Thanks, and thanks for the nice comment about it in the round table discussion as well :)

Actually that whole fuzzy level was never actually planned, save for the fight at the end. I ended up slapping that together on the last day so I could put out some kind of experience. And seeing the positive reactions made me realize it's better to slap things together in the first place, especially in a jam :B

The beginning cutscene depicts the death of the real protagonist, who now hops from person to person as a spirit. People thought the fuzzy graphics represented memory, but within the plot the protag's mind is in a state of defragmenting after death scattered it; so in that level he has a lot of trouble understanding more than the basic shape of a room. The style depicted in the outro is how the game was going to be afterwards; simple monochrome colors with curtains instead of walls (a bit Twin Peaksy).

I might revisit the project one day, do it from the ground up. However, I don't plan on spending more time on RPG Maker MV; I enjoyed the limitations initially, but it really does fight you if you're creating anything other than a standard JRPG. But now that I've strengthened my game-making resolve I've moved on to Godot and an even stranger project; so hopefully I'll have a more complete experience for you in future ;)

Thanks again ☮️♥️

Haha, yeah. I liked the restrictions initially, but the engine is so hard bent toward standard JRPG's (who'da thunk :B) I think I'll leave it for now. I think I'll look into Godot next, since the python-like GDScript sounds appealing, but we'll see.

As for the graphics, yeah, it was going to be a Earthbound/OFF/Lisa kinda RPG;  obviously I didn't get too far with that though.

So happy for your feedback, though apologies for depressing you XD 

Yeah, as usual I planned way more game than I made. Weirdly that 'key' puzzle was a last minute decision; originally you just started out in that fight with even less context. I never actual got to my intended Lvl1, which involved possessing a child, having to argue, and lose, to your parents, and win by ending the night with a good video game (some kind of lesson on minor victories or something).

The 'cop' was going to assign you to help people win their battles, after he opens his jaw 180 Degrees to reveal a spirit flame thing inside that's actually controlling him. The noise idea came late but worked out really well since it adds to a sense that from the spirit's perspective, having a noncorporeal mind, his world is hard to decipher, hence not recognizing the knife. Later the game's walls, as shown in the end, were going to be curtains (possibly organic veiny ones...), to give the idea that your mind is filling out blanks where it can.

This game was going to be fucking bizarre, and pretty dark. I feel like the former would've offset the latter and the tone changes; the 'cop' was going to be quite enigmatic and cheeky; their relationship itself was meant to be part of the backdrop. The game originally ended with a battle with your mirror; as an insecure person trying to meet their own gaze; and winning.

The game evolved into something very introspective on my part. I gained some more insight on how my ambitions falters at my anxiety and depression; Despite getting very involved and excited in this, I found myself drained quite a lot and unwilling to work on it. But in hindsight I think this is the most completed project I've made so far. Realizing the development of this 'game' in itself was an improvement to my abilities and personal growth was probably what kept me from quitting, rather than trying to have something to turn in.

^And if you made it through all that you've done me 2 kindnesses now X'D