I don't know whether my experience would've been different if you didn't hold my hand (a little bit) on stream, but thanks anyway!
I've played a lot of RPG Maker games and got heavy burn out from them, but surprisingly enough you managed to make this game engaging. I really dig the new coat of paint for pretty much everything. I could still decode what was HP/MP, what was reflect and paralyze and whatnot - but I guess that was enough to trick my brain into not associating this game with the RPGM Burnout.
I really love the surrealist pictures you're drawing. The scenes, the enemies, the cutscenes and the sprites - there so many tiny little details to notice, and your art really helps. And you made the "Deer aesthetic" look cool, which is quite surprising. Some of the enemies are absolutely gnarly, some cutscenes made me flinch a bit, and I appreciate it - love when the game makes me produce a visceral response.
You story helps with that too. I'm legit invested. Billy and Grandma speak with a very nice, "alabama american" quirk (at least it looks that way to me) and makes them feel more alive. Legit feel bad for Sarah, but I do want to know more, so I'll keep playing. I kinda don't care about James, but I think he's left as a "Blank Slate" on purpose, amnesia and everything. Generally I dislike the trope, but you don't focus on it, so I consider him more of a vehicle for the story, and it works. Though from the glimpses of his interactions with Velouri I get the feeling that he's not gonna stay the blank slate for the entirety of the game.
I'm really curios about how the story plays out, especially with the Love/Hate balance. I think I've noticed one of the story pivots, though I'm not sure, will have to do a couple of playthroughs to tell the difference.
I didn't mind the combat. Challenging enough and not grindy since the enemies do not respawn. I did die, but that was due to my own stupidity.
And of course the music ties it very well together, but I think I praised your game enough.
Oh yeah, and big kudos for the controller support, works well.
Now if you'll excuse me I'll go and play to comletion.