It's really hard to put into words the disconnect between coming into this and what I felt after.
But I already know that it's so very very good!
I honestly wasn't too sure about this, as usually I'm not a big fan of female Yanderes, but it's exactly for that reason that RUNEACLE is such a wonderful visual novel for me in particular, considering that Rue isn't really one until she changes. Before that you're just her favorite little Pumpkin!
The art for this was AMAZING, not just from the spritework and the backgrounds-
Which are absolutely lovely, I literally squealed when I saw the tanks full of blue jellyfish and have a deep admiration for Rue's monster form-
but I really really admire the fact that this vn had works of art and stories from other creators rather than just the creators of this visual novel, it really gives a texture to the world in the visual novel, and I found the ads to be clever and an amazing promotion to those involved! (I especially loved that the 'ads' are not from big horror romance visual novels. Of course I love them, but shouting out different and maybe more obscure vns and creators (Espoir du Vide not-withstanding considering how popular she is!), was a bold and lovely choice!
The voice acting was top notch from both voice actors, to the point it gave me shivers!
I started out the first playthrough trying to be as middling as possible, and of course I ran into the NO ENDING, which was very interesting as a start out! XD
I collected Rue's Horror ending and JD's Romance Endings afterwards, and it sent me onto a fantastic rollercoaster ride of Horror and realization.
Knowing that JD has always had feelings for the player and was the cause of all of this gave me goosebumps, and the fact that what he did became a guilt that ate at him until the player themselves went a little crazy and stole his memories was incredibly interesting!
That and Rue's Romance Ending really goes to show that the MC wasn't very mentally stable either way, and it was nice to see the ways that the MC molded to their partners in a similar way that they molded to the MC.
(Honestly considering the MC was a big cause of the change really has me liking that they take a semblance of responsibility for Rue in her Romance ending. You caused her to be a flesh-eating monster, the least you could do is give her a place to stay and some people to eat!)
Honestly though when it comes to Endings, JD's Horror Ending is probably my favorite.
Jitterrue, I'm addressing you specifically to say this:
It has been a very long time since a Bad Ending to a Yandere Visual Novel had me feeling anything but frustrated, uncomfortable or skipping it altogether.
The way you wrote his bad ending from the trip on the rock/hitting their head onward was an absolute masterclass in my eyes.
The vn had already showed that it wasn't afraid to tie everything together in a neat bow and bring forth their stories when it came to Rue's endings, but the creativity of what keeps the MC in JD's apartment in the Horror Ending was something I have never seen before and I don't know if there will ever be another.
And then unlike Rue- where everything is your responsibility and there is a kind of defense you could have about her and the way she needs to live with her new nature-, JD is calculating, lovingly bitter, and absolutely steamrolls you.
By the end when it was stated that they had been in that apartment for years with him doting on them with them having no availability to leave, call for help, consume any content that isn't JD or hear any voice that isn't his or the Jellyfish's, and that he specifically treats them gently whenever he isn't rough talking on stream to everyone else, I felt a hollowed out feeling from my stomach dropping to the floor. A delightful feeling that I have been missing and craving from my horror media that left me on the knife's edge of hatred and love, same as the MC.
Probably a little dramatic to say so, but I really needed to put into words how it made me feel, especially when I had seriously contemplated not going to check out his Horror Ending at all, having gotten all other endings, and like I said before there has been a certain pattern going on that has left me unsatisfied.
I'm glad I didn't listen to it and decided to power through.
Thank you all so much on your hard work, all of it was so cohesive, well done and lovely, I hope to see you all do another one, if you ever decide to do so!
Little Pumpkin Freak Signing Off!