I had downloaded the game a couple of days previous and didn't have the time to play it, but as soon as I did I came back here to leave a review because WOW.
This really knocked me off my feet in so many ways, that as soon as I got the text box that the demo had ended I just had to come here.
I'm actually going to play it a second time after this because I know I missed things and I can't wait to learn more!
The first thing to talk about is the designs of everything.
The art style is vibrant, unique and lustrous, every new character appeared and I was in awe of the world that it painted, so different and unique to our own.
All of the characters had something about them that pulled the attention, even if by technicality some of them looked more like your average human from our world.
I'm going to go point by point to just talk about the things I had noticed from my first playthrough, mostly because I see all of the amazing work that you have put into it and I just want to!
The way Collens is really freaks me out in a good way, the way his design is a cross between youth and age to the point where the main character can't even point to his age is an incredibly interesting choice, and there is an eldritch quality to his design, what with his 'hairclips' looking like eyes with hearts that are constantly staring at the player. In my theory, he has so many hearts upon his design because he's the one that's most constantly thinking about the player, especially around the time of year they 'disappeared' where he becomes more prickly and intense.
(Don't think I didn't notice his actual eyes turning into heart shapes when he realizes who we are and says we came back to him, that gave me the chills <3)
I especially admire the time you took to animate the things such as him spinning the lighter or when he was on top of the player during the bonfire and staring down at them, his heavy and intense breathing practically gave me goosebumps amongst the whiplash.
Richy was the one that made me truly realize how off the chain this artstyle was going to be, what with his green tones and the looks of his eyes. Honestly my favorite part about him has to be his braces, honestly.
The Main character talked about how they didn't understand how an adult can have braces, but honestly I find it incredibly charming, and the fact he smiles as much as he does and has such a friendly personality really draws me to him, I would totally dance with him even if I wasn't a great dancer!
And the scene in the bar where he reminisces slightly with the main character and becomes concerned about them when they voice wanting to go to the ritual was sweet of him.
The fact that he starts crying as soon as he knows it's them is totally understandable, honestly.
Rudo is such a mystery character, from what little we see of him, and knowing what we know now, I really can't wait for the second playthrough to look at how he interacts with Collens with fresh new eyes.
After all, the person he was dating disappeared with no warning and is presumably dead, and from the flashback it really looks like he adored the MC.
I anticipate their next meeting to be very intense, honestly. It would only make sense.
Honestly, when I met Mandy it seemed to be in a really quick torrent where they were chasing after Rudo, looking for his blue hair, and then this girl shows up with blue hair crying and needing our help.
It's rare for children to show up in VNs, but Mandy really just helped flesh out the world more. This is really a small town where are there are all kinds of people of all ages (I'm going to guess she's either Rudo's sister or his daughter. I could be wrong, especially considering we don't see Rudo in color, but I'm taking a shot in the dark here!)
Happy to be the 5th coolest person she knows!
Which leads us to the 4th coolest person she knows, which is Norman.
Honestly, I agree with the MC that he certainly should have been more careful.
I understand with his mother's failing health that he's doing the best that he can, but if there is so many kids that it's impossible to get one as soon as they get lost, then they need to hire more people.
That aside, his kindness with trying to help us with our phone is not to be underestimated, and it was sweet that he wanted to check in on us and do something nice for our help. The design choice of the mouse hoodie is adorable, and I can see why it would be a huge hit with the kids. (The way his sprite flickers specifically when you try to call your parents is something I backed up and did a few more times just to see it, very subtle good work!)
Alex, Hanson and Nick are delightful ways of showing how small their town is, and the variety of their designs is good too, from the wild and wacky, to the definitely-not-stoned, and the subtlety. Alex closing up his shop simply because he's bored and the day hasn't had much going on is perfectly in line, and honestly the help of him and Hanson is a small lifesaver for the MC as it gets their phone in order and gives them a place to stay.
The way Hanson and Nick talk to each other two is just an added layer, between how remote and close-knit the community is to the point where a police officer can haggle for the price of fixing a car with someone who seems like a close friend (Also, when Nick first came on screen I genuinely thought for a moment that his design was supposed to look like a staggering corpse on purpose complete with rotting cheeks, but after a few seconds I realized that it was just grease!)
The less that can be said about Sid the better. Honestly you did a great job of writing him just as parasitic as his mother had said he was, and it's a good thing for him that he ran out when he did, because if I was the MC I would have bashed his face in for his shower comment, how slimy!
And then we come to the bar, and the last person we get a face to a name, Gregory! Honestly, I know I said this with all of them, but Gregory's design kind of knocked my breath away.
The second I see a tall and soft readhead, I'm in love.
And the second I saw their folded hands, I knew that he was probably a sweetheart, (Which was confirmed by talking with him, seriously he complimented me on my face shape and how it matched with my outfit and even though I wasn't in the game I couldn't stop myself from smiling).
His hands were also another reason I guessed librarian first try, it just seemed obvious with how he said his life was monotonous and his wardrobe was the only thing that he could really do differently, which was another eye-catching thing about him, as the zippers on the sides were open like hungry maws, along with the fact he also has heart-shaped glasses in his design, though if that says anything in particular about him we will have to see!
(I also find his reaction to the bonfire scene to be odd in a way that makes me hungry to know more, as he quickly realizes that you are who you are, but unlike the other two he does not cry, however it is implied that he also screams and chases after the main character just like the other two in a bid to get them back.)
In the end, this whole story and the writing leading to it is absolutely enthralling. The variety in sprites, the animation, the amazing musical backgrounds and exorbitant amount of details makes me ravenous to see more of what comes in the future.
Why are the MC's Parent's Phone Numbers Disconnected? Why do they dream of rotting in the dirt when they are out in the open and presumably alive? I understand that 10 years is a long time and the others couldn't recognize the MC because it's been the aforementioned alotted time between then and now, but how come the MC forgot about all of them? I can't wait to see more of this world you expand upon and create, I'll be watching this project very closely, this is absolutely amazing.
Make sure to take care of yourself, creating visual novels is hard work!