WHERE DO I BEGIN?? I finally decided to sit my butt down and play through this VN (after struggling with the downloads, I think something is wrong with the SymptomsofDeceitDemo-0.1.win.zip since it doesn't have a platform to view it) and my god was this a kaladeiscope of confusion.
I adore both Thaumo and Nalis, like holy hell I kept swinging back and forth between them ESPECIALLY WHEN THAUMO WAS SO CUTE AND PATHETIC AND NALIS WAS JUST *bangs fist on the table multiple times*
The design of these characters is just *chefs kiss* TOP TIER. Like oh my god what the hell, even Tremo was absolutely perfect as she just rounded out the cast despite the few times we see her. I adore how colorful yet visually interesting they all were, and how their design contrasted towards their darker personality.
Thaumo's design looking all soft and innocent despite the acts of violence he commits, and Nalis open and cheery appearance contrasting with his twisted personality is just *chefs kiss*
ALSO NALIS, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH YOU MAN YOU CAN'T KEEP TOYING WITH MY HEART LIKE THIS!! This man has made me completely doubt my loyalty to Thaumo because yeah, Thaumo poster boy yandere of the VN but NALIS?!?! Listen, I just can't. The way this man gaslights, gatekeeps, and genociding this damn section. At least with Thaumo we get his full blown transparency which I love (adore his neediness) BUT JESUS ALMIGHT CHRIST NALIS?! Dude had me switching like a pendulum going back and forth, and that scene with him just jumpscaring and gaslighting/confusing me?? BOY CAN'T AN MC SHOWER IN PEACE?
(Also I cackled at Thaumo's ending on how he came up to MC's floor even though realistically it must be pretty creepy)
Anyway, I have a high tolerance for the shit Nalis put us through and every time a new line of dialogue came I kept constantly switching moods being "You war criminal" to "OH MY GOD I NEED YOU". Not my proudest moment over my knee-jerk reactions but it was more tame compared to Thaumo's good endings because hot DANG IS THAT DUDE DOWN BAD
hehehe
Hang on, I need to praise the masterful way the world is built up, especially with teh associated animals. It's all so intriguing because of how the disease is being spread, like, is it actually natural or is the lab doing some unethical things. Just, the reason why MC is kept in the dark, why they seem so important, what the deal with Nalis and Tremo hiding from them, Nalis himself, Thaumo's relationship with Orca, Thaumo HIMSELF, and the backstory and if the star fish boy in the prologue was the reason how the SSWS mutated into the horrific disease.
Just, absolutely phenominal work, I'm so glad I finally took my time to actually play this VN and experience many epiphanies of myself. ALSO YOU WANNA KNOW HOW I FOUND OUT NALIS IS NALIS DURING HIS ENDING???
"Good girl. Thank you."
PLEASE I NEARLY FELL OFF MY CHAIR (I also slammed myself against the back of my chair at 1am when I went through Ending 2. MC I AM DOWN BAD FOR YOU)
Looking forward to what comes next!! Please excuse my disorganized and chaotic rambles, it's 1:38am and I have not done the dishes yet.