I came for the eye-catching title. Stayed for the writing.
I came-
I really enjoy this novel. I love Fang as a protagonist. That drive to improve at something you've spent so much time on, that frustration at your current level, the frustration you get regardless of if you win or lose, that creeping self-hatred- I feel all of it so fucking deeply, and it makes her such a relatable character.
I can even see a bit of myself in Bouquet, someone who had that same passion and drive Fang did, but lost it once her passion became a job. That feeling of eternally missing out on nostalgic moments and only being left with that hobby you grew up with in the form of a soulless husk tainted by capitalist meddling.
I especially love the use of sound, both audible and written. The announcer is a good touch, I love the audio going with the controller that actually makes it feel like you're watching these two duke it out while you're behind, cheering them on. What gets me especially is the use of onomatopoeia, specifically in how it's used to represent Fang's improvement at the game. I couldn't help but cheer when she got the click-click clack, down.
Repetition is also another key element of the visual novel that I really enjoy. It represents that feeling of being put in a throw loop, that feeling of trying repeatedly to do something and failing, that burning sensation of self-loathing.
I came for the eye-catching title. Stayed for the writing.