I was mesmerized from the beginning. Given the theme (trigger) warnings, the first few lines hit me like a truck emotionally. I was in tears through the entire story, for a variety of reasons: scared, crying, and smiling. The best way to describe this story is a "flurry of emotions". Like how flowers flurry around throughout the scenes, the range of everything the developers did blended to make a splendid experience.
Regardless of my past experiences with these devs (Camazule for Ocean Avenue, and streaming I.C.O. by Cetus), I was thoroughly impressed with what everyone's talents. All of them have what it takes to do their craft! I'm going to complement each team member individually for their work:
- Story (author): This writing felt well-spoken and immersive. Only having seen Cetus' initial project of I.C.O., I didn't know how he would tackle this genre. I was thoroughly blown away by the gravity and maturity displayed here. As someone who's in my mid-twenties who went through burnt bridges and doubts of self-worth, the different scenes portraying these moments were so well-crafted and hit personally, even if I didn't go through that exact situation. I was worried the main character become too stubborn amidst tense scenes (a trope many VN's fall into to various degrees), but it never did; all the angry moments were justified and reasonable. Whatever inspirations and advice were taken, they were used exceptionally, and exhibit the writer's storytelling! The roller coaster of emotions and questions to life made the reading feel how time as a concept feels: limited, but also endless. Great story arc throughout!
- Artwork: What a beautifully crafted art style! I don't know exactly what you'd call it, but if I had to make an (un)educated guess, I'd say it's a mix of Aztec and Latin. The linework and shaping blend so well to portray the abstract and tangible aspects between life and death. Sometimes, it may feel like they blend as one, other times splitting off with their own touches. All the characters were beautifully made, and each sprite and cg portrayed the scene perfectly. I was immersed into the world from the get-go! Arcadia, you knocked it out of the park, and I'll need to check more of your work!
- Coding: Coding tends to be the silent hero of VN's; if it works fine, then casual readers don't notice, but if there are problems, everyone will complain. Bowser compiled everything seamlessly, from menu functions to scene changes (and probably more I can't remember). He did great stuff here, and I assume he was responsible for making sure the UI was all properly aligned and set, so props there; that stuff can always be hard to refine!
- UI: I didn't think the graphic design would also strike emotions in me, but by golly, it did! The pillar on one end with the other side tattering away made the story, art, and music all the more impactful. The color palette was gorgeous, and the designs themselves mesh excellently with the artwork. Terrific job here! Another aspect of VN's that can be easily overlooked, especially when nothing goes wrong.
- Music: I wasn't going to share my biases in this interview; however, I am so glad I have Camazule working on music for Ocean Avenue. He arranged a symphony here! Each piece sold the scene excellently and added more gravitas to it. Going from heavy moments, to lighthearted moments, to frightening instances (and everywhere in between), the songs fit the scene's tone and amplified them. The instrumentation and other technical arrangements were also well-refined and pleasant. Bravo! Bravo!
We also have to recognize that this was made over a (rough) period of 1 month for a contest. Usually, that means running against the clock and keeping the inspiration fire going. Even after reading (and seeing) this story, I cannot believe they did it within these constraints. Excellent execution! Whatever chemistry and skill the team had together, it was a match made in heaven (or whatever lies beyond)!
I do not say this lightly: this is the best visual novel I ever read. The connection between characters, the structure of the story, the tackling of sensitive topics: all of it made this VN rise to the top for me! I highly recommend this story to anyone, even if you don't normally read visual novels. There is something in this story for everyone!