I absolutely adored this VN, the writing is immaculate and I was gripped from the very start - I also loved the chemistry between Anhedonia and One (even when they got freaky) and I felt like I empathised deeply with the struggles they went through.
The music and artwork is stellar and beautifully tied everything together, especially during the heavily emotional scenes, which made it all that more impactful.
I've been playing this game in short bursts whenever I had the time, during work breaks or after dinner, for the past few days and every time I sat down to do it I was so excited. I already knew I'd enjoy this considering your entry for the previous yuri game jam was one of my favorites. And treading similar ground of self-sacrifice and unfathomable acts of love, which is a theme that definitely doesn't get explored enough, at least not like this.
First off, I thought the length served the story well. You're really good at telling tales like these in short bursts, in little scenes, and it's a way of writing I'm very particular to, it's one of my favorites. And you use it so well. There are so many scenes in this, so many of them full of fear and melancholy, some full of grief, and a couple full of a gut-churning horror that was the hardest part to get through, but worth it. But anyway, the amount of time I spent with these characters made the ending hurt so bad, which I'm sure was intentional so great work.
Especially the sex scenes, which were fantastic and probably more vital than any other kind in the game.
I also adore the way you portray self-sacrifice in this and your other works. I feel like in these types of games there's usually a lack of... idk, angry, spiteful positivism? There's usually well-earned pain and apathy and anger, but I like it when you have characters who do something about it. As someone from a place full of stories like this one, stories where people gave up not only themselves but everything they loved to deal a near-killing blow on fascism and on the state, this feels so refreshing.
Because that's often how it is in reality. Self-sacrifice often isn't this off-the-cuff heroic moment of bravery, it's sitting down and eating and fucking and doing everything with the people you love, while all of you know full well that the good you're attempting to do might (or will) kill you. And needing to find peace in that, because the goal is more important, and all you can do is believe that your love will endure after you're gone.
There were many stand-out scenes in this. Anhedonia visiting the lake where they had that date, One's death in her arms, the little bursts of black as time flew while Anhedonia was deep in her grief... It's all so good. This is so well-made, I really admire it.
And of course, I can't not praise blood's art and the whole messy, jpeg artifact-y art direction of this, which is really inspired.
You wrote something so good, something that shows your growth as a writer IMO, and I'm so glad I got to read it. I can't wait to read your other submission for this jam tomorrow.
I did not manage to calmly sit down for like 5 solid minutes after reading your comment. Oh my god am I giddy and excited about your words dfkjghdfjhdfk
It's impossible to express my gratitude for your comment enough besides going FUCK YES SGSJGHFGBSHBJ at every single one of your paragraphs. I am delighted to hear that this spiteful optimism touched you, that the ending hurt, that the scenes coalesced into a worthwhile collage, that the work Blood put into it tied it all together, and that it just coaxed such loving musings from you.
I also thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for saying I grew as a writer. Especially following up on my previous year's entry, I was a bit intimidated. It was a more succint (and probably because of that more accessible) story that already got many positive comments, and was the first of its kind in my body of work. This one ventures into similar themes but with like 10 times the scope, so I was afraid of losing focus in my writing. But evidently, I did succeed and that makes me feel so fucking rad <3 Thank yooouu <3<3<3<3
mindboggling how underrated this is and dont get me started on the ost oml the track that plays when One gets interrogated is my favourite track from any vn out there
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I absolutely adored this VN, the writing is immaculate and I was gripped from the very start - I also loved the chemistry between Anhedonia and One (even when they got freaky) and I felt like I empathised deeply with the struggles they went through.
The music and artwork is stellar and beautifully tied everything together, especially during the heavily emotional scenes, which made it all that more impactful.
Thank you for this wonderful experience!!
Thank you so much for your kind words, I'm glad it hooked you in hehe
Ur art style is just so damn good! I loved this <3
I've been playing this game in short bursts whenever I had the time, during work breaks or after dinner, for the past few days and every time I sat down to do it I was so excited. I already knew I'd enjoy this considering your entry for the previous yuri game jam was one of my favorites. And treading similar ground of self-sacrifice and unfathomable acts of love, which is a theme that definitely doesn't get explored enough, at least not like this.
First off, I thought the length served the story well. You're really good at telling tales like these in short bursts, in little scenes, and it's a way of writing I'm very particular to, it's one of my favorites. And you use it so well. There are so many scenes in this, so many of them full of fear and melancholy, some full of grief, and a couple full of a gut-churning horror that was the hardest part to get through, but worth it. But anyway, the amount of time I spent with these characters made the ending hurt so bad, which I'm sure was intentional so great work.
Especially the sex scenes, which were fantastic and probably more vital than any other kind in the game.
I also adore the way you portray self-sacrifice in this and your other works. I feel like in these types of games there's usually a lack of... idk, angry, spiteful positivism? There's usually well-earned pain and apathy and anger, but I like it when you have characters who do something about it. As someone from a place full of stories like this one, stories where people gave up not only themselves but everything they loved to deal a near-killing blow on fascism and on the state, this feels so refreshing.
Because that's often how it is in reality. Self-sacrifice often isn't this off-the-cuff heroic moment of bravery, it's sitting down and eating and fucking and doing everything with the people you love, while all of you know full well that the good you're attempting to do might (or will) kill you. And needing to find peace in that, because the goal is more important, and all you can do is believe that your love will endure after you're gone.
There were many stand-out scenes in this. Anhedonia visiting the lake where they had that date, One's death in her arms, the little bursts of black as time flew while Anhedonia was deep in her grief... It's all so good. This is so well-made, I really admire it.
And of course, I can't not praise blood's art and the whole messy, jpeg artifact-y art direction of this, which is really inspired.
You wrote something so good, something that shows your growth as a writer IMO, and I'm so glad I got to read it. I can't wait to read your other submission for this jam tomorrow.
I did not manage to calmly sit down for like 5 solid minutes after reading your comment. Oh my god am I giddy and excited about your words dfkjghdfjhdfk
It's impossible to express my gratitude for your comment enough besides going FUCK YES SGSJGHFGBSHBJ at every single one of your paragraphs. I am delighted to hear that this spiteful optimism touched you, that the ending hurt, that the scenes coalesced into a worthwhile collage, that the work Blood put into it tied it all together, and that it just coaxed such loving musings from you.
I also thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for saying I grew as a writer. Especially following up on my previous year's entry, I was a bit intimidated. It was a more succint (and probably because of that more accessible) story that already got many positive comments, and was the first of its kind in my body of work. This one ventures into similar themes but with like 10 times the scope, so I was afraid of losing focus in my writing. But evidently, I did succeed and that makes me feel so fucking rad <3 Thank yooouu <3<3<3<3
mindboggling how underrated this is and dont get me started on the ost oml the track that plays when One gets interrogated is my favourite track from any vn out there
Aww thank you for your kind words <3<3 I'm glad you enjoyed it!
The interrogation song is Go then, there are other worlds than these by ROZKOL
omg tysm!!!! will be playing on repeat mueheh
so beautiful and painful. i loved it.
Thank you for the kind words <3<3<3