I decided to play this game after seeing several Youtubers that I enjoy recommending it. Even after watching multiple of those videos and having some idea what I was in for, nothing could prepare me for what this game was like. The gameplay and the themes of the game perfectly interact with each other in a way that I have not seen in any other game. The characters are written brillianty with all of them being relatable and complex. The plot and themes of the game are intriguing from beginning to end, and the philosophical nature of the game gives you plenty to think over even after it's done. It challenges ideas of individual agency, fate, time, morality, nature, progress, duty, and many other things in a very nuanced way. It is also incredibly bizarre in a way that was a major draw for me. This feeling of an alien culture of the town of the Steppe is provided by the music, the cultural practices, impossible architecture, and the weird, semi-human kin folk in the game. This game had me on the edge of my seat and the end of the game. I had some incredibly tense moments where I barely survived, but it never felt impossible. There was always some way to save myself, even if it meant loading back a few saves. There is also too little time in the day to do everything you want, and what you prioritize to do has real consequences later on in the game. At the end, I felt sad about those I could not save, but proud that the people I did see at the end of the game were alive because of me. It stirred me emotionally in a way very few games have, and had me so invested that I could not put it down despite the constant misery and stress it put me through (with slight moments of respite involving humor and very human interactions). I could not recommend this game enough, and I really hope that the Bachelor route will be released sometime in the coming years.
