(This review contains spoilers!)
Had a ton of fun with this, as an ex-Christian who turned out to be a transgender of sorts, myself!!
I found myself relating a LOT to Angel, and I joked with my friends multiple times that it's because xir autistic like I am. So, of course, I lost my MIND with the reveal that xe actually is, lol. Not just that, but demiromantic, just like me!! We share the exact same thoughts on dating in general -- "how can you like me? we just met?? you people are so weird???" I've even pulled the "weaponizing my airheadedness to pretend I didn't understand what someone meant when they said they 'liked' me" move, lmao. These traits of mine, when shown in a character in a dating sim, are usually relegated to the non-datable NPC who's there for comic relief; the freakshow whose purpose is to be laughed at. To have them instead portrayed honestly, and as something that could even be desirable, made my heart grow three sizes this night~!
I also saw my younger self a LOT in Liam. Kudos to the writers -- you truly captured the Complete And Utter Behaviors only present in a repressed good-girl Christian turned alt trans queer. His final monologue in the honeymoon suite also very much got me In My Religious Trauma Feelings... Mourning that you used to be everything that your family and community wanted you to be, but you can't be that anymore if you want to be happy. So, seeking that validation in other places instead (ESPECIALLY online)... Woof
And, of course, Elias' plight of feeling like he has to prove he's still just as good at his job, and becoming a workaholic because of it, was ALSO a topic that hit home. Ough. I also really appreciated the representation for bigger boys!! Plus-size romance options are still shockingly rare in the dating sim space, so I do love to see it. Plus, the reveal in this route that Irene is, herself, potentially an egg had me HOLLERING. "Gender is confusing, and also I just wanna dress up in nice clothing, and men's fashion is so SAD" Girl. I fucking get it.
I generally appreciate Irene's internal monologues. The "religious girl who is Doing Her Best while in a crowd of queers" vibe are sooo palpable.
It feels like the topics covered in this game are things that are very close to the hearts of the team! From religion to queerness to the issue each character faces to even photography -- there were a few lines from Irene about her cameras that made me perk up, because it was something I'd never heard of before. Thank you for making this game! I had a blast.