A downloadable visual novel for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
A fascinating story, which kept me gripped for its entirety. The art and character design is wonderful.
spoils!
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Magda's lack of survival mechanisms stressed me out, and its interesting how in their place is faith in a system that was never going to serve her and requires her as a scapegoat; she never escapes or defends herself, except when that faith is itself called into question by those who only use it as a tool.
The hypocrisy at the centre of those who uphold this system is communicated very effectively I thought; the main bullies are praised at every turn for what they claim to be Magda's sins, to the point they're practically flaunting it. It was so very, depressingly, real.
I really appreciate the restraint in not answering some of the questions raised by the story; we never find out the true extent of Magda's original 'crime', which I find apt considering how little it actually mattered to why she was punished. We never see just what the 'insane' outer world is truly like.
Looking back, and having read many other comments, the way Maria's depression is recontextualised from loss to her dealing with the contradiction of her society and her place in it is delicious. When she snaps at Magda, she is rationalising herself and, I imagine, her guilt in what she knows is happening yet cannot bring herself to stop; instead externalising this blame onto Magda. Her appearance in act 3 was jaw dropping; the book-ending of the opening scene, and the way it crystalises the dichotomy between her caring appearance yet complicit behaviour in the painting itself.
Grace is heart-breaking. The fact that the diary used as evidence was her idea to begin with is devastating. Her betrayal hurts.
ran out of spoons for writing here. cool vn : )
