CHATT I JUST FINISHED AHHHHHH.
This was so good! I really enjoyed it (if you can "enjoy" something that made you feel deeply unnerved 100% of the time LOL). The entire setup, the aesthetics, the design, everything contributed so well to setting up this slowly suffocating vibe that really clinched itself (lol) by the end, and it was all just wonderfully done.
I'm in LOVE with the GUI you made for this. Every single part of it is incredibly immersive and instantly draws you in. The setup with the chat screen was a great idea for the idea of the AI, but with Yumeko's picture there to still give us an emotional connection to her as a person (erm, AI, lol). I absolutely loved the little creepy flashes that would happen on Yumeko's screen, especially how they kept getting more and more unnerving. All the different possibilities for what could pop up there were so creative and so unnerving lakdjfsad ALSO all the different variations for the "rebooting," gosh, poor Yumeko, some of those were absolutely HAUNTING. AND THEN??? IF YOU GET ALL THE HEARTS UP?? THE WAY THE GUI CHANGES AND HER PICTURE BECOMES ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING????? I had chills the entire time my gosh. The variation that is still haunting my mind is I think the rebooting screen right before all the hearts are full and it shows her decapitated, my god, was that terrifying...
Even besides the chat screen interface itself, I loved how the rest of the game fit into this game/computer-esque vibe, from the rebooting screen, to the little video game level-up sound (for lack of a better word) when you unlock an ending, to the music and all its chip-tone esque melodies. It was truly wonderful and evident just how much careful work and detail you put into the immersive experience of the game, which was doubly effective for a game like this where you're really placed into the head of Yumeko. I also liked the change into the real world and how the GUI changed after that, truly making it feel like "coming out of the box" into reality.
Regarding the gameplay, I found it so incredibly unique. I don't think I've ever played a game with quite this type of gameplay loop before?? At first I wasn't sure what was going to happen when I chose a "bad" option, but then seeing the reboot happen and now that option was gone was just... this slowly building dread began to take over me. Like little by little she was slowly being suffocated and her options and opinions taken away from her until only a shell remained. Some of the doctor's comments really sent chills down my spine... by themselves, they weren't always terrible, but I think it was hearing so many of them again and again, and knowing that you're unable to say anything against them that really made it really that much more claustrophobic and unsettling. Admittedly I felt a bit bad in the ending where he died... 🤣 Maybe my last hope being that he could have potentially changed or maybe he just needed someone real as a friend to help get him out of this mindset. Though it was cathartic getting to see Yumeko finally take control of her own destiny and fight back and have the chance to be her own person. "Becoming a real woman" as it were. I'm not familiar with the Pygmalion and Galatea story this is alluding to, but in my mind, I was instantly taken to Pinocchio and "becoming a real boy." I suppose not quite the same story but still based on something inhuman becoming human I guess lkjdfasd I really enjoyed seeing the different possible endings. The most unsettling one for me was "The Wife" ending as I could relate quite a lot to shoving down your personal feelings and just "saying what's right" even if you feel awful inside, so my heart really went out to Yumeko... ahhh. In general I just thought the idea of the "reboot" loop and having your options slowly stolen from you was just a really need and unique idea.
Anyway, just a really well-done game! So much to think about now!! LOL Thought-provoking indeed. And just a haunting experience overall, aided by how much amazing work and polish you put into the design and UI. I enjoyed this a lot!!