Its so, so hard to find the words to even begin to describe this game.
The tactfulness, the care and empathy with which this game tackled all sides affected by abuse is astonishingly powerful and truly moving. It found the perfect ground between not sugar-coating the effects of abuse, quite far from doing so, yet didn't demonise a caricature of the average abuser. That is truly a wonder to behold, for it is an art so very difficult to master. And yet somehow this game does it perfectly.
The use of the hanhakki disease here is so apt for the subject matter. I was worried it would simply be either a plot to excuse the abuser's actions "by making them desperate and evil!!" or turn out to be a fluke devised by the abuser (ie they were somehow eating the flowers to make themselves that way to keep MC around). It was, instead, used to mirror the insecurities and mental effects of the generational cycle, as the game puts it. This acts as a tool to help the player understand the suffering that causes abuser to do what they do and act in the way that they act, and in such a poetic way.
But the game also does not shy away from the slow and tragic breakdown of the victim. It goes into gruelling detail, depicting every step of the way of their slow descent. The dependency, the panicked guilt, the helplessness, the isolation. All in a gradual and palatable enough format for the average person to learn about and understand. I particularly found it impactful towards the end with the loop sequence, the way it puts the player in MC's shoes.
Something I feel most likely would have overlooked among this excellent commentary is how greatly, in the use of writing, several panic attacks are protrayed. Though it seems to be becoming a trend with media nowadays, i can't argue that here it is served absolute justice, imo mimicking the jumbled thought processes during such a panic attack to a T
Really, just an immensely impactful, powerful and moving commentary on abuse and it's effects; my words could not do it justice. I feel I have so much more express, but I just cannot put it into words.
So I may aswell comment on things other than the narrative. Such as the music. Unsure if it was specifically composed for the game, but the main track has such a nostalgicy yet harrowing feel to it, it so perfectly encapsulates the feelings within the story. I have to say, though, some of the tracks not only switch too suddenly, somewhat ruining effect, but also feel too, how do I put this, dramatic? It feels like a comedic action sequence and imo doesn't really oftentimes match with what's happening on screen. I also wanted to comment on the visual transition used throughout, it's strangely fitting to how the abuser is slowly taking over the MC's entire life, so that's a nice touch.