Reflection

Noooo I picked the 'right' option the first time but the game still punished me, how cruel ;-;

Haha in any case, this was a lovely little VN. I'm always impressed how much these short O2A2 VNs can fit into such a small wordcount. It really shows you can craft an interesting story with likeable characters and complex moral dilemmas in a short space if you can write concisely enough, and you really nailed it. There's even some worldbuilding here too, and some hints about the characters' backgrounds which flesh them and their relationship out.

The art is lovely, the track that plays is very pretty, and the VA is impeccable. The writing is also very solid all around, and I liked how you used the VN medium to tell a story to really hammer home Amelia's desire to get a redo. If only things were that easy haha ;;

I enjoyed this a lot, there's so much depth and pathos to it!

god DAMN was the voice acting PHENOMENAL. I felt it, right in my heart, and it was twisted in pain :</pos

This was such a BEAUTIFULLY written game, and perfectly structured to deliver its message, which is as relatable as it is poignant.

The CG is absolutely gorgeous, with its vivid, sun-dappled colors, and the melancholic BGM perfectly fits the tone of the game. The dialogue is simultaneously poetic and raw. While this story takes place in a fantasy world, I think that the feelings of the characters are very relatable, even to a modern audience. The voice actress did a FANTASTIC job - I loved the kind of "rough" quality to her voice, where it sounded as if she had been crying, and the emotion that she delivered in the more tense moments was very moving.

===SPOILERS===

Here, you play the part of a princess who lays in the courtyard next to Ziri, the court jester. Ziri opens up about her past dreams - how she wanted to be a playwright, but she failed. She yearns for a "second chance." 

There is only one choice, and, appropriately, only one save slot for the game as well. I actually played through the "good ending" first - but then it is clear that that wasn't the real story. 

As you go back and play through the second choice, it becomes clear what the actual meaning of the title "Reflection" is. Amelia isn't experiencing this for the first time - rather, she's replaying the memories in her mind, reflecting on what occurred. And like Ziri, who didn't have a second chance, Amelia also doesn't get a second chance. Those hurtful words, no matter how well-intentioned they were, are eternal - and she has to live with the consequences. 

After you play through the first time, the "right" choice is deleted on all of your subsequent playthroughs - and Amelia is forced to live with the choice that she made. I really loved how that theme of "living with the consequences of your choices" is reflected in both Ziri's story and Amelia's - it's kind of a "Matroshka doll" of intertwined stories all reflecting the same theme. 

Overall I LOVED the concept of this game and it was impeccably executed, fantastic work! 

Oh my goodness the way this is written I love this so much... Went with the clear bad ending choice first, and was blown away at how well it reflected Ziri's words for Amelia;; And then I went back and discovered that I was in a web of sadness the whole time, it all came back around to one truth and that one truth is that I'm so sad for them both!!!

I'll just say the title makes perfect sense by the end in a way that's worth playing all the way through again...

The art and the music were absolutely beautiful!!! Immersed in a beautiful, emotional moment, and the voice acting... That 'I've been crying and I'm right on the edge of crying, and slowly breaking down more and more...' Heart-wrenching and beautifully done!

Ooooooh my heart aches for both Ziri and Amelia ;-; Ziri for feeling like she's lost her chance at her dream, having it crushed just when she'd dared to hope. And Amelia for not realising the consequence of a careless moment until it was too late. I think a lot of us can relate to both of these fears, and the twist at the end really hit home for me.

The voice acting was brilliant and brought those raw emotions to life, and the wistful music is a beautiful touch. Love the art, the presentation, the writing! It was also very cool to see accessibility options included - a thoughtful and inclusive addition.

DAMN YOU, who's chopping onions while I'm playing...? 😭

For real though, amazing job!!  Everything about the game, from the writing, the CG variants, the use of NVL mode, the GUI, the music... it all coalesces together into a beautifully orchestrated symphony of heartbreak. 💔

To convey all of that in only 1000 words, and create it all in just one week?!  Hot damn... 👏👏👏

And as usual, you always include awesome accessibility options, even for such a short game jam.

Awesome job! 🎉🎊🥳

HEY???

DONT HURT MY FEELINGS LIKE THIS


also i really loved the touch of the menu art changing!! the va was amazing!! and the use of the NVL screen really gave me the interest court jester/screenplay vibes!