This was a VERY intriguing demo (thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to contribute!!)
The writing is very well done (note that I might be biased because I did edit for the game LOL). In particular, the use of simile and metaphor makes the prose very vibrant. However, I think that the greatest strength is how smoothly and naturally characterization and information about the relationships between characters are woven into the dialogue. There is basically no fluff or wasted text - each line serves to either further the plot, the characters, or both.
The art is lovely, with sharp and clean lines and lovely shading on the skin and hair. In particular, I love how distinctive the character designs are. From their fashion choices, expressions, and body language, you can really tell a lot about all of them - from the bubbly and carefree Candace with her candy-colored hair and loose print clothes, to Rachel with her tightly knotted bun and military attire. The backgrounds are edited very well, with vibrant colors. The cave background is especially beautiful, with a dark and haunting composition. And, it goes without saying, but the GUI is lovely and clean, with really nice animations that make it feel all the more satisfying to use.
The animations are absolutely top notch - some of the best that I've seen in a visual novel, honestly. They're incredibly dynamic, adding a lot of visual intrigue to even the more calm scenes, and there is a LOT of detail put into them (as there were movements practically every line). In particular, I loved how much depth they added to the scene, particularly when one character was standing in the front and another was standing in the back, slightly blurred. It's a simple effect, but one that requires time and effort to implement, and it makes the scene look so much more three dimensional. I also really loved the use of the little pop-in heads for when a person speaks but isn't directly visible - it reminded me a lot of games such as Virtue's Last Reward, and I loved the effect there too LOL. Overall the game was choreographed BEAUTIFULLY while juggling a rather gigantic cast, which is really difficult for this medium.
The music is lovely and very atmospheric, and it really sets the mood in each scene; I especially love the track that plays during Joseph and Asherah's interaction in the cell - it's really lovely and tender. (The unlockable music box is a VERY nice touch.) The VAs all did a fantastic job as well, and their performances really serve to bring the characters to life.
===SPOILERS===
The opening scene is an EXCELLENT way to start off the game - starting off with where Joseph ends up, and working backwards, hinting at the tragedy to come.
The story has a lot of characters to introduce in this demo, and it does a seamless job of introducing each one, as well as their relationships and dynamics with one another. From the start, it's clear that Joseph is a bit of an outsider who struggles with connections and looks down on the other members of the group. Yet, he never seems unhappy with this - rather, he seems to look down on the people around him, preferring his own company, except for his sister, Hila, and his best friend, Malachi. His instant connection to the naive village girl, Asherah, is both heartwarming and a bit unnerving.
Asherah is characterized primarily by her kind and gentle nature, but it's also clear that she is also curious and open-minded. I enjoyed seeing her come into her own (at least a bit) as she confronts her father - and her father encourages her. That dynamic of theirs was one of my favorites from the demo, as I REALLY wasn't expecting it. On the other hand, Su'en, Asherah's caring but overprotective childhood friend, immediately shuts Asherah down - reminding her of her duties to their village, and making her world that much smaller.
The other characters, especially the POV ones, are also quite interesting to explore. Candace struggles to feel acknowledged by her much-older lover, who she has been enthralled with since she was a student. As a result, she can be foolhardy and headstrong in her attempts to prove herself, rushing into things that she's not ready for. Hila, who is normally so cold and collected, is unexpectedly warm towards Candace, betraying her affection for her (though, at the same time, she's oddly untrusting of her brother). Malachi is caring toward Joseph, but he also looks down on his friend (not seeming to notice that Joseph's unsocial nature is by choice). His feelings towards Rachel are a bit mysterious, compounded by the mercenary's own insecurities. Rachel was actually by far my favorite from the demo - despite her rough exterior, she's conscientious and observant of others. It seems that she's the only one who notices Joseph's peculiarities, other than his sister, and she's also the only one to reach out to Phineas when he's feeling low, despite being the one who knows him the least. She's guarded and untrusting because she's so secretly vulnerable. She believes that there's no way Malachi could truly care for her, but still longs for his affection. I was also very pleasantly surprised by Phineas - who, despite his timid nature, also seems to be the only one who really gauges the seriousness of the situation, with a greater resilience than the others give him credit for.
While you can't be sure where the plot will go based on the demo, it lays quite a few intriguing plot threads. Joseph's blossoming relationship with Asherah, the secrets of the crystal, the reasons for the village's secrecy - and how this will all end up with the man lying in the bed of tubes, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Overall, this was a fantastic demo, and I'm looking forward to playing (and beta-ing) the full version!