I JUST PLAYED THIS AND WOW WAS THIS A DREAM!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHI
MY GOSH THIS IS JUST SO ETHEREALLY BEAUTIFUL!!! TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERINCE FOR ME!!!! LIKE AAAHHHHH SO THOUGHT PROVOKING AND JUST SO ETHEREAL!!!
I HONESTLY HAVE NO WORDS TO GRASP AT THE MOMENT TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT I JUS PLAYED, ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT WAS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND CONFLICTING, MORE SO WITH HOW FAIRYTALE LIKE IT SOUNDS BUT ALSO HOW MECHANICAL, WITH THE CONTRAST OF THE MUSIC BOX AND THE SOUND EFFECT AND JUST, OMG THIS WAS SO TRIPPY IN THE THE MOST ETHEREAL OF WAYS AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AND THE VISUALS, THE GLITCHES! THIS IS JUST VISUAL OPERA AT THIS POINT AAAHHHHHHHHH!!! <3 <3 <3 IT'S SO HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
(I feel called out with the hate though, because I literally described one of my characters as someone who truly can't hate, so the demon's words were just so spooky to me on a whole new other level!)
(Going to try and stay semi-vague so I don't accidentally spoil anything for anyone) I love love love LOVE this! The way you used the kaleidoscope of colors was GENIUS and BEAUTIFUL. Not to mention the voice and music mixing together in such a beautiful way. I can tell you put a lot of time into this and it PAID OFF!! The narrative was also fascinating and the demon made me think!
To whoever is reading: GO PLAY!! I PROMISE IT WILL BE AMAZING!!
Super intriguing! It's such a classic fairy tale style of story and you have a very classic voice to go with it. The complex use of the text tags really complements the story, and I liked the stained glass background as well. Could have used a grammar edit, though.
Sorry if the grammar was distracting sometimes, English isn't my first language.
(I think we talked a little about something similar in spooktober last year! I made a game about someone trapped in a well… with some typo and grammar problems, someday I will be brave enough to ask for help with that!!)
That was very sad but also oddly wholesome? The way they seek love in different places and hold on to this fleeting hope that the next thing may just be it? It gave me some relatable feels 🥲 I love how you craft your games, it just pulls you right in and doesn't let go until the end. And the colors, the music, and the sound effects create this unique fairytale-like vibe that makes you want to learn more and dive deeper into the world. 👌
Thank you so much!! Yes, yes! when you put it like that... it's really something isn't it? when you really want to love something or someone but the feeling just fades away or never truly comes even if it feels like it should :')
I wanted to depict that! with the twist of the search for love turn to "hate", -hate as a way to reach love-, because what it truly maters (for them) it's escaping the void –the grey- I'm not sure if in English people say [del amor al odio hay un solo paso] {from love to hate there is only one step} (and the other way around) or something equivalent, even if it became twisted, they are seeking the same thing, and I also think that's weirdly wholesome.
Still reeling just a bit to be honest (and letting my eyes readjust after the WATERFALLS OF COLORS LSAKDJFLASD)
Gosh. I find it hard to truly describe what happened. Only that it was like flying through a dream and picking up bits and pieces of both harmonious and inharmonious flashes of colors and sounds and all of them somehow forming this Feeling in your heart that you can't quite explain and can't be stopped and still you just keep pressing forward wondering what's going to happen next and where the next choice is going to take you.
The kaleidoscopic moving colors were truly beautiful and surreal and fantastical and sometimes I had to stop for a moment and just stare at them and let myself become one with them. The use of the melodic "voice" juxtaposed with the almost fairy-like background music was also very surreal. There were times it almost seemed to be in harmony with the music. Then other times it felt incredibly atonal. Which just added to the dream-like feeling. The parts where it kept changing again and again with each choice felt like some kind of skipping or faulty VHS. That part really made my stomach start to twist in anxiety LKDJALSDKJFAD Also when the colors went Very Red. That invoked quite a visceral sense of dread in me.
Just overall. I like. I don't have any words to accurately describe it but just to tell others PLAY THIS AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF. It's absolutely one of the most unique, visceral, and fantastical things I've ever played. And you will surely come out of it questioning reality at least for a few moments. Just really fantastic and such a trip!! You always have the most unique games I don't know how you do it laskdjfsa every time there's something new that just blows me away!
Thank you carrot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For playing and the lovely comment!
Now I kinda want to add a Carrot-approved stamp like those "this game/movie won this awards" things hehe~
That part where things just keep changing and the "grey-why" Are some of my favs!! The constantly changing specially, so disorienting and chaotic! Makes me so uncomfortable but so weirdly euphoric at the same time!! (all the game it's kind of like that for me)
I'm always happy to hear that I managed to make my games feel dream like!!! And also so happy that it gave the "fairy tale" vibe I was going for!!!
I wanted the bg to be; kaleidoscopic + church/temple (stained glass) + fairy tale (kinda like fairy/butterfly wings).
Also those weird undefined feelings, I love it so much! (and make me kinda scared at the same time) Glad to hear that I was able to evoke them!!!
I tried to come up with a review that won't require me to use those words but I don't think I can do it.
Holy. Shit. Holy fucking shit.
Through the whole thing I was sitting here, barely breathing, barely blinking, watching the text change and unveil the whole experience. I feel sick, I feel full, I feel empty, I feel ???!, I know exactly how I feel and I don't know words in any language that can describe it. It feels unreal in the best way possible, it feels like having something streamed directly into your brain with nothing filtering it beforehand. I don't even know what to say. It's amazing work. It really is.
I really like media that leaves you with those weird undefined feelings! So I'm happy to hear that I could evoke that!!
I think it kind of makes me feel the same, empty but full, like someone just told me something that it's -a comforting lie- and -a cruel truth- at the same time.
In general, I wanted to play with dichotomies/binaries, because with so much in life, things aren't "one or the other".
AGH this made my head spin, both with the kaleidoscope effect and the content! I think it was a really good way to visually represent how the demon's words are warped and manipulative, twisting the concept of "love" into "hate." I always love playing your works; they're so puzzling and dreamlike and yet very thought-provoking at the same time? Even though I'm not sure what's going on, the emotions are communicated very clearly! While at first I agreed with the demon - "love" being "wanting to find something to love" as opposed to "wanting to be loved," as they continued to speak the story became more and more warped, ending on quite the twisted ending indeed! "If she can I hate then I can love..." how ominous! Quite the warped "parent-child" love...It makes me even more excited to see Act 2 of Melancholic Star! (Poor Lily...)
The song was perfectly chosen, melodic and pleasant to hear while still sounding a little "off." I am simply in AWE of your use of the background to reflect the emotions and all of the different text effects! You do such a great job of incorporating the words into the visual storytelling, even with a limited format like O2A2!
This was simply stunning and a joy to play!! Fantastic work!
All the play testing also made my head spin!! Haha, thank you Chatter! Happy to hear that you liked the experience (and my weird approach to storytelling).
I wanted it to be a little bit like "oh, they are telling me a little Story" -> "oh, they are talking about someone… themselves? Anyway this is personal" -> "You know that makes sense" -> "Wait… are they manipulating me?" -> "Ok, they are twisting things but I don't know if I can say that they are lying AHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh"
The song got ingrained in my mind, the "bugged" version!! Like I'm humming it and then it gets stuck in a 1s loop like in the little ""jump scares""
Hey Taumu! I played it and it was interesting! I had to take breaks because of eye strain during my playthrough, haha, but I loved how you used the background as a representation of the text and of what I think is the mental state of the deity? Although I'll admit I played the game while keeping in mind the demon was an unreliable narrator, so I'm not sure I trusted a lot, but it was still a very good experience! You showed so much with so few assets!!! The use of the kinetic text tags was great and dynamic, and some of the ways you used choices were very interesting too! A very unique and good entry!!!!!!!!
Yeah, it's better with little breaks! I made it to not be sooooo eye strainy (exept in the really chaotic parts) but with the constant movement it can be tiring to the eyes.
This was me telling to myself how much can I convey without sprites? And also I wanted to try to use the kinetic text tags for so long! ( some lines are more tag that in-game text LOL)
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This is an incredible experience! The shifting colors, the text effects, the narrative, god its so good! Great job on this! :D
Wow, this was truly special. Definitely an entry I won't be forgetting anytime soon!! :D You did an amazing job, Taumi!! <3
Thank you so much!!
I JUST PLAYED THIS AND WOW WAS THIS A DREAM!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHI
MY GOSH THIS IS JUST SO ETHEREALLY BEAUTIFUL!!! TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERINCE FOR ME!!!! LIKE AAAHHHHH SO THOUGHT PROVOKING AND JUST SO ETHEREAL!!!
I HONESTLY HAVE NO WORDS TO GRASP AT THE MOMENT TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT I JUS PLAYED, ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT WAS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND CONFLICTING, MORE SO WITH HOW FAIRYTALE LIKE IT SOUNDS BUT ALSO HOW MECHANICAL, WITH THE CONTRAST OF THE MUSIC BOX AND THE SOUND EFFECT AND JUST, OMG THIS WAS SO TRIPPY IN THE THE MOST ETHEREAL OF WAYS AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AND THE VISUALS, THE GLITCHES! THIS IS JUST VISUAL OPERA AT THIS POINT AAAHHHHHHHHH!!! <3 <3 <3 IT'S SO HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
(I feel called out with the hate though, because I literally described one of my characters as someone who truly can't hate, so the demon's words were just so spooky to me on a whole new other level!)
AHHHHHHH!!!
Thank you so much butter!! I'm happy that it leaved a strong impression! And that you liked it!!!
Oh noooo, the Demon went personal for you!!!
I hope that things go well for your character that can't hate! (or not if you want it that way!)
ok so I'm back from my slumber to comment B)
(Going to try and stay semi-vague so I don't accidentally spoil anything for anyone)
I love love love LOVE this! The way you used the kaleidoscope of colors was GENIUS and BEAUTIFUL. Not to mention the voice and music mixing together in such a beautiful way. I can tell you put a lot of time into this and it PAID OFF!! The narrative was also fascinating and the demon made me think!
To whoever is reading: GO PLAY!! I PROMISE IT WILL BE AMAZING!!
<3 <3
Thanks for the comment!!
(Haha, kinda curious about the spoiler-full review!)
Again thank you so much!! Happy to hear that the hours of text tagging and playing with the colormatrix paid off :'D
Super intriguing! It's such a classic fairy tale style of story and you have a very classic voice to go with it. The complex use of the text tags really complements the story, and I liked the stained glass background as well. Could have used a grammar edit, though.
Thank you so much!!
Sorry if the grammar was distracting sometimes, English isn't my first language.
(I think we talked a little about something similar in spooktober last year! I made a game about someone trapped in a well… with some typo and grammar problems, someday I will be brave enough to ask for help with that!!)
I mean I would happily proofread your stuff if you liked. Overall, your games are very, very well-executed.
That was very sad but also oddly wholesome? The way they seek love in different places and hold on to this fleeting hope that the next thing may just be it? It gave me some relatable feels 🥲
I love how you craft your games, it just pulls you right in and doesn't let go until the end. And the colors, the music, and the sound effects create this unique fairytale-like vibe that makes you want to learn more and dive deeper into the world. 👌
Lovely little game 💕
Thank you so much!! Yes, yes! when you put it like that... it's really something isn't it? when you really want to love something or someone but the feeling just fades away or never truly comes even if it feels like it should :')
I wanted to depict that! with the twist of the search for love turn to "hate", -hate as a way to reach love-, because what it truly maters (for them) it's escaping the void –the grey- I'm not sure if in English people say [del amor al odio hay un solo paso] {from love to hate there is only one step} (and the other way around) or something equivalent, even if it became twisted, they are seeking the same thing, and I also think that's weirdly wholesome.
THIS.
WAS.
AN EXPERIENCE???
Still reeling just a bit to be honest (and letting my eyes readjust after the WATERFALLS OF COLORS LSAKDJFLASD)
Gosh. I find it hard to truly describe what happened. Only that it was like flying through a dream and picking up bits and pieces of both harmonious and inharmonious flashes of colors and sounds and all of them somehow forming this Feeling in your heart that you can't quite explain and can't be stopped and still you just keep pressing forward wondering what's going to happen next and where the next choice is going to take you.
The kaleidoscopic moving colors were truly beautiful and surreal and fantastical and sometimes I had to stop for a moment and just stare at them and let myself become one with them. The use of the melodic "voice" juxtaposed with the almost fairy-like background music was also very surreal. There were times it almost seemed to be in harmony with the music. Then other times it felt incredibly atonal. Which just added to the dream-like feeling. The parts where it kept changing again and again with each choice felt like some kind of skipping or faulty VHS. That part really made my stomach start to twist in anxiety LKDJALSDKJFAD Also when the colors went Very Red. That invoked quite a visceral sense of dread in me.
Just overall. I like. I don't have any words to accurately describe it but just to tell others PLAY THIS AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF. It's absolutely one of the most unique, visceral, and fantastical things I've ever played. And you will surely come out of it questioning reality at least for a few moments. Just really fantastic and such a trip!! You always have the most unique games I don't know how you do it laskdjfsa every time there's something new that just blows me away!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Thank you carrot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For playing and the lovely comment!
Now I kinda want to add a Carrot-approved stamp like those "this game/movie won this awards" things hehe~
That part where things just keep changing and the "grey-why" Are some of my favs!! The constantly changing specially, so disorienting and chaotic! Makes me so uncomfortable but so weirdly euphoric at the same time!! (all the game it's kind of like that for me)
I'm always happy to hear that I managed to make my games feel dream like!!! And also so happy that it gave the "fairy tale" vibe I was going for!!!
I wanted the bg to be; kaleidoscopic + church/temple (stained glass) + fairy tale (kinda like fairy/butterfly wings).
Also those weird undefined feelings, I love it so much! (and make me kinda scared at the same time) Glad to hear that I was able to evoke them!!!
I tried to come up with a review that won't require me to use those words but I don't think I can do it.
Holy. Shit. Holy fucking shit.
Through the whole thing I was sitting here, barely breathing, barely blinking, watching the text change and unveil the whole experience. I feel sick, I feel full, I feel empty, I feel ???!, I know exactly how I feel and I don't know words in any language that can describe it. It feels unreal in the best way possible, it feels like having something streamed directly into your brain with nothing filtering it beforehand. I don't even know what to say. It's amazing work. It really is.
Thank you so much Naarel!
I really like media that leaves you with those weird undefined feelings! So I'm happy to hear that I could evoke that!!
I think it kind of makes me feel the same, empty but full, like someone just told me something that it's -a comforting lie- and -a cruel truth- at the same time.
In general, I wanted to play with dichotomies/binaries, because with so much in life, things aren't "one or the other".
AGH this made my head spin, both with the kaleidoscope effect and the content! I think it was a really good way to visually represent how the demon's words are warped and manipulative, twisting the concept of "love" into "hate." I always love playing your works; they're so puzzling and dreamlike and yet very thought-provoking at the same time? Even though I'm not sure what's going on, the emotions are communicated very clearly! While at first I agreed with the demon - "love" being "wanting to find something to love" as opposed to "wanting to be loved," as they continued to speak the story became more and more warped, ending on quite the twisted ending indeed! "If she can I hate then I can love..." how ominous! Quite the warped "parent-child" love...It makes me even more excited to see Act 2 of Melancholic Star! (Poor Lily...)
The song was perfectly chosen, melodic and pleasant to hear while still sounding a little "off." I am simply in AWE of your use of the background to reflect the emotions and all of the different text effects! You do such a great job of incorporating the words into the visual storytelling, even with a limited format like O2A2!
This was simply stunning and a joy to play!! Fantastic work!
All the play testing also made my head spin!! Haha, thank you Chatter! Happy to hear that you liked the experience (and my weird approach to storytelling).
I wanted it to be a little bit like "oh, they are telling me a little Story" -> "oh, they are talking about someone… themselves? Anyway this is personal" -> "You know that makes sense" -> "Wait… are they manipulating me?" -> "Ok, they are twisting things but I don't know if I can say that they are lying AHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh"
The song got ingrained in my mind, the "bugged" version!! Like I'm humming it and then it gets stuck in a 1s loop like in the little ""jump scares""
Hey Taumu! I played it and it was interesting! I had to take breaks because of eye strain during my playthrough, haha, but I loved how you used the background as a representation of the text and of what I think is the mental state of the deity? Although I'll admit I played the game while keeping in mind the demon was an unreliable narrator, so I'm not sure I trusted a lot, but it was still a very good experience! You showed so much with so few assets!!! The use of the kinetic text tags was great and dynamic, and some of the ways you used choices were very interesting too! A very unique and good entry!!!!!!!!
Thank you Chim!!
Yeah, it's better with little breaks! I made it to not be sooooo eye strainy (exept in the really chaotic parts) but with the constant movement it can be tiring to the eyes.
This was me telling to myself how much can I convey without sprites? And also I wanted to try to use the kinetic text tags for so long! ( some lines are more tag that in-game text LOL)