[Spoilers + rambling ahead!!!]
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THIS WAS SOOOO AMAZING!!! I absolutely loved it! Nearly all the other side games have them suffering in some way, shape, or form so this was a very nice change of pace.
The art was wonderful as usual! It must've talked a while considering just how many sprites and background and mini CGs you must've drawn, and I really commend that.
The music was also very nice aisjshsj definitely a shojo vibe. xD The menu theme kinda took me out at first but in the best way possible, like "wow Carrot really went all out on this"!
The gameplay was also great, the stat management provided a challenge which kept me engaged, but it wasn't too difficult and I managed to get all the endings without messing up (though there were a few times where Iggy would just stay in bed for like 3 days straight which would cause me to panic a bit). I actually wonder what happens if you don't meet a requirement before the party? Does Iggy just not go? Game over? Hmm I'll have to test that later, and also test what happens if you don't text anyone at all (I am a madlad).
BUT OF COURSE, THE REAL MEAT OF IT ALL — THE STORY!!! Oh my gosh, I loved it. All the different routes were uniquely wonderful and I enjoyed all of them immensely ajsusbjs. Though surprisingly I feel like Gidget's might've been my favorite? Genzy is my favorite ship, and Orlam is my favorite character, so I didn't expect to like their route that much more, but tbh I liked how kinda chill it was! It was a nice breather after dealing with Genzou's shart jokes and Orlam's... escapades (don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both of those as well but holy shit did they make my brain feel like it was melting at times). WELL, CHILL EXCEPT FOR THE TIMOTHY OLEPHANT INTERMISSION, GIDGET WHAT THE FUCK–
Anyways, uh, I felt like compiling a "small" list of all my favorite moments from the chats:
- Genzou's mom!!! Gosh that whole entire chat with them was sooo cute from the Treenzou to Genzou's mom taking his phone to the PICTURES AWWWWWWW... Idk it was just so sweet seeing Genzou be so soft and pleasant around his mom compared to how he usually is, I loved it. Also if you saw my ask about her, no you didn't.
- THE FUCKING MBTI MENTION HOLY SHIT THAT TOOK ME OUT??? It was probably nothing to most people but to a certified typology nerd like me that felt like them acknowledging some kind of holy texts. But uhh anyways yeah that was, something. I'm not gonna go deep into it since again, I'm a typology nerd so you will most likely not understand anything I'm saying, but it was quite a nice surprise. :3
- Genzou "mistyping" an emoji/emoticon for the second time... Genzou c'mon man.
- Honestly most of Orlam's messages were entertaining to me in some way. Maybe it's because I'm in love with him or maybe it's because they were the most unhinged. Who knows. Probably both.
- Orlam eating his Switch???
- "HEY, PERVY MCPERVDOG."
- ORLAM REFERENCING EVANGELION...
- JERRY BEING REAL??? I know this game is non-canon and all but the thought of human!Jerry being coworkers with Orlam is so amusing to me.
- Also the chat with Archibald II, it was sooo cute!!! I especially liked when he became so distraught that he went onto AO3. I appreciate his dedication, I mean, it is very hard to use a glossy screen with fluffy paws. I wonder what fandoms he's in?
- Also also I somehow didn't get a single anxious day while playing Orlam's route??? In fact I think his arc went the best for me as I managed to get way more chats in before the party. Maybe it was just a blessing from him for helping him get on the sexyman wiki LOL.
- The aforementioned Timothy Olephant intermission. Gidget's chats have been so calm up to that point that the sudden craziness threw me for a total loop. ALSO. DID YOU TAKE THE REACTION PIC I SENT YOU FROM THAT ONE ASK??? AJSJSBJSJSJS I feel like I'm making that out to be a way bigger deal than it should be, but I don't know, it felt kinda pleasantly surprising to see it there (though I am a bit worried, considering the drawing isn't mine and I don't know who it belongs to, you might have to find the artist and put them in the credits... PLEASE DON'T HAVE A PANIC ATTACK OVER THIS CARROT I'M SURE IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL I KNOW HOW YOU ARE AIAJSJJSJS but still I think it's worth looking into). I guess I can't really judge Gidget that hard though, because this is probably how I sound like talking about Orlam, though usually I hold back a bit because I don't wanna annoy people/get judged for my strange tastes. 💦
- Also that one convo with Gidget about Iggy's height made me think the LIs have a secret group chat where they all gush about Iggy. I highly doubt this is true considering Genzou and Orlam would probably still find a way to argue and ruin everything, but the thought is highly amusing.
- Also I loved how wholesome Gidget's family was??? I know you said this is a non-canon timeline where no less bad stuff happens but seeing them be so freely accepted by their parents was nice. All the shenanigans with Gertie were especially amusing sjsisbsjwn.
- IGGY BEING A FANFIC WRITER. Please that event was hilarious jaisjsjsnekenjw it took me so out! But it was also very cute and kinda relatable. xD
- And speaking of Iggy, tbh I already kinned him hard before this game but I think this game just solidified that even more. There were so, so many moments that I found relatable that I'm not even gonna bother trying to list them. ToT
Anyways all of this is to say I enjoyed the shenanigans a lot!!! In fact I may or may not be replaying the game right now just to see all the possible chats and stuff.
Oh, and I wanted to ask about this even pre-release but was holding back in case you'd remove it or something...
Is that a code? Like, a code you can input somewhere in the game to get... I don't know unlimited money and social battery or something. Or is it just some random text? I tried inputting it in a bunch of places but none of them did anything.
Anyways I think that's all I wanted to say SORRY FOR WRITING SUCH A LONG COMMENT!!! It was either this or spamming your askbox and I figured just dumping all my thoughts in a comment would be better. Also helps promote the game! Though I will still probably remember/stumble upon something else during my replays and inevitably spam your ask box anyways. I apologize in advance. 💦
To wrap this all up I just wanna say thank you for making this game! And making stuff in general. OW and all its side games and everything have been a huge comfort for me and I can't possibly thank you enough for providing me with that!!! Bye bye for now, Carrot, please take care of yourself! <3