Unfortunately, this game is a side-game to a future bigger one, set in a universe where Araceli (the protagonist) is a woman (she isn't really meant to be a self-insert). However, I intend to release a game letting you choose between a female and a male protagonist with a male love interest at the start of April.
That was very sweet, I think you did a great job depicting young love and what it feels like to be absolutely smitten with your partner (which makes the ending extra ominous) (i also remember your posts about the premise of this game so it felt like a punch in the gut after all the love confessions 🥲). And though it seems a little idealistic to me (being in a long-term relationship will do that to you lol), I enjoyed the game for the message about acceptance and respecting your partner's boundaries. It's a cute wholesome romance, just as you promised. 💕
And kudos for the artwork! I liked the pretty colors and the star theme of the art and GUI. 👌 (btw, and I mean it in the most endearing way possible, Arcturus's bangs look like a chocolate churro to me and I can't unsee it 😆)
Thanks for your feedback, Hiro, I'm happy you found the game sweet! I agree that it is idealistic, and that's the point: Arcturus is written to be idealistic, haha (unlike the other route, Yale, which is more grounded)! And yes, cute and wholesome, despite the ominous ending, haha!
And OH MY GOD I CAN'T UNSEE IT EITHER, like, of course, thanks for the kind words but THIS IS HILARIOUS HIRO RFVGBVFRVJNBHFV ARCHURROS
Ohhh, it was so nice meeting the characters after first learning about them! The aesthetic of the game is so fitting; it's very bright, sparkly, fairytale-esque, a bit surreal - the color choices are reminiscent of solar bodies such as nebulas/galaxies, and the music is tender and a bit dreamlike. The artwork is fantastic, particularly the rendering on the face, hair, and blanket, and I enjoyed the way the CG was animated with zooms/blurs/varying backgrounds to make it more dynamic. Although the game is short, Arcturus and Araceli are both very well characterized within it. You really get the "fairytale" vibe from the two of them, and the strength and authenticity of their bond is palpable.
Since the game is fairly short, I'll put all my discussion below, since it basically reveals the plot of the game. NOTE that my discussion below also contains some information about the main game that is not discussed in this entry.
SPOILERS FOR THE GAME
I really enjoyed the genuine, honest, and authentic conversation between Arcturus and Araceli. It does a good job of introducing you to the characters and making you invested in their relationship, and I think that Araceli's apprehension at taking this new step was quite relatable. Her thoughts actually reminded me a lot of "Kissing Snow White" (very strong asexual/demisexual/graysexual vibes!) I really liked Araceli's arc, seeing her gaining confidence and growing more comfortable with progressing their relationship.
It's a little hard to judge since admittedly I know the basic premise of this story already LOL but I do think that this game does a good job of hinting what MSL will be about, without giving too much away. The game did a good job of being satisfying on its own (resolving Araceli's arc regarding intimacy), while also leaving a lot of unresolved mysteries regarding the overall plot with the time travel and the mysterious voice that appears in the final loop.
The final loop is VERY intriguing. Noah's voice acting is fantastic and adds so much to the delivery of the monologue! The villain reveals that his philosophy is similar to that of Araceli, but he also reiterates that they are opposed. I wonder if the villain's goal is to trap Araceli and Arcturus in a time loop until they both turn into stardust for each other - to cement their love as eternal through these acts of sacrifice? (Kind of wonder how he'll react to Yale then LOL) I love the distorted track that's used for the start menu during the last loop; it's beautiful and atmospheric, while giving a slightly creepy/offputting vibe.
The changes to the start menu with every "loop" were very well done, with a lot of attention to detail placed into each iteration (from what I could tell, the image, music, and name of the start menu button all change each time). It's interesting how, after you play the final loop, the start menu returns to color (albeit a much darker color palette than the yellow present in the second iteration), even though the caption "She will be eternal" is pretty ominous LOL
Overall, this was a very intriguing introduction to the characters of MSL, and a lovely birthday present! :)
Aaaah, thanks for your detailed feedback, Chatter!! I'm happy my thought process for designing this game overall gave the vibe you mention! I'm also happy their relationship felt palpable, especially in how they love each other!
(spoilers below)
Honestly, yes, there is something reminding Kissing Snow-White, especially when Arcturus mentions there is no right way to love each other. I'm happy you appreciated Araceli's arc, as she gained confidence thanks to love. I'm also happy this game manages to be a good introduction to My Stardust Lover, although I'm excited to release the whole story (and to show the other aspect of the story brought by Yale).
Haha, the villain and Araceli are opposed exactly because they share the same philosophy? But I can't really spoil, right! And yes, I suppose Yale is going to catch him off-guard haha! (Also, I agree: Noah did an amazing job, I'm really happy with his performance!)
And yes, I wanted the main menu to also be part of the story, and I'm excited about others' theories!!
Thanks and all I know is that Butter enjoyed it, so that's a win!!!!!
I DIDN'T JUST ENJOY IT!!!! I LOVED IT SO SO SO VERY MUCH!!!!! IT MEANS THE STARS AND THE HEAVENS TO ME, AS IT IS NOW MY FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME GOSH. THE NUMBER OF REPLAYS I'VE DONE FOR THIS GAME HAS PROBABLY AMOUNTED TO HOURS BY NOW.
OH HOW THE BUTTERHEART COMBUSTS AND FLUTTERS FOR THIS GAME SO MUCH! JUST GOSH IT IS SO INFINITELY PRECIOUS TO ME!
IT IS THE AMALGAMATION OF ALL THAT I LOVE. TRULY MADE WITH THE BUTTERHEART IN MIND <3
IF ONLY I COULD JUST EXPRESS THE DEPTHS OF HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME IN A TANGIBLE WAY YOU COULD FEEL AND SEE.
(I truly have to make an essay on this and on the other games hahaha, but for now let me sort out my feelings first hahaha)
THE MUSIC GOT SO OMINOUS AND EVERYTHING JUST LIKE TOOK A TURN DAKFJALDSKFAD
What a fascinating turn. I knew you would hit me with at least some kind of foreboding existential question at the end 🤣💦 And now I have to sit here writing this while listening to this creepy semi-atonal-arrhythmic music continue to play...
BUT I DIGRESS.
[SOME SPOILERS HERE AS I CAN'T REALLY NOT TALK ABOUT THEM]
I enjoyed this a lot!!! I had no real idea what I was getting into beforehand despite your ominous posts leading up to it, so my mind was relatively Fresh. The first two "cycles" for lack of a better word were wonderfully sweet and I was extremely touched. I loved how positively understanding and loving Arcturus is??? Like??? As an ace person, it felt very cathartic to me to hear something like that, and even though I assume Araceli is not ace but more just not quite ready yet, it still had a lot of the same overarching themes of literally just... sexual boundaries. And loving your partner no matter what and focusing on their needs above all else. And I found that incredibly sweet and moving and My Heart Stirred 😭
In the first cycle, they simply end up cuddling. HHHHH. It was very cute. And was just such a soft moment. I enjoyed how Arcturus really kinda took it upon himself to ask Araceli straight out, her thoughts and feelings about everything, rather than just assuming??? And also the soft and heart-warming way he responded to everything that Araceli said. GUHHHH MADE MY HEART SQUISH.
Then in the second cycle, a cycle which I assume is not actually the "second" but probably the next of many cycles that we just haven't seen as the audience, we see Araceli's comfort (and confidence) levels grow a bit, even taking her her own cues from things that Arcturus has said in the past. It was a sweet and gradual build-up that really solidified how deep their relationship and feelings are. Also I loved how we got little glimpses of Araceli questioning the Arcturus "of this timeline" as though assuming he will somehow change when given the (albeit unknown) chance and yet every time, he's still the same, there's nothing hidden there, must Arcturus's pure and unconditional love and resolution to be there for her no matter what.
The first two cycles left me feeling very warm and fuzzy. Also helped by the fact that the visuals are so soft and magical??? From the GUI to the bright and warm colors to the soft style of your beautiful artwork, everything just felt like it was straight out of a fairy tale (OUAT anyone alskdjfalsd), which helped to amplify the soft warm yet somehow ephemeral feeling of the whole game. Also the music!!
OK BUT THEN THE THIRD CYCLE CAME AND I WAS LIKE UMMMMMM.
The change in the music?? The sudden desaturation?? WHO IS THIS SPEAKING??? WHY ARE THEY TURNING ARACELI AND ARCTURUS INTO STARDUST??? WHAT IS HAPPENING???????
So ominous. It was such a flip-the-switch moment that I had to go back and read that cycle again a bit more carefully to see if I had missed any potentially important key hidden within it or something ldkjfasd It was just such a good juxtaposition of style and feeling, and the use of timing and pacing of the final bit at the end was so good and impactful. GUHHHH. Ok now I have to assume this is the leadup to something else yes?? LIKE??? YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE US WITH THAT?? I have so many questions LOLOL I really want to know who this other being is and what exactly is going on because it feels like despite the warm fuzzy feelings of this game as a whole, it seems like the overarching premise is leading into ominosity AND I NEED TO KNOW.
Sob. Ok. I will stop rambling now. But I really enjoyed this! From the writing, to the soft magical art and vibes, to the interesting time-travel mechanic, TO THE OMINOUS FINAL CYCLE. You always leave me with a deluge of feelings and questions when I get done with your games and this was no exception!! A really fantastic job 😍
DFVGEDR I LOVE HOW CONFLICTED YOU SEEM ABOUT THE TONE OF THIS GAME EFGVDRFGGF (but that was the point of the last "cycle" to use your word edfgvfdfb)
(spoilers below)
Yes, honestly, I kinda used my own ace experience to write the whole situation, and it's always comforting to have someone telling you they would love you no matter what your boundaries are. In real life, let's say people still have needs, but Arcturus is an ideal lover and the one we all deserve defgvtfdf
And yes, the second timeline shown was supposed to narrate the shift for Araceli: and the idea of unconditional and pure love helping her to overcome her insecurities is something I wanted to approach with her!
Now, for the last cycle... What can I say! For it to be a chim-game (trademark), it had to have some sort of ominous twist dfvgfdfv it doesn't seem to have traumatised people so far but thanks for noticing THE VOICE LITERALLY THREATENS HER and for the answers well.......... when I release My Stardust Lover, muahahahahahah!
And thank you for sharing your experience with this game, but also for all your kind words about everything!! I'm glad it felt magical and ominous! And once again, thank you for your constant support!!
ohhhh this is lovely!! teared up at the end haha, it's very sweet and I love the way you used the game mechanics to tell the story, [redacted] is one of my favourite tropes and I love seeing it in visual novels because of the way they are designed!! it is sweet and wonderful and Arcturus is so dreamy! thank you for making this!
Aaaah, thanks for your kind review, I'm happy you appreciated the game! I had a lot of fun approaching [redacted] to make it a short but very romantic story (with a slightly ominous ending though defvtfrfv). And I do wish for us all to find our personal Arcturus!!
I played the game and all its endings! They were quite fun to see the changing menu and all the camera work! I love Arcturus what a precious man! Araceli and I just starstruck hehe 🤩 it wasn’t as sad as I thought but instead I shed tears much easier cause it was beautiful and loving!
I love this genre of game like Intertwine and Threads of Snow that touch on time travel and soulmates! It was fun seeing your take on this and the color scheme was so pretty and comforting!
And of course the subject matter of not needing to rush yourself into anything, specifically sex to show your partner you love them! I loved Arcturus’ line about he’d rather Araceli be comfortable! He was so relaxed and understanding and the blurry screen effect is just me 90% of the time with my loved ones when they say something sweet!
loved the background art and the changing menus and sparkly goodness throughout!
Great game as always Chime! Going to be recommending it and of course it’s infinite/5 stars ⭐️!
Thanks for your feedback, Joy! I'm happy you enjoyed this game!
Yes, I wanted to explore time travel a bit, and I was glad to have my spin on it! The idea was to get Araceli slowly ready and comfortable, as she finds love in the most mundane things, and I'm happy with how soft everything is! (well, if you don't count the third playthrough I guess defvferfgf)
Thanks for all your nice words once again, it always means a lot coming from you!!
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Any chance for a Male MC please?
Hi, thanks for your interest!
Unfortunately, this game is a side-game to a future bigger one, set in a universe where Araceli (the protagonist) is a woman (she isn't really meant to be a self-insert). However, I intend to release a game letting you choose between a female and a male protagonist with a male love interest at the start of April.
goddd this was so cuteeeeeeee im smiling so hard rn
Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed this soft moment with Arcturus!
That was very sweet, I think you did a great job depicting young love and what it feels like to be absolutely smitten with your partner (which makes the ending extra ominous) (i also remember your posts about the premise of this game so it felt like a punch in the gut after all the love confessions 🥲). And though it seems a little idealistic to me (being in a long-term relationship will do that to you lol), I enjoyed the game for the message about acceptance and respecting your partner's boundaries. It's a cute wholesome romance, just as you promised. 💕
And kudos for the artwork! I liked the pretty colors and the star theme of the art and GUI. 👌 (btw, and I mean it in the most endearing way possible, Arcturus's bangs look like a chocolate churro to me and I can't unsee it 😆)
Thanks for your feedback, Hiro, I'm happy you found the game sweet! I agree that it is idealistic, and that's the point: Arcturus is written to be idealistic, haha (unlike the other route, Yale, which is more grounded)! And yes, cute and wholesome, despite the ominous ending, haha!
And OH MY GOD I CAN'T UNSEE IT EITHER, like, of course, thanks for the kind words but THIS IS HILARIOUS HIRO RFVGBVFRVJNBHFV ARCHURROS
Ohhh, it was so nice meeting the characters after first learning about them! The aesthetic of the game is so fitting; it's very bright, sparkly, fairytale-esque, a bit surreal - the color choices are reminiscent of solar bodies such as nebulas/galaxies, and the music is tender and a bit dreamlike. The artwork is fantastic, particularly the rendering on the face, hair, and blanket, and I enjoyed the way the CG was animated with zooms/blurs/varying backgrounds to make it more dynamic. Although the game is short, Arcturus and Araceli are both very well characterized within it. You really get the "fairytale" vibe from the two of them, and the strength and authenticity of their bond is palpable.
Since the game is fairly short, I'll put all my discussion below, since it basically reveals the plot of the game. NOTE that my discussion below also contains some information about the main game that is not discussed in this entry.
SPOILERS FOR THE GAME
I really enjoyed the genuine, honest, and authentic conversation between Arcturus and Araceli. It does a good job of introducing you to the characters and making you invested in their relationship, and I think that Araceli's apprehension at taking this new step was quite relatable. Her thoughts actually reminded me a lot of "Kissing Snow White" (very strong asexual/demisexual/graysexual vibes!) I really liked Araceli's arc, seeing her gaining confidence and growing more comfortable with progressing their relationship.
It's a little hard to judge since admittedly I know the basic premise of this story already LOL but I do think that this game does a good job of hinting what MSL will be about, without giving too much away. The game did a good job of being satisfying on its own (resolving Araceli's arc regarding intimacy), while also leaving a lot of unresolved mysteries regarding the overall plot with the time travel and the mysterious voice that appears in the final loop.
The final loop is VERY intriguing. Noah's voice acting is fantastic and adds so much to the delivery of the monologue! The villain reveals that his philosophy is similar to that of Araceli, but he also reiterates that they are opposed. I wonder if the villain's goal is to trap Araceli and Arcturus in a time loop until they both turn into stardust for each other - to cement their love as eternal through these acts of sacrifice? (Kind of wonder how he'll react to Yale then LOL) I love the distorted track that's used for the start menu during the last loop; it's beautiful and atmospheric, while giving a slightly creepy/offputting vibe.
The changes to the start menu with every "loop" were very well done, with a lot of attention to detail placed into each iteration (from what I could tell, the image, music, and name of the start menu button all change each time). It's interesting how, after you play the final loop, the start menu returns to color (albeit a much darker color palette than the yellow present in the second iteration), even though the caption "She will be eternal" is pretty ominous LOL
Overall, this was a very intriguing introduction to the characters of MSL, and a lovely birthday present! :)
Aaaah, thanks for your detailed feedback, Chatter!! I'm happy my thought process for designing this game overall gave the vibe you mention! I'm also happy their relationship felt palpable, especially in how they love each other!
(spoilers below)
Honestly, yes, there is something reminding Kissing Snow-White, especially when Arcturus mentions there is no right way to love each other. I'm happy you appreciated Araceli's arc, as she gained confidence thanks to love. I'm also happy this game manages to be a good introduction to My Stardust Lover, although I'm excited to release the whole story (and to show the other aspect of the story brought by Yale).
Haha, the villain and Araceli are opposed exactly because they share the same philosophy? But I can't really spoil, right! And yes, I suppose Yale is going to catch him off-guard haha! (Also, I agree: Noah did an amazing job, I'm really happy with his performance!)
And yes, I wanted the main menu to also be part of the story, and I'm excited about others' theories!!
Thanks and all I know is that Butter enjoyed it, so that's a win!!!!!
I DIDN'T JUST ENJOY IT!!!! I LOVED IT SO SO SO VERY MUCH!!!!! IT MEANS THE STARS AND THE HEAVENS TO ME, AS IT IS NOW MY FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME GOSH. THE NUMBER OF REPLAYS I'VE DONE FOR THIS GAME HAS PROBABLY AMOUNTED TO HOURS BY NOW.
OH HOW THE BUTTERHEART COMBUSTS AND FLUTTERS FOR THIS GAME SO MUCH! JUST GOSH IT IS SO INFINITELY PRECIOUS TO ME!
IT IS THE AMALGAMATION OF ALL THAT I LOVE. TRULY MADE WITH THE BUTTERHEART IN MIND <3
IF ONLY I COULD JUST EXPRESS THE DEPTHS OF HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME IN A TANGIBLE WAY YOU COULD FEEL AND SEE.
(I truly have to make an essay on this and on the other games hahaha, but for now let me sort out my feelings first hahaha)
HELLO???
WHAT WAS???
THAT???
THE MUSIC GOT SO OMINOUS AND EVERYTHING JUST LIKE TOOK A TURN DAKFJALDSKFAD
What a fascinating turn. I knew you would hit me with at least some kind of foreboding existential question at the end 🤣💦 And now I have to sit here writing this while listening to this creepy semi-atonal-arrhythmic music continue to play...
BUT I DIGRESS.
[SOME SPOILERS HERE AS I CAN'T REALLY NOT TALK ABOUT THEM]
I enjoyed this a lot!!! I had no real idea what I was getting into beforehand despite your ominous posts leading up to it, so my mind was relatively Fresh. The first two "cycles" for lack of a better word were wonderfully sweet and I was extremely touched. I loved how positively understanding and loving Arcturus is??? Like??? As an ace person, it felt very cathartic to me to hear something like that, and even though I assume Araceli is not ace but more just not quite ready yet, it still had a lot of the same overarching themes of literally just... sexual boundaries. And loving your partner no matter what and focusing on their needs above all else. And I found that incredibly sweet and moving and My Heart Stirred 😭
In the first cycle, they simply end up cuddling. HHHHH. It was very cute. And was just such a soft moment. I enjoyed how Arcturus really kinda took it upon himself to ask Araceli straight out, her thoughts and feelings about everything, rather than just assuming??? And also the soft and heart-warming way he responded to everything that Araceli said. GUHHHH MADE MY HEART SQUISH.
Then in the second cycle, a cycle which I assume is not actually the "second" but probably the next of many cycles that we just haven't seen as the audience, we see Araceli's comfort (and confidence) levels grow a bit, even taking her her own cues from things that Arcturus has said in the past. It was a sweet and gradual build-up that really solidified how deep their relationship and feelings are. Also I loved how we got little glimpses of Araceli questioning the Arcturus "of this timeline" as though assuming he will somehow change when given the (albeit unknown) chance and yet every time, he's still the same, there's nothing hidden there, must Arcturus's pure and unconditional love and resolution to be there for her no matter what.
The first two cycles left me feeling very warm and fuzzy. Also helped by the fact that the visuals are so soft and magical??? From the GUI to the bright and warm colors to the soft style of your beautiful artwork, everything just felt like it was straight out of a fairy tale (OUAT anyone alskdjfalsd), which helped to amplify the soft warm yet somehow ephemeral feeling of the whole game. Also the music!!
OK BUT THEN THE THIRD CYCLE CAME AND I WAS LIKE UMMMMMM.
The change in the music?? The sudden desaturation?? WHO IS THIS SPEAKING??? WHY ARE THEY TURNING ARACELI AND ARCTURUS INTO STARDUST??? WHAT IS HAPPENING???????
So ominous. It was such a flip-the-switch moment that I had to go back and read that cycle again a bit more carefully to see if I had missed any potentially important key hidden within it or something ldkjfasd It was just such a good juxtaposition of style and feeling, and the use of timing and pacing of the final bit at the end was so good and impactful. GUHHHH. Ok now I have to assume this is the leadup to something else yes?? LIKE??? YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE US WITH THAT?? I have so many questions LOLOL I really want to know who this other being is and what exactly is going on because it feels like despite the warm fuzzy feelings of this game as a whole, it seems like the overarching premise is leading into ominosity AND I NEED TO KNOW.
Sob. Ok. I will stop rambling now. But I really enjoyed this! From the writing, to the soft magical art and vibes, to the interesting time-travel mechanic, TO THE OMINOUS FINAL CYCLE. You always leave me with a deluge of feelings and questions when I get done with your games and this was no exception!! A really fantastic job 😍
DFVGEDR I LOVE HOW CONFLICTED YOU SEEM ABOUT THE TONE OF THIS GAME EFGVDRFGGF (but that was the point of the last "cycle" to use your word edfgvfdfb)
(spoilers below)
Yes, honestly, I kinda used my own ace experience to write the whole situation, and it's always comforting to have someone telling you they would love you no matter what your boundaries are. In real life, let's say people still have needs, but Arcturus is an ideal lover and the one we all deserve defgvtfdf
And yes, the second timeline shown was supposed to narrate the shift for Araceli: and the idea of unconditional and pure love helping her to overcome her insecurities is something I wanted to approach with her!
Now, for the last cycle... What can I say! For it to be a chim-game (trademark), it had to have some sort of ominous twist dfvgfdfv it doesn't seem to have traumatised people so far but thanks for noticing THE VOICE LITERALLY THREATENS HER and for the answers well.......... when I release My Stardust Lover, muahahahahahah!
And thank you for sharing your experience with this game, but also for all your kind words about everything!! I'm glad it felt magical and ominous! And once again, thank you for your constant support!!
ohhhh this is lovely!! teared up at the end haha, it's very sweet and I love the way you used the game mechanics to tell the story, [redacted] is one of my favourite tropes and I love seeing it in visual novels because of the way they are designed!! it is sweet and wonderful and Arcturus is so dreamy! thank you for making this!
Aaaah, thanks for your kind review, I'm happy you appreciated the game! I had a lot of fun approaching [redacted] to make it a short but very romantic story (with a slightly ominous ending though defvtfrfv). And I do wish for us all to find our personal Arcturus!!
I played the game and all its endings! They were quite fun to see the changing menu and all the camera work! I love Arcturus what a precious man! Araceli and I just starstruck hehe 🤩 it wasn’t as sad as I thought but instead I shed tears much easier cause it was beautiful and loving!
I love this genre of game like Intertwine and Threads of Snow that touch on time travel and soulmates! It was fun seeing your take on this and the color scheme was so pretty and comforting!
And of course the subject matter of not needing to rush yourself into anything, specifically sex to show your partner you love them! I loved Arcturus’ line about he’d rather Araceli be comfortable! He was so relaxed and understanding and the blurry screen effect is just me 90% of the time with my loved ones when they say something sweet!
loved the background art and the changing menus and sparkly goodness throughout!
Great game as always Chime! Going to be recommending it and of course it’s infinite/5 stars ⭐️!
Thanks for your feedback, Joy! I'm happy you enjoyed this game!
Yes, I wanted to explore time travel a bit, and I was glad to have my spin on it! The idea was to get Araceli slowly ready and comfortable, as she finds love in the most mundane things, and I'm happy with how soft everything is! (well, if you don't count the third playthrough I guess defvferfgf)
Thanks for all your nice words once again, it always means a lot coming from you!!