First off, fantastic writing. I have not been this enthralled with a VNs backstory or it's universe since Shelter. I love that the MC is not a complete jerk with irrational knee jerk reactions. And the story feels very human in it's responses. Really cant wait for the next act to drop.
Second, the lovecraftian mythos mix of the machines, the pall of madness, advanced and primitive technology merging into one cohesive novel, really set this up as a must read for FVNs.
Not too sure about first one but I believe the demons are some kind of amalgamation of man and machine. I think the mc is either what the demons were meant to be but somehow got corrupted (as in a perfect synchronization of man and machine working together in harmony) or that the mc is what all the demons were at some point before the ai they had in them started altering their bodies in unforeseen ways. And because the mc was in hibernation, these negative effects have not yet occurred between him and his ai. I suspect the mc might also be more akin to a cyborg and so the demons being corrupt versions of this makes sense to me if I'm correct.
I think you might be right about the demons and Alex. Maybe when Byte combines the algorithm it tries to overtake Byte and Alex and turn them into a demon. Doesn't really explain why the blackzones exist or why the demons never leave them though :/
Maybe that event landed with a rogue AI, then it created machines especcially made to kill with some crazy computer-made stuff, I can imagine the fog being a proyection of machines to mess with your mine, and the machines using some material that causes light that induces PTSD
I will highlight some loose ends, maybe this will help us to see a pattern.
We know there was a war against humans, but not what caused it and who they were fighting against.
There is a Virus thats targeting the Y chromossome.
The algorithm was made during The Cascade (maybe it was planed).
There are no human remains to be found from the period everyone was gone.
Superhumans with AI inside them are a thing
Alex doesnt need to eat or breathe, something is sustaining him with what he needs and more, since he is capable of regenerating himself (so he is synthesizing proteins from nothing).
Maybe its just because of the region they're in, but I always found it really interesting how they reinforce again and again that its cold in the summer (something drastically changed the world climate maybe?)
It is said that the demon was mocking mylo, so he has to understand emotions to an extent. (AI? Human? Both?)
If anyone has any idea, please share it if you're confortable
I was thinking that maybe this virus affecting the Y chromosome was made for population control in the pre-cascade era. If there are less males, then there will be less births. And it's not like everyone is into having multiple wives. Plus as we can see, the only way for the current species to maintain their numbers was by making drastic changes to the mating culture by coming up with the Mating Troupe thing. Sooo, it's like shoot your load and go.
I can see that, but I also thought it could be a bioweapon. It is (apparently, judging by how alex got it) an airborn virus that doesnt express any symtoms except in the next generation, so it would be virtually impossible to notice it and react to it in time before everyone is already infected. If a robot wants to rebel, that would be a GENIOUS play. Slowly reduce the rate in which humans reproduce and when they notice something is wrong, finish them off. That way no one would suapect a rebelion until the very end.
My thoughts too! And what's up with the apples being the first thing he remembered? Is it related to the first sin of man? Or even to how it was depicted in Assassin's Creed (the apple of Eden) to house the secret of free will? After all, we did install free_will.exe at the start of the VN.
Its definitly possible that the translation software was installed with byte, but never explained how it automatically translated the language. We don't know what happened exactly or when the protagonist was put into preservation due to the memory loss, but it could definitly be a hint that either byte is hiding something from us OR beastmen had appeared around the same time that the cascade happened, which could be useful to know, instead of them appearing randomly years later.
(I'm also ruling out that the translation system was learning the language as they talked since loken talked very little and yet we understood him as soon as he started talking)
It could also be possible that the demons are a alien species, or at least crafted with alien materials. Since the mere THOUGHT or sight of them could drive people insane, much less what they could do to you if they catch you.
Also don't forget that demons ONLY target sapient species like the beastmen and humans, not wild animals. Could that mean the demons were specifically engineered to target humans and bipedal species? Or are they just smart enough to target any species that could pose a threat to them?
(another less likely theory is that the demons are just thinking of this as a game, like playing with their food, and don't leave the blackzones for the sole reason of giving their pray a fighting chance for survival, since they have emotions or at least intelligence, and can kill beings very easily.)
The image with morse code in the game file surprises me HAHAHAHAHAHA
Got me all "AHHHHH WADEFAKKK??!!!"
btw, this is very good. I like the horror build up and now I understand why it's so scary. This VN is current in early development, ig? but there's so much to read. The flirting got both Alex and me flustered.
This has been a great novel to read. Balances saving the world with romancing a husky man just right. Going to be interesting to see how the husky reacts the next day.
I absolutely loved it! This is honestly one of the few vns that have an mc who do not irritate me with their stupid behaviour. I'm invested in the story just as much as in romance. Can't WAIT to see the Soul creek mountain, this is all very exciting. And the demons! Portrayed their looming presence even without actually showing them and that adds to the story so much. I'm waiting for the next chapter!
I have never been so invested in a visual novel. Just the description of this caught my attention, and once I downloaded it, I became immediately hooked. I have finished Chapter 1, and am patiently awaiting Chapter 2. By far, the best VN I have ever read.
I don't know how i never considered techno-cosmic horror but now that I've seen it holy fuck it's amazing! this was so well written it's unbelievable. and the use of graphics (and lackthereof) work to enhance the horror perfectly! I can't wait to see act 2 holds in store
"medieval and sci-fi" themes in 1 game! Very intriguing I really like the main protagonist (Alex) isn't just boring guy, and Byte is really making the story funnier~ (But I think "he?" swearing a bit too much for AI tho)but I like the sassy attitude
The art style isn't bad, I like some of character design (I don't like Alex design) But at least the background is nice thou.. When we are in The Blackzone. the atmosphere is really perfect for that situation! Personaly I don't like Horror game because have random jumpscare... but this game has the perfect horror recipe. Don't have random jumpscare, but scary af!
For the character.... Loken is The best! I love when he go rough,and want Alex to himself! Very hot! but he can be cute at the same time. I laugh every time he say, we are small HAHAHA Never change Loken, Never!
The building up for the sex scene is so good! When got Loken want to go rough on Alex, is super hot! but the execution a bit disappointed. I was expecting the sex scene gonna be long after superrrrr longgg tease from him and Alex going to destoyed once he was satisfied. like Real Dog... I-I mean The real Hounds.... I really hope in the future update, we go to see the real him! (oh! maybe we can get chained too pls :3) we got some foreshadowing at some scene :3
I just want to say is wow... Wow wow wow wow wow wow wooooow i am speechless gorgeous art, unique personality (for every character) the words hhmmmhh soo good is it ok when i say i get aroused/horney yeah i think it's fine. the way I'm thinking the voice of loken i always feel like hhmmmh and the mc's persona is like mine soo Aaarrhgh I'm soo hooked up to this vn please.... Please make more... Btw is the update will be every 29th of the month please do tell me 😍
Just wanna show my appreciation for the story-telling in this game
In short it's really well done, I can't help but feel incredibly immersed and find myself smiling at a lot of the interactions between the MC and many of the SC.
The abandoned buildings and feeling of sheer emptiness you've managed to achieve so far is extremely impressive, I feel a lot of your music choices are well done and provide a lot given the minimalistic style of the game. (First town was awesome and the dialogue with it gave a lot to the character building)
Anyways, I'd love for this game to continue and I'm excited to see where the story will lead
The image of the game files gaves me chills, the one with the name in morse code, especially when I just finished the update with that mysterious ending.
The "face" or whatever that is is a demon from the game?
Despite feeling... maybe too linear ? Which not bad a thing when done right like some other Vns managed to do and this is doing, great work on this VN For 0.3 this has so much more stuff than i expected, i was always thinking "oh its gonna end now" and didnt. The world is just so rich.
3.write a-m and the bottom of those letters write n-z
va oevggye syrfu-in brittle flesh
at last, be seen in brittle flesh
idk if that's correct or half correct or totally wrong so yeah and if you don't know what I'm talking about check his twitter and go down to October 13 2022. you'll see what i mean
literally just made an account to comment this, this is amazing, every time i think it cant get better, it does! the world building is so good and the characters as well as the slow burn as very well done! you can fall in love with the characters (specially loken duh) so easily and empathize with the main character well too, the art is really pretty too, just such a good job overall!
I must say that I am surprised, and in a good way! I didn't expect the slap I got. It was amazing. This VN completely immersed me in the universe, everything is just perfect! The sets, the characters are extremely endearing and so interesting, the story is crazy too, in short, this VN is just perfect. I absolutely loved it.
The humor is so well brought, all the intrigue about the origin of the protagonist, the mysteries of this world... It's so exciting! Reminds me of Horizon Zero Dawn, but with furries. I can't wait to see the rest of this VN, I can't get enough of it!
It easily became one of my favorite VNs, and I've seen so many already...
Thank you for making me dive into this fantastic universe alongside Loken, I'll never forget it
apart from one consistently weird writing eccentricity (way too many exclamation marks! Like really it's ridiculous! The following sentence did not need both exclamation marks—it comes off as amateur!) the rest of this VN's writing is totally solid, and I absolutely loved it
Like, the worldbuilding was absolutely top-notch, the humour was really well done and abundant, making an otherwise slightly slow opening tonnes of fun, and the intrigue had me consistently... well... intrigued. The plot was interesting, and occasionally, when this VN wants to, it puts out some of the most disturbing atmospheres out there. The scene in the radio station with the loud, glitchy equipment, and our two encounters with demons, were both very off-putting.
The second encounter
was
very well done. The author did not lie when saying soundscapes enhance this VN. Although sparsely used, the horror is made so much better by it. (Also the title theme is a total banger) (also I noticed that there were different stages for the drum soundtrack during the indulgence! Nice attention to detail)
The characters were all richly nuanced, which you love to see (and Loken especially was pleasantly nuanced, with behaviour that takes a different light as you learn about him, instead of him changing his behaviour (an existent, but not primary shift unlike in other VNs with rough personas) as you further your romance.
Also, I love the way worldbuilding has added some delicious angst and uncertainty to their relationship(?). What a great way to make sure two obviously compatible protagonists don't have an established happy-ever-after by the end of act 1.
I def recommend this VN for fans of like, One Last Night, maybe In Case of Emergency? But basically if you like humour horror and great characters/plot, this is amazing (the overused exclamation marks never get that annoying, don't worry! At least the grammar and vocabulary are both impeccable)
I've very much enjoyed the game so far its really interesting the story and the characters please keep up the amazing work you and your team are doing! but i also have a question so I'm playing build 3 and I am not playing the censored version is there a NSFW scene that i missed that happens in build 3 did i make the wrong choices or something i just want to know so if there is i can go back and try and unlock the scene so if someone sees this message id def love to know how to get it if such a scene exists with Loken please and thank you ^^
the only real NSFW is at the end of build 3, after going home from the indulgence. The only choice to be made is 'carry on' in regards to sex, which should be pretty self-explanatory. If it's not there, it may be the pre-censored version after all.
hmm maybe theres something i missed then not sure ill have to replay then and see ive been playing it on the itch.io app so maybe ill try it again and see thank you for replying i appreciate it
Now, that people pointed it out, I also started to notice many similarities between Loken and myself (especially my younger self). And I was diagnosed with Aspergers (though as I've read online, nowadays it's all diagnosed as autism).
One of those similarities is heightened sensitivity to sound, though that is something that I can mentally handle now, except in situations when I'm trying to listen to something or someone. I also still don't handle annoying sounds, like loud chewing (though I don't mind ASMR vids of it for some reason), explosions, bangs and high pitched beeping or buzzing well either.
When I was little I would run away from loud sounds (power tools, vacuum cleaners, hammering). And one time I forgot to switch a PC power supply from 120 to 230 V and it didn't have a switch and as soon as I plugged it in it exploded and I was afraid of plugging in anything for a long time after that. And I am still afraid of plugging in anything that I don't have full confidence of it not exploding.
Though I do enjoy some loud-ish music from time to time.
Edit:
It's also one relatively minor reason I don't handle being yelled at well.
I really really like the absence of music most of the time! Like, i do love some good music in my vn's, but listening to Loken talk with some firewood burning in the background just makes everything feels more real. And not onky that, but when music does comes in, it makes it special y'know?
Nt: the fact that Byte never made any 'bite' jokes keeps me awake at night
Spoilies
And fucking hell, the Blackzone "music" is soooo amazing! Some creepy shit!
Also, when Loken told what happened after he left the 'bunker', saying how he didnt think they would be able to get away... man, that broke me
Also love the little choice you gave us about the tongue licking back there, very much appreciated.
!!!SPOILERS!!!
And it seems I was wrong about my initial assumption about the nature of the algorithm. Though it is still a possibility that I foresaw a bit later and that is that the algorithm is actually malicious.
As to the sudden advancement of technology, I think it was either a super-intelligent general AI or aliens. But the writing the algorithm revealed hints strongly at aliens.
Also the genetic engineering would explain how quickly the bipeds came to walk the Earth. Nanotechnology, quantum computing and molecular reconstruction would explain the Demons. And nanotechnology and molecular reconstruction would explain Alex not needing to breathe and eat.
Edit:
I'm really glad that the kids apparently didn't receive corporal punishment. Having work assigned to them is a much more constructive and morally correct choice.
I dreamed about that Mylo would be a Blackrunner. And as soon as he said what he said about the demon encounter I already suspected that he is and him recognizing a bullet confirmed it.
← Return to game
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First off, fantastic writing. I have not been this enthralled with a VNs backstory or it's universe since Shelter. I love that the MC is not a complete jerk with irrational knee jerk reactions. And the story feels very human in it's responses. Really cant wait for the next act to drop.
Second, the lovecraftian mythos mix of the machines, the pall of madness, advanced and primitive technology merging into one cohesive novel, really set this up as a must read for FVNs.
TLDR: wonderful read, keep at it.
(spoiler warning for people who are about to read)
Ok theorists! What do you think happened in the cascade? and what are these dangerous "Demons" blackrunners are afraid of?
Not too sure about first one but I believe the demons are some kind of amalgamation of man and machine. I think the mc is either what the demons were meant to be but somehow got corrupted (as in a perfect synchronization of man and machine working together in harmony) or that the mc is what all the demons were at some point before the ai they had in them started altering their bodies in unforeseen ways. And because the mc was in hibernation, these negative effects have not yet occurred between him and his ai. I suspect the mc might also be more akin to a cyborg and so the demons being corrupt versions of this makes sense to me if I'm correct.
I think you might be right about the demons and Alex. Maybe when Byte combines the algorithm it tries to overtake Byte and Alex and turn them into a demon. Doesn't really explain why the blackzones exist or why the demons never leave them though :/
Maybe that event landed with a rogue AI, then it created machines especcially made to kill with some crazy computer-made stuff, I can imagine the fog being a proyection of machines to mess with your mine, and the machines using some material that causes light that induces PTSD
I will highlight some loose ends, maybe this will help us to see a pattern.
We know there was a war against humans, but not what caused it and who they were fighting against.
There is a Virus thats targeting the Y chromossome.
The algorithm was made during The Cascade (maybe it was planed).
There are no human remains to be found from the period everyone was gone.
Superhumans with AI inside them are a thing
Alex doesnt need to eat or breathe, something is sustaining him with what he needs and more, since he is capable of regenerating himself (so he is synthesizing proteins from nothing).
Maybe its just because of the region they're in, but I always found it really interesting how they reinforce again and again that its cold in the summer (something drastically changed the world climate maybe?)
It is said that the demon was mocking mylo, so he has to understand emotions to an extent. (AI? Human? Both?)
If anyone has any idea, please share it if you're confortable
I was thinking that maybe this virus affecting the Y chromosome was made for population control in the pre-cascade era. If there are less males, then there will be less births. And it's not like everyone is into having multiple wives. Plus as we can see, the only way for the current species to maintain their numbers was by making drastic changes to the mating culture by coming up with the Mating Troupe thing.
Sooo, it's like shoot your load and go.
I can see that, but I also thought it could be a bioweapon. It is (apparently, judging by how alex got it) an airborn virus that doesnt express any symtoms except in the next generation, so it would be virtually impossible to notice it and react to it in time before everyone is already infected. If a robot wants to rebel, that would be a GENIOUS play. Slowly reduce the rate in which humans reproduce and when they notice something is wrong, finish them off. That way no one would suapect a rebelion until the very end.
My thoughts too!
And what's up with the apples being the first thing he remembered? Is it related to the first sin of man? Or even to how it was depicted in Assassin's Creed (the apple of Eden) to house the secret of free will? After all, we did install free_will.exe at the start of the VN.
That's an awesome connection, i forgot about the apple. Adding to that, apples are also used to depict forbidden knoledge.
Its definitly possible that the translation software was installed with byte, but never explained how it automatically translated the language. We don't know what happened exactly or when the protagonist was put into preservation due to the memory loss, but it could definitly be a hint that either byte is hiding something from us OR beastmen had appeared around the same time that the cascade happened, which could be useful to know, instead of them appearing randomly years later.
(I'm also ruling out that the translation system was learning the language as they talked since loken talked very little and yet we understood him as soon as he started talking)
It could also be possible that the demons are a alien species, or at least crafted with alien materials. Since the mere THOUGHT or sight of them could drive people insane, much less what they could do to you if they catch you.
Also don't forget that demons ONLY target sapient species like the beastmen and humans, not wild animals. Could that mean the demons were specifically engineered to target humans and bipedal species? Or are they just smart enough to target any species that could pose a threat to them?
(another less likely theory is that the demons are just thinking of this as a game, like playing with their food, and don't leave the blackzones for the sole reason of giving their pray a fighting chance for survival, since they have emotions or at least intelligence, and can kill beings very easily.)
BRO WTF THE PROTAG GOT THE SAME NAME AS ME LET'S GOOOOO
Loved this :3 Can't wait for more :P
The image with morse code in the game file surprises me HAHAHAHAHAHA
Got me all "AHHHHH WADEFAKKK??!!!"
btw, this is very good. I like the horror build up and now I understand why it's so scary. This VN is current in early development, ig? but there's so much to read. The flirting got both Alex and me flustered.
Really good story. Was completely invested in it and craving more. Can't wait until the next update.
Just started reading, and I'm instantly hooked!
This has been a great novel to read. Balances saving the world with romancing a husky man just right. Going to be interesting to see how the husky reacts the next day.
that last image (on this page) lmao
It's been a year daddy where's the update 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
31/03 babyyy
source: their twitter
March 31?
yep
nice
Ohhh eeemmmmmm gggggggg ok ok I'll wait (Patiently 😌💅)
Let's gooo
Nice! :D
Ah yes, man-made horrors beyond my comprehension. Technological singularities really are something.
sooo..ummm....does any one know when will act two be updated or its just me that doesnt know how to continue the story
There is a date on twitter so, the end of march maybe?
ohhh thxxxx <3
I absolutely loved it! This is honestly one of the few vns that have an mc who do not irritate me with their stupid behaviour. I'm invested in the story just as much as in romance. Can't WAIT to see the Soul creek mountain, this is all very exciting. And the demons! Portrayed their looming presence even without actually showing them and that adds to the story so much. I'm waiting for the next chapter!
Oh, that's sure I'm looking for... Postapocalyptic world, remains of civilisation and a big stubborn gay husky alpha-male...
It's been a year daddy 😭😭😭💅
Really enjoyed act 1. Hope the high quality continues.
I have never been so invested in a visual novel. Just the description of this caught my attention, and once I downloaded it, I became immediately hooked. I have finished Chapter 1, and am patiently awaiting Chapter 2. By far, the best VN I have ever read.
I just finished act 1 and am now eagerly awaiting act 2. Great VN so far.
Just wow.Just wow.I'm impressed...really..This vn make me stun.Mix with horror and warm.I'm hoping for next update.Anyway great job.
I don't know how i never considered techno-cosmic horror but now that I've seen it holy fuck it's amazing! this was so well written it's unbelievable. and the use of graphics (and lackthereof) work to enhance the horror perfectly! I can't wait to see act 2 holds in store
is it too much horror? I'm interested in playing but I'm not into horror stuff
There is not much horor at this moment, you can focus on their story
Its only ambiental horror (no jumpscares or ugly things, just a creepy mood), if thats what youre asking
"medieval and sci-fi" themes in 1 game! Very intriguing
I really like the main protagonist (Alex) isn't just boring guy, and Byte is really making the story funnier~ (But I think "he?" swearing a bit too much for AI tho)but I like the sassy attitude
The art style isn't bad, I like some of character design (I don't like Alex design) But at least the background is nice thou..
When we are in The Blackzone. the atmosphere is really perfect for that situation!
Personaly I don't like Horror game because have random jumpscare... but this game has the perfect horror recipe.
Don't have random jumpscare, but scary af!
For the character....
Loken is The best! I love when he go rough,and want Alex to himself! Very hot!
but he can be cute at the same time. I laugh every time he say, we are small HAHAHA
Never change Loken, Never!
The building up for the sex scene is so good!
When got Loken want to go rough on Alex, is super hot!
but the execution a bit disappointed.
I was expecting the sex scene gonna be long after superrrrr longgg tease from him and Alex going to destoyed once he was satisfied.
like Real Dog... I-I mean The real Hounds....
I really hope in the future update, we go to see the real him!
(oh! maybe we can get chained too pls :3) we got some foreshadowing at some scene :3
Amazing Story! Amazing Artworks! I loved the game and Loken i enjoyed the game♡~
Wow! This story was amazing. I loved the Lovecraftian horror of it!
Simply echoing the other comments, what excellent story telling. It's given me ideas for a D&D campaign. Just don't tel WoTC ;)
I just want to say is wow... Wow wow wow wow wow wow wooooow i am speechless gorgeous art, unique personality (for every character) the words hhmmmhh soo good is it ok when i say i get aroused/horney yeah i think it's fine. the way I'm thinking the voice of loken i always feel like hhmmmh and the mc's persona is like mine soo Aaarrhgh I'm soo hooked up to this vn please.... Please make more... Btw is the update will be every 29th of the month please do tell me 😍
Just wanna show my appreciation for the story-telling in this game
In short it's really well done, I can't help but feel incredibly immersed and find myself smiling at a lot of the interactions between the MC and many of the SC.
The abandoned buildings and feeling of sheer emptiness you've managed to achieve so far is extremely impressive, I feel a lot of your music choices are well done and provide a lot given the minimalistic style of the game. (First town was awesome and the dialogue with it gave a lot to the character building)
Anyways, I'd love for this game to continue and I'm excited to see where the story will lead
Cool *Thumbs up*
The image of the game files gaves me chills, the one with the name in morse code, especially when I just finished the update with that mysterious ending.
The "face" or whatever that is is a demon from the game?
Okay, is it just me that wants to see a threesome between Alex, Orion and Loken?
No?
It's just me?
...Okay.
Despite feeling... maybe too linear ? Which not bad a thing when done right like some other Vns managed to do and this is doing, great work on this VN
For 0.3 this has so much more stuff than i expected, i was always thinking "oh its gonna end now" and didnt. The world is just so rich.
1.Backward Alphabet Encoder
zg ozhg-at last
2.Shifted Alphabet Encoder
cf tffo-be seen
3.write a-m and the bottom of those letters write n-z
va oevggye syrfu-in brittle flesh
at last, be seen in brittle flesh
idk if that's correct or half correct or totally wrong so yeah and if you don't know what I'm talking about check his twitter and go down to October 13 2022. you'll see what i mean
and im tired so yeah done i think?
I found this vn pretty recently and I gotta say it’s now in my top 5 favorite vns
Recommend me the other 4 on ur list pls! :)
Remember the Flowers
Lyre
Sileo: Tales of a New Dawn
Socially Awkward
literally just made an account to comment this, this is amazing, every time i think it cant get better, it does! the world building is so good and the characters as well as the slow burn as very well done! you can fall in love with the characters (specially loken duh) so easily and empathize with the main character well too, the art is really pretty too, just such a good job overall!
EDIT: playing further, this is GREAT horror too
I must say that I am surprised, and in a good way! I didn't expect the slap I got. It was amazing. This VN completely immersed me in the universe, everything is just perfect! The sets, the characters are extremely endearing and so interesting, the story is crazy too, in short, this VN is just perfect. I absolutely loved it.
The humor is so well brought, all the intrigue about the origin of the protagonist, the mysteries of this world... It's so exciting! Reminds me of Horizon Zero Dawn, but with furries. I can't wait to see the rest of this VN, I can't get enough of it!
It easily became one of my favorite VNs, and I've seen so many already...
Thank you for making me dive into this fantastic universe alongside Loken, I'll never forget it
apart from one consistently weird writing eccentricity (way too many exclamation marks! Like really it's ridiculous! The following sentence did not need both exclamation marks—it comes off as amateur!) the rest of this VN's writing is totally solid, and I absolutely loved it
Like, the worldbuilding was absolutely top-notch, the humour was really well done and abundant, making an otherwise slightly slow opening tonnes of fun, and the intrigue had me consistently... well... intrigued. The plot was interesting, and occasionally, when this VN wants to, it puts out some of the most disturbing atmospheres out there. The scene in the radio station with the loud, glitchy equipment, and our two encounters with demons, were both very off-putting.
The second encounter
was
very well done. The author did not lie when saying soundscapes enhance this VN. Although sparsely used, the horror is made so much better by it. (Also the title theme is a total banger) (also I noticed that there were different stages for the drum soundtrack during the indulgence! Nice attention to detail)
The characters were all richly nuanced, which you love to see (and Loken especially was pleasantly nuanced, with behaviour that takes a different light as you learn about him, instead of him changing his behaviour (an existent, but not primary shift unlike in other VNs with rough personas) as you further your romance.
Also, I love the way worldbuilding has added some delicious angst and uncertainty to their relationship(?). What a great way to make sure two obviously compatible protagonists don't have an established happy-ever-after by the end of act 1.
I def recommend this VN for fans of like, One Last Night, maybe In Case of Emergency? But basically if you like humour horror and great characters/plot, this is amazing (the overused exclamation marks never get that annoying, don't worry! At least the grammar and vocabulary are both impeccable)
..."playfully mimicking tears"
*shudders*
I've very much enjoyed the game so far its really interesting the story and the characters please keep up the amazing work you and your team are doing! but i also have a question so I'm playing build 3 and I am not playing the censored version is there a NSFW scene that i missed that happens in build 3 did i make the wrong choices or something i just want to know so if there is i can go back and try and unlock the scene so if someone sees this message id def love to know how to get it if such a scene exists with Loken please and thank you ^^
the only real NSFW is at the end of build 3, after going home from the indulgence. The only choice to be made is 'carry on' in regards to sex, which should be pretty self-explanatory. If it's not there, it may be the pre-censored version after all.
hmm maybe theres something i missed then not sure ill have to replay then and see ive been playing it on the itch.io app so maybe ill try it again and see thank you for replying i appreciate it
Can't wait for the next update!! I adore Loken
Now, that people pointed it out, I also started to notice many similarities between Loken and myself (especially my younger self). And I was diagnosed with Aspergers (though as I've read online, nowadays it's all diagnosed as autism).
One of those similarities is heightened sensitivity to sound, though that is something that I can mentally handle now, except in situations when I'm trying to listen to something or someone. I also still don't handle annoying sounds, like loud chewing (though I don't mind ASMR vids of it for some reason), explosions, bangs and high pitched beeping or buzzing well either.
When I was little I would run away from loud sounds (power tools, vacuum cleaners, hammering). And one time I forgot to switch a PC power supply from 120 to 230 V and it didn't have a switch and as soon as I plugged it in it exploded and I was afraid of plugging in anything for a long time after that. And I am still afraid of plugging in anything that I don't have full confidence of it not exploding.
Though I do enjoy some loud-ish music from time to time.
Edit:
It's also one relatively minor reason I don't handle being yelled at well.
Good lord, the sound design!
I really really like the absence of music most of the time! Like, i do love some good music in my vn's, but listening to Loken talk with some firewood burning in the background just makes everything feels more real. And not onky that, but when music does comes in, it makes it special y'know?
Nt: the fact that Byte never made any 'bite' jokes keeps me awake at night
Spoilies
And fucking hell, the Blackzone "music" is soooo amazing! Some creepy shit!
Also, when Loken told what happened after he left the 'bunker', saying how he didnt think they would be able to get away... man, that broke me
Damn!
Loken is so damn PRECIOUS!
Also love the little choice you gave us about the tongue licking back there, very much appreciated.
!!!SPOILERS!!!
And it seems I was wrong about my initial assumption about the nature of the algorithm. Though it is still a possibility that I foresaw a bit later and that is that the algorithm is actually malicious.
As to the sudden advancement of technology, I think it was either a super-intelligent general AI or aliens. But the writing the algorithm revealed hints strongly at aliens.
Also the genetic engineering would explain how quickly the bipeds came to walk the Earth. Nanotechnology, quantum computing and molecular reconstruction would explain the Demons. And nanotechnology and molecular reconstruction would explain Alex not needing to breathe and eat.
Edit:
I'm really glad that the kids apparently didn't receive corporal punishment. Having work assigned to them is a much more constructive and morally correct choice.
I dreamed about that Mylo would be a Blackrunner. And as soon as he said what he said about the demon encounter I already suspected that he is and him recognizing a bullet confirmed it.