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this route ripped my heart out in the best way, it's wonderful T_T

I love this game, but lately it has felt like some LI scenes are copy-paste. I was looking forward to June's for the latest chapter, and it was almost the exact same as Cal's. 

It would also be nice if the MC felt a little more important story-wise. Granted, they were very sheltered growing up, just lately it feels like we're on the sidelines waiting for the next big NPC to solve our problems.

Anyway, things could change in later chapters, so I'm eagerly awaiting them!

YOU GOT GIDEON EMERY?!?!?!?!! HOLY CRAP I'M SO EXCITED!!!! this was such nice news after an awful day T_T 

my god, how is it with every chapter i find myself tearing up or in tears? the way you write makes me fall into the world and its characters so well - i can't even describe it. the music you chose REALLY brings the story forward and adds a sweetness, warmth, yet also a bittersweetness. 

those three little words...MY GOD HOW WAS THAT SO IMPACTFUL. you are a treasure, and i can't wait to read more!

-Spoilers below...-

• Did you enjoy having a more intimate look at your Dragon Commander's past? Should I make more of this type of thing or nah?

please do! i really enjoyed unpacking my character more - that while they do have a set background, i feel like i still have enough say, and can even expand upon it.

• What was your favorite and least favorite thing about this update?

i don't think their was a least favorite thing, aside from just how to get to the story itself was just a little confusing. i don't know a thing about renpy, so i'm not going to pretend to know how to code or what works for you - but i do wonder if this extra story should just be an in-between chapter, this way we don't have to load a save, then click extra. idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

my favorite thing though was learning that mathias is very aware of his power, and is very much willing to screw up someone's life to protect them (brat XD). i love that even though he and the dragon commander both spoke about it, and he acknowledged it, he still did what he said he wouldn't do, even though he ended up saving the commander's life. i personally would LOVE to explore that more!

• Which character would like to learn more about?

i think the queen at this point! i want to see more of her and the commander interacting, especially in the early years.

also, of course, learn more about the dragon commander. i'd like to see a scenario where they were fulfilling their duty as mathias's whipping boy; i want to see how everyone coped with that! because obviously everyone is glad the king is dead for what he's done.

Okay, I absolutely love the story so far, as well as the art style and music. I can't wait to see more!

aaahhhhh i can't wait for the update!

Saw the new update and got SO EXCITED. You've done so well; the YEARNING. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

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+ The new sprites! Did you like them?

So much! I adored seeing the Queen and the Doctor.

+ Mandra and Curio. >8)

Mandra is a brat, I love them. Curio is interesting, I can't wait to learn more about him!

+ The new colored Illustration + the B&W CGs

LOOOOOVEEE. 

+ What was your favorite and least favorite part?

There was no least favorite part, just some slight confusion when it came to Mandra. I misunderstood them as an enemy at first, but now I understand there may some complicated feelings due to shared trauma. 

+ The animations A_A' I'm so nervous about them. Still not sure if they fit the game or not.

I really liked the animations! It made the scenes a little more personable - especially when MC was drifting off, and Matt was like "uh HELLO?!"

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I can't wait to see more from you! I eagerly await each update. <3

This game is so good! It's delightfully dark, and I love the art style. The story is interesting, and the characters are wonderful.

I would ask for an option to remove the film grain, if possible, since it has caused some eye strain!

I believe in you!!!!! <3 <3 <3 

I just played this again and I still love it! Can't wait for more!

Take care of yourselves, you're doing great! 

Ohh I can't wait for the update! And personally, I think the sample animation looks good! I'd be interested to see more. :)

Ohhhh I can't wait for more! I loved chapter one, and I really look forward to seeing where this could go!

• What's your favorite character?
  • The Knight, because I look forward to customizing them further! But also the queen.
• Did you try the different options, or did you follow only one path?
  • I followed the one path for now! Gonna try more :)
• What do you think of the black and white aesthetic?
  • I love it! I think the text box needs to be a little darker, otherwise, I love the black and white, and sketchy aesthetic to the game! 
• Would you like to see more colored CGs, like the one at the end of chapter one?
  • Please! They would be a lovely contrast to the black and white - symbolic in a way!

So far, I am really enjoying the game! I'm a big fan of When the Night Comes, and waited for a time to  download this just so I could play a little more than a chapter at a time.

Though, I do have to point out that there are a LOT of punctuation errors, and sometimes there are no indicators on who is speaking i.e. the character's tag does not appear when they are talking. I've only just started with the Knight origin, so I do not know if the same is said for the others.

And: the control scheme for the Midnight Run game is a bit off-putting and difficult to control.

Despite this, I am still enjoying the story so far, and can't wait to explore the other origins and see where this game leads!

I was nearly expecting one of those happy-go-lucky VNs, Then the twist came, and I thought: "alright I'm in." Gotta say, Vicktor saying I could never love him now that I'd seen him...I take that as a challenge.  Just fyi. 

Keep up the good work!

This and this whole thread, I agree so much. I don't regret buying the game, or playing what I have; I'll play the game when my mood is at its best definitely, but I'll need to stay away from the game when it's not (I'm having to shelf it now, for instance.)

There are already so many games out there that have the "nothing you did mattered" aspect to them - and so many more where you're punished no matter what you choose.  That doesn't make the game fun, you feel punished for just playing the game. And like shock therapy, you just don't want to play it after a while.

Hell, Bloodborne and Dark Souls are some of the most difficult games to play, but they are made so they are also rewarding and you feel pumped when you get past something that was hard before you gained enough levels. And those are dark games with sad messages, but you still come out feeling like you did something. You're only punished if you rush in unprepared and not enough experience.

There's nothing wrong with dark stories. I love cosmic horror and tragic characters, but when such a genre becomes commonplace and you have no way of achieving some semblance of kindness, you grow weary. There needs to be growth in the story and in the characters, else it all just feels stagnant. That's not a rewarding experience, and it's memorable for the wrong reasons.

Hmm, that's unfortunate. With games, you have to feel accomplished in some way. This game is really deep, and really well done - the art is beautiful, and the setting is great. But if the goal is reached and still feels empty after one revelation or another, that shouldn't be the lesson or the message. It's almost like beating a very dead horse with a stick.

I agree. Speaking as someone that suffers from depression and anxiety, this game is a little tough to play through; as much as I love the characters, my mood has drooped playing the game, and I'm unsure if I can continue doing blind playthroughs - especially since I'm seeing everyone say how almost all the endings, even the "true" ones, are sad.

Life can be gritty, and cruel, but there ARE good things that happen. Happiness may not last a long time, but neither does sadness. Like everyone else has said so far, "happy" endings don't have to be fluffy, and Disney-like. But kind potential could be good.

Ohhh thanks for the insight! I was wondering if bits of the plot were unlocked through each House and each route, and then you'd get a "true" ending. 

This visual novel may be short, but it's filled to the brim with soul. The sprites are a little stiff, but the CGs are lovely and the writing expressive. Silas has to be one of my favorite characters in any visual novel, and I found myself identifying with him in so many ways; holding back his thoughts and feelings, fighting down any human-like expression. It tore at my heart, and I found myself making sure the MC was as gentle with him as possible. I love "This, My Soul" a great deal. It most certainly deserves more attention and love.