cydney

i was excited for this game as i love a good video novel, but now i am just happy it was free until July 1st and that i didn't spend my money on it. (possible spoilers) we'll start with the pros of the game. i am not trans, but am in complete support of trans people. i'm a lesbian, so there's not necessarily a connection with the trans character. however, i really enjoyed the representation (in the beginning). so that's nice. the representation of native americans was also great to see, though it felt unfinished in a way. second, the scenery views are very beautiful and it seems they were made with a lot of effort. along with this, there are many details in the main house and all of the other dwellings you come across in the game. now for the cons. as others have said, it feels as though the transgender character gets to do and say whatever he wants solely based on the fact that he's trans, and if you don't choose the option that makes him happy, you get the "separation" symbol. this happens even when you think you're saying the right thing, as on occasion the options to choose from are vague and there is no "warning" that the choice will result in a change of relationships. i actually do enjoy his attitude on occasion because i am similar in that i say what i am thinking. but it gets to be too much when you cant even choose a way for the story to go without feeling guilty about it. next, the animation is god awful. i felt like a snob at first until i read these reviews. after playing games like The Last of Us, Life is Strange, Red Dead Redemption, even the SIMS!! which all have an aspect of controlling a person-like character, i was so disappointed with this animation. you have to convince yourself that the characters are looking at each other. you have to ignore the messed up clothing. you have to ignore that Michael shakes his head for two minutes straight when it doesn't make sense. you have to forget alyson's braid SHRINKING into her own head at some points. it's just really not done well in the slightest when it comes to the people. i'd take the sims toddler glitch over this any day, because this game is meant to feel personal while making the characters completely un-person-like while the sims is a free for all. lastly, the story may have been good if someone else wrote it. i feel that it was given away too soon what the mothers intentions were, and it came suddenly. other than that, the side conversations took WAYYYYYYYY too long to finish, making me have to stand still in a hallway just to make sure i don't miss anything important, and then realizing the dialogue did nothing at all for me except force me to play the game longer. i'm at the end of chapter 2, and if it gets better after this, cheers. but i can't even make myself keep going with the endless, pointless dialogue and the crappy animation along with feeling like i don't actually have a choice. if you want to play this game, wait until it is free again.