itch.io

ohhh thank you!!

Also dw too much!! I know that it was more of a matter of personal preference <3

damn that was good!! also, seeing how Violo and Vivere, and the castle (?) interact with MC when they hate their guts, neutral, or fond of them is really cool to see! 

Especially the impact to the same choice!

[MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

(minor in the sense that the most spoiler-y things were mentioned in the content/trigger warnings)

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First of all, I wanted to point out a personal minor nitpick is how I Know which choices to pick to get their favor. Like the 1st choice is always the "bad" choice, the 2nd is always the "neutral" one, and the 3rd is always the "good" one that'll make them give MC a higher regard. Which made it easier for me to get the good and neutral ends. 

HOWEVER! I repeat, it's just a minor nitpick!! I know it takes a lot of  work with all the VN flowcharts I've seen floating around. It's only more of an issue for this genre (horror) because being sure which choice to pick to survive loses the sense of tension of not knowing how Violo's mercurial nature and Vivere's irritability would respond.

But!! Mixing up your choices lead to interesting outcomes and changes the dynamics of the pattern I mentioned and I applaud the thought that went into that.

For example, bargaining w Violo to free your ankle chains when he hates you would just make him angrier, while he would listen but wouldn't grant the request if he just tolerates you. Meanwhile if he's been impressed with you so far he would have been amused and actually grant it!

Anyway, speaking of the differences in interaction, the care they give to you and the rough handling if they don't! (Example I remember the most is when Violo used metal vs some powdery material at one of the experiments). And also the reaction to your injuries during a live experiment (Violo being in tears over a pinky finger vs his usual blaise attitude). Also, Vivere doesn't Hold back with his acerbic criticism of the MC 😭😭 but when he does like you, the lights are brighter and there's more flowers in your room and also he's more touchy! And the aberrations! They're belligerent if the pair doesn't like the MC but trip over their feet to serve if vice versa.

The MC themselves too! They'll perceive the castle more unsettling and disgusting and vice versa depending on their relationship with the pair.

It was just so fun seeing all these differences!

Also, I like how even in the neutral choices when MC is just trying to appease them to survive, you still get hints of how there's more to them.

[MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

(just to be safe)

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You still get to learn about the flowers, or how Violo's parents started the slave trade, or how all the prisoners in the dungeons were all part of the slave trade.

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[END OF MINOR/MAJOR SPOILERS]

Anyway, the art was also v good. Heads up though! This could have been more polished. There were a few typos here and there, but I don't mind it too much since I still got the gist of the sentence. And I still enjoyed the writing and the worldbuilding.

It was interesting to hear about things like, true immortality being outside Time's awareness  (and also to hear about Viola talk about the snow crow <deragatory> lmfaooo), or the in-fighting between different gods, the truth abt MC's conditions, also the tidbit on how souls have different capacities of withstanding being moved to another body, etc.

Another anyway, how do I get the bad endings? I already got all the neutral and good endings but keep reaching the dead ends whenever I try to go for the bad ends ;-;..

Final anyway!! That's all for now! next thing I'll be trying is to see how Viola will talk about Heimos or if Heimos will interact with MC differently in the brief moments there were depending on the endings in the Sacrarium Gelus. But for now, I'll be replaying Sacrarium Gelus! Hearing the characters talk about him made me miss him a bit kssksksksk.

Oh and also I want to further see the dynamic when one is neutral while the other hates MC's guts, or if one is in love w MC and the other haters their guts for both sides!!

(the edits were mostly grammar and typo corrections sksksks and improving the spoiler flags)

10 mins into the demo and I decided to buy the game

(played full release in Sept 2024 via Steam and thought to also paste my review here

Just finished the game (unlocked all the endings) & it was so amazing.

(I scum saved my way through just so I can present every single thing to everyone and read what they have to say). Given the Mr. Wright reference at some point, pretty sure this was inspired by Ace Attorney, and those familiar w it know how in AA when you present something unrelated you get this stock dialogue? I was delightfully surprised when I barely see any of that here. Instead, there were lots of anecdotes unrelated to the case with their own additional illustrations. 

There was so much content that it really made me feel how this was such a labor of love. Like, all those tidbits couldn't have been easy to do, in addition to tracking what everyone thought and knew of each other on top of the timeline for the actual series of events.

This is such a great game with good writing, I would play it all over again just to re-experience it. The mystery was so good too! I was second-guessing my potential suspect at every reveal and I only finally figured it out near the end. Also, the contradictions & all the deduction needed felt fair & just the right difficulty! (unlike in AA for example where it can be absurdly illogical).

I am looking forward to any future games you might release next.

I'm always into these kind of games more for the story and characters than the mystery and while all were good, the characters were just sooo good, I got attached to them all to the point that although unlikely, I thought maybe there's an unknown person who's actually the killer because I just can't imagine any of them do it. They all feel so fully fleshed out and I loved seeing their minor interactions w each other throughout the investigation.

That was positively spooky!! Love how the glitches in the text and UI further enhances that creepy feeling. Also, some of the endings were so sweet and cute! 

i NEVER played genshin impact (I had to read abt the Fatui on the fan wiki to familiarize myself on the bg) but this was so great!! the tension and the suspense really comes through and I enjoyed every single ending

ohh wow, didn't read the warnings so didn't expect how dark this would go. The CG's went so hard!! Esp Casey's!!

amazing experience, very imaginative, also didn't expect myself to tear up at a certain part 

v atmospheric and mysterious and the MC's dynamic with Maylar was so cute!

ohhh I see, yeah I can see how much added work that will be, I didn't consider that sorry. Also, Malitiose being unwilling to share makes sense! I haven't finished the entire thing yet so I didn't have a full grasp of his character yet.

Anyway, thank you so much for your work! I actually just finished Cursed Place just a few hours ago and what a banger once again! V atmospheric and mysterious too

only played the demo so far but the writing was such a higher quality than what I was expecting from the casual play I was planning to do when I downloaded it!

the warnings weren't kidding! this game goes Darkk and everything felt so raw and gritty, and it was such a lovely reading experience.

Loved the worldbuilding also. It was such a treat experiencing the way MC navigates their fragile position in court and how dying and being exploited and betrayed changed them and how even in playthroughs w more self-serving traits, there's still a little bit of love and humanity left within them that still shines through.

I explored all the ROs and they were all so compelling! Especially those with looser morals and comparing how you interact with them and how they interact with you depending on the MC's altruism vs self-serving-ness.

It's also so nice to compare the subtle text that gets included whenever you choose a specific route (for example, that one line of Mirren's clenched jaw [which doesn't appear in other routes!] when you chose to suck up to Mastravisch and you were pulled to his lap in one of the earlier scenes ).

Needless to say, I loved all the routes. I just wish there was a poly option for Saltaire and Mal because even when I picked one's route over the other, the 3 of them still mesh so well together!! The both of them saving and caring for MC while in recovery, MC breaking up their fights (and them being cowed by MC acting like scolded children when caught), the banter between all 3 of them and the way they all tease ach other, and how they all sleep side by side and comfort each other. (Also I was particularly surprised when in Saltaire's route it was Mal who asked MC whether they want to push through w the revenge or just leave everything behind. And I was surprised how in Mal's route, Saltaire was still completely devoted to MC to the point that the blood oath was still offered.) Ya'know?? things like that.

But who knows! I haven't seen the rest of the game yet so I'm not sure where the plot will take them. So just sharing my thoughts! Just genuinely thought it's such a shame because there was already such genuine chemistry between the 3 of them together that it feels disingenuous to only choose 1.

played this game years ago and just randomly found it again here. this game got me into the prohibition era and speakesies and all that jazz! also theyre all so hot 😌

I didn't expect how heartfelt this VN would be!! It was such a sweet game. Nova and MARC are so wholesome, just a couple making the best of what they have. I like how it ended in such an optimistic note.

And the adoptive dad!! (saying dad bc I forgot his name help) that heart to heart convo between 2 emotionally repressed people LMFAO.

I also appreciate how Ion was given more depth and not just the 1-D manager w toxic positivity. And Rosco! such a good bro.

I'm so glad I encountered this VN!! I'll be looking to your other and future works!!

what a banger!! the art style and the fashion go so well together. I also enjoy the additional care in making the UI for the chat app and the outfit changes and being able to interact w stuff in ur room.

omgg this was so good!! The art is so amazing and I'm so attached to Fern. I enjoyed the other characters too, makes the world feel more lived-in.

Alsoo I'm in awe at the amount of customization (not just the design!). There's so many choices which can lead to different first and 2nd meetings + I can choose to make the MC as snarky as possible or a total pushover :00

Looking forward to the full game and see more of this world (what's going to happen w the embassy?), Fern, and Eli!!

thanks! I gave up and used a guide

anyway I was alluding more to your comment abt xyx having u in a chokehold bc same!! his voice, his face, his nicknames, his personality, AWUGHH 🥹

wowww! this was such a great experience!! 

i really appreciated the VAs, especially the one by the time she got all the hearts (you know the one). The great VA for the Doctor too was the only reason I was able to tolerate listening to his sad out-of-touch rants where he keeps projecting his misery to people who don't give a shit!! (I pity his coworkers and boss for having to deal w him. especially that one time where a colleague just opted to ignore his uncalled for comments instead of confronting/putting him down and yet he still took great offense to that.)

BTW!! you wrote him so well, he exactly mirrors the very unfortunately real people poisoned by misogynist rhetoric (I even saw an extremely long comment below from someone who represented exactly that 😭😭. I wish I could read it so I can examine the way they think but the text didn't have a great VA to make consuming it more tolerable LOL)

Also! the writing!! I love how the disdain in the monologue just shines through and how it compares w the full hearts one. (example from the top of my head is "the stench of his cologne" turning into "the smell of his cologne" or the difference between the MC's thoughts when the Doctor finally declares that she's perfect).

I also really appreciate how it explores gender roles, dependence in abusive situations, and sentience (and how humans are technically programmed too, just in a more organic way by society and upbringing).

=====MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD=====

Also! you didn't have to go so hard w the art! Especially the moments where she kept flickering, and the horror-y negative value profile, the bruises on her neck, the eyes around her, the hands around her, the ghostly silhouette on the back, the tears, the one w her head cut-off. the "HELP" and "GET OUT" in the background Damn!! you can see just how miserable she is.

and the endings!! they really exemplified the themes that the entire story have been building on. don't want to spoil more than this but I was cheering at one of them, while the others were either bittersweet or just downright miserable. and i appreciated all of them!!

this was so good and well done!! can't wait for the other endings!!

also the ML's are so toxic yet so hot can't resist 😭😭

theyre all so cute!!

so cute!! i wish there was more <33

I'm so sorry for your loss. please take your time! 

I'm just glad you're still around, even if you ever do decide to leave the game as is. hugss

helppp this is what i felt too, esp w xyx. AWUUGHHHH T^T

amazing art/music direction and fun detective game!

not sure if I ever commented before, but I played this last year and it was so atmospheric!! the world feels so lived-in with all the other creatures you get to encounter and how the MC's relationship w this fae realm and the night queen was also explored so kudoss <33

so cute!! my fav was joseph and daeho lol!! with roman being a close 2nd. ivan's sweet, but a little too old for me to feel the romance. and oliver's feels too bestie hehe. (anyway dont mind me! just sharing my personal feels. ik we all have diff taste and the great thing abt this game is it gave plenty of choices <33)

(help!! just realized joseph used his real last name as his username 😭😭)

what a sweet game. really felt the familiarity and sense of comfort u can only get from being such long-time friends <33

this was so sweet :,)

also really liked the voice acting, she really felt like ur bestie who's had a bad day (HELPP idk how to describe me sucky w words, it's just she and the emotions just felt so real) so kudoss!!

thank you for taking the time to write this!! you pointing out (among othet things) that the microjams limitation was used to further evoke a sense of helplessness was so 🤯🤯

update: just finished only Allende's route so far but mygosh!! so attached to this man who's resolutely taking on a burden he didn't ask for and caring so much for the future of his people 🥹🥹

it's so funny how the MC, just an absolute nobody, really just straight up approached him, the leader of the very island they call home, and he just lets you tag-a-long and flirt w him/befriend him while he does his errands 😭😭 (mann the material provided to analyze this man letting you help him bc he's actually so hesitant to ask for help even when he needs it and/or to overstep and take advantage of his position by ordering people around is 🤌🤌)

just abt to play but just want to admire that kind of commitment. tysm for sharing this to us omlll 🥹🥹 i feel so inspired

amazing. characterization is so on point and the art and CGs are such a great bonus

danggg that hurted and hit a little bit too close to home. great job!!

some of the lines really hit close to home. thank you for this, it was a bit cathartic

I loved this VN so much!! Everything from the various sprites for all situations (even one-off ones), the writing of the supporting characters and Egen and MC, the GUI, the background CGs, it was all really polished!! This could very well have been a commercial game instead!

I know nothing about programming but the puzzle bits seemed especially complicated so kudos to that alsoo!

Gosh all this content done in just 2 months? I'm so amazed

I really love the MC for being so sensible and warm and I love their dynamic with Egen! Egen was so great! He's so earnest and considerate and sweet, I didn't expect to be this attached to him. 

For only 44k words, y'all were able to characterize everyone from the cast so well that I went straight to AO3 to look for fanfics only to realize that this is too newly released for it to have them yet. (Just you wait!! You have a gem here, I'm sure this game will be more popular in the future).

Looking forward to what you make next, though I really hope it's more Egen content! 

[SPOILER-ish?]

Can I just say that that make-out session was so hot?? I didn't expect him to go along with it and I already finished the game but my gosh I'm still blushing over how he lied about the hidden zippers to tease the MC. So, great job in infusing so much personality in that scene that it was so uniquely Egen!

incredibly polished and heartfelt <33

very endearing game with the meddling narrator and cute interactions

I didn't expect to find myself so invested in less than 1k words!!

I love this so much: the characters, the art, the music, but I especially wanted to appreciate that yummy yummy GUI!! It's so polished and cool (really loved the ticket stub-look of the dialogue box) and the little animations when opening the menu or when making choices are so great.

Also, I know the symbolism is probs unintentional given how far-reaching it is. But when Micah talked about not wanting to leave out of fear of what's waiting for him out there, that hits me hard unexpectedly because it is so similar to my worries as someone currently inflicted with one of those major illness with a low survival rate. It got me stuck at home for the better part of the year and while cognitively, anyone would want to be cured, I can't help but worry about what's waiting for me after survival, like if I stop dissociating from the real world, with its shitty and frustrating politics and climate crisis, etc.

So yeah!! A really big tangent but I guess thank you specifically for making a character I can relate to. It kinda help made my fears feel normal since a lot of people I'd confide to can't understand because, who wouldn't want to live, right? Things like that

I hope that's not too awkward!! I just wanted to show how such a minor thing can connect deeply with the right person SDNFKANFK

interesting and fun premise! excited to see where it leads!

(edits were just to improve the spoiler alerts)

great writing and art direction

ohh that was beautiful. mygod Seleos is so hot though. I keep staring at him. Also, the way you characterized Seleos really made him feel like a deity/god, with how at every single turn of conversation, 

[[SPOILER ALERT]]

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 you have to stay vigilant and not be lulled to doing what he wants (which was validated by all the existing bad ends when you tried taking the easy way out).

At first, I thought this was your regular romance VN, so I was putting a lot of trust in him despite making the indecisive choices (I initially just wanted MC to make the best possible wish), and yet at the back of my head, my mind was mulling over little red flags such as, 'why was he specifically targeting desperate people on their last shred of hope?' and then the ending answered that wonderfully.  

HE'S SO HOT THO! 10/10 would have freed him if only he wouldn't leave me behind. 

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[[END OF SPOILERS]]

How I wish there's more. you really created a good world here and Kore is so levelheaded I wanted to see more of her.

that character design and dialogue <3