wao thank you so much for yet another awesome review!! I'm glad I was able to convey certain aspects of the MC's life situation- I spoke in length about it in the server but; I took inspiration in some ways, from forms of isolation one can feel, especially being ostracized for seeming to appear or speak "differently" than people anticipate (autism for me), so I felt I could have some nuance to the MC's role while changing her situation to that of a curse or devils work.
The assets weren't rtp but purchased from other distributors, but I appreciate the sentiment all the same! I struggle with making things look more...*more*? Because I rely on them heavily, so with lighting, I'm glad I could show off different feelings or real "mood for the moment" during her struggle internally, and definitely took inspiration from horror films for the green room in particular (:
The parts with her mother are also something I'm pleased with being able to show in a manipulative way- the painful feelings that can come from being the one who has to raise a child on her own, only to have no idea what or how to navigate a child that doesn't act or behave how you want them to- making her anxious and ashamed, even at times.
That's not to say MC deserved it, of course, she just was dealt a shitty hand from the get go- and maybe, if she were handled with compassion, things could've ended up differently, too. I think I wanted to show a bleak outlook on a sad person who just wanted help. Only to find out, she was pretty much screwed from the start.
In the part where you first run from the mom (in the meat room), you have to interact with the door to leave, and that was intentional to make things more stress-enducing, but I can see how that can also be a design flaw haha
As for the other time she chases you, being locked in the room (the kitchen) was on purpose. Also, there technically is a little surprise in the mirror if you look at it again after getting the gem (:
I think I really wanted the ending part to be the heaviest for her- coupled with her almost acceptance yet disgust for death and rotting, along with the helplessness her mother made her feel- like what can feel like an almost inescapable barrier due to being a child with no other resource or help.
I knew from the inception of this story, that I'd want to write her to be already having a difficult time in life- made to feel like this is the last thing she can try (going to a church outside of town), for answers. Like she was already dangling on the edge of despair and needed some other kind of help, as she already tried seeking asylum in mental institutions and so on, obviously not getting results she'd like.
I'm glad you also liked her portrait being saved till the end- it was something I liked showing too ^w^ I feel her being silent in her own mind was a way of feeling...bitter and already split apart, figuratively, re: the gems, in that...she felt empty.
I'm also glad the demon with casual banter was well received- I'm a fan of that kind of trope too- deities or otherworldly creatures just talking like you're pals or whatever- it's almost comical-and then feels a bit sad when the player is moved to an area where that casualness is just taken away- alone in her mind again when you have to take care of that demon.
Just all the little things- I'm also glad you liked the nun and priest- I was nervous about how to write them, but I'm glad people seemed to like their approach- I imagine it felt strange for the MC to be so well taken care of by people who don't know her- almost like the people in her community at home are the ones to blame for her feeling outcast and shunned-yet accepted openly, even after the exorcism. That's why she leaves in an awkward fashion like ..."I'm not used to this. If I'm too happy about it, it'll be taken from me or I'll end up tainting this experience further." And just ...go.
Idk I'm just really happy I was able to make something people could see a bit deeper in, especially because ppl tend to like to speed run these things without soaking in some of the story aaa so, thank you thank you again so so much!!!
Also also; abra rules 😎
Edit: also, sorry for the dim lighting, it seemed fine on my PC but I forgot to anticipate other monitors 😭