Arches has had four updates released for it and I think I can properly enumerate on my thoughts regarding this VN. To begin with, while this VN is a sequel to Echo, the developers have made it clear that this is a separate story from the aforementioned VN, so don't expect to see Chase or any of the other main 5 from Echo in this one.
Arches as a standalone story is fucking incredible. Howly and McSkinny have really come a long fuckin' way in terms of programming and all that technical jazz that wasn't so good in their first VN. As for the writing itself, it's amazing. If I had to describe it, I'd say its told from a 3rd person omniscient narrator that switches back and forth between Cameron and Devon over the course of the VN (Think Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse). This is quite an interesting choice considering Echo was entirely 1st person present tense for the majority of the experience.
The effect this has on the narrative is amazing. We get to see both Cam and Dev's mindsets and thoughts as they experience all Echo has for them, both great and terrible. I particularly enjoy seeing from Cam's eyes. Just seeing from the POV of a person who has severe trauma as he experiences Echo's horrors is amazing. It's almost as if we are seeing through TJ's eyes, which was something I very much wanted to do in Echo.
Just imagine it: We jump from Chase's mind to TJ's as Chase heads to Lake Emma to confront Flynn. Can you imagine the utter horror of seeing your friends fight over something that you know the answer to and then seeing one of your friends kill the other one. TJ's psyche is something I strongly wish we got to experience, even if just for a brief moment.
Arches has a completely different art style compared to Echo. Personally it has never bothered me in the slightest. In fact, I actually love the art style in this VN. If anything, the somewhat cartoonish art will only make the horror that much more potent. Sure, I love the janky ass art style of Echo, but it was very inconsistent and that was a negative for me. The art in this VN doesn't have that issue. And I fuckin' LOVE it.
Overall, Arches only proves to me that Howly and McSkinny both still have it. I'll give this VN 5/5 stars.
-Kallierhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs_BZI-CHxZyPjon4I6N2m_oGb79fHqTY