A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Such a warmhearted, cozy winter-themed visual novel. Exactly the sort I love to play around this time of year and this really scratched that itch for me! ♥ The visuals and writing were well executed. I really admire the GUI that gives it a very polished look and feel. But what really made this one stand out to me was the use of the camera and Renpy animations, providing a sense of movement. Making the characters feel more alive and dynamic than your typical static visual novel. Very impressive! I can tell a lot of love, labor, and consideration went into make this one.
In the way of constructive criticism, I have two things to point out that tie into one another. For one, the romance felt lacking in depth. It was more 'told' to us (the reader) than shown. A fateful encounter had happened in the past and we are now witnessing the aftermath of those events. While the characters hint at their shared past encounter that would ultimately lead to their falling in love, what actually transpired is kept vague and we are never given the full picture. This caused me to feel disconnected from the characters and their story. While I didn't necessarily dislike them, I didn't feel completely invested in their story either. As a die hard romantic, I don't want to be "told" two characters love each other in a story that's about romance. I want to see them falling in love for myself. I want to see why they love each other. What makes this one person so special to them, they would choose to sacrifice everything in the name of their love. That essential piece of the puzzle is missing and I didn't really feel the connection. Sure, we're told things like they make each other feel 'warm', but what exactly about them makes them feel that way? People don't just fall in love for no reason, there's got to be something there that serves as a catalyst and it's obvious something happened between these two, but it's kept a secret from the reader. Hinted at through dialogue, but never fully revealed to us.
My other complaint, while I enjoyed the MC in the beginning: her personality, values, and ambitions seemed contradictory when compared to the ending (at least the one I received). In the beginning, she was acting completely uninterested in love or romance and only wanting to do her 'duty' for her family. Which I can respect, but I lost that respect when she throws that all out the window simply at the thought of never seeing Eirwin again. The change seemed rather drastic and almost comical though I suspect that wasn't the intent. I suspect the true intention was that she's secretly been in love with Eirwin from the start, but this wasn't revealed to us until the end of the novel at which point she'd already set aside her previous goals and morals. The transition of her going from uninterested in love to head-over-heels "I'll be doomed without you" was a melodramatic whiplash for me. It felt very much out of character from the sensible, strong, independent woman that'd been established in the story's introduction. If there's going to be a dramatic change in character like that, I'd suggest making it more gradual transition, so it's easier for the reader to digest.
Therefore, in order to fix both these issues, my suggestion—should the devs wish to improve upon the story—would be to add a scene in the form of a prologue—where we get to see that fateful first encounter. We get to see Solange falling in love with this mysterious stranger. We get to share in what she finds attractive about him, not just physically, but the emotional connection between them. I want to see the same Eirwin she sees. This would not only add more depth to their relationship and make me feel more emotionally invested in this love story, but would also make more sense when Solange undergoes her change in character. From being the strong, independent woman trying to do what she thinks is best for her family, to being a woman in love trying to follow her own heart's desire regardless of society's expectations.
That's just my suggestion and opinion on how this could be improved upon. But as is, it's already a very charming and impressive work of art with it's own unique identity. Thanks to the dev team for creating and sharing such a lovely tale and taking the time to read my review. ♥
