itch.io

I love this game! I'm not the most patient kind of person, so when I managed to sit through the entire game up to unlocking the secret end, it goes to show how captivating how this is. XD I was hesitant to get it, but the more I looked at Marco and Feathor in the cover art, the more mysterious and more intrigued I am with the game. So color me surprised when you-know-what was explained.

*HEAVY spoilers*

My favourite route is the two endings of Feathor. His route had acted as the climax of the story, and despite what Marco and Feathor says that he can't love or has ever love someone before, his actions towards Mariko seems to show differently. There is no VA, but I always imagine whenever Feathor call her name, to be one of fond amusement and maybe some exasperation. The fact that he sacrificed his time in the barrier (1 year! that's quite some dedication) to find a cure/temporary solution for Mariko's curse (was this ever explained anywhere how it came about?) and his dialogue to Mariko during the true end for the other characters, seems to indicate otherwise. Love is sacrifice. Though Marco had that in spades, I feel we can't discount Feathor's later devotion either. I have to admit he is still a pretty shitty guy, the kind parents ask you to stay away from, but he is such a complicated fellow it's a joy to unravel him.

*End spoilers*

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Thanks for replying! :) If you see this, as a small bonus to a Mitra fan, I hope you can answer this.

When Tamara and Mitra get married, what will Mitra wear on his ear since Tamara has no feathers?

1. Which bachelor you like the most? and why? (spoilers)

After playing through all 3, Mitra is still my favourite (I chose him first). Reksa and Rama each have their own appeals, but I feel the deciding point was when Mitra was the only one who helped Tamara to let go of her past. In this way, the relationship had felt more equal in a sense. (Not to mention, Mitra is a huge cuddly cinnamon roll that makes me laugh at his courting attempts) In addition, from the stand point of Tamara being almost raped, Reksa and the Komodo's culture might not be so suitable for her. I'm pretty sure Reksa would never intentionally hurt her or force her into anything, just that I feel Tamara and him have a few hurdles to go through before 'that' happens.

The crazy amount of patience Tamara shows with Rama doesn't seem very realistic. Though I feel sympathetic towards Rama, ultimately that's all I feel there is. Pity. Which Rama also pointed it out in the game and I thought it was pretty ironic. There wasn't enough moments between Rama and Tamara that make me feel their connection is real.

I also notice Rama has the most amount of CGs in the game and Mitra has the least! Being a Mitra (and Reksa) fan, maybe in the next game, you may want to consider balancing it?

2. What makes you consider to play this game?

Art. And I'm aiming to play every VN offered in Itch.io. The beautiful cover art of Reksa definitely helped too.

3. Overall, what do you think about this visual novel? and what element stands out the most? (art? story? character?)

The real life tradition references. This is one part that I feel no other VNs have managed to convey very well. The story telling is pretty amazing either, I honest to good burst out laughing when the aunties and even the guards were speculating on the relationship between Mitra and Tamara. This buildup make the final part of Omed-omedan very believable that the 2 villages are all in it to matchmake them to be together. I thought it was also important that Asih, Yuda and Granny are extremely likable and realistic. As I have a few Indonesian friends, and based on their stories, this is exactly how their family works, very loving and cohesive. Their local community is also very close-knitted and warm, and my friends had also draw parallels how Jarkarta with its lack of trees, frequent heavy traffic congestion and how modern it is, had lack the 'soul' or the 'kampong' spirit. Your VN is a very beautiful callback to Indonesia's old ways (though of course it still exist in modern times), and it's an absolute delight for an non-Indonesian to see it. Good work!

4. Do you have any question or constructive critiques? I will read all the comments and reply to them like I do in Lemmasoft.

Answer as per point 1. But I need to mention this is an amazing game (this is the only game in itch.io that I review and that says a lot), one that I truly appreciate as a fellow South East Asian, especially because the traditions are real that makes it even more relatable and give an extra depth to the story. I hope in the next VN you are making, has real world references too! It really make your game 'pop out' in the sea of VNs out there.

Finally, it may be a bit misleading but based on the prologue, I had thought there is more to it between the distance conveyed between Tamara's parents. How her mother grew cold, but it only ended with a footnote that her father died and her mother died later (out of depression?). This isn't very well-explained.

5. Last but not least, if I make another visual novel, will you consider buying it? via patreon or kickstarter that is (since I need to eat, electricity, and such things when I make VNs xD)

Of course! Just not exorbitant crazy prices. :p Your players also need to eat, for electricity to play your VN, etc)