itch.io

(spoilers)










This was the 2nd game I played that came from this dev (1st was Sweetest Valentine, after this game I played For Amerta then Rotten Angel) It's been a while since I've played this, so I forgot which ending I got first, but every single plotline left me wanting more. I really enjoyed everything about this game, from the aesthetic, to the music, to the story. Omfg the freaking story I love it so much!!!!

"I never wanted to experience it again."

"The dreary and quiet forest. The putrid, rusty scent. A mix of emotions so strong it makes you want to vomit."

"No matter how hard I try to forget, it always comes back to haunt me. Every time I see it, I keep questioning myself. What am I even doing? I have to remind myself not to waver. After all, I'm so close..."

"I truly never wanted to experience this again. But I guess.."

"This is simply my punishment, for everything that had happened."

The freaking writing. Oh my god. Those few lines and i was just HOOKED. The putrid, rusty scent?? Probably blood. A mix of emotions so strong it makes you want to vomit? Did someone die? I had so many questions, and the atmosphere and the music was so fitting. Whose perspective was I in? I eventually learned it was Caleb's perspective, given that Aran had fallen from a building. He had probably fallen and that must have caused the blood and the emotions, right??

BUT WHAT KIND OF BUILDING IS NEXT TO A DAMN FOREST?? Nah, something was definitely fishy about this. Especially since his injuries didn't line up with what supposedly caused them.

Kaveh--- I mean Caleb, was kinda sus from the start. I have a tendency to overthink things and read into them a lil too much, but he seemed a liiiitle too.. I dunno, not emotional? Sort of used to it? 

HM. HIS GRANDPARENTS LIVE NEAR THE FOREST. I WONDER..

"No!! Focus on the story and stop theorizing, you're not MatPat!!", I kept on repeating to myself in my head. But something was off, I could feel it!!!

Okay, but aside from all the weirdness at the start (which is explained later on in the story) I LOVED the flashbacks. The progression of their love story was so freaking perfect. I really got to get attached to the characters, including the cat. Especially the cat. I loved that cat. Caleb was a funny character. For a while, I forgot about all the suspicious stuff. I just enjoyed their story. It was sosososososo cute!! This game is written in such a way where you get to be attached to the characters and it pulls it off so well!! It made all the twists and turns extra extra cool. I loved the complexity of each character.. it was so interesting to see their thoughts and what exactly they had to go through. It made them so interesting left me wanting more. Just more. Infinitely more. I could write a whole essay just on Caleb and/or Aran/Roy/07 alone, but we'd be here forever so yeah.

We're gonna be here forever if I talk about the main plot, so I'll just go straight to the endings I loved the most.

C route -

The ending where Caleb accepts "Aran"'s request to.. yeah. No. This ending left me feeling really disgusted. I'm not saying it was a badly-written ending, but DAMN "Aran", did you really have to do that???? ):

Then, we have the ending where Caleb successfully creates a perfect copy of Aran in another person named Valentino. I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, Caleb's happy, but can we truly say that Valentino is?? At least Caleb kept his promise to Roy to bring back his daughter, but.. are they really gonna be truly happy together? Isn't this all just a lie?? Cause those aren't the real, same people. They're just clones. 

Last for the C route, we have Caleb committing suicide after Roy did. Afterwards, we get to see his afterlife, with Aran and Ro. This is my 2nd favorite ending in the entire game because at least Caleb and Aran and Ro can finally be together again. This ending made me cry. Full-on sobs. Tears. ARAN FREAKING FORGAVE CALEB FOR EVERYTHING AAAAAHHHHHHH!!! They were finally reunited and Ro was back and finally everything could be perfect and oh my god i love this ending so much aaahhhhhh!!! It's so sad how Caleb blames himself for Aran's suicide. In reality, you can't control another person's desicions. You can manipulate them, guide them, push them, but in the end, the choice is entirely theirs. It's never truly anyone's fault, suicide. If anything, you should blame the mental illness, so PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CALEB, ARAN EVERYONE IN THIS GODDAMN STORY PLEASE GET THERAPY!!

S route -

I think the first ending I got is the happy ending we had with Julia and Roy? I was unsatisfied with this ending because although we were safe, there are still more victims of Project Metempsychosis, and that number will continue to grow, so I tried to aim for a different ending.

I chose the wrong option and ended up getting another brain surgery by Caleb. Thanks a lot, Caleb!! (Side note: the hands. how are they drawn so well. how.) The action scene was pretty cool, though. Damn can Roy pack a punch.

Finally, my favorite ending of them all. I freaking love this ending. 

"In fact, you look really good, 07. That's why I've been staring."

I facepalmed at that. Flirting, seriously?? Caleb is such a goofy character sometimes, I swear. Anyways.. yeah. Personally, this ending also kind of wants to make me cry. There's hope for a better tomorrow, a better future-- a future without Project Metempsychosis, something that the other endings lack. Although things won't be easy, they'll find a way through it together. 

I saw the author's note you put in the 'Extras' screen, and even if the end product isn't as good as you expected it to be, I, and a lot of other people, were really inspired by it and enjoyed it. I truly appreciate all the effort and time you put into this (balancing game development with an internship probably wasn't easy, I'd probably combust into flames lol.)

I absolutely love this game, I truly do. I'm so surprised that not more people have heard of this game, but I'm so glad you made this. Thank you for the amazing experience, and hopefully you take care of yourself as well!! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!!

(i spent an hour writing this review, thats how much i love this game lol)

P.S. I hope you have a great and happy life too!! :D:D:D