A Beef with the Chimichurri Steak

What can I say except "holy shit, this was really fucking good." I love the different use of typography!! It made the experience more unsettling and really set the eerieness. The one choice that you have really changes the perspective in how it plays out. Really, such a good game.

I expected the twist … and then there was another twist, well done!

I really liked the use of the text effects, they oozed with emotion, especially the ones on the black screens (though occasionally I accidentally clicked before they had finished, and didn’t actually see what they said).

Only one bug. Turning off the typing animation didn’t stop the typing animation …

I don't actually expect that. I know there would be a problem in their relationship but *gasp* anyway it was good. the concept is a bit heavy, but your choices are so impactful toward their ending(s). 

Ohh, this was quite a fun one! I really liked this wholesome take on an estranged couple reigniting their love! I loved putting sparkles in Oleander's eyes during the good ending~ (jokes aside real review down below). 

I thought that the game was really well-done overall! The sunset hued background and sprite are beautiful with a little bit of a foreboding quality, and I loved all of the different text effects. They conveyed the emotion of the scene well and added so much dynamicism to the visuals. the sprite is beautifully rendered (putting the personality of the character aside), and the writing is on-point, as always!

**********

SPOILERS

***********

I knew this guy was a douche-canoe the minute I saw him strutting around his house in his underwear LOL (okay that might be a generalization, but truly, I don't understand how people do that...) I like the choice of his name - a poisonous shrub is very fitting for such a man! When I was reading, Oleander DID give me VERY strong Lara vibes!

The characterization of Oleander and Orlena is built up well over the course of the story, really driving home Oleander's abusive nature - his jabs at Orlena's weight, his criticisms, his double standards, his shallow and dismissive attitude. By the end you really do sympathize with whatever decision "Orlena" chooses. 

The hints towards the second plot twist were also well-done! I didn't see the twist coming on the first play, but on a second playthrough I picked up on quite a few of the hints: Oleander mentioning that Orlena's hair looks different, and noting that her butt looks less flabby than normal, for example. I also thought it was strange that Orlena continuously mentioned that she "saw" the scars and bruises in a very detached way, but by the end it made complete sense - because Venessa only saw the bruises, she never experienced the abuse. So it makes sense that she continuously mentions "seeing" the evidence of the abuse, rather than living through it.

Overall this was an excellent bit of psychological horror, and really unexpected from you! I'm looking forward to nuit blanche ;) 

alright, lesson learned DONT simp for characters without playing the game first lmfaoooo- YOU GOT ME

Spoilers starting now

okay I hate him, I knew going in thanks to the warnings that this wasn’t going to be a simple cute little dinner between a ‘troubled’ couple.

The second he started acting out I was like, alright only one choice- we have to poison the chimichurri steak. Dude is THE WORST, he made Matthieu look sympathetic jfc.

but it was a good strategy to make him look appealing! Monsters are all among us, they look like beautiful people but can be wolfs and sheep’s clothing.

There was no other choice in my mind but to break the plate, honestly she’s better than me because I had Murder on my mind lolol. But this is better, he can live with the humiliation and never be seen as some victim.

Personal stuff for a second, my horrible father was also a domestic abuser so I think I react very strongly to this material in the first place. The ending lines are my favorite- that she always had the strength in her! She just suppressed it versus the usual- she was weak and just one day snapped. Thank you for portraying it this way! 

I liked this game a lot despite having a sinking feeling the whole time lol! I’m off to read the devlog parts I didn’t want to read due to spoilers 🏃‍♀️ great work as always Chime! 

P.S you must have been CACKLING at me over Twitter lmfaooooo a pretty face and my head is GONE 😫

Why must you always do this to me...........

I am always rendered to tears at the end of your games????

I feel like I always read through the last through lines barely able to see the screen....

My gosh though. [SOME SPOILERS PROBABLY BECAUSE I WILL LIKELY RAMBLE] This was utterly gut-wrenching and mind-breaking in a million and one ways. Everything you did. Every single choice you made for every piece of formatting, every effect with the text, every use of darkening and blurring and pausing and... and just... EVERYTHING... it all worked together to create this overwhelming experience that rattled me to the core.

As someone who's never been in quite this kind of intense situation but who's still been in relationships where I've felt "scared" to act a certain way out of fear that the other person will blow up, even if the blowing up doesn't lead to violence but still leads to me being hurt emotionally, I could put myself immediately in Orly's shoes and the fear packed into her thoughts and words and interactions really hit hard with me. Then the build-up leading towards the end... my god... it was so brilliantly and beautifully and intensely done. Like. That moment after the choice. Honestly felt like my heart stopped for just a moment. Seeing Orly's thoughts warp and build and turn into strength that she'd never had before. The use of the text effects here especially was stunning and really served to make every single line etch its way deep into the grooves of your heart and mind so you could feel every syllable.

The music choice was excellent. The main track playing throughout the game is really reminiscent to me of Thomas Newman and his stuff from The Shawshank Redemption, which added a double layer of emotional kick to me as his music literally already makes me weep. Then the second song I got a mild jumpscare on because I recognized it as a song I had once downloaded in a list of "Possible Songs for the Future" LDKJFALKDSF It's such a good one. So emotional. And really set the tone for that final scene.

GOD.

I feel like I'm running out of things to actually talk about in a cohesive way because mostly right now I'm just a wibbling pile of emotions after this lakdjfalsdf Just an absolutely fantastic, emotional piece that brings with it a glimmer of hope at the end. A hope for a fresh start. Something better. An escape. One that maybe not all of us can find. But one that we're all hoping for no matter what kind of situation we feel completely stuck within in our life, where it feels like we have no way out. But we do. Sometimes we just need to find the strength hidden inside of us. That can only be brought out by a chimichurri steak.

Thank you for making this (and for all of your games, let's be real) alsdkjfalds. With every single one of them, I'm sent down an absolute torrent of emotions.

(Also I had no idea what chimichurri steak is before this??? LDKFJAD)

[Mild spoilers below]

Wow, that was very impactful for such a short game. ;A;

Great job on setting up the atmosphere of abuse and neglect, with the wife having to walk on eggshells in fear of upsetting the husband. You made me resent Oleander in just a few sentences. 😣

I spoiled myself reading the devlog (😅) so the conclusion wasn't as shocking as it could've been but I still liked it and thought it was satisfying. (both choices were good, not sure which would be better long-term) (i also think the hints were well-placed and not super obvious, so props for that 👌)

I almost want to say it was a feel-good game with how it ends (since you get a sense of justice when Oleander gets what he deserves) but the topic is so heavy it feels kind of wrong. Because what gets me the most about this is that the wife's situation is a grim reality to way too many people. And more often than not, they don't have an easy way out or decide to stay in hopes that things will get better (and they never do). So it's just something to think about.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I knew that I would kinda want to punch him (for need of personal space) but not that it would be so soon!