I really don’t want to spoil anything so I'll just say this. I literally screamed when Evan said something along the lines "I need you to be at peace." that got me ~! I would definitely like a side story to see our life after with him.
I was kinda eyeing Max for some reason. He’s a bully yeah, I get it, but listen I can change him I swear 😪☝🏾.
But more seriously this was a well written story. I especially like that we could choses the sprites. That's why I played it three different times to get different endings and to see it through different sprites! I totally recommend it if you're looking for something short but impactful.
Thanks to everybody on the team that helped make this~!
Congrats on the good ending! And rgergbft I guess you meant Peter not Evan (the love interest is Peter Byrne, Amanda Evans is the protagonist frvgbtr'r) but I'm glad you enjoyed this line! It was a very sweet moment and I was happy to write it!
Also, I might or might not be working on a DLC with a scene with Max... just saying...
Thank you, the sprite feature was fun to implement and I think seeing it in action is quite fun!
Thank you for your feedback, I'm happy you enjoyed the game!
Geez, thank you so much!! If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to see it (maybe tag me on twitter if you have an account? Or else, you can share it here, on this page if you feel comfortable of course)!
And I'm happy you appreciated the game and Amanda, I love her too!
Dear Chimeriquement, Wow, you're amazing. My first impressions: * The story is so beautiful and heart wrenching that I cried and couldn't play anymore. I'll come back to this when my heart calms down. There's something about losing someone you love and then the process when you get that someone you love back. You captured this so beautifully and masterfully that I applaud you. * The art sprites and ability to choose between styles is very cool. * Programming "helper" at the start of the game is super cool and professional.
Overall, I absolutely loved this. Chim - well done!
Aaaah, thanks for sharing your first impressions IN VIDEO!!!!!!! I'd be more than curious to have your opinions on the rest of the story!!! But as I told you, haha, this is the exact scene that made me cry during development! Amanda realising Peter is perhaps here to bring a part of her she's been repressing and starting to realise she needs to feel complete to be happy made me enjoy her (I was at first a bit worried that she was obnoxious as a protag, but in the end, I really ended up loving her - although it is a bit weird to say that as her writer -)!
So thank you, thank you, thank you, infinite and endless, infinite thanks!!!!!
This game is so so soo cute. I kept rooting for Amanda the whole time and I'm glad that the wind blew them back together. Also, I really like being able to switch from the painterly and shoujo style. I switched as I played and I love both art styles! Such a good game.
Kawaii-chan took me out in the beginning. That was so funny.
Hey!! Thanks for your feedback, it always means a lot! I'm so happy you enjoyed the game and the art style feature (and took time to enjoy both styles)! And yes, for once, the wind did a good job!!
(Kawaii-chan always loves being of service!! Expect to see her in more of my games defrg)
Hi, thanks for your feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed the game! The typewriter was a bit of a struggle to implement, haha, but I'm happy with the rendition in the end!
To answer your question, the game has three endings: a good one, a neutral one and a bad one. If you struggle finding the two others, you cant take a look at the walkthrough!
It took a while to make a review, but who doesn't like a friend to lovers story and I'm honestly impressed how peter and amanda compliments each other, and I find that really sweet the romance was very wholesome and sweet. I want more more plss lol and I can say I guess the wind did blew me away ;)
Ha ha, thank you for your nice words! I really wanted them to be compatible, so it makes me happy!!! And glad you enjoyed the sweet romance, since I usually write way more horrible stuff efrgtef"rg
"I guess the wind did blew me away ;)" Hopefully it brings you back though!!!!! The yuri VN dev industry needs you!!
OH MY GOD?! This game is so good I love Peter so much. The writing is amazing, the options for different art styles is such a good idea, and the concept of the story overall is so sweet.
I'm serious Peter is so perfect literally my favorite type of character T_T. Thank you for such a fun game (also the implied autism representation is appreciated!)
AAAAH THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!!!!!!!!! It's so nice!!!!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the writing and the features!!!!
Yes, with Peter, I wanted to tackle a lot of things (which you saw in game), but it was very important to me to portray him as an autistic person getting diagnosed, because in real life, it can take time (paperwork, several appointements...), so yes!! So I'm glad you love him as much as I do!!
I love, love what you've accomplished with this game! The UI, the setting, the atmosphere, the story, the art variations, the music choices, the pain, the suffering? Everything tugged at my heartstrings and I adored all of it! I especially enjoyed the introspective writing--it's a superb fleshing out of Amanda's character and how she sees Peter. This game is such a cohesive package, and I'm absorbed in it. Well done, Chim!
Aaaah, thank you for your nice comment Dani!! I'm glad you enjoy so many things about the game and that you enjoyed Amanda as a protag (sorry for the suffering though edfrgtrsdzefrg). Your contribution made me want to try my best to make the game as good as possible, let it be about the GUI or the writing, so thank you!!!
It is a story about a girl who grew up with a friend who was close to her as a child who suddenly left her, leaving her heartbroken, and she is reunited with a boy who has grown up.
It was very touching and romantic!
Amanda's mind was so carefully and beautifully portrayed, and every word was lovely.
Amanda, who is gradually opening up to him, is also adorable, and I loved the way they played together.I love the scene which they have picnic in the woods together, and Peter tried to surprise Amanda!
I won't reveal any details, but Peter's difficulties brought tears to my eyes.
The ending is very romantic that they both felt the same way.
Hi! Thanks for your gentle feedback! I'm glad you appreciated the game and found it romantic (I was worried the "childhood friends" part of the scenario would overpower the romance, hehe...).
And thank you for loving these characters, and I'm glad (but still a bit sorry efrgtrt') that Peter brought some tears, haha! I really hold him very dearly and I am proud to be able to tackle the times I do tackle in game thanks to him.
10/10 game, copious amounts of WIND and TREES, would recommend to anyone who loves wind and trees - Okay I'm joking...
Unfortunately, this game peaked in its first few moments with the introduction of Kawaii-chan, and it never reached those heights again - OKAY I'M STILL JOKING.
In WTWBYA, we are introduced to Peter and Amanda, two childhood friends who become estranged. When Peter reappears suddenly, the two slowly reconcile.
First of all, the character writing is impeccable, as always. If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for childhood friends, and Amanda and Peter are no different. However, even more than that, I love how both parties are characterized. I related SO much to Peter's struggles with social interactions, and I found Amanda's desire to "fit in" very relatable as well.
Amanda's character and subsequent character arc are perfectly encapsulated in the game design. For instance - Amanda and Peter are the only ones with visible sprites, while the others are depicted merely as black silhouettes, highlighting the distance that Amanda feels from them. Furthermore, even while talking with her friends (whose names are mentioned in the script), in the speaker box the friends are still referred to as "Classmate 1/2," reinforcing that Amanda does not feel close to others, even people that she calls her friends.
As the story is fundamentally one about miscommunication, many of the choices are similar at first glance, but are actually very different in context. While Amanda is saying the same things in both options, HOW she phrases the answer is critical. For instance, "I would love going with you" vs. "I wouldn't mind going with you." I love this detail; it really makes you pay attention to the choices while also perfectly reflecting the themes of communication - you need to listen to Peter and communicate the way that he understands.
I won't spoil anything, but the romance is an absolutely sweet and wholesome story that ticked ALL the right boxes for me. I love it when characters in a romance learn about themselves and grow through their interactions with each other!
Can I say that this game just screams polish? From the UI design, to the text animations, to the sprite animations, there's so much care and detail added into everything that makes the experience so much more dynamic and fun. I especially loved the design of the UI. The muted colors and watercolor aesthetic of the backgrounds really give a nostalgic but melancholic vibe, like autumn, reflecting how Amanda has moved past her "bright spring" into a slightly more depressing adolescence. The cut paper design of the text boxes brings to mind love letters, or childhood diaries. I also really appreciated how both the backgrounds and the sprites of the past scenes were depicted with a slightly more monochromatic, red-tinged palette, which evoked a 'sepia" feel, like looking at old photographs. The music tracks were beautiful, fitting the story perfectly while also being incredibly pleasant to listen to on their own.
I was really looking forward to this, and it certainly did not disappoint! There were enough wind/tree references to sate my appetite, and I loved the experience overall! Peter is the sweetest LI ever...
Ah shoot! I know I should have put the tutorial at the end of the game instead!
I’m glad this story tackled the childhood friends trope in a way you enjoyed and that you found Peter and Amanda relatable! It was honestly their point (although both are relatable in a different way, but I guess even them see a bit of themselves in each other)!
And, oh my god, I’m so happy somebody noticed for the name of the classmates!! I wanted to make it clear having them named “Classmate 1” or “Bully” was a choice, even though the characters actually had names (I usually go the opposite direction, cf. HSL naming the headmaster “Joshua Hudson”).
And it was the point of the more similar choices indeed! Peter enjoys clear communication so you have to be clear about Amanda’s feelings to earn points (while being confused will comfort him into friendship rather than love).
And thank you for commenting on the animation, the GUI etc. I did think a lot about it and was quite unsure about the GUI since it really is out of my comfort zone but since everyone feels satisfied with it, I’m kinda happy too then, haha! And yes, the music was really important in this game, and the composer is really extremely talented!!!!
And glad it didn’t disappoint! I like to call Peter the “evergreen flag”, I feel like it fits the game, haha! And I’m very happy you had a great experience with the game, thank you so much!
I don't think it's easy to put on word why I like this game so much. You did an amazing job at directing, programming, writing all of this! I loved the filters, the typewriter effect, the painterly sprites, the CGs but above all the simple story. Peter is so relatable to me in the little things and it made me feel less alone, more understood. Thank you for making this game, Chimerique!
If you're wondering why I'm commenting this only now it's because I was preparing a little present <3 I hope you'll like it!
Hey Banya, thanks for your feedback! We talked a bit privately, but I'm very happy you enjoyed the game and recognised yourself in Peter and felt less lonely, it really was the whole point of it, and seeing you write that moves me! Honestly, the game wouldn't have been as good as it is without your work, so thank you for making this game with me, Banya!
And now, what can I say about the drawing! It's just AMAZING, ADORABLE, BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY FRGTRZEGDBTEGBHGDG THIS IS SO GREAT, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I feel blessed to have worked with you and all the other talented artists involved!! This looks beautiful and so in character for them!!!!!!!!
SUCH a deeply tender experience from top to bottom, getting to parse my way through this pairs shared youth and reconcile the distance thats since grown between them was incredibly heartwarming. its a story theme im quite fond of, the idea of forced separation and a later reconciliation full of a bittersweet entwining of comfort and angst at how they've grown further apart yet only closer to the other despite the lack of presence.
im not sure if it was intentional, but the character designs of either character leaning into autumnal (peter) or springtime (amanda) themes was a total cherry on top for me. amanda, growing and blossoming out of her bud into peters sunshine, while peter stands tall as his big oak tree self, forever himself no matter how the wind may blow (see what i did there) his leaves. im a total sucker for things like that. 🍃🍂
just a wonderfully tender, heartfelt little story i am so happy to see finally released and receive the love it deserves! the love and care you and your team have put into this project oozes off of it in every corner. thank you all for the friday morning fluffiness. 🤎
moment of appreciation for T.M. Bach's music too! i found myself humming along to the opening menu theme anytime i stepped away from my computer for a moment.
[BAD END SPOILER!]
the bad ending is so heartbreaking, to abandon peter the same way we assume he must have abandoned us all those years ago, letting the harsh winds of an unforgiving world crash against his branches until they break, tearing his gentility apart and replacing it with a harsh aggression so unlike his otherwise calm, soft demeanour. gah. im forever a sucker for a bad ending but i cant deny the heartbreak they give me nonetheless...
so glad i did the bad ending first, because if i had to go back afterwards and break these two squishes hearts id be devastated... 🥲
Aaaah, thank you for playing the game and for your detailed feedback!
Yes, I really wanted to paint the bittersweet but overall fulfilling experience of reconnecting with someone from your past and slowly letting your guard down to let them be a part of your life again!
Oh, funny for the character designs! They are both nature-themed, but Amanda was perhaps more thought as vintage-themed rather than spring-themed (the idea was to bring her back in the 2000s, haha, albeit in a more tolerable version than what the fashion actually was at the time, but somehow, she's trapped into her childhood because she's never let her resentment go)? And you're right for Peter, that's basically his character: he's grown comfortable enough with himself to stop caring about what others might think of him. (And I see what you did there!)
Thank you so much!!! I'm happy to have worked with so many talented artists on this little project, they all did a great job! And yes, his compositions are some of my favouritea ctually!
(Bad end spoilers)
Yes, it was heartbreaking to write! Writing Peter just so desperate that he has to resort to fighting back was terrible for me too, haha... He really deserves better than this ending, so I'm glad it wasn't your final note!
This game was so heartwarming and sweet! I found Peter to be very relatable and cute. His candid nature is endearing and when he came out with the Proust questionnaire, I was sold haha
The idea of having two different sprite styles is really fun, though I imagine it's a lot of work. All the art was lovely, I especially like the main menu piece!
All in all, you did a great job and I really enjoyed my time with the game.
Hi! Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you found Peter cute, haha, and let's be honest, who can resist the Proust questionnaire (I wanted to give him something to hyperfixate on during the game)?
Thanks for the art! The implementation of the feature is surprisingly not that hard, haha! And yes, the main menu piece is very beautiful, I'm so happy to have worked with Dani on this!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you had a nice time with this little story and these characters of mine!
This game is SO sweet, and the writing style is fantastic and very romantic in the descriptions. It's hard to make me tear up when reading anything, but I definitely did - with happy tears.
The game gives you two art styles to choose from and features amazing sprite animations to make the story feel alive. The animation alone makes this story feel much more well-made than many I've played in the past. (EVEN THE GUI IS AMAZINGGGGG, the art is so good!)
It's a story that will warm your heart, and I highly recommend everyone give it a try!
(On a less professional note...I love Peter so much and I just want to give him hugs and tell him everything will be okay T-T <3 )
Just overall -- PLAY IT! Give it a try!! It's not super long, and it's 100% worth your time - Chim is a very talented dev, and you won't find someone who makes stories come alive like he does!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in comments Snakk!! I’m very happy you teared up (wait, what?)! And thank you for the animations, I spent a lot of time making sure they looked good haha! I hope I can incorporate them in my future games, haha! (And so happy for the GUI efrgfgtb I really was unsure when I designed it but was happy to have so many good feedback on it fdgtrgthn)
And you have no idea how much you enjoying Peter means to me!! I really love this little guy so much, and I wish to protect him against any wind, as Amanda says in the neutral ending!
“Chim is a very talented dev, and you won't find someone who makes stories come alive like he does!” frgtrfgthtgrh this is adorable!!!!! Thank you so much, it’s so nice of you to say that!!!!!! Especially since it comes from someone who’s so good at making her characters alive and distinct!!!!!
This game is so BEAUTIFUL in every way!! From the art, the GUI and the music to the story, the characters and the way it's coded!! I loved Amanda's and Peter's story: two childhood friends who are unfortunately separated but meet again with a chance to reconnect once again!! It's really well-written and narrated, and I just love how we can feel closer to Amanda not only through her words but through the way the game is coded as well by making the words on the screen tremble when she's anxious, and flow naturally when she's feeling good. It's a real treasure to find someone in your life who you feel you can be yourself around with, so I completely understand Amanda's and Peter's grief when they were apart for so long and they felt like they lost themselves. Peter's circumstances are also really heartbreaking but completely understandable, and I loved seeing autism representation!
Honestly, it's immensely beautiful and poetic how, in order to get the good ending, you need to explore the way in which Amanda and Peter reconnect again with nothing more and nothing less than the virtues they value the most in people: patience and sincerity.
Amazing work, this one is definitely going to my favorites <3
Aaaah, I was going to send you a DM, but I'm glad you left your review as a comment so I can answer!!!!
Honestly, your review is so gentle and sweet, I'm overwhelmed rfgteref thank you so much Pri!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the game that much, be it on narration, art, GUI (I was feeling very unconfident with this one, haha, but I'm so happy people actually like it)!!!! And thanks for the coding, I really tried my best to help it enhance the text, and I'm so happy I'm getting more and more them! Still have a lot to learn though, haha, but nonetheless very excited!!
And thanks, it was important for me to give this sort of representation (and that's the reason Peter required so much sensitivity reading, I was SWEATING while writing his character when twitter got overwhelmed with the "I'm a surgeon, Dr. Han" meme rfgtr'feg and really wanted not to misrepresent autism frvgdt).
"it's immensely beautiful and poetic" Wow, this is such high praise, thank you!!!! But yes, in the end, that's all they needed: time (patience) to talk things out (sincerity), and I'm glad you caught up on that!
Having this game as one of your favourites really means a lot, I really don't know what to say... Aaaah, I feel so warm and I want to bounce of happiness, thank you for your review, it really made my day!!!!!!!
Askdjbskd I can imagine the nervousness with the sensitivity reading, I'd be the same! But honestly, you did a great job, I love how you wrote Peter so much, he's so sweet!! And yes, seriously, your GUI is amazing!! And I'm not saying it just because, it looks really polished and fitting with the game, I can only DREAM of making something like that, I have no patience for that xD so stand proud cause it looks awesome!! <3
You're very sweet as well, Chim, and it shows in your care for your writing and in the way you're so passionate for your stories and characters whenever you mention them on Twitter. It always leaves a smile on my face to see the love and excitement you show for your games, hehe.
I'll let you know when I play Namida & High School Lolita too!
Aaaah, thanks a lot!! Still wish I were better at implementing it so that I can try more things, but hey, baby steps, right! And I'll be proud just for you!
"You're very sweet as well, Chim, and it shows in your care for your writing and in the way you're so passionate for your stories and characters whenever you mention them on Twitter" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH OKAY THIS WAS ADORABLE??????????? I'M GOING TO DIE FROM HAPPINESS????? I-I'm really happy you think so!!!!! AGFEGBRTTH
Oh, and excited to have your feedback! These ones are a bit darker than those of mine you played (well, HSL is WAAAAAAAAY darker), but I hope you find something in them too!!
Man, that was just the right amount of cute and wholesome with a dash of nostalgia. (okay, i lied. the cute went off the scale in the good ending and I might have teared up a bit) (they're adorable 💕)
Love the estranged friends-to-lovers set-up with all the implications. You've got the hope of regaining something lost on one hand and the fear of being abandoned again on the other. And that creates a real conflict for Amanda and makes her a relatable protagonist (imo). I also like what you did with Peter's reasons for leaving; the build-up was there and it fell into place in a satisfying way. 👌
Also, I really feel that true romance lies in the comfort of being able to be yourself around the other person without the fear of judgment and you captured that with Amanda and Peter's special interests. (and the way they talked about combining both was very entertaining 🤭)
The art, music, and the GUI are all lovely (and the option to choose between the sprite styles! what a cool feature 👌). Very charming overall!
I wanted the good ending to feel like an extra-giga-good ending!!! And yes, my babies are adorable!!!!!!
I'm glad you found Amanda relatable, and you explained very well what I tried to do with her, haha, since she's the character who goes through the most character development in game. And thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the reasons behind Peter's disappeearance, it permitted me to tackle topics I've been wanting to tackle (maybe I'll do something more detailed someday though, haha).
Thanks for noticing I tried to combine their respective interests, haha! It was important for me, as it shows they are really connecting, and that their souls are entwining!
And I'll admit the "choose sprite style" option wasn't planned at first, haha, it's here because we weren't sure the shojo style would be ready for release (but it is, so yay!!), but in the end, I'm glad it is a feature, it's pretty cool to have it!!
And thank you again for your feedback, it always means a lot, and I'm glad you had a sweet experience!
This is a beautiful game. Even though I played it on my phone, I had no real issues.
Peter is a sweetheart, and he didn't deserve to have such a terrible childhood. I'm so happy that Amanda could be together with him in the end.
As for Amanda, I know what it is like to want to fit in, and be normal, and I know how hard it is to be yourself. I also got bullied like Peter, but I got through it, and I'm glad he did too.
This is truly an amazing love story, and the songs, and artwork make it even better. I love the shoujo style, and moving images, as well as what I assume to be fireflies on the homescreen.
This game has a deep story, and message that I will remember for a long time. Thank you for creating it, and sharing it with everyone! :)
Thank so much for this lovely review and for sharing part of your experience with us! I'm glad your bullying is behind you now, and yes, I'm happy for Peter too! I'm also very happy that you could connect with the both of them because, obviously, Peter is the love interest, so he had to be charming, but I really wanted people to appreciate Amanda too haha!
"This is truly an amazing love story" I-I'm speechless! Thank you, I'm so glad you think that highly of the love story! I really wanted it to feel sweet and wholesome!
And thanks, and I have to agree with you: Banya did an outstanding job with the shojo style, and I couldn't feel more grateful for having three talented artists joining me in this project!!
And your conclusion leaves me speechless, once again! Thank you so much! I'm so happy these characters will stick with you, haha! And thank you for playing the game and having let me know your thoughts!! It means the world!
First go play this game if you haven't already! Then you can read this review, the game is 5/5 stars! Go play it nowwwwwwww
(Spoilers below)
First off, jumpscare Kawaii-chann! But it was pleasant and a fun use of her character!
I have already played the good end at the time of writing this, I will eventually play the bad end, and cry most likely- when I do that, I'll reach out to you directly and give you my thoughts (and tears).
I love how cohesive this story is, everything is! I love how earthy all the characters and how down to earth all the characters are (except Max ofc)
Amanda is such a sweetheart, I like being inside of her head and navigating the feelings associated with reuniting with a childhood friend. (it's only cliche cause it works)
Peter really is up there in your catalogue of characters, it's easy to see why you love him so much! Like Amanda, I fell in love right alongside her. He feels so real, and super likeable in a way that makes total sense without him being a Mary ?Stew?Stu? (whatever)
I will say I predicted a lot of things, but that's probably just writer brain. I don't think it's bad, I think you just foreshadowed and set all the details up well.
I love how devilish Amanda can be sometimes, I hope more of that side comes out when she gets older and grows more confident in herself.
I loved the natural progression of their relationship and Peter getting her corndogs! They are just so precious, I hope they are always happy! Ignoring the bad end.
The art is gorgeous, every single bit of it, I loveeeee the music, you always pick the perfect pieces, and music is severely underrated in indie visual novels.
My favorite detail was tying this into the High School Lolita Universe (or just the contemporary universe you have lolol) I don't want to live in the Highschool Lolita Universe even though we technically do.... ANYWAY with Social worker Chloe' was super happy to read it, as if I couldn't love Peter more! I will def be replaying again! I wish I could leave another rating on it, (but that's cheating lol)
I'm still making my way through all your games, and I'm so happy to have played this game on release day! Wooo! Godspeed for your future projects, I know they'll be amazing!
I FORGOT- my favorite line was the: "What's your favorite color Peter?" and him just yelling "GINGER!-uhhh I mean Orange lmfaooo" so so goood and cuteeee, cryinggg rn
Thanks once again for your detailed feedback Joy! I'm going to answer but, to anyone reading this, spoilers too!
Ha ha, one day, I'll explain the reasons behind the creation of Kawaii-chan, but basically, she was created as a tutorial character haha (her design was the one shown in game wishing the sweet relief of death)! So having her here just made sense (and was so funny, I had to edfrtve")
Aaaaah, so excited to hear your thoughts about the bad end! I think it makes sense with what you discovered of Peter by getting the good ending, but I'll let you discover it and will gladly collect your thoughts and your tears!
For Amanda, yes, actually, she was really written to mirror Chloé, since you played HSL, I'll detail a bit: Chloé is basically a pariah, rejected and bullied by her peers, while Amanda is not. And since the game doesn't focus on Peter's bullying, but on his reconnection with Amanda, it felt good to have a character being able to do the right thing, for once!!!!! And not to let horrible things happen (imagine how short HSL would have been if Amanda were Chloé's friend lmaooo)!!
For Peter, I really wanted to have the greenest of green flags for the love interest, but you noticed, I didn't want him to be a Gary-Stu! So I tried to root him in humanity, in the extent you've seen in game.
Now, for the reason Peter left, haha, I suppose the last flashback makes it very obvious, but I do think you can suspect it starting the second one (with Peter being panicked because of a harmless accident).
Well, now, part of me wants to be a sequel, and of course, the canon ending is the good one... The bad ending did not happen!!!!!
And thanks! The composer I bought tracks from is extremely talented and I thought it would work perfectly for this game!! I literally fell in love and I do think the music is one of its strong suits! And same for the art, I feel so grateful for having collaborated with so many talented artists! They really brought the game to a level I could never have dreamed of reaching!
And yes, haha! For the Chloé detail, despite the scene being emotional, I had a smile on the face while writing it! I was just happy to know she managed to rebuild herself and help an innocent soul like Peter, as she wanted to!
And finally, the ginger line is one of my favourite because it's adorable rfrefrgvrffg (just like Peter in the end!!)
I'm so happy you enjoyed this game!! It really was stepping out of my comfort zone, but I'm happy I did, because now, I have a game to turn to when I just need a hug but can't get one! Thanks for your support, per usual, coming from you, it always means so much!!!!!!
So, that was a pretty sweet story. I can't deny that Peter's a charming guy in some places, very huggable for sure. I also really liked the highlighting of the fact that people change from their childhood selves, usually in stories like these people are static and almost never change their tastes, so, thanks for not doing that. I rate it "the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction"/13
Aaaah, thanks Naarel for your feedback! I'm glad you found Peter charming (I mean, it's important for an otome, right??)!!
Haha, you're welcome, but it felt necessary: if both hadn't changed, they wouldn't have needed to reconnect!
""the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction"/13" that is so sensitive a description, thank you Naarel!!!!!!
Definitely teared up at least.......... four times I think at various points while playing LOL and then the end I just kinda had to sit there and watch the credits scene for a while to let all the intense emotions settle back down in my heart lakdfasd
This was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed every bit of it!! I will always be impressed at how many different types of stories, vibes, feelings you can manifest with your games. How they're all so different?? (YET THEY ALL SOMEHOW MAKE ME CRY??) And yet somehow I feel like they have this almost... soft emotional quality tying them all together despite the vastly different themes. Like when I think about your games as a whole I feel this strong emotive attachment to them and they all have A Vibe even though they all made me feel such different things.
At any rate.
I chose the painterly style for my first playthrough and ended up getting the good ending (because I cannot choose anything but the good options??? it pains me otherwise LKDJAFDS) though now I want to go back through with the shoujo style and try some different options despite my inner conflict. I loved Peter so much GOD. I'd already mentioned from some of your lead-up posts how much I felt like we were similar/I could relate to him, but playing the game itself only made this even stronger (and I figured out that he was probably autistic the first time it mentioned his headphones so maybe that explains it 💦 a few of my teary moments were definitely because of this) . He is just such a sweet and likeable character and I really felt for him, especially with his stuttering and need for calm and quiet.
But I could also understand and empathize with Amanda because it's true -- when you experience a loss like that, you're instinctively going to be worried that it'll happen again?? And as she didn't know why it had happened in the first place, of course she was going to worry that literally anything could come about and lead to him leaving again. So I really appreciate like, hm, her emotional struggle. That even while she was gradually opening up to Peter again, some part of her just couldn't let go and was always there not allowing the final bit of her to be free. I thought that the pacing leading to the end and the slow build-up of both of them finally being able to say what they needed to so well done. It was the perfect mix of heartwarming moments with inner conflict and a few funny and sweet bits along the way -- just really well done!! I DON'T WANT TO GET THE WORSE ENDINGS THO??? I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY????? But I will... force myself.... for curiosity's sake alskdjfas
The art and GUI and everything was so soft and lovely and just filled me with such warm vibes. In love with the color palette it just feels so cozy??? The music was also lovely!! And the CGs were so cute?? And I really liked a lot of the little sprite animations you included! Really helped a lot of the little moments come alive. Just. Honestly. This whole game feels like a warm hug -- LIKE WARM SOUP, JUST LIKE PETER'S HUG -- and I'm still feeling all fuzzy now even as I write this. So thank you so much for this lovely little piece of cozy happiness 💕 These two are going to live in my heart rent-free for a while alskdfjalds
OKAY I JUST KNOW YOU DID NOT COMMENT SOMETHING THAT MADE ME CRY (I guess we're on a equal footing now!!!!!)
Like, really, I'm speechless about the general impression my writing leaves you, it's just so... so nice???? I'm really trying to write different types of stories (like, this one channeled different things in me than High School Lolita, or Katekyo's first date...) so I'm very glad you still think they manage to be different and emotional! And gosh, 4 times???? I'm so happy you found it that emotional!!
Ha ha, same with the good options, it broke my heart to pick the bad options for troubleshooting bugs edfgtr And THANK YOU FOR LIKING PETER, I LOVE HIM TOO SO MUCH! I wanted to make Peter a loveable, caring and respectful love interest without making him too perfect or bland, so I tried to paint him as human as possible, by making him sound real, by giving him things which exist but we don't see often in fiction (the stammer being one of them, and took inspiration from child me, who had a stammer and went every Friday to the speech therapist to stop stuttering, haha). Surprisingly, I had more sensitivity-reading for this game than I did for HSL, I asked some of my autistic friends for their opinion on Peter's potrayal as an autistic character, haha, and I was sooooooo relieved when they told me he was fine)! And you know, I feel like we focus less on this kind of representation (characters are often "autistic-coded" but we fail to mention the word "autistic", so i really wanted to for this one).
And yes, Amanda was a rollercoaster for me! At first, when I finished writing the game, I was really frustrated with her because I thought she was overreacting and hard on Peter! But when I took some time away and reread it, she hit me hard too! This fear of opening up, of being hurt again, especially considering Peter also has struggle to open up about his past, this all felt right to me, and I just wanted to give her a big warm hug (like a soup)!! And good luck, the bad ending is really hard on Peter zergtdgr he really only deserves the love!!!!!
And thanks, I feel very grateful to have collaborated with such talented artists! And for the animations, thank you, you were quite an inspiration in this, haha, since all your games are always so cinematographic and so well animated! Mine isn't cinematographic at all, haha, but you're the one who inspired me to try harder in this department!!!! So thank you, Carrot!
Overall, thank you, I'm glad this game felt warm even though you cried four times frge'zhb it really is a comfort game for me, and Peter a comfort character, so I'm very happy!! These two are never leaving me again too, haha!!
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I rated this 5/5. I love a good and heartwarming vn. It's so pure and the dialogues are so good! I am so happy that I found this vn!
Hi! Thanks for the very kind words, I'm glad you appreciated the story of Peter and Amanda! And thanks for the rating too, it helps!
Such a heartwarming game I was crying at the good ending so beautiful great job on the game I love it!
Thank you for your kind feedback, I'm glad you found the game emotional!
I got the good ending ~ 🤧🫶 Ha ha!
I really don’t want to spoil anything so I'll just say this. I literally screamed when Evan said something along the lines "I need you to be at peace." that got me ~! I would definitely like a side story to see our life after with him.
I was kinda eyeing Max for some reason. He’s a bully yeah, I get it, but listen I can change him I swear 😪☝🏾.
But more seriously this was a well written story. I especially like that we could choses the sprites. That's why I played it three different times to get different endings and to see it through different sprites! I totally recommend it if you're looking for something short but impactful.
Thanks to everybody on the team that helped make this~!
Congrats on the good ending! And rgergbft I guess you meant Peter not Evan (the love interest is Peter Byrne, Amanda Evans is the protagonist frvgbtr'r) but I'm glad you enjoyed this line! It was a very sweet moment and I was happy to write it!
Also, I might or might not be working on a DLC with a scene with Max... just saying...
Thank you, the sprite feature was fun to implement and I think seeing it in action is quite fun!
Thank you for your feedback, I'm happy you enjoyed the game!
Exactly what I meant, I don't know why I like calling Amanda Evans better but yeah ~! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for a DLC with Max hee hee.
amazing. just amazing! i already made fanart of amanda
Geez, thank you so much!! If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to see it (maybe tag me on twitter if you have an account? Or else, you can share it here, on this page if you feel comfortable of course)!
And I'm happy you appreciated the game and Amanda, I love her too!
Dear Chimeriquement,
Wow, you're amazing.
My first impressions:
* The story is so beautiful and heart wrenching that I cried and couldn't play anymore. I'll come back to this when my heart calms down. There's something about losing someone you love and then the process when you get that someone you love back. You captured this so beautifully and masterfully that I applaud you.
* The art sprites and ability to choose between styles is very cool.
* Programming "helper" at the start of the game is super cool and professional.
Overall, I absolutely loved this. Chim - well done!
Aaaah, thanks for sharing your first impressions IN VIDEO!!!!!!! I'd be more than curious to have your opinions on the rest of the story!!! But as I told you, haha, this is the exact scene that made me cry during development! Amanda realising Peter is perhaps here to bring a part of her she's been repressing and starting to realise she needs to feel complete to be happy made me enjoy her (I was at first a bit worried that she was obnoxious as a protag, but in the end, I really ended up loving her - although it is a bit weird to say that as her writer -)!
So thank you, thank you, thank you, infinite and endless, infinite thanks!!!!!
This game is so so soo cute. I kept rooting for Amanda the whole time and I'm glad that the wind blew them back together. Also, I really like being able to switch from the painterly and shoujo style. I switched as I played and I love both art styles! Such a good game.
Kawaii-chan took me out in the beginning. That was so funny.
Hey!! Thanks for your feedback, it always means a lot! I'm so happy you enjoyed the game and the art style feature (and took time to enjoy both styles)! And yes, for once, the wind did a good job!!
(Kawaii-chan always loves being of service!! Expect to see her in more of my games defrg)
An absolutely magnificent game! Really like the art and the typewriter effect, it's so cool!
By the way, I have a question.
Are there multiple endings to the game, or there is only 1, the good ending?
Hi, thanks for your feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed the game! The typewriter was a bit of a struggle to implement, haha, but I'm happy with the rendition in the end!
To answer your question, the game has three endings: a good one, a neutral one and a bad one. If you struggle finding the two others, you cant take a look at the walkthrough!
Just finished playing the game and i have to say it was really well done! The music really fit the scene and the characters were cute.
I had a great time playing it. I actually found Peter rater relatable and i thought the option to choose your sprite was pretty cool
Ha ha, I had a great time with you too! I'm happy you found Peter relatable, he is a character very close to my heart!
Thanks for leaving a comment!
It took a while to make a review, but who doesn't like a friend to lovers story and I'm honestly impressed how peter and amanda compliments each other, and I find that really sweet the romance was very wholesome and sweet. I want more more plss lol and I can say I guess the wind did blew me away ;)
Ha ha, thank you for your nice words! I really wanted them to be compatible, so it makes me happy!!! And glad you enjoyed the sweet romance, since I usually write way more horrible stuff efrgtef"rg
"I guess the wind did blew me away ;)" Hopefully it brings you back though!!!!! The yuri VN dev industry needs you!!
OH MY GOD?! This game is so good I love Peter so much. The writing is amazing, the options for different art styles is such a good idea, and the concept of the story overall is so sweet.
I'm serious Peter is so perfect literally my favorite type of character T_T. Thank you for such a fun game (also the implied autism representation is appreciated!)
AAAAH THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!!!!!!!!! It's so nice!!!!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the writing and the features!!!!
Yes, with Peter, I wanted to tackle a lot of things (which you saw in game), but it was very important to me to portray him as an autistic person getting diagnosed, because in real life, it can take time (paperwork, several appointements...), so yes!! So I'm glad you love him as much as I do!!
I love, love what you've accomplished with this game! The UI, the setting, the atmosphere, the story, the art variations, the music choices, the pain, the suffering? Everything tugged at my heartstrings and I adored all of it! I especially enjoyed the introspective writing--it's a superb fleshing out of Amanda's character and how she sees Peter. This game is such a cohesive package, and I'm absorbed in it. Well done, Chim!
Aaaah, thank you for your nice comment Dani!! I'm glad you enjoy so many things about the game and that you enjoyed Amanda as a protag (sorry for the suffering though edfrgtrsdzefrg). Your contribution made me want to try my best to make the game as good as possible, let it be about the GUI or the writing, so thank you!!!
It is a story about a girl who grew up with a friend who was close to her as a child who suddenly left her, leaving her heartbroken, and she is reunited with a boy who has grown up.
It was very touching and romantic!
Amanda's mind was so carefully and beautifully portrayed, and every word was lovely.
Amanda, who is gradually opening up to him, is also adorable, and I loved the way they played together.I love the scene which they have picnic in the woods together, and Peter tried to surprise Amanda!
I won't reveal any details, but Peter's difficulties brought tears to my eyes.
The ending is very romantic that they both felt the same way.
Hi! Thanks for your gentle feedback! I'm glad you appreciated the game and found it romantic (I was worried the "childhood friends" part of the scenario would overpower the romance, hehe...).
And thank you for loving these characters, and I'm glad (but still a bit sorry efrgtrt') that Peter brought some tears, haha! I really hold him very dearly and I am proud to be able to tackle the times I do tackle in game thanks to him.
10/10 game, copious amounts of WIND and TREES, would recommend to anyone who loves wind and trees - Okay I'm joking...
Unfortunately, this game peaked in its first few moments with the introduction of Kawaii-chan, and it never reached those heights again - OKAY I'M STILL JOKING.
In WTWBYA, we are introduced to Peter and Amanda, two childhood friends who become estranged. When Peter reappears suddenly, the two slowly reconcile.
First of all, the character writing is impeccable, as always. If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for childhood friends, and Amanda and Peter are no different. However, even more than that, I love how both parties are characterized. I related SO much to Peter's struggles with social interactions, and I found Amanda's desire to "fit in" very relatable as well.
Amanda's character and subsequent character arc are perfectly encapsulated in the game design. For instance - Amanda and Peter are the only ones with visible sprites, while the others are depicted merely as black silhouettes, highlighting the distance that Amanda feels from them. Furthermore, even while talking with her friends (whose names are mentioned in the script), in the speaker box the friends are still referred to as "Classmate 1/2," reinforcing that Amanda does not feel close to others, even people that she calls her friends.
As the story is fundamentally one about miscommunication, many of the choices are similar at first glance, but are actually very different in context. While Amanda is saying the same things in both options, HOW she phrases the answer is critical. For instance, "I would love going with you" vs. "I wouldn't mind going with you." I love this detail; it really makes you pay attention to the choices while also perfectly reflecting the themes of communication - you need to listen to Peter and communicate the way that he understands.
I won't spoil anything, but the romance is an absolutely sweet and wholesome story that ticked ALL the right boxes for me. I love it when characters in a romance learn about themselves and grow through their interactions with each other!
Can I say that this game just screams polish? From the UI design, to the text animations, to the sprite animations, there's so much care and detail added into everything that makes the experience so much more dynamic and fun. I especially loved the design of the UI. The muted colors and watercolor aesthetic of the backgrounds really give a nostalgic but melancholic vibe, like autumn, reflecting how Amanda has moved past her "bright spring" into a slightly more depressing adolescence. The cut paper design of the text boxes brings to mind love letters, or childhood diaries. I also really appreciated how both the backgrounds and the sprites of the past scenes were depicted with a slightly more monochromatic, red-tinged palette, which evoked a 'sepia" feel, like looking at old photographs. The music tracks were beautiful, fitting the story perfectly while also being incredibly pleasant to listen to on their own.
I was really looking forward to this, and it certainly did not disappoint! There were enough wind/tree references to sate my appetite, and I loved the experience overall! Peter is the sweetest LI ever...
Ah shoot! I know I should have put the tutorial at the end of the game instead!
I’m glad this story tackled the childhood friends trope in a way you enjoyed and that you found Peter and Amanda relatable! It was honestly their point (although both are relatable in a different way, but I guess even them see a bit of themselves in each other)!
And, oh my god, I’m so happy somebody noticed for the name of the classmates!! I wanted to make it clear having them named “Classmate 1” or “Bully” was a choice, even though the characters actually had names (I usually go the opposite direction, cf. HSL naming the headmaster “Joshua Hudson”).
And it was the point of the more similar choices indeed! Peter enjoys clear communication so you have to be clear about Amanda’s feelings to earn points (while being confused will comfort him into friendship rather than love).
And thank you for commenting on the animation, the GUI etc. I did think a lot about it and was quite unsure about the GUI since it really is out of my comfort zone but since everyone feels satisfied with it, I’m kinda happy too then, haha! And yes, the music was really important in this game, and the composer is really extremely talented!!!!
And glad it didn’t disappoint! I like to call Peter the “evergreen flag”, I feel like it fits the game, haha! And I’m very happy you had a great experience with the game, thank you so much!
What a heartwarming little game! Congratulations and thank you for the experience!!!
Thanks for the gentle comment azure!!! I’m glad it was heartwarming!
I don't think it's easy to put on word why I like this game so much. You did an amazing job at directing, programming, writing all of this! I loved the filters, the typewriter effect, the painterly sprites, the CGs but above all the simple story. Peter is so relatable to me in the little things and it made me feel less alone, more understood. Thank you for making this game, Chimerique!
If you're wondering why I'm commenting this only now it's because I was preparing a little present <3 I hope you'll like it!
Hey Banya, thanks for your feedback! We talked a bit privately, but I'm very happy you enjoyed the game and recognised yourself in Peter and felt less lonely, it really was the whole point of it, and seeing you write that moves me! Honestly, the game wouldn't have been as good as it is without your work, so thank you for making this game with me, Banya!
And now, what can I say about the drawing! It's just AMAZING, ADORABLE, BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY FRGTRZEGDBTEGBHGDG THIS IS SO GREAT, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I feel blessed to have worked with you and all the other talented artists involved!! This looks beautiful and so in character for them!!!!!!!!
SUCH a deeply tender experience from top to bottom, getting to parse my way through this pairs shared youth and reconcile the distance thats since grown between them was incredibly heartwarming. its a story theme im quite fond of, the idea of forced separation and a later reconciliation full of a bittersweet entwining of comfort and angst at how they've grown further apart yet only closer to the other despite the lack of presence.
im not sure if it was intentional, but the character designs of either character leaning into autumnal (peter) or springtime (amanda) themes was a total cherry on top for me. amanda, growing and blossoming out of her bud into peters sunshine, while peter stands tall as his big oak tree self, forever himself no matter how the wind may blow (see what i did there) his leaves. im a total sucker for things like that. 🍃🍂
just a wonderfully tender, heartfelt little story i am so happy to see finally released and receive the love it deserves! the love and care you and your team have put into this project oozes off of it in every corner. thank you all for the friday morning fluffiness. 🤎
moment of appreciation for T.M. Bach's music too! i found myself humming along to the opening menu theme anytime i stepped away from my computer for a moment.
[BAD END SPOILER!]
the bad ending is so heartbreaking, to abandon peter the same way we assume he must have abandoned us all those years ago, letting the harsh winds of an unforgiving world crash against his branches until they break, tearing his gentility apart and replacing it with a harsh aggression so unlike his otherwise calm, soft demeanour. gah. im forever a sucker for a bad ending but i cant deny the heartbreak they give me nonetheless...
so glad i did the bad ending first, because if i had to go back afterwards and break these two squishes hearts id be devastated... 🥲
Aaaah, thank you for playing the game and for your detailed feedback!
Yes, I really wanted to paint the bittersweet but overall fulfilling experience of reconnecting with someone from your past and slowly letting your guard down to let them be a part of your life again!
Oh, funny for the character designs! They are both nature-themed, but Amanda was perhaps more thought as vintage-themed rather than spring-themed (the idea was to bring her back in the 2000s, haha, albeit in a more tolerable version than what the fashion actually was at the time, but somehow, she's trapped into her childhood because she's never let her resentment go)? And you're right for Peter, that's basically his character: he's grown comfortable enough with himself to stop caring about what others might think of him. (And I see what you did there!)
Thank you so much!!! I'm happy to have worked with so many talented artists on this little project, they all did a great job! And yes, his compositions are some of my favouritea ctually!
(Bad end spoilers)
Yes, it was heartbreaking to write! Writing Peter just so desperate that he has to resort to fighting back was terrible for me too, haha... He really deserves better than this ending, so I'm glad it wasn't your final note!
This game was so heartwarming and sweet! I found Peter to be very relatable and cute. His candid nature is endearing and when he came out with the Proust questionnaire, I was sold haha
The idea of having two different sprite styles is really fun, though I imagine it's a lot of work. All the art was lovely, I especially like the main menu piece!
All in all, you did a great job and I really enjoyed my time with the game.
Hi! Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad you found Peter cute, haha, and let's be honest, who can resist the Proust questionnaire (I wanted to give him something to hyperfixate on during the game)?
Thanks for the art! The implementation of the feature is surprisingly not that hard, haha! And yes, the main menu piece is very beautiful, I'm so happy to have worked with Dani on this!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you had a nice time with this little story and these characters of mine!
This game is SO sweet, and the writing style is fantastic and very romantic in the descriptions. It's hard to make me tear up when reading anything, but I definitely did - with happy tears. The game gives you two art styles to choose from and features amazing sprite animations to make the story feel alive. The animation alone makes this story feel much more well-made than many I've played in the past. (EVEN THE GUI IS AMAZINGGGGG, the art is so good!)
It's a story that will warm your heart, and I highly recommend everyone give it a try!
(On a less professional note...I love Peter so much and I just want to give him hugs and tell him everything will be okay T-T <3 )
Just overall -- PLAY IT! Give it a try!! It's not super long, and it's 100% worth your time - Chim is a very talented dev, and you won't find someone who makes stories come alive like he does!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in comments Snakk!! I’m very happy you teared up (wait, what?)! And thank you for the animations, I spent a lot of time making sure they looked good haha! I hope I can incorporate them in my future games, haha! (And so happy for the GUI efrgfgtb I really was unsure when I designed it but was happy to have so many good feedback on it fdgtrgthn)
And you have no idea how much you enjoying Peter means to me!! I really love this little guy so much, and I wish to protect him against any wind, as Amanda says in the neutral ending!
“Chim is a very talented dev, and you won't find someone who makes stories come alive like he does!” frgtrfgthtgrh this is adorable!!!!! Thank you so much, it’s so nice of you to say that!!!!!! Especially since it comes from someone who’s so good at making her characters alive and distinct!!!!!
This game is so BEAUTIFUL in every way!! From the art, the GUI and the music to the story, the characters and the way it's coded!! I loved Amanda's and Peter's story: two childhood friends who are unfortunately separated but meet again with a chance to reconnect once again!! It's really well-written and narrated, and I just love how we can feel closer to Amanda not only through her words but through the way the game is coded as well by making the words on the screen tremble when she's anxious, and flow naturally when she's feeling good. It's a real treasure to find someone in your life who you feel you can be yourself around with, so I completely understand Amanda's and Peter's grief when they were apart for so long and they felt like they lost themselves. Peter's circumstances are also really heartbreaking but completely understandable, and I loved seeing autism representation!
Honestly, it's immensely beautiful and poetic how, in order to get the good ending, you need to explore the way in which Amanda and Peter reconnect again with nothing more and nothing less than the virtues they value the most in people: patience and sincerity.
Amazing work, this one is definitely going to my favorites <3
Aaaah, I was going to send you a DM, but I'm glad you left your review as a comment so I can answer!!!!
Honestly, your review is so gentle and sweet, I'm overwhelmed rfgteref thank you so much Pri!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the game that much, be it on narration, art, GUI (I was feeling very unconfident with this one, haha, but I'm so happy people actually like it)!!!! And thanks for the coding, I really tried my best to help it enhance the text, and I'm so happy I'm getting more and more them! Still have a lot to learn though, haha, but nonetheless very excited!!
And thanks, it was important for me to give this sort of representation (and that's the reason Peter required so much sensitivity reading, I was SWEATING while writing his character when twitter got overwhelmed with the "I'm a surgeon, Dr. Han" meme rfgtr'feg and really wanted not to misrepresent autism frvgdt).
"it's immensely beautiful and poetic" Wow, this is such high praise, thank you!!!! But yes, in the end, that's all they needed: time (patience) to talk things out (sincerity), and I'm glad you caught up on that!
Having this game as one of your favourites really means a lot, I really don't know what to say... Aaaah, I feel so warm and I want to bounce of happiness, thank you for your review, it really made my day!!!!!!!
Askdjbskd I can imagine the nervousness with the sensitivity reading, I'd be the same! But honestly, you did a great job, I love how you wrote Peter so much, he's so sweet!! And yes, seriously, your GUI is amazing!! And I'm not saying it just because, it looks really polished and fitting with the game, I can only DREAM of making something like that, I have no patience for that xD so stand proud cause it looks awesome!! <3
You're very sweet as well, Chim, and it shows in your care for your writing and in the way you're so passionate for your stories and characters whenever you mention them on Twitter. It always leaves a smile on my face to see the love and excitement you show for your games, hehe.
I'll let you know when I play Namida & High School Lolita too!
Aaaah, thanks a lot!! Still wish I were better at implementing it so that I can try more things, but hey, baby steps, right! And I'll be proud just for you!
"You're very sweet as well, Chim, and it shows in your care for your writing and in the way you're so passionate for your stories and characters whenever you mention them on Twitter" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH OKAY THIS WAS ADORABLE??????????? I'M GOING TO DIE FROM HAPPINESS????? I-I'm really happy you think so!!!!! AGFEGBRTTH
Oh, and excited to have your feedback! These ones are a bit darker than those of mine you played (well, HSL is WAAAAAAAAY darker), but I hope you find something in them too!!
Man, that was just the right amount of cute and wholesome with a dash of nostalgia. (okay, i lied. the cute went off the scale in the good ending
and I might have teared up a bit) (they're adorable 💕)Love the estranged friends-to-lovers set-up with all the implications. You've got the hope of regaining something lost on one hand and the fear of being abandoned again on the other. And that creates a real conflict for Amanda and makes her a relatable protagonist (imo). I also like what you did with Peter's reasons for leaving; the build-up was there and it fell into place in a satisfying way. 👌
Also, I really feel that true romance lies in the comfort of being able to be yourself around the other person without the fear of judgment and you captured that with Amanda and Peter's special interests. (and the way they talked about combining both was very entertaining 🤭)
The art, music, and the GUI are all lovely (and the option to choose between the sprite styles! what a cool feature 👌). Very charming overall!
Thanks Hiro for your feeback!
I wanted the good ending to feel like an extra-giga-good ending!!! And yes, my babies are adorable!!!!!!
I'm glad you found Amanda relatable, and you explained very well what I tried to do with her, haha, since she's the character who goes through the most character development in game. And thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the reasons behind Peter's disappeearance, it permitted me to tackle topics I've been wanting to tackle (maybe I'll do something more detailed someday though, haha).
Thanks for noticing I tried to combine their respective interests, haha! It was important for me, as it shows they are really connecting, and that their souls are entwining!
And I'll admit the "choose sprite style" option wasn't planned at first, haha, it's here because we weren't sure the shojo style would be ready for release (but it is, so yay!!), but in the end, I'm glad it is a feature, it's pretty cool to have it!!
And thank you again for your feedback, it always means a lot, and I'm glad you had a sweet experience!
This is a beautiful game. Even though I played it on my phone, I had no real issues.
Peter is a sweetheart, and he didn't deserve to have such a terrible childhood. I'm so happy that Amanda could be together with him in the end.
As for Amanda, I know what it is like to want to fit in, and be normal, and I know how hard it is to be yourself. I also got bullied like Peter, but I got through it, and I'm glad he did too.
This is truly an amazing love story, and the songs, and artwork make it even better. I love the shoujo style, and moving images, as well as what I assume to be fireflies on the homescreen.
This game has a deep story, and message that I will remember for a long time. Thank you for creating it, and sharing it with everyone! :)
Thank so much for this lovely review and for sharing part of your experience with us! I'm glad your bullying is behind you now, and yes, I'm happy for Peter too! I'm also very happy that you could connect with the both of them because, obviously, Peter is the love interest, so he had to be charming, but I really wanted people to appreciate Amanda too haha!
"This is truly an amazing love story" I-I'm speechless! Thank you, I'm so glad you think that highly of the love story! I really wanted it to feel sweet and wholesome!
And thanks, and I have to agree with you: Banya did an outstanding job with the shojo style, and I couldn't feel more grateful for having three talented artists joining me in this project!!
And your conclusion leaves me speechless, once again! Thank you so much! I'm so happy these characters will stick with you, haha! And thank you for playing the game and having let me know your thoughts!! It means the world!
First go play this game if you haven't already! Then you can read this review, the game is 5/5 stars! Go play it nowwwwwwww
(Spoilers below)
First off, jumpscare Kawaii-chann! But it was pleasant and a fun use of her character!
I have already played the good end at the time of writing this, I will eventually play the bad end, and cry most likely- when I do that, I'll reach out to you directly and give you my thoughts (and tears).
I love how cohesive this story is, everything is! I love how earthy all the characters and how down to earth all the characters are (except Max ofc)
Amanda is such a sweetheart, I like being inside of her head and navigating the feelings associated with reuniting with a childhood friend. (it's only cliche cause it works)
Peter really is up there in your catalogue of characters, it's easy to see why you love him so much! Like Amanda, I fell in love right alongside her. He feels so real, and super likeable in a way that makes total sense without him being a Mary ?Stew?Stu? (whatever)
I will say I predicted a lot of things, but that's probably just writer brain. I don't think it's bad, I think you just foreshadowed and set all the details up well.
I love how devilish Amanda can be sometimes, I hope more of that side comes out when she gets older and grows more confident in herself.
I loved the natural progression of their relationship and Peter getting her corndogs! They are just so precious, I hope they are always happy!
Ignoring the bad end.The art is gorgeous, every single bit of it, I loveeeee the music, you always pick the perfect pieces, and music is severely underrated in indie visual novels.
My favorite detail was tying this into the High School Lolita Universe (or just the contemporary universe you have lolol)
I don't want to live in the Highschool Lolita Universe even though we technically do.... ANYWAYwith Social worker Chloe' was super happy to read it, as if I couldn't love Peter more! I will def be replaying again! I wish I could leave another rating on it, (but that's cheating lol)I'm still making my way through all your games, and I'm so happy to have played this game on release day! Wooo! Godspeed for your future projects, I know they'll be amazing!
I FORGOT- my favorite line was the: "What's your favorite color Peter?" and him just yelling "GINGER!-uhhh I mean Orange lmfaooo" so so goood and cuteeee, cryinggg rn
Thanks once again for your detailed feedback Joy! I'm going to answer but, to anyone reading this, spoilers too!
Ha ha, one day, I'll explain the reasons behind the creation of Kawaii-chan, but basically, she was created as a tutorial character haha (her design was the one shown in game wishing the sweet relief of death)! So having her here just made sense (and was so funny, I had to edfrtve")
Aaaaah, so excited to hear your thoughts about the bad end! I think it makes sense with what you discovered of Peter by getting the good ending, but I'll let you discover it and will gladly collect your thoughts and your tears!
For Amanda, yes, actually, she was really written to mirror Chloé, since you played HSL, I'll detail a bit: Chloé is basically a pariah, rejected and bullied by her peers, while Amanda is not. And since the game doesn't focus on Peter's bullying, but on his reconnection with Amanda, it felt good to have a character being able to do the right thing, for once!!!!! And not to let horrible things happen (imagine how short HSL would have been if Amanda were Chloé's friend lmaooo)!!
For Peter, I really wanted to have the greenest of green flags for the love interest, but you noticed, I didn't want him to be a Gary-Stu! So I tried to root him in humanity, in the extent you've seen in game.
Now, for the reason Peter left, haha, I suppose the last flashback makes it very obvious, but I do think you can suspect it starting the second one (with Peter being panicked because of a harmless accident).
Well, now, part of me wants to be a sequel, and of course, the canon ending is the good one... The bad ending did not happen!!!!!
And thanks! The composer I bought tracks from is extremely talented and I thought it would work perfectly for this game!! I literally fell in love and I do think the music is one of its strong suits! And same for the art, I feel so grateful for having collaborated with so many talented artists! They really brought the game to a level I could never have dreamed of reaching!
And yes, haha! For the Chloé detail, despite the scene being emotional, I had a smile on the face while writing it! I was just happy to know she managed to rebuild herself and help an innocent soul like Peter, as she wanted to!
And finally, the ginger line is one of my favourite because it's adorable rfrefrgvrffg (just like Peter in the end!!)
I'm so happy you enjoyed this game!! It really was stepping out of my comfort zone, but I'm happy I did, because now, I have a game to turn to when I just need a hug but can't get one! Thanks for your support, per usual, coming from you, it always means so much!!!!!!
So, that was a pretty sweet story. I can't deny that Peter's a charming guy in some places, very huggable for sure. I also really liked the highlighting of the fact that people change from their childhood selves, usually in stories like these people are static and almost never change their tastes, so, thanks for not doing that. I rate it "the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction"/13
PS omg Kawaii-Chan haiiii
Aaaah, thanks Naarel for your feedback! I'm glad you found Peter charming (I mean, it's important for an otome, right??)!!
Haha, you're welcome, but it felt necessary: if both hadn't changed, they wouldn't have needed to reconnect!
""the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction"/13" that is so sensitive a description, thank you Naarel!!!!!!
(I had a LOT OF FUN with the tutorial hehehehe)
OH I COULD TELL YOU HAD FUN WITH THE TUTORIAL
HOW DO YOU ALWAYS MANAGE TO MAKE ME CRY????
GOD.
Definitely teared up at least.......... four times I think at various points while playing LOL and then the end I just kinda had to sit there and watch the credits scene for a while to let all the intense emotions settle back down in my heart lakdfasd
This was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed every bit of it!! I will always be impressed at how many different types of stories, vibes, feelings you can manifest with your games. How they're all so different?? (YET THEY ALL SOMEHOW MAKE ME CRY??) And yet somehow I feel like they have this almost... soft emotional quality tying them all together despite the vastly different themes. Like when I think about your games as a whole I feel this strong emotive attachment to them and they all have A Vibe even though they all made me feel such different things.
At any rate.
I chose the painterly style for my first playthrough and ended up getting the good ending (because I cannot choose anything but the good options??? it pains me otherwise LKDJAFDS) though now I want to go back through with the shoujo style and try some different options despite my inner conflict. I loved Peter so much GOD. I'd already mentioned from some of your lead-up posts how much I felt like we were similar/I could relate to him, but playing the game itself only made this even stronger
(and I figured out that he was probably autistic the first time it mentioned his headphones so maybe that explains it 💦 a few of my teary moments were definitely because of this). He is just such a sweet and likeable character and I really felt for him, especially with his stuttering and need for calm and quiet.But I could also understand and empathize with Amanda because it's true -- when you experience a loss like that, you're instinctively going to be worried that it'll happen again?? And as she didn't know why it had happened in the first place, of course she was going to worry that literally anything could come about and lead to him leaving again. So I really appreciate like, hm, her emotional struggle. That even while she was gradually opening up to Peter again, some part of her just couldn't let go and was always there not allowing the final bit of her to be free. I thought that the pacing leading to the end and the slow build-up of both of them finally being able to say what they needed to so well done. It was the perfect mix of heartwarming moments with inner conflict and a few funny and sweet bits along the way -- just really well done!! I DON'T WANT TO GET THE WORSE ENDINGS THO??? I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY????? But I will... force myself.... for curiosity's sake alskdjfas
The art and GUI and everything was so soft and lovely and just filled me with such warm vibes. In love with the color palette it just feels so cozy??? The music was also lovely!! And the CGs were so cute?? And I really liked a lot of the little sprite animations you included! Really helped a lot of the little moments come alive. Just. Honestly. This whole game feels like a warm hug -- LIKE WARM SOUP, JUST LIKE PETER'S HUG -- and I'm still feeling all fuzzy now even as I write this. So thank you so much for this lovely little piece of cozy happiness 💕 These two are going to live in my heart rent-free for a while alskdfjalds
OKAY I JUST KNOW YOU DID NOT COMMENT SOMETHING THAT MADE ME CRY (I guess we're on a equal footing now!!!!!)
Like, really, I'm speechless about the general impression my writing leaves you, it's just so... so nice???? I'm really trying to write different types of stories (like, this one channeled different things in me than High School Lolita, or Katekyo's first date...) so I'm very glad you still think they manage to be different and emotional! And gosh, 4 times???? I'm so happy you found it that emotional!!
Ha ha, same with the good options, it broke my heart to pick the bad options for troubleshooting bugs edfgtr And THANK YOU FOR LIKING PETER, I LOVE HIM TOO SO MUCH! I wanted to make Peter a loveable, caring and respectful love interest without making him too perfect or bland, so I tried to paint him as human as possible, by making him sound real, by giving him things which exist but we don't see often in fiction (the stammer being one of them, and took inspiration from child me, who had a stammer and went every Friday to the speech therapist to stop stuttering, haha). Surprisingly, I had more sensitivity-reading for this game than I did for HSL, I asked some of my autistic friends for their opinion on Peter's potrayal as an autistic character, haha, and I was sooooooo relieved when they told me he was fine)! And you know, I feel like we focus less on this kind of representation (characters are often "autistic-coded" but we fail to mention the word "autistic", so i really wanted to for this one).
And yes, Amanda was a rollercoaster for me! At first, when I finished writing the game, I was really frustrated with her because I thought she was overreacting and hard on Peter! But when I took some time away and reread it, she hit me hard too! This fear of opening up, of being hurt again, especially considering Peter also has struggle to open up about his past, this all felt right to me, and I just wanted to give her a big warm hug (like a soup)!! And good luck, the bad ending is really hard on Peter zergtdgr he really only deserves the love!!!!!
And thanks, I feel very grateful to have collaborated with such talented artists! And for the animations, thank you, you were quite an inspiration in this, haha, since all your games are always so cinematographic and so well animated! Mine isn't cinematographic at all, haha, but you're the one who inspired me to try harder in this department!!!! So thank you, Carrot!
Overall, thank you, I'm glad this game felt warm even though you cried four times frge'zhb it really is a comfort game for me, and Peter a comfort character, so I'm very happy!! These two are never leaving me again too, haha!!