my arms into things I do" actually hit so hard as someone who became disabled suddenly late in life. Orchid just like me fr.

Okay the metaphor feels Very apparent and Extremely relatable now, also goddamn I love how you describe her slow transformation. The cracks leaking not-blood, the mouths, the horns digging into her brain....ouuughhhh visceral and intriguing and cool.

Something I've been noticing throughout this game is how the BGs sometimes blur and distort during moments of narrative stress, and how cool of an effect that is. Huge fans. Inspires me to think more creatively about how I use BGs.

The part where Lune is like "Demons aren't real!" and Orchid is like "what does she mean, not real? Then how do you explain what's been happening to me? What are these thoughts and feelings I've been having, and the pain?" and oooouuuughhh goddamn. Relatable. Like, even while knowing Lune might be right, and that demons are not the correct explanation for what's been happening to Orchid, when Lune was initially talking I felt betrayed on orchid's behalf. Especially bc I've been through so much misdiagnosis and dismissal by doctors, it just hit there. There are Emotions Happening, dev. I am Experiencing Things.

THE SMOOCHES. YESSSS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED

I find it interesting that the initial horns never go away. They're no longer the really long versions they were by the end of the transformation, but they also didn't disappear. Does she just have horns now? I am spinning the implications of this around in my head.

Great game, fantastic message, and the art and narrative voice were both phenomenal.

Hello and welcome to my running commentary comment, where I tell you all my thoughts as I'm playing to give you as much feedback (and hopefully entertainment) as possible. (Spoiler warning for other players)

As someone who has made a "Which Character Are You?" quiz for my VN, to see someone else build one into their actual game honestly feels so good. Was the first thing I clicked on, it was very good thinking to have a question prompting whether I'd played yet & redirect me back to the menu. Now I'm even MORE invested in playing, bc I want to take the fun little quiz at the end.

My first thought as I begin: oh no this relationship 😬 (extremely real tho.)

I'm so used to fictional depictions of plurality having the first alter be a voice of reason, and at first Lila sounds very much like one...but no. Lila, come on. Neither of these clowns is completely wrong but GIRL we gotta up our standards. Lila no. (Anyway the way you write plurality is much more realistic and refreshing, which. I have a guess as to why. And I appreciate that you are writing these stories and sharing them.)

that very real thing of "help me" "why do you need help? Are u mad at me?" LIKE!!!...I have a friend who used to talk just like that. It is so silly. Not to live with, insecurity and anxiety are a bitch, but just objectively (and especially in fiction rather than real life)...I can't help but find it funny. And it happening even during a very desperate bodyhorror pleading for help moment adds layers that the incidental comedy kinda intensifies? Anyway i like it

The situation of desperately asking someone for help, being told help is coming TOMORROW, and then having that followed up with "well. guess I need to clean my room now' is just. auuuugh. I love absurdity in horror. This is so kafkaesque fr. The most kafkaesque writing I've ever seen, outside of Kafka. (I have always wanted a modern Metamorphosis. This rules.)

"I came here to get laid, not to, fuckin--I don't even know what you wanted from me!" girl she told you like five million times, she wants you to help her. Girl. Girl please.

Oh my fucking god I evaporated her. She was apparently so hot and now she doesn't have a body at all. Damn...

god dammit cloud gf can still talk

SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW LILA. smh she vouched for you and everything..... (also I fucking love this post-cloud conversation. Very absurd circumstances for a very real conversation, feels extremely realistic to stories I've heard from my fellow plural peeps and their exes/bad friends.)

Me as soon as the neighbors started knocking at my door: man I hope I get to disintegrate them (and then I did!!! This game gives me everything I want)

did...did Lila fronting just as the transformation started...make the transformative power (whatever that is) consume & change Lila?? Black Cat wearing Lila's 'skin' (voice, ig?)??? I am spinning theories around in my head

Beth. Beth, why did you not raid the fridge before running? Beth. Beth please.

I love how lavender-text's first line ("Poor thing..you're rotting") is so genuinely comforting, and is immediately followed by something far worse. Beth I feel you so much rn.

oh my god she said like 2 more things and the vibes are SO bad, Beth get out of here Beth noooo

...okay so the vibes are still weird, but now I'm starting to like the nurse. Not trust the nurse, she feels like some kind of weird chaser maybe. But she's intriguing. All her reactions to things are novel. I like how she describes things. I enjoy her.

Okay Lila is apparently still here. Hm. Can't get a read on her 👁👁

I DON'T WANT TO EAT THE NURSE. Unless she's into it, which tbh I could see her being.

"There was a little piece of her that wanted to see what that smile looked like after she had been bitten into" I love this line

oh. oh uh. After that choice between love and food, uh. Things are progressing very rapidly. (<- frightened delight)

What I'm realizing in the middle of these love confessions is that Beth still doesn't know the nurse's name. And immediately there was so much unease. Which is cool. I like the ways in which this game makes me uncomfortable. (speaking of which--time to reload and eat her)

I FUCING KNEW SHE'D BE INTO IT

ohhhh but this writing. To be fueled with hunger for the only person in recent memory to give her understanding and compassion because she's "starving. She didn't realize it before, but Beth needed food badly" ......METAPHOR. metaphor!!!! Jumping up and down about effective use of metaphor!!!

okay. Great game. Very satisfying game. I feel like the toxic relationship and the nurse bit wove together and informed each other so well and I love it. But now's the moment of truth. Now I get to DO THE QUIZ (I love this mad carnival-esque music in this menu wwwww)\

oh my god, I'm the nurse. I didn't realize that's exactly what I wanted until I got it. I will brag to my friends that I got the best result in this quiz! This game knows me so well. 10/10 this ruled

Hello and welcome to my Extremely Long Running Commentary  review. (spoiler warning for other players, this comment is entirely for the creator's entertainment)

Me, reading the first 2 screens of text and remembering the title: oh no. ohhh nooo.

The blind date scene had me cackling, it was such a real conversation and also immediately endeared me to the protagonist. Incredibly effective opening scene.

God, the character writing? The dialogue quality is bonkers. You write such real, funny, entertaining characters. And the way you describe things is so comedic and memorable. Gah.

The first menu you use, the head bonking...great use of repetition. Great use of forcing the player to make this action of harm a decision rather than a passive piece of narration, it hits (haha) so much harder. (side note, you describe the feelings of being a struggling creative so well. I love how you put all these experiences into words.)

You know that part in Kingdom Hearts 2 where they're like "They stole our [___]! They even stole the word [___]!!" ? Anyway I fucking love this game.

Something I keep noticing while playing: the way you utilize pauses in the text is really great, and I hope to do something similar in my future games. I feel like I am learning how to Game Good from playing this.

THE ANGEL. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE ANGEL. HELLO??? (Also I love how you use your BGM, the music shapes my interpretation of each scene in such great ways. Also how you use silence? I don't think I would have been so liberal with having silent scenes, and it's widening my view of what can be an entertaining VN.)

THE WAY SHE CURSES LEA WITH IMMORTALITY OUT OF SPITE. HILARIOUS. I love this game.

Angel: "If you eat this it will kill you." Lea: "bet [STUFFS MOUTH]"
BAHAHAHAHA, god...never threaten an unwilling immortal who has already attempted suicide with death. This game is so funny. This rules. "Can you CHILL?" bahahahaha

Best dodgeball match ever. Man I love sports anime.

Holy fucking shit I love Kai. This is a character type I adore, 'charming' faux-friendly evil. And he talks like a transmigration isekai protag. I love everything about him. Aauuugh. Evil evil evil. That scene ended so good, he's awful.

Now it's a mermaid story??? This VN is taking me to so many places. I'm having a great time.

oh nooo mermaid story was too powerful, I'm emotions now

the "Fuck off" bit was written so well

Mental Crystal being the voice of reason in Lea's head is so good. I love mental Crystal. I wish I had my own mental Crystal.

Kai appears again to charm the protagonist and I jump out of my seat and start applauding. Getting to experience him from someone who isn't afraid of him is fun. He seems sooo charming for unknown reasons. He's sooo evil. I love him.

"you gained a will to live not even two minutes ago, and you're already going to fucking die" I love this writing

I love how weak for girls Lea is. "Oh no she's cute" "Oh no I might be gay" girl....

Lea's post-kiss freak out is so relatable. The "I did something that got a negative reaction and now I am withering, I am being pathetic, I am waiting for reassurance, I want the person I wronged to comfort me"...not something I see much in writing, but something I definitely see in life. Gah. She's just like me fr.

VIVI

Lea please stop dissociating. Please. VIVI !!!!!!

oh my god not dissociating wasn't enough

aaauuuugh you hit on my favorite narrative thread, a little thing i like to call karmic entitlement. "I've been through so much. I deserve her." THAT THERE. Is my favorite thing to write and also think about. And it's here in this game!! This game has everything.

I DID NOT EXPECT HOW THAT GOD RUN IN WOULD GO. That ruled. That fucking slapped. Holy shit. Such good dread, very effective, absolutely threw me for a loop, hell yea

I love that the game asks what I had been wanting to ask Lea, which is "Why the fuck didn't you use your privilege on Vivi?". And then I get my answer and it's so disappointing (GIRL YOU KISSED HER, HOW DID YOU FORGET? I know you were mid panic attack and in pain and in shock from seeing someone die and flipping your shit but also GIRL HOW)

KAI YIPPIE

hahahahahaha he has a fucking health potion. I knew the second it was described as red. This RPG fucko hits all my comedy spots.

Hey. Hey. That game? That game ruled. I am so your fan now. I 100% am invested and am in support of part 2. I love this story. This rules. man. I feel so good. What a satisfying playing experience. 10/10 will be rolling this story around in my head for days.

This game was completed in a MONTH?! And it's THIS good??? That's absolutely wild, nigh incomprehensible.

Anyway I love everything about this. The art (aooouuuugggghhh the art), the audio, the writing (the use of interruptions and text size, the unique voice of each character and the humor, aaaaa), the puzzles (for once I'm not frustrated! It's fun and I'm not angry!), the endings to have fun collecting... exactly my kind of game. Love it. 10/10

wow, that's everything I intended for the piece to do! 💚 thank you so much for the feedback and kindness

And oooo, I haven't heard of that 👀 sounds right up my alley, I appreciate the recommendation 

Hi, so, I haven't finished it. I actually super bungled my first playthrough, but through it I began to understand what you were doing and WOW I'm absolutely in love with this game.

The writing is SO funny (I absolutely adore meta and genre comedy). The world-building is So cool. And the twists????? The manipulation of choice sizes/clickablility/etc for drama?? Holy shit. Absolutely utilizing the fuck out of your format.

Excuse me while I play this game 15 more times.

 (Also, as someone who in essence wrote about a manic pixie dream boy for my jam entry, this was sooooo fun to reflect on the trope to such an extent.)

The fact that you were able to weave so many separate scenes and pieces of information together with such a short wordcount shows such a mastery of writing. Fantastic work 🌸

Very poetic prose. I feel like I haven't encountered such romantic language in a long time; it's refreshing to dive into, nostalgic almost, and so atmospheric.

Hi, wow. I was immediately sold at 'time loops,' but playing it just cemented to me how I would have loved this game no matter what.

Your prose is absolutely lovely, and the characterization, background plot, and general premise are all fantastic. I love how each loop felt, with the desire to go back and try again feeling organic and natural, and the themes you cemented with each conversation. (I didn't expect multiple endings, and loved how each one was markedly different but hammered home the same message and conclusion)

SUCH a great illustration of regret, of anger, and of the hard hard choice of letting go of something that makes you happy and why it would be important to do so. About respect, and treating someone with care. (Also just slowly making me realize how yucky the protagonist is and has been wwwwww)

Fantastic work!

As someone who worked in trauma advocacy using art as my main medium, I truly admire how effectively you wove this narrative. To take something so complex and make it not only understood, but creative and utilizing visuals and writing and gameplay in the best ways to communicate and enhance your vision...purely on a creator and artistic level, this is an incredibly made game.