Kissing Snow-White
(NOTE: The web version is for players who can't download the game for some reason. This version is not optimised, and it it advised to download the game for a better experience. Also, if you play the game on your phone, the textbox will be bigger than the one actually used in the game, leading to hide a larger portion of the visuals. More troubleshooting below.)
Nun lag Schneewittchen lange, lange Zeit in dem Sarg und verweste nicht, sondern sah aus, als wenn es schliefe, denn es war noch so weiß wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut und so schwarzhaarig wie Ebenholz.
(Brüder Grimm, Schneewittchen)
Made for O2A2 2023 Queer Edition, Amare Game Festival 2023 and Blossom VN Jam 2023
You know the tale: Snow-White, for she was the fairest maiden in the land, inflamed her stepmother's jealousy. The latter, after several attempts at murdering her stepdaughter, eventually convinced her to take a bite of a poisoned apple. Since then, the young princess is doomed to eternal sleep.
Do not worry: the Prince has just got to kiss her to break the spell, as simple as you remember, and as everyone expects him to.
But... what if the prince didn't want to kiss Snow-White?
Kissing Snow-White is a rewriting taking inspiration from Walt Disney's interpretation of Brothers Grimm's Schneewittchen from the perspective of a prince who, although he loves Snow-White dearly, is unable to convey his love through physical intimacy (or to sound less hoity-toity, it's just a rewriting of the famous kissing scene we all have in mind when we think of Snow-White despite this scene not even existing in the original tale lmao). The point of the game is to convey a new point of view on social norms pressuring us into having relationships and showing affection a certain very specific way: physical intimacy, standard romantic feelings, only with a person whose gender is the one opposite to yours... I hope it can bring you some insight!
This game has been made for O2A2, so expect:
- Less than a 1,000 words!
- One sprite!
- One background!
- One music track!
- One final choice (will you kiss Snow-White???? 👀)!
- One very talented voice actor making the prince a fully voiced character!!!
- No main menu (what do you mean advertising your game by revealing its missing features is not a good marketing strategy?)!
- No sound effect either (what? did you want a "smooch" sound effect?? Gross!!!!)
- Queer feels!!!!!!!
- My sweat, my heart, my soul, I mean, I drew a background, what do you expect more from me??? My kidney?????
- No humour so don't be put off by the jokes in this description please
- Just another bullet point to make the list extra-long and pretend there's a lot of feature!!!!!
CREDIT
Programming, art, GUI, writing: chimeriquement - Yacine Aggoune
Music - "Sérénade Mélancolique" by Tchaikovsky, played by Grégor Monlun, recorded and edited by Cynthia Wong (yeah classical music, yeah me very intellectual)
Voice acting - Max Herzfeld (twitter, linktree, itch page)
Special thanks to Phebe Fabacher (twitter, website), who helped me find a voice actor quickly to give my charming prince a voice! You rock!
TROUBLESHOOTING
- I can't use right-click to access the save menu. Is this normal?
Yes. The game being extremely short (less than 5-minute-long), I got rid of the save menu.
- I can't play it on my phone, I have an "out of memory" error!
There isn't much I can do: Snow-White's sprite, since it requires to be zoomed in, and that I can only use one asset, is a very huge file. So it means your phone doesn't have enough power to generate the file. Don't you worry: I intend to release a lighter version after O2A2, but for now, you'll have to wait. Sorry for the inconvenience!!!
- I'm playing the web version, but there isn't any music and/or voice-acting.
The web version has more trouble than the downloadable one to generate the files. For some reason, a sound effect is never played the first time it appears. You have to roll back: to have the music, go to the second line of the game and roll back: it will start. Same goes for voice-acting: go back to the next line, roll back and you should hear the voice-acting. If this doesn't solve the issue, please use the downloadable version.
- I can't play the web version, there is a Javascript error.
Some Ren'Py games can't be played on some web browsers for some javascript error. To be honest, I know nothing about javascript, so I won't be able to go to the bottom of it, but if that happens, use another web browser (I never encountered the issue with Firefox, while having sometimes encountered it with Chrome or Opera).
Download
Install instructions
Extract the files!!!!!!
Development log
- Game released!Apr 17, 2023
Comments
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can I upload your video game on YouTube
Hi! If you mean a gameplay video, yes you can! Thanks for asking!
PLAY THIS GAME, PLAY THIS GAME! It's the best 10 minutes I've had! Do yourself a favor today and play and don't forget to rate!
(SPOILERS)
This is such a smart story omggggg, like you had me questioning how I view romance? Like??? There's got to be kiss scenes right? Not for everyone, and they are no less in love! I'm so glad I played both this and Katekyo's first date close to one another, I feel enlightened? (do a degree) like, I am so inspired to write my asexual characters and ace romance. You were able to say so much in so little time is a testament to your strength as a writer and I was already a fan of you, because we are friends and you're funny and your art is so cute and unique, but like- you are a SO TALENTED, never forget how you make people feel with your stories, I think every indie dev can take a page out of your book! Incredible, I love this game so much, the presentation is spot. on!
Max blew me away man! It's like unfair af, he is just too good! He was the perfect prince goddddddd. The art is so pretty, Snow is so cute, and it's just so magical! I adore this game, how many more times can i say it? Well watch my playthrough of it to see ;)
AAAAAAAAH thank you!!!!
And I'm so glad!!! That really was the point of this game, haha: the true love's kiss theme is so strong, and when we think of Snow-White, we all have this scene in mind (despite it not existing in the tale and being an invention of the Disney version) and I was like: "Okay... what if Snow-White... was ace??" and I made this game which is very personal to me, as it raises a lot of questions about the way I perceive love (obviously, in most ace cases, it's more about sex than it is about kiss, but even so).
"you are a SO TALENTED, never forget how you make people feel with your stories, I think every indie dev can take a page out of your book" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH YOU CAN'T BE THAT NICE TO ME, THANK YOU JOY????? Coming from you, of all people, it means so much!!! Your stories always make me think of all the nuances of human relationships, and your characters are certainly some of the most deeply human I've read, so really, I'm flattered!!!!
And yes, Max was amazing as the Prince! No wonder we see him everywhere, haha, he's really a wonderful voice actor and such a nice person too! And thanks for the art, haha! I'm just trying my best, but I'm glad you enjoyed what I did with this game!!!
Once again, thank you for your support and your feedback, it's always so amazing to read!!!!! And so excited to all your future projects!!
(I wish I could write a long and detailed review to express how much I liked this game but words fail me more often than not so I'll try my best with what I have.)
GODDAMMIT??????????? THIS GAME???????????????????????????????????????? It encapsulates the ace/aro conflict SO WELL???????????? LIKE???????????????? *hits table* AND THE VOICE ACTING??????????? OUCH????????????????????????? IT HURT SO MUCH?????????????????????? REALLY!!!!!!!!!!! (in a good way!!!!!!!!!!!)
it really sucks when you experience love in ways that aren't the mainstream because people often say that it's not 'love' at all. but when he said "There is so much more love in one of these flowers than in any kiss we could share." i really felt that.
seeing the prince experience so much torment questioning if their love was even valid though it didn't match society's expectation was incredibly relatable and hit too much close to home. but i'm glad that he stayed true to himself (at least in one of the endings) and in the end... that's what true love is all about, isn't? respecting oneself and the other. respecting the kind of bond they created, and the boundaries that come with it.
and all of this in a game that's so short!!!!! like!!!! society couldn't do it in years and years of existence!!!!!!!! shame on them!!!!!!!!! /j
great work, chime. i'm really glad this game exists!
OH MY GOD THANK YOU FOR THIS ENTHUSIASTIC FEEDBACK!!!!
Like YES THE VOICE ACTING WAS SO GOOD!!!!! And I'm glad you enjoyed the ace/aro-themes of this little game!!!!! I wanted them to find their own way to partnership and in the end, that's what should wake her up!
"society couldn't do it in years and years of existence!!!!!!!!" FRFRBGGTRFTGRGGBTRT NO WAY
Ha ha, I figured out by playing Under the stars that Kissing Snow-White would be the kind of stories you'd enjoy, as it really takes unconventional ways to relationship and love! Glad it could speak with you (and IT'S ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE GAMES, OH MY GOD?????)
This was really good! I've actually thought about this theme a lot myself, as a writer who loves romances. When I showed my stories around, I got a lot of responses that they weren't very "romantic" because there weren't many expressions of physical intimacy. It disheartened me and made me wonder if I should add more kisses, hugs, and fades to black...and yet that always felt very unnatural, since I never thought that those things were the most "romantic" to me. I'm always disappointed when romances in media are portrayed as exclusively physical partnerships. I do think that there is an inherent expectation that the "end goal" of a relationship is physical intimacy (followed oftentimes by marriage), and sometimes when that doesn't happen it's "disappointing." I really empathize with the prince here, and I think that his monologue was very well-written and insightful, as well!
Overall really well-done entry! The music is great and very atmospheric. I love the storybook-like visuals (Snow White is gorgeous!) and the little particle effects! The voice acting is so wonderful and conveys so much emotion as well!
A perfect entry for the amare festival, in my opinion!
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback, Chattercap!
And I'm so glad the game spoke with questions you had regarding your own writing! And I agree with you: it's easy to show characters kiss or hug; but showing characters actually bonding, supporting each other through hard times, heck, even just respecting each other is way harder: to me, that's where love lies though, in all those things of which "kissing" is nothing but a manifestation!
Thank you for all the compliments! I'm so glad you find Snow-White pretty, she's supposed to be the fairest of them all after all! And thanks for noticing the particle effect, it was a last-minute addition, haha! And I couldn't agree more: Max did an outstanding job as the prince, he gave him so much emotion it made me cry!!!!
I agree: this game was created with O2A2 in mind, but to be honest, it really is the incarnation of what I consider amare: new ways to explore relationships and affection between people!
ohhh... while reading this I felt so moved by the Prince and Snow White's dilemma... and the flower ending made me so happy!! their love is so sweet... I care them, your honor!! I also really liked the design for Snow White, her dress and her hair loose on her pillow... This was really fun to play and sweetly sad to read!! (and plain sweet when it was talking about their relationship previous to her sleep/at the end hahah) i hope these two can continue their love their own way, happily, henceforth ;w;
Hi! Thank you so much, it was so kind! I really enjoyed writing their love story too! I really wanted this story to feel sweet and romantic... just their own way!
And don't worry: they live happily ever after!!!
I loved this story so much, you captured this feeling so well. The ending felt just ...right. Love has so many facets, and its so nice that you have shared this one with us all. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the kind words, it really means so much! I do hope this game helps people just be fine with the way they love: as long they do love, they're doing it right!
This story reflects something I have thought for a little while, how the ways we show love aren't the same for everyone, and yet the world expects a specific kind of love no matter what. I can understand the struggle of the prince, and I feel deeply for him even in such a short period of time. The writing was beautiful, the way the prince expressed his thoughts, I could really feel his emotions. Of course, the wonderful voice acting added so much to it. He truly captured that pain caused by the uncertainty of what he must do, his voice breaking when he thinks he may be betraying their own way of loving if he kissed her... Just excellent! I also loved the ending, how in the end he did not have to kiss her for the curse to be broken, what was needed was his own way of showing his true love.
The art, too, feels like straight out of a storybook, which is wonderfully fitting, And the music, gosh, the music just really managed to get me inside this story world even more.
In summation, I really loved this retelling of this scene from Snow White. It made me feel happy and warm inside.
Also, as a side note, I'd love to know how the prince would look, since we don't get to see him. Not important, but knowing he has hair long enough to be braided made me want to see, heh!
Oh, thank you so much for your gentle feedback! I'm more than happy you appreciated the writing and the art, I really wanted the game to look fairy-tale like!
For the voice acting, I can only agree: Max is a talented individual and a terrific voice actor, who perfectly captured the Prince's vulnerability! And for the music, I suppose I couldn't go wrong with Tchaikovsky, haha!
For the prince, I'm unsure since I haven't designed him (yet?). Definitely blonde though, but I'll admit I'm unsure of the length, although he is not short-haired, haha!
I loved the game<3
I loved how you have deepened the relationship between Snow White and the Prince and you have made it 10,000 times more romantic<3<3.
I have loved how you have shown the Prince's anguish between wanting to wake up her beloved Snow White but afraid of failing her in the process for betraying what initially makes their relationship so special for both<3<3<3.
And the ending has been absolutely beautiful, because you have shown a sense of intimacy and consensuality that is always lacking in the end of stories with the "eternal love kiss", when she wakes up for something intimate between them that only both of them know and means so much for them they have shown what true love really is and I applaud you for it<3<3<3<3.
PS: The art is beautiful, and Snow White's eyes upon awakening have felt more beautiful and full of love with the whole environment, and the Prince's voice has my applause (^///^).
P.D: Personally I'm not an ace, but I agree that how society forces things to "how relationships should be" what they actually do is ruin relationships and happiness of people who were initially happy on their own.
Hey! Thank you so much for your detailed feeback!
Thank you for the compliments on the romantic aspect of the game! I haven't explored romance a lot in my games so far, but I'm actually fond of love stories, so I'm glad the game was romantic!
Yes, it was important to me: there is no magic recipe for love! You love others by getting to know them, by making your relationship special with them... When this happens, the way of showing love has to be special! And thanks omg you're so sweet!
Oh, thank you for noticing the art! I'm not the best artist or whatever but I'm glad you enjoyed Snow-White's final expression! I did want her to look enamoured!!! And yes, I'm in love with the Prince's voice too!!!!! Max is so talented!!!
And I'm glad you found something in this game, although you're not ace! I do think "rules on relationships" apply to more than the ace community, but if you see the "kiss" as a euphemism for "being pressured into sex to prove your love", the game is indeed very ace-themed, haha!
Once again, I can't thank you enough for these kind words!!!! It means so much!!! Thank you!!!!
As someone who's aroace I felt like I could resonate with a lot of the prince's sentiments?? It's hard to put into words exactly but I felt like you took a lot of what I relate to when it comes to being aroace (the expectation of relationships to be romantic/sexual in natural, in particular) and turned it into a metaphor that's just??? perfect?? not sure how else to put my thoughts and feels into words it just feels that way haha
really enjoyed the viewport (i think it's a viewport?? is that what it's called?? ahhhHHH) of the princess moving with the mouse. I had a lot of fun just watching her move around for the first few seconds of the game because of it (bc i just LOVE when games do that it makes my ADHD brain go wheeee)
Really enjoyed the ending choice too!! It was really neat to see Snow White's expression shift to displeasure with the first choice and then when the prince puts the flower in her hair the fact that she smiles and opens her eyes after he does so feels really fitting for the message you're trying to tell!
Really loved the game!! Glad you made this and put it out there it makes my aroace feel happy to see <3 <3 <3
also also also! I wanted to say kudos to the VA pick as well!! Max Herzfeld really brought the prince to life and i felt like his voice really added to the emotion of the character and the sentimentalness of the story as a whole!!
Yes, this game is for us!!!!!! But since fairy tales are often metaphoric (Little Red Riding Hood being about virginity etc.), I wanted the story to be in the same fashion! We don't have such things as true love's kiss, but there are clearly norms causing harm, I think, to more platonic forms of affection (be them romantic or not). Always diregarded as "partial commitment"...
Ha ha, I played a game with parallax effect and I had a lot of fun moving the mouse around to see the characters move... So I wanted to have that in one of my games, and for some reason, this one felt right????
Yes, the ending was important!!!! I want this game to be a POSITIVE aro-ace experience, so... if Snow-White showed her love to the prince by braiding his hair with flowers... he could just do the same to show his, in the end, no matter if social norms think "true love's kiss" is the only way: they have their own way and it works cause there was nothing to fix with the way they loved each other in the first place!!!!
And I'm so happy with Max's performance too, he really brings this vulnerability that makes the character so alive!!!
Thank you for your detailed and gentle feedback! It was really nice (and fun actually!) reading you!!!
Very sweet game!
Thank you so much for your very sweet comment!
OH GOSH I LOVED THIS VERY VERY MUCH.
I downloaded it to make sure I wouldn't have any glitches heheh. But what absolutely lovely story GOD. I felt it very deep within my heart. I'm in love with the way you push the story back -- to question what so much of the story has instilled into our heads as "the right way for love to happen" even since we were kids. That somehow a "kiss" is the ultimately and sole way that we can show love to someone else (and then of course to go even further, some would then say that sex and creating a family is the continuation of that love and how things should be, too).
The prince's confused soliloquy was so well done. I really enjoyed how much conflict you could hear behind his words -- the fact that he does love her so much, and he believes that there's only one way to wake her up, but he can't give that to her without sacrificing so much for both of them?? It packed a lot of punches into each line and was so poetic and well written. And absolutely fantastically voice acted GOD!! I was really moved by the performance of some of the lines, particularly when the prince got very emotional. It was incredibly poignant and lovely.
The art fit and GUI fit so well with the tone -- a storybook/fairy tale ambience, yet, the prince is feeling pressured to do something that's not HIS fairy tale. That's not HIS happily ever after. Despite what the environment would have you think. And the music was gorgeous!! Both beautiful but melancholy, the same as the game itself.
Of course I chose not to kiss her at the end and was very pleasantly rewarded (perhaps not surprised -- maybe a part of me did hope that's what would happen, but I also wasn't entirely sure that's what WOULD happen ldakfjdl). It was such a nice ending to everything and I felt really... I don't know... at peace?? Once it was over??
Just wonderfully done. I really really enjoyed this!!! 🥰💕
OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH
I'm glad you downloaded, haha, I did the same for all the entries I've tested so far of O2A2 to avoid problems!
When I was searching for a concept for O2A2, I struggled a bit, but when "true love's kiss but make it ace" appeared to my mind, I knew it was what I wanted to do, haha! So, yes, it's all about being forced to love a certain way (you mention "sex" in your comment and I suppose that, just like me, you already heard that you couldn't have a relationship without sex... all the struggles, the questions, the "is it possible?" I had ended up in this game!).
And yes, I can't emphasise enough how good the voice acting is, aaaah, I cried when I heard the audition!!!!!! And I cried again when I played the game with the voice-acting in it!!!!!
Ha ha, actually (to anyone reading this, spoilers?), Snow-White doesn't wake up if you kiss her: she frowns, but remains asleep. And I understand you felt at peace: after all, it's my way to answer my ace struggles and to answer: "Yes. Yes you can love your own way, you just need to find the right person who'll accept your "special way of loving", not the right person to fix you."
I can't thank you enough for all your compliments! I'm just happy you enjoyed the experience!!!!
First off, I'll admit that I don't understand the Prince's struggle. It is just a kiss to me. 😅
But! You summed up their love so beautifully through the other things they shared. They didn't need the 'socially acceptable expressions of love' to be happy. And so, in the end, I decided not to kiss her because I felt that was the right thing to do. ^^ (despite those juicy, juicy lips…) A true love's confession doesn't have to be a kiss and I just love that idea. 💕
Very nice job overall! The voice acting was a nice addition, too. 👌
Ha ha, I'd suggest to look at it from a more metaphorical perspective than my usual games, perhaps? I based it on my VERY sex-repulsed ace experience, and "kissing" to love... More than a gesture, it's admitting your love is incomplete, or not "true" if you're unable to do so. And that's a huge struggle of mine: will my partners ever believe I love them, despite me being unable to show physical intimacy (and sure, "kiss" here is a euphemism for sexual intercourse...)
But I'm glad you got onboard with the "love can be anything, there is no guideline to it", despite Kooleen's voice telling you to make the wrong choice!
Thanks for your feedback and I have to agree: I love the voice acting!!!!!!!
I meant it more in a 'it doesn't apply to me' kind of way, but it does make for a good metaphor when you put it like this. ^^
(Kooleen's voice is leading me astray lol)