This is unbelievable as a game jam entry. Super-polished mechanics, graphics, animation, and sound make it feel like it should be the launch title for a new Nintendo handheld.
The happily ever after of Gabriel and Azalea and how fate is not how one always imagines is something to be experienced. Story-heavy games are some of the rarer finds since writing deep, powerful inquisitions into the human soul is never as easy as seems, but the tale of love and loss in A Field of Sunflowers is heart-wrenching but satisfying, and conveyed beautifully with impeccable care.
Method of delivery through dialogue boxes works incredibly well since, like everything else in this game, there's so much thought put into the design and implementation.
The gameplay flows well, and even if a significant portion of the game design is a walking simulator, the aforementioned polish of everything makes one feel like they're in an actual world where a life is occurring, and you just have to experience it.
I'm sure a lot of the praise will be targeted towards the stylish art and outstanding animation work—as it absolutely should—but the minimalistic sound design is conversely so effective in achieving the immersion this story thrives on. It's one of the most lively 2D games I've ever played.
My only regret is playing this game so late in the night after a string of five-minute games all day, when I should've left it to tomorrow afternoon to really spend the time studying all of the minutia and attention to detail which is an excellent learning opportunity. But this is a rare rose, and probably a game I will revisit after the jam ends. One of my favourite jam submissions ever. Will be keeping an eye on this exceptional solo developer.