a stunning entry in what is fast becoming my favorite genre of game: nostalgic y2k online adolescence simulator. thoughtful, character-driven, authentic, and intelligent about the interaction between game form, aesthetic, and story. I could write more but I kinda just want to luxuriate in how impressive and delightful and homey of an experience it was

has me very much missing a pink seahorse avatar friend who was a cross between prplsqrl and jenni. kaya if you're out there, I hope you are well!!!

beautiful soundtrack, stunning scenic art style, engaging and effectively-tuned puzzles. the story starts in a compelling manner, at least initially only doling out minimal information in a way that caught my interest, but it lost me in the end

think of it like gently building a fire using flint and light kindling, the sparks get going, a tiny flame begins to catch, and then instead of gradually encouraging it with some small twigs, you just toss a log onto it, and it extinguishes

basically, very backloaded. and not captured in the metaphor: twisty in a way that doesn't feel earned because it's so backloaded