I have absolutely no idea how to rate this one. Will I pick up season two? Yes. Would I recommend this to others? I don't know??

The art and music are lovely. All the dark blues and the snowy backdrop, the soft character art, cute music... Dreamy and engaging! The core cast of characters is interesting and distinct, each growing as the story unfolds, and perfectly at home in a uniquely surreal setting. The main character, Sayoko, is a cool choice by the author and is very much a figure in natural and intentional opposition to oppressive, dominant social narratives as well - primarily the church, which this story centres around. She's queer, racialized, can mostly see through and stands up against systemic oppression, etc.

Sometimes the writing is a bit clunky or redundant (it tries hard to drive its points home, relying too much on exposition imo), but it's still enjoyable and has a straightforward honesty. The main character is largely not sympathetic, but her struggles with mental health and bitterness feel candid and sometimes relatable. I would have adored this story in high school.

My main struggle with Ghostpia is that it's jarring because of it's contradictory and inconsistent tone. It's dark and melancholic bits were often beautiful, slowing down to reflect on different lessons or aspects of what death, memory, and companionship mean. Most media I love explores grief or loneliness, so I loved that! Sayoko's dark and dry humour is also great.

But. It would follow this up with bathroom humour. So much bathroom humour. And then suddenly hop to a scene that felt like something from a Saturday morning cartoon battle, making things impossible to take seriously when the tone shifted back to emotional. It might do this to appeal to a broader audience, softening its darker tones on purpose. To me, it was just disorienting.

There is also a villain that falls into an ableist trope. They're a strong character, yeah, but it'd be pretty nice if we could stop with those tropes. Although! Most of the glitchy and flashing screen effects in Ghostpia can be turned off! That accessibility feature let me play the game, so I'm appreciative.

Aaaand Clara. She's a warm hearted and eager child in training to be a nun, who the core cast hates and abuses because she is kind and loved by all. She's berated and physically harmed and manipulated as a running gag by characters way older than her. It's kind of fucked up and confusing?

I think she's supposed to be a metaphor for the perceived innocence of the church. Characters react strongly because they know the church is their oppressor even when it is kind... But without that being made apparent, it just feels uncomfortable. The reader is also given no real reason to hate her or see her as more than a sweet kid.

The overall violence people speak of, Clara aside, didn't bother me. In this world if you are killed you simply revive, so there's only so much weight! That was cool to explore in the story. Besides, it's a lot of cops and similarly corrupt figures being stood up against, so, you know. Stand your ground.

Ghostpia is an inconsistent visual novel at odds with itself enough to lose me a few times, but stylistically it's beautiful with compelling concepts!! I'll pick up the second season as I want to know the answers to its mysteries, am curious about the characters, and really wonder where they're taking its themes.