Aah, I've played the first version of the demo, and now I'm back for more! I've filled the survey, which explains some of my opinions and gives plenty of feedback, but I still want to comment here too, so you'll be able to answer if you want and to overall tell what I didn't tell in the survey and repeat some things.
I must start with this: I was very worried when I saw this new version in my Feed inbox and while checking the newest visual novels. I tend to dislike what I see as major changes, and the addition of X is a pretty major change. Now, I understand he was planned from the very beginning - I've checked out the extras at the end of the demo - but from a player's point of view, he's still all novelty. And well, it's the character you see on the game's thumbnail now, so I was pretty much "Wait, what? Who IS this guy?! Ugh, what the hell, I don't want this guy to be here...". Buuut... it happened that he's pretty much my favorite type of character, or one of my favorite types at least, so I fell in love pretty quickly. I may be a huuuge Viktor fan, and I always wanted him to be the last hidden romance, but now I honestly don't know because I like X at least as much as him and I'd loooove to see how a romance with him would be. I've explained that a bit more in the survey.
I also really love the new version of the prologue. The old one was interesting, but well, the things with X and his point of view, and his meeting with Ambrosia and all... it's pretty great!
Now, unfortunately I can't be as happy about the other major change - the art. I don't mind Arsenik, and I think Ambrosia in the "present day" looks pretty great, but man how do I dislike her sprite in the Virgo Island part - and well, it's a huge problem since it's the major part of the game... I used to think she was so very pretty, and her prison parts sprite still indicate that, but n my opinion she doesn't even look like herself anymore in the Virgo parts. And she doesn't look like the other characters either - her sprite style clash pretty much with everything else. What bothers me the most are her eyes, so small and semi realistic compared to the other characters'. I don't think it really suits the story and overall art direction of the game, and while the drawing itself may be more "mastered" than before, I'll take the old sprite anytime over this one.
Also, the scene where X sees her back... her arm bothers me - looks like it's cut in half... Well, more like half is missing
With that out of the way, I'll be answering the Lemmasoft questions. Only the second set, since the "before playing" one would be the same as before, of course.
1❀ What were your expectations going into the game? And how did Beauty and the War (X Playing Pieces) meet or contradict them?
Well, nothing new here - I was mostly intrigued and the game fulfilled my expectations and made me even more curious. A for this particular version of the demo, what I said before answers it pretty well.
2✿ Tell me. How did you spend your two days? There are a lot of choices, so I'm curious what you decided to do and who you tried to befriend.
I did the same as on my first playthrough of the previous version of the demo. I've tried to do all the chores, and spend half of the time going to the woods, and half tending to the wounded. I've tried to befriend mainly Viktor and Chase, and started the romance with the latter.
3❀ What are your thoughts on the story and the characters now? Do you have a favorite? What were you feeling during the last scene at the end of the demo?
My favorite (revealed) bachelor is Chase, and my favorite characters overall are Viktor and now X - can't even tell which one I like the most. I really don't know what to think anymore - I still want to see Viktor as a romance option so badly, but X would be so great too... I'm so conflicted because I know any of them would make me so happy, but also so sad that the other one wouldn't be an option.
Now, when you say final scene, do you mean the very end of the story itself, or the bonus scene about X's toughts on Ambrosia? Since my answer wouldn't change about the former, I'll answer about the latter. I've already said that in the survey, but that bonus scene is my favorite part of the game now. I think it's so beautiful in so many ways that it really touches me to the core and makes me want to cry. It's amazing!
4✿ What are you looking forward to seeing in the full version?
Haha, well, more of everything haha! And also, I'm curious about the guy from Don't take that risk! My mind was kinda blown when I've learnt that he REALLY is part of the story. Even if it's a minor role, the fact that the two games actually take place in the same world is kinda incredible to me, to be honest. So yeah, pretty excited about that. I'm also curious about the r-16 content of the paid version (I'll be getting that one) and I'm wondering who'll be an eligible bachelor exclusively in that version. I'd also love some twitches to the voice acting, but I've said more about that in the survey so no need to repeat it here.
Anyway, whatever happens, good luck with the project! I can't wait to play the full version!