tbh i think he might as well be due to no one else acknowledging him so we probably only see him orr people think he's a friend of ours or roommate that just is weird and follows us lol
I can tolerate anything in a dark romance / yandere game so this time I didn't read warnings before launching the game. Holy shit, Gheist is written well but my stomach was wrenching from his lines. Awesome game though, Kalei was a sweetie.
You really do understand mental illness well. I truly did feel as if I was the protagonist, because we are so similar:
anxious, prone to panic attacks, inclined to avoid people, constantly hearing negative thoughts.
You are a really good writer, too! I could feel and understand the mc's emotions towards the things that Geist said.
I believe that I would be susceptible to Geists' words, as well. He is good at manipulating, and gaslighting the protagonist, which, I suppose, is why he was created.
...
SPOILERS!!!
Geist is obviously a manifestation of the protagonists insecurities, and I can understand that voice of derision and doubt. Thank you for the kind words at the end of the game. You are really sweet to say that.
Kalei is a sweetheart, and someone that I wish I knew in real life. If Geist is doubt and negativity, Kalei is support, and encouragement. Thank you for creating him, and making him romanceable. I really enjoyed his route!
If YOU ever experienced anxiety, or depression, then I hope you were able to feel better, and get support and love from friends, and loved ones. You deserve it for helping people with this game! <3
And, thank you so much for porting this to android. I know it probably wasn't easy, so, really, thank you!
is this like a prequel for my husband is a stranger? because the two of them look like twins haha forgive me if I sound idiotic I have yet to play this masterpiece
thank youuu for the web-android version aaa really appreciate that i dont have to wait longer to save enough for a better device since my pc has ancient openGL TT i couldn’t believe it.. I’ve been so excited for a chance to be able to play this one while waiting for the complete series of Karamu. Also will be marathon playing your future works along with MHIAS, Actala, and the Deepwater Witch because playing them so far has been really satisfying and inspiring!XD
First impression: lol Geist? Seriously like poltergeist so a ghost, word of some language prob German and it was. lame name which he’s deserving of it when that’s the least you could do when he intruded and haunted outta nowhere. my man lived rent free in your head but made himself home and would scare other visitors scarce.
early thoughts into starting: wheew what a fine man to go with belittling my existence 🥴 i did love an additional flavour to my suffering.
Main thoughts:
Geist’s self-projecting commentary to mock the little embarrassing options, to doubt the MC’s autonomy and choices, how he diminished them to existential crisis was really familiar in that intimate who better knows you than your own anxiety represented. At least, he was manageable and funny at times. Progressing the story had this clearer, visible state of how Geist treated you; his presence can be comforting at the certain, right moments, but also since we’re just outsider here would make us start to think “that doesn’t sound right” from his catastrophic spiral, like he might be got a point or two, but the rest might be off. one bad time/possibility doesn’t define the rest of your life or your value set in stone, or something. im hoping to instill that kind of thought stronger in real life.
Kalei, too, you could see yourself in him, and he in return helped you see better in other people’s shoes, he was mostly like that thin beam of sun that came past clouds post rain/storm. even his circle of friends, the way they acted around him and how he felt being among them, reminded me of my own friend group. i envied his extroverted energy, still.
spoilers!thankfully, we weren't as insane as to conjure a (good on the eye-looking) personified mental worries, in canon. How Geist latched onto MC was understandable plus he was just a kid who died too early. I was glad (and def a peaceful fact to sleep with at night) to see him still staying and hanging around after the happy and better end, maybe growing together and working on healing. Like, he did care in his own way, though his perception of trauma got in the way, he still allowed mc to be happy with somebody else.
okay enough psychological rambling, now artistically considering, i liked how the shifting hue, that dark effect engulfing the corners to capture that trapped feel, and how these box dialogue and switch to that group according to the scene set up the atmosphere, the terms escape me but your works always had that cinematic quality that was really enjoyable and to combine with the smooth, neat GUI fitting the overall classy modern monotone (idk) of Geist’s aesthetic, absolutely perfect. That aside, there was just one tiny typo and doubled paragraph in the dev notes.
Last note: Geist was an effective ghost, I mean i was literally shaking, buy him brown contacts PLEASE.
an d i wonder if that tutor and the woman that just came by were cameos from another game of yours, or im tweaking..??
Oh gosh, thank you so much for the thoughtful comment 😭 Your analysis was so interesting to read and completely on point, and I really appreciate your comments on the "artistic" aspects as well - I really love VNs and playing around with the way that they're presented, so it's such an honor to hear that they have a cinematic quality 😭 And I'm very happy that the Web/Android build was worth it to make! One of the reasons I like making visual novels is that they're very lightweight games that can be played by just about anyone with a device, and I always want to make my games as accessible as possible! 🤭
(And exactly right about Geist's name! Fun fact, but in addition to meaning "ghost," the word "Geist" can also refer to "spirit" or "mind/intellect." I thought that the double meaning would be pretty fitting for his character 🤭)
(Gosh thank you for the comment about the dev notes, I can't believe I playtested this dang build 10 times and NEVER caught that... I'll make sure to update it the next time I update the game!)
(and regarding the last question 🤭 the tutor and his gf are indeed Karamu cameos... they're actually the sprites from the last installment, I thought it would make a fun Easter egg 😂)
THE MEME IT FITS SO MUCH DFGDF
Thank you again for playing!!! (And gosh I'm so touched that you're interested in so many of my games? I really hope that you enjoy them!!)
I'm crying why does that haole ass music play everytime Kalei speaks T-T awesome game tho besides the strange racism-esque feel lol but at least you didn't white wash him.
LOL that's fair, thanks for the input! I wanted it to be very clear where Kalei is from since you rarely see Pacific Islander rep in this genre of game, and I previously released a game with POC where their cultural heritage wasn't that pronounced beyond names/some lingo and people didn't really notice that they were supposed to be SEA 😅 I think a lot of people who played MMM didn't recognize Kalei's accent or the pidgin used (some people thought it was like, Californian??? or thought he was from Brazil based off of looks/fashion), so I thought that a musical motif would be more clear. Though I understand how it probably comes off as strong to someone who's actually familiar with Hawai'i. I apologize if it came off as stereotypical/racist 😭
(If it's any consolation, the music used is from Japanese artists, not haoles - well not white haoles at least😂 since I get most of the music for my games from that site!)
This was a very interesting and well-written game! Geist reminded me of how I was when my social anxiety was much, much worse - it was pretty awful. With that said, Kalei reminded me of the progress I've made and how much better I've become, which was such a cathartic thing.
I sometimes fear that I'll slip back into listening to my own Geist, but the ending of Kalei's route accepting that anxiety sometimes never really goes away but that you can have a happy life regardless really, really meant a lot to me. It was very comforting.
Wonderful game, very emotional but also heartwarming (during Kalei's route at least, haha) :) <3
1. dating (?) with Geist (accepting Geist) 2. friends with Kalei (if you think of him as a good friend) 3. dating with Kalei (if you think of him as cute)
Your game is a masterpiece, I like it very much!! The descriptions of the psychological aspects are very realistic.I really want someone like kalei，But the reality is that I only have Geist.
I'm not one to usually comment around here, but I have to say this game was incredibly cathartic for me, and I loved every second of it. I had to take my time to read every line and truly pay attention, not just skim through them like I would in more superficial novels.
As someone with social anxiety, I appreciate it when characters like the ones you created come to light. Even with Geist, I really liked his character because he's quite literally a reflection of the MC's intrusive thoughts/negative self-talk, but he's not meant to be mean just for the sake of it. To me, he acts like a defense mechanism to preserve the MC because social situations bring uncertainty and discomfort.
To be honest, sometimes I've gone down Geist's path and chosen to avoid social settings and keep myself 'safe', but at other times I've gone down Kalei's path and accepted that social interactions can't be prepared for or controlled, and that tends to be for the better.
What I want to say with all of this is that this VN is a gentle reminder that nobody is born with anxiety, and since we learn it, we can unlearn it as well. Kalei and his interactions with the MC are lovely examples of how not everyone is out there to get us, even though it feels like they are. True, we might not be able to get rid of Geist for our entire lifespan, but his voice can be dimmed down.
I loved the game. It got me thinking, and I was happy to be able to choose the 'risky' options and see everything turn out alright. Thank you for creating it, and I'll definitely be checking out your other projects <3.
Omg, I didn't expect it to hit too close to home. I was literally crying at the end. Thank you so much for making this game!! ♡ And kudos to the voice actors for their amazing work.
OHMAIGOSH I LOVE ALL OF UR GAMES SO MUCHH!! You always somehow nail the characters, storyline, practically everything. I'm so looking forward to more of your work in the future. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! 😻😸
AHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭 Thank you so much for playing multiple games of mine, I'm so touched?!?! 😭😭😭 Your praise is TOO KIND, it really brings a smile to my face, truly 🥹 I'll work hard on my future projects as well!!!
You absolutely nailed the story for an abusive relationship.
I don't know if it's intentional; but Geist comes across as a metaphor for the long-term effects and damage abuse can have on survivors. Sure, you can be out of that relationship, but the memories, the things they said/did still haunt you, control your life.
This was amazing and Geist did a wonderful job of making me want to throw him through a wall for acting exactly like my past relationship. srs frick this guy!
Your story is a game about hope and healing. You don't have to live in fear and thank you for showing this. <3
OH gosh thank you so much 😭 That's extremely high praise!!! (I'll put my comments under a spoiler tag in case anyone comes down here without playing the game first):
=======SPOILERS========
That's a very interesting interpretation, and I don't think that I've seen anyone really focus on that facet of it (I'm really glad you did)! 🤔 I purposefully left Geist's existence a bit vague so that players could interpret him freely - however, I did base his behavior off of some "friendships" that I've had in the past (the term used very loosely 🤣) and how abusive partners seek to break down and isolate you to make you dependent on them. Your interpretation is very true also - after going through these experiences, their words can haunt you for a long time, shattering your self-confidence long after they're gone 🤔
I'm so glad that you enjoyed it and that you saw your own experience in it too 🥹🥹🥹 I'm so touched!!! (And I'm glad you're out of that toxicity now 😭) Thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts too, I loved reading them!
I honestly don't think I have a favourite, I love both Geist and Kalei equally =D ... I lied. I favour Kalei over Geist. I mean... He's just a big puppy! I adore him. I'd love for the universe to give me a Kalei in my life. Besides that, I love Geist too, because even in solitude you'd need someone and he's there for that
OHH it's surprising to find someone who likes both love interests 😂 Honestly I think you have a point, Kalei is definitely the more lovable love interest but sometimes you just want someone who will chill with you in your darker/quiet moments and Geist is definitely there for that (for better or worse 😂) Thank you so much for playing!!! 🥰
Oh? Well, I guess it just shows I believe variety is the spice of life, though of course! I'm soo gonna play the other games I can get my hands on. I loved this one soo much as is!
oh how i love geist, i personally am not a social butterfly, staying inside all day away from everyone and rewatching comfort shows sounds like a dream to me. 1# geist lover 4ever
LMAOOO HONESTLY GEIST IS AN INTROVERT'S DREAM, a guy who will always be there to just hang out with you alone 😂😂😂 people give the man too much flak for no reason, smh!! (Thank you for playing!)
Okay so I finally sat my butt down and played through this and I have to say it was really immersive, mainly because of how good the writing is! I have to say, MC is the most MC as they managed to even make their own self-doubt fall in "love" with them which I find absolutely hilarious. But I do have to say how interesting it is that each of Geist's words were so carefully picked out and targeted that even me, as a relatively less-overthinking kind of person, began to think about all the things Geist's says.
I like the use of the VAs, I know that there are realistically only two VAs because of the relevancy of Geist and Kalei but I like to think MC can only "hear" these two characters because of the amount of impact they have. Like, Geist's voice being all smooth and his tendency to enunciate words really makes you focus on him and his slow cadence, like he drowns out everything that you don't put in any audio in the background signifying the outside world because MC has gotten used to desperately trying to block out Geist's words that, by consequence, they've blocked and isolated themselves from hearing the outside world as well.
So, having Kalei able to speak helps ground MC, especially when it actually stops Geist from speaking because now MC's thinking isn't clouded over negative thoughts but focusing on Kalei. I also like the duality of their voices, Kalei noticeably has an accent but his voice is bright, fun, expressive, and he talks in a pretty chill manner compared to Geist's more formal way of speaking. He's the direct opposite to Geist which is another way to visually set them apart, and I think it helps ground MC because MC doesn't really notice anyone, nobody has any art or even a name attached to them aside from Kalei and Geist so having them visual different makes it so that MC can starkly recognize them (and also the Hawaii somewhat music playing every time Kalei is on scene is so funny, I wonder if MC's mind is just playing that as Kalei's theme).
I didn't think Geist is much of a yandere, he only really shows it somewhat at the ending where you have to push or accept him. I know that yanderes aren't ALWAYS violent, they manipulate and hurt you so you can stay by their side, and their love is both painful and suffocating. Looking back, I do think Geist was showing his love in a backhanded way by isolating MC and making them dependent by beating their self-esteem and identity all while spinning a nice story of accepting the version of MC he managed to create by ruining the MC that would have never created him (an MC with no self-loathing thoughts).
The yandere-ness is subtle but no less toxic and I find it very interesting how Geist mellowed out, he'll never fully be away from MC and even if Kalei is in the picture. But Kalei will never live inside of MC's mind like Geist is and I think that could be Geist's ultimate petty victory over Kalei. That in the end, he'll always will be by MC even if they don't want to acknowledge it, they'll accept it.
OHH gosh, this was a very interesting read! Thank you for leaving such a long and insightful review~ (I'm sorry that it took me so long to reply!) I'm really glad you enjoyed the writing, and still felt immersed even if these aren't problems you usually struggle with 🤔
I agree, the VAs did an absolutely fantastic job 🤔 I really wanted this game to be voiced in particular, just because I knew that Geist's lines would be so much more impactful if read aloud. Regarding his lines, it was actually the VA's interpretation! I initially was envisioning him to sound a lot more cruel (almost bully-like), but Shaun's ended up reading the lines a lot more gentle and slow and close to the mic, which gave a much more "intimate" feeling, like you mentioned - and ended up fitting the character much better. I'm really grateful for his diligence in reading the script 😊
And ohh you noticed Kalei's accent!! Since he's Hawaiian, I did really want a Hawaiian VA (he uses Hawaiian pidgin sometimes too), and working with Noah was such a treat! I really concepted Kalei to be Geist's antithesis in basically every way 😂 (and I'm glad you enjoyed the ukelele tracks 😂😂😂 I couldn't help myself, when will I ever have the chance to use them again?? And they ended up fitting Kalei really well too)
And LOLLL yes, I wanted to experiment with kind of a different kind of yan with Geist! I actually did (half-jokingly) consider an ending or two where he somehow killed Kalei but it just felt so out of place LMAOOO and I thought that having a yan who exclusively plays on the MC's insecurities would be an interesting writing challenge. (And well, I do like soft yans myself in general, I describe most of mine as having the energy of sad wet dogs 🤣) Your interpretation of his character is spot-on, though - he does genuinely love the MC, and that's why he does what he does - he thinks that he's protecting their fragile self from a world that will shatter them (even though he's the reason they're so fragile in the first place.) And that "protectiveness" is no less toxic than pure "possessiveness."
🤣 Honestly I never thought of Geist having the ultimate victory of Kalei but honestly you're right 🤣 (the thought of Geist constantly third-wheeling the two of them makes me chuckle...) I mean, he did say he would never leave the MC... and he didn't lie 🤣
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to write up your thoughts, I really enjoyed looking through them! 🥰
So I wasn't being crazy whenever I heard the ukelele tracks, I kept replaying the scene where Kalei is and I'm thinking "The music is changing, this must be a significant character detail" lmao. And also I'm really amazed by the VAs dilligence! They really brightened up the experience and I have a new found appreciation for all the scenes now that I know, especially Geist's VA, I love his creative take because it really does speak to me from a narrative standpoint!
You did such an amazing job with the story, and also the thought of Geist being a consistent third wheeler in all of MC and Kalei's relationship is so funny to me. He'll have the last laugh but I know he's occupying those third wheel couple places and glaring pettily at Kalei like a disgruntled cat.
The dialogue and narrative is so realistic and I love how our negative and self-deprecating thoughts are personified into this "Geist" (Which I looked up and turns out it means ghost or mind/intellect) To be honest I was kind of put off by getting the bad ending because this game really hits home so I deliberately chose the better options
Ok so I tried out the other route out of curiosity and I'm glad that I did. It wasn't as scary as I thought but it definitely was not right. If Geist was real then he would have to answer some questions of mine cuz why is a grown man following me around and going into my home with not even a cent contributed to the rent #unemployedfinalboss lololol
In all seriousness this game was beautifully made and it really showed that life isn't all black and white but what you make it out to be. Oh and also the Voice Actors were absolutely superb.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 The real horror is having this unemployed bum sitting on my couch the whole time!!! (ngl I won't lie the implication that Geist is just third wheeling Kalei and the MC in Kalei's ending is so funny to me...)
And you got Geist's name exactly right! 🙌 (Honestly the name was so fitting that it was the only reason I gave him a German name when his VA is British LOLLL) And you aren't the first person who avoided Geist's ending like the plague (at least at first). I think that a lot of people expect it to be worse than it turns out to be 🤣 but I did want to convey that "giving in to Geist" isn't something that's really catastrophic, just... a bit lonely LOL
Thank you so much for playing and for taking the time to comment, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts (and agreed, the voice actors' performances for this game were just immaculate 🙏 I was so lucky to have the chance to work with them!)
If anything happen to Kalei, I will crash out- But seriously this is such an original use of the yandere trope. At first I was like he doesn't seem very active-OH I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW, GET OUT OF MY HEAD. And Kalei moments were so sweet, I was swooning
OHHHH thank you so much for playing!! 🥹 (And I'm sorry for the late reply, I was BURNT OUT after otojam so I put replying to comments on hold for a bit!) I was worried that people would find Geist to be kind of a "passive" yandere but hopefully they got the "concept" after a while 😂 and honestly it was fun writing a yan who is mostly a catty jerk the entire time... I'm glad that you liked Kalei too, he's a sweetie and one of my favorite love interests that I've written 🥹 💦💦 Truly the emotional support extrovert that the world needs 😂
Thank you again for playing, and for taking the time to leave your thoughts!!! 🙇♀️
(I played this game 4 months ago but i forgot to comment here)
I simply loved it!!! It took me the past memory about meeting Geist before the school presentation to catch up with the fact that he is basically the materialization of MC´s anxiety and bad thoughts. As someone who had suffered with severe anxiety before and that is surronded by a few people who have sociel anxiety the most, i loved this game and how the creator adress this topic.
In my first play i chosed all the answers to fight against Geist and i felt my heart warming a little bit with the end were we got the chance to break out of our shell slowly and, even so, i liked the choice of the creator to show that Geist didn´t actually leaved completly but was mostly quiet since the MC started to try supress her bad thoughts to live a "better" life.
The other end, where we choose to listen to Geist and end up isolation ourselfs, also got a ton on me. I have fought against my anxiety and even "won" against my depression so i noticed that the MC seemed to be falling into a little depressive state after giving up on her fight to stand up against Geist. I love how everything was portrait and carefully adressed, it is an amazing job.
I also need to comment about the brillant Voice Actors that dubbed this game, i loved listening to it. Geist´s voice is amazing, showing his amusement with his sucessed attemps to manipulate the MC and his anger when they didn´t listened. Kalei´s voice made me feel warm inside with his playful demanor and lovely personality, i must admit that i am a little Kalei myself so i really loved his character in general and how he was able to help the MC thought it without judging or making it a big deal so they didn´t felt like they were "strange".
YOU PLAYED IT FOUR MONTHS AGO and still remembered it and took the time to come and comment??? 😭😭😭 For some reason that really warms my heart, thank you... (and I'm sorry for the late reply, I was crunching another game for about a month and it burnt me out hard, so I put answering comments on hold for a while!)
I'm really glad that you enjoyed the game, and that the writing resonated with your experience 🥹 I based it pretty heavily on my own experiences with anxiety, so I was a little worried that others wouldn't really understand it 🤣 so it really reassures me that players find it relatable! You caught onto Geist's identity pretty quickly, too 👀 I think that people who have had experiences with anxiety tend to "recognize" what Geist is faster than others!
And ohh your interpretations of the endings are really on point! Especially how you picked up on the MC's depression in Geist's ending 🤔 I think that sometimes people mistake depression as always being "sad," and they don't notice that chronic fatigue and a lack of energy are symptoms of depression as well, so I wanted to highlight that here 🙌 (Your compliments are really too sweet 🥲)
AND YES, the voice actors did an absolutely amazing job... I was so lucky to work with them both, and I swear that their performances are half the experience of playing the game 😭🙏 and 🤭 Kalei is definitely one of my favorite love interests that I've written (I need an emotional support extrovert like him, honestly...)
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment, I had a lot of fun reading your thoughts! 🥹
Thank you so much for replying to me!!! I hope you're doing better, please don't forget to take care of yourself as well.
I can assure you that the game is amazing, you passed the message and the feelings in such a real, yet subtle, way that i still remember vividly about it like if i had just playes yesterday. It became one of my favorites. I completly believe in your potential and will make sure to check any other game you make 'cause i'm sure that they will be just as awesome!!!
(Sorry for any mistakes, i'm brazilian so sometimes i misspell some words hehe)
I like how this game handles anxiety and shows mental struggles in a metaphorical way. It made me see some of my negative thoughts in a different perspective. I could feel the protagonist's suffering in some scenes, it's portrayed very well. I think the characters are fairly complex and written with nuance. Kalei's personality is likable and his route was heartwarming. Geist's route was both realistic and sad to me, I found it interesting too.
(Thank you so much for commenting, and I'm sorry for the late reply 😢 I was pretty busy for a while so I put answering comments on hold for a little bit!)
I'm glad that you liked the game's concept, and that it helped reframe your own view of your negative thoughts too - I really wanted to make this game to help people externalize their own anxiety in a way, so it makes me happy whenever someone mentions that it helped them 😆 I'm glad that you found both endings to be interesting, too! I wanted to make Geist's route a bit more nuanced than a straightforward bad ending 🤔 (although I'm not sure if that made it any more fun to play through 😆)
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment!! 🤗
such a great depiction of social anxiety and its insidiousness!! Geist was so damn Brutal it even made me wince at times.
made me think a lot tbh. I know it can be triggering to those with history with negative self-talk but for me, it made me realize that my own form of social anxiety is so insidious that my own brain bypasses the intrusive thoughts and just go straight to the feelings and beliefs (ex. feeling like a burden or that people don't care abt me even tho I KNOW in my head COGNITIVELY that I'm surrounded by people who loves me).
So what happened was it articulated the thought process behind those negative self-feelings I have which kinda helped me in addressing them.
tl;dr Gonna have fun telling people I had realizations about self-perception and insecurity from a YANDERE VN LMFAOO
(Thank you so much for playing, and I'm sorry for the late reply! I was taking a break from answering comments since I released another game recently and I was getting a bit overwhelmed...)
I'm really glad it was thought provoking 🤭 (of course I like any kind of feedback, but as a thinker myself I'm always especially touched when my games make people think!) I agree with you - of course the guttural fear that anxiety induces is bad, but the worse part is how it gradually shapes your beliefs about the world and about yourself 🤔 because fear can be fought - but when you start truly believing that you're better off alone, then that's a much more difficult enemy to resist.
🤭🤭🤭 I'm very touched, and I'll take that as a win!!! Thank you again for taking the time to leave your thoughts, I really loved reading them 🥹
ahhhh welcome & thank you for taking the time to reply!! <33
I found Mind Mind Mind through a completely different path that I didn't even realize that you were also the one who created The Perfect Woman!! :00 (which I played almost a month earlier? and also yapped abt)
omggg u put out such bangers 🫶🫶
Also just realized that my comment didn't talk abt Kalei. WHICH IS A CRIME so just wanted to mention that Kalei was SO CUTE. I want to lift him up and present him to the world like Simba. He was just so soft and wholesome and gentle w the MC the entire timee I'm soo?? Aurghh.
Such a great depiction of that popular kid who is also genuinely kind, sensitive, and considerate. I also just love how his insecurities were also depicted without it turning into an oppression Olympics w the MC and was given equal care and thought.
🙏🙏🙏 I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME YOUR INNER GEIST (just imagine if you went through all of that only for Kalei to completely avoid you after you tried to make a move... I would become a hermit after that...)
(I am so sorry 😭😭😭 And somehow I'm so touched that you tried to play the game a year later???
I've actually been working on an Android/Web port for the game that will port it to a new engine! I'm just waiting on some additional assets. I think that it will probably clear up any issues that you have..? I'll post an update post here/on my various socials when it's up! Again, I'm so sorry that you haven't been able to play all this time 😭 and thank you for checking back in!)
(I'm also sorry for the late reply fghfg I've been a bit overwhelmed lately so I put off responding to my comments for a little while!)
Bueno, definitivamente AMÉ a Kalei. Por otro lado pues...Sí, Geist no es nada más ni nada menos que esa voz interna, esos pensamientos intrusivos, y toda la negatividad que nos consumé. Me encantó su personaje en el sentido de que pues... está bien desarrollado para la función que debía desempeñar. Y su final fue justo lo que esperaba. Nice game!
(¡Muchas gracias por jugar! Siento mucho la tardanza en responder, últimamente he estado bastante agobiada... ¡y espero que mi texto no resulte extraño! ¡Estoy usando un traductor!)
Me alegra mucho que te haya gustado Kalei, es uno de mis personajes románticos favoritos 🥰 Sobre todo porque tenía que equilibrar lo terrible que es Geist 😂 Un buen personaje...uninterésamorosohorrible😂😂😂(creoqueprobablementenovolveréacrearuninterésamorosotanhorriblecomoél...).Graciasdenuevoporjugaryportomarteeltiempodedejartuscomentarios🥰
I was terrified by the fact i found myself agreeing and nodding along to geist like.. i think thats bad but internally i was like' well yeah hes right, people just tolerate me-'
NOOOOOOOOOOOO 😭 It's understandable... I think a lot of people have similar thoughts - I definitely struggle with those types of anxieties sometimes, even now. I hope that you can overcome these worries 😢 and recognize that you're really a wonderful person, and people are lucky to be friends with you!
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Thank you for adding Steam Achievements!
Can I ask if your other games are gonna get them when they release on steam?
Oh I'm glad that you liked them! 😊 Yes, I plan to add Steam achievements to all of the games I release there 🫡
Yess ofc. I couldn't be happier to hear that.
My entire itch profile is begging developers to add achievements to their steam releases, it's a problem! 😭
I'm looking for a woman version of this
My question is how Kalei isn't bothered by the fact that you constantly have Geist with you, unless Geist is a hallucination, but I don' think so
tbh i think he might as well be due to no one else acknowledging him so we probably only see him orr people think he's a friend of ours or roommate that just is weird and follows us lol
No sabes cuánto me alegro que estuviera en español ♥️♥️
I can tolerate anything in a dark romance / yandere game so this time I didn't read warnings before launching the game.
Holy shit, Gheist is written well but my stomach was wrenching from his lines. Awesome game though, Kalei was a sweetie.
You really do understand mental illness well. I truly did feel as if I was the protagonist, because we are so similar:
anxious, prone to panic attacks, inclined to avoid people, constantly hearing negative thoughts.
You are a really good writer, too! I could feel and understand the mc's emotions towards the things that Geist said.
I believe that I would be susceptible to Geists' words, as well. He is good at manipulating, and gaslighting the protagonist, which, I suppose, is why he was created.
...
SPOILERS!!!
Geist is obviously a manifestation of the protagonists insecurities, and I can understand that voice of derision and doubt. Thank you for the kind words at the end of the game. You are really sweet to say that.
Kalei is a sweetheart, and someone that I wish I knew in real life. If Geist is doubt and negativity, Kalei is support, and encouragement. Thank you for creating him, and making him romanceable. I really enjoyed his route!
If YOU ever experienced anxiety, or depression, then I hope you were able to feel better, and get support and love from friends, and loved ones. You deserve it for helping people with this game! <3
And, thank you so much for porting this to android. I know it probably wasn't easy, so, really, thank you!
is this like a prequel for my husband is a stranger? because the two of them look like twins haha forgive me if I sound idiotic I have yet to play this masterpiece
Oh it's not, they're different characters 😂 (their personalities couldn't be more different too 😂)
is that Harvey Harvington?!?
thank youuu for the web-android version aaa really appreciate that i dont have to wait longer to save enough for a better device since my pc has ancient openGL TT i couldn’t believe it.. I’ve been so excited for a chance to be able to play this one while waiting for the complete series of Karamu. Also will be marathon playing your future works along with MHIAS, Actala, and the Deepwater Witch because playing them so far has been really satisfying and inspiring!XD
First impression: lol Geist? Seriously like poltergeist so a ghost, word of some language prob German and it was. lame name which he’s deserving of it when that’s the least you could do when he intruded and haunted outta nowhere. my man lived rent free in your head but made himself home and would scare other visitors scarce.
early thoughts into starting: wheew what a fine man to go with belittling my existence 🥴 i did love an additional flavour to my suffering.
Main thoughts: Geist’s self-projecting commentary to mock the little embarrassing options, to doubt the MC’s autonomy and choices, how he diminished them to existential crisis was really familiar in that intimate who better knows you than your own anxiety represented. At least, he was manageable and funny at times. Progressing the story had this clearer, visible state of how Geist treated you; his presence can be comforting at the certain, right moments, but also since we’re just outsider here would make us start to think “that doesn’t sound right” from his catastrophic spiral, like he might be got a point or two, but the rest might be off. one bad time/possibility doesn’t define the rest of your life or your value set in stone, or something. im hoping to instill that kind of thought stronger in real life. Kalei, too, you could see yourself in him, and he in return helped you see better in other people’s shoes, he was mostly like that thin beam of sun that came past clouds post rain/storm. even his circle of friends, the way they acted around him and how he felt being among them, reminded me of my own friend group. i envied his extroverted energy, still.
spoilers!
thankfully, we weren't as insane as to conjure a (good on the eye-looking) personified mental worries, in canon. How Geist latched onto MC was understandable plus he was just a kid who died too early. I was glad (and def a peaceful fact to sleep with at night) to see him still staying and hanging around after the happy and better end, maybe growing together and working on healing. Like, he did care in his own way, though his perception of trauma got in the way, he still allowed mc to be happy with somebody else.okay enough psychological rambling, now artistically considering, i liked how the shifting hue, that dark effect engulfing the corners to capture that trapped feel, and how these box dialogue and switch to that group according to the scene set up the atmosphere, the terms escape me but your works always had that cinematic quality that was really enjoyable and to combine with the smooth, neat GUI fitting the overall classy modern monotone (idk) of Geist’s aesthetic, absolutely perfect. That aside, there was just one tiny typo and doubled paragraph in the dev notes.
Last note: Geist was an effective ghost, I mean i was literally shaking, buy him brown contacts PLEASE. an d i wonder if that tutor and the woman that just came by were cameos from another game of yours, or im tweaking..??
Oh gosh, thank you so much for the thoughtful comment 😭 Your analysis was so interesting to read and completely on point, and I really appreciate your comments on the "artistic" aspects as well - I really love VNs and playing around with the way that they're presented, so it's such an honor to hear that they have a cinematic quality 😭 And I'm very happy that the Web/Android build was worth it to make! One of the reasons I like making visual novels is that they're very lightweight games that can be played by just about anyone with a device, and I always want to make my games as accessible as possible! 🤭
(And exactly right about Geist's name! Fun fact, but in addition to meaning "ghost," the word "Geist" can also refer to "spirit" or "mind/intellect." I thought that the double meaning would be pretty fitting for his character 🤭)
(Gosh thank you for the comment about the dev notes, I can't believe I playtested this dang build 10 times and NEVER caught that... I'll make sure to update it the next time I update the game!)
(and regarding the last question 🤭 the tutor and his gf are indeed Karamu cameos... they're actually the sprites from the last installment, I thought it would make a fun Easter egg 😂)
THE MEME IT FITS SO MUCH DFGDF
Thank you again for playing!!! (And gosh I'm so touched that you're interested in so many of my games? I really hope that you enjoy them!!)
I'm crying why does that haole ass music play everytime Kalei speaks T-T awesome game tho besides the strange racism-esque feel lol but at least you didn't white wash him.
LOL that's fair, thanks for the input! I wanted it to be very clear where Kalei is from since you rarely see Pacific Islander rep in this genre of game, and I previously released a game with POC where their cultural heritage wasn't that pronounced beyond names/some lingo and people didn't really notice that they were supposed to be SEA 😅 I think a lot of people who played MMM didn't recognize Kalei's accent or the pidgin used (some people thought it was like, Californian??? or thought he was from Brazil based off of looks/fashion), so I thought that a musical motif would be more clear. Though I understand how it probably comes off as strong to someone who's actually familiar with Hawai'i. I apologize if it came off as stereotypical/racist 😭
(If it's any consolation, the music used is from Japanese artists, not haoles - well not white haoles at least😂 since I get most of the music for my games from that site!)
Haha thanks for replying! I'm so so sorry if I was too harsh! T-T And I want to make it clear that I'm super grateful for the Hawaiian rep! :)
This was a very interesting and well-written game! Geist reminded me of how I was when my social anxiety was much, much worse - it was pretty awful. With that said, Kalei reminded me of the progress I've made and how much better I've become, which was such a cathartic thing.
I sometimes fear that I'll slip back into listening to my own Geist, but the ending of Kalei's route accepting that anxiety sometimes never really goes away but that you can have a happy life regardless really, really meant a lot to me. It was very comforting.
Wonderful game, very emotional but also heartwarming (during Kalei's route at least, haha) :) <3
Pongalo en android por favor quiero jugarlo todavía no tengo pc
¡Estoy creando una versión para Android! Debería estar disponible pronto, solo estoy dedicando un poco de tiempo a corregir errores 🙏
There are three ending, none of them are bad:
1. dating (?) with Geist (accepting Geist)
2. friends with Kalei (if you think of him as a good friend)
3. dating with Kalei (if you think of him as cute)
Ya jugué 2 de 4 porque están para android me siento identificado con "mi marido es un extraño" la ley ayer y me puse a llorar muy hermoso la verdad
can kalei not see geist wtf is happening
yea ill stop
is giest even real?
WHY IS HE CASUALLY GOING INTO MY HOME LIKES ITS NOTHING?? WHAT IS MC DOING!!
geist really pmo can we slime him?
Tienes pensado ponerlo para Android?? Por qué sería genial ♥️
Sí, de hecho, ¡estoy trabajando en una versión para Android ahora mismo! Espero tenerla lista para finales de mes!
Your game is a masterpiece, I like it very much!! The descriptions of the psychological aspects are very realistic.I really want someone like kalei，But the reality is that I only have Geist.
I'm not one to usually comment around here, but I have to say this game was incredibly cathartic for me, and I loved every second of it. I had to take my time to read every line and truly pay attention, not just skim through them like I would in more superficial novels.
As someone with social anxiety, I appreciate it when characters like the ones you created come to light. Even with Geist, I really liked his character because he's quite literally a reflection of the MC's intrusive thoughts/negative self-talk, but he's not meant to be mean just for the sake of it. To me, he acts like a defense mechanism to preserve the MC because social situations bring uncertainty and discomfort.
To be honest, sometimes I've gone down Geist's path and chosen to avoid social settings and keep myself 'safe', but at other times I've gone down Kalei's path and accepted that social interactions can't be prepared for or controlled, and that tends to be for the better.
What I want to say with all of this is that this VN is a gentle reminder that nobody is born with anxiety, and since we learn it, we can unlearn it as well. Kalei and his interactions with the MC are lovely examples of how not everyone is out there to get us, even though it feels like they are. True, we might not be able to get rid of Geist for our entire lifespan, but his voice can be dimmed down.
I loved the game. It got me thinking, and I was happy to be able to choose the 'risky' options and see everything turn out alright. Thank you for creating it, and I'll definitely be checking out your other projects <3.
Omg, I didn't expect it to hit too close to home. I was literally crying at the end. Thank you so much for making this game!! ♡ And kudos to the voice actors for their amazing work.
OHMAIGOSH I LOVE ALL OF UR GAMES SO MUCHH!! You always somehow nail the characters, storyline, practically everything. I'm so looking forward to more of your work in the future. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! 😻😸
AHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭 Thank you so much for playing multiple games of mine, I'm so touched?!?! 😭😭😭 Your praise is TOO KIND, it really brings a smile to my face, truly 🥹 I'll work hard on my future projects as well!!!
You absolutely nailed the story for an abusive relationship.
I don't know if it's intentional; but Geist comes across as a metaphor for the long-term effects and damage abuse can have on survivors. Sure, you can be out of that relationship, but the memories, the things they said/did still haunt you, control your life.
This was amazing and Geist did a wonderful job of making me want to throw him through a wall for acting exactly like my past relationship. srs frick this guy!
Your story is a game about hope and healing. You don't have to live in fear and thank you for showing this. <3
OH gosh thank you so much 😭 That's extremely high praise!!! (I'll put my comments under a spoiler tag in case anyone comes down here without playing the game first):
=======SPOILERS========
That's a very interesting interpretation, and I don't think that I've seen anyone really focus on that facet of it (I'm really glad you did)! 🤔 I purposefully left Geist's existence a bit vague so that players could interpret him freely - however, I did base his behavior off of some "friendships" that I've had in the past (the term used very loosely 🤣) and how abusive partners seek to break down and isolate you to make you dependent on them. Your interpretation is very true also - after going through these experiences, their words can haunt you for a long time, shattering your self-confidence long after they're gone 🤔
I'm so glad that you enjoyed it and that you saw your own experience in it too 🥹🥹🥹 I'm so touched!!! (And I'm glad you're out of that toxicity now 😭) Thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts too, I loved reading them!
I played this around few months ago and came to play again!! I love Geist so much !! heheee ( I love ur other work my husband is a stranger!!)
A Geist fan!!! 😆 Aww I'm so honored that you came back to play again, and you played my other game too 😭 thank you!!!
I honestly don't think I have a favourite, I love both Geist and Kalei equally =D ... I lied. I favour Kalei over Geist. I mean... He's just a big puppy! I adore him. I'd love for the universe to give me a Kalei in my life. Besides that, I love Geist too, because even in solitude you'd need someone and he's there for that
OHH it's surprising to find someone who likes both love interests 😂 Honestly I think you have a point, Kalei is definitely the more lovable love interest but sometimes you just want someone who will chill with you in your darker/quiet moments and Geist is definitely there for that (for better or worse 😂) Thank you so much for playing!!! 🥰
Oh? Well, I guess it just shows I believe variety is the spice of life, though of course! I'm soo gonna play the other games I can get my hands on. I loved this one soo much as is!
oh how i love geist, i personally am not a social butterfly, staying inside all day away from everyone and rewatching comfort shows sounds like a dream to me. 1# geist lover 4ever
LMAOOO HONESTLY GEIST IS AN INTROVERT'S DREAM, a guy who will always be there to just hang out with you alone 😂😂😂 people give the man too much flak for no reason, smh!! (Thank you for playing!)
I am in love with Kalei, wish the universe would give me a guy like that
FGHFG THANK YOU, I'm glad you liked him 🥰 (manifesting the universe to give you your own Kalei!!!)
Kalie is the type of boyfriend I'd want
HONESTLY same... 🤝🤝🤝
Okay so I finally sat my butt down and played through this and I have to say it was really immersive, mainly because of how good the writing is! I have to say, MC is the most MC as they managed to even make their own self-doubt fall in "love" with them which I find absolutely hilarious. But I do have to say how interesting it is that each of Geist's words were so carefully picked out and targeted that even me, as a relatively less-overthinking kind of person, began to think about all the things Geist's says.
I like the use of the VAs, I know that there are realistically only two VAs because of the relevancy of Geist and Kalei but I like to think MC can only "hear" these two characters because of the amount of impact they have. Like, Geist's voice being all smooth and his tendency to enunciate words really makes you focus on him and his slow cadence, like he drowns out everything that you don't put in any audio in the background signifying the outside world because MC has gotten used to desperately trying to block out Geist's words that, by consequence, they've blocked and isolated themselves from hearing the outside world as well.
So, having Kalei able to speak helps ground MC, especially when it actually stops Geist from speaking because now MC's thinking isn't clouded over negative thoughts but focusing on Kalei. I also like the duality of their voices, Kalei noticeably has an accent but his voice is bright, fun, expressive, and he talks in a pretty chill manner compared to Geist's more formal way of speaking. He's the direct opposite to Geist which is another way to visually set them apart, and I think it helps ground MC because MC doesn't really notice anyone, nobody has any art or even a name attached to them aside from Kalei and Geist so having them visual different makes it so that MC can starkly recognize them (and also the Hawaii somewhat music playing every time Kalei is on scene is so funny, I wonder if MC's mind is just playing that as Kalei's theme).
I didn't think Geist is much of a yandere, he only really shows it somewhat at the ending where you have to push or accept him. I know that yanderes aren't ALWAYS violent, they manipulate and hurt you so you can stay by their side, and their love is both painful and suffocating. Looking back, I do think Geist was showing his love in a backhanded way by isolating MC and making them dependent by beating their self-esteem and identity all while spinning a nice story of accepting the version of MC he managed to create by ruining the MC that would have never created him (an MC with no self-loathing thoughts).
The yandere-ness is subtle but no less toxic and I find it very interesting how Geist mellowed out, he'll never fully be away from MC and even if Kalei is in the picture. But Kalei will never live inside of MC's mind like Geist is and I think that could be Geist's ultimate petty victory over Kalei. That in the end, he'll always will be by MC even if they don't want to acknowledge it, they'll accept it.
OHH gosh, this was a very interesting read! Thank you for leaving such a long and insightful review~ (I'm sorry that it took me so long to reply!) I'm really glad you enjoyed the writing, and still felt immersed even if these aren't problems you usually struggle with 🤔
I agree, the VAs did an absolutely fantastic job 🤔 I really wanted this game to be voiced in particular, just because I knew that Geist's lines would be so much more impactful if read aloud. Regarding his lines, it was actually the VA's interpretation! I initially was envisioning him to sound a lot more cruel (almost bully-like), but Shaun's ended up reading the lines a lot more gentle and slow and close to the mic, which gave a much more "intimate" feeling, like you mentioned - and ended up fitting the character much better. I'm really grateful for his diligence in reading the script 😊
And ohh you noticed Kalei's accent!! Since he's Hawaiian, I did really want a Hawaiian VA (he uses Hawaiian pidgin sometimes too), and working with Noah was such a treat! I really concepted Kalei to be Geist's antithesis in basically every way 😂 (and I'm glad you enjoyed the ukelele tracks 😂😂😂 I couldn't help myself, when will I ever have the chance to use them again?? And they ended up fitting Kalei really well too)
And LOLLL yes, I wanted to experiment with kind of a different kind of yan with Geist! I actually did (half-jokingly) consider an ending or two where he somehow killed Kalei but it just felt so out of place LMAOOO and I thought that having a yan who exclusively plays on the MC's insecurities would be an interesting writing challenge. (And well, I do like soft yans myself in general, I describe most of mine as having the energy of sad wet dogs 🤣) Your interpretation of his character is spot-on, though - he does genuinely love the MC, and that's why he does what he does - he thinks that he's protecting their fragile self from a world that will shatter them (even though he's the reason they're so fragile in the first place.) And that "protectiveness" is no less toxic than pure "possessiveness."
🤣 Honestly I never thought of Geist having the ultimate victory of Kalei but honestly you're right 🤣 (the thought of Geist constantly third-wheeling the two of them makes me chuckle...) I mean, he did say he would never leave the MC... and he didn't lie 🤣
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to write up your thoughts, I really enjoyed looking through them! 🥰
So I wasn't being crazy whenever I heard the ukelele tracks, I kept replaying the scene where Kalei is and I'm thinking "The music is changing, this must be a significant character detail" lmao. And also I'm really amazed by the VAs dilligence! They really brightened up the experience and I have a new found appreciation for all the scenes now that I know, especially Geist's VA, I love his creative take because it really does speak to me from a narrative standpoint!
You did such an amazing job with the story, and also the thought of Geist being a consistent third wheeler in all of MC and Kalei's relationship is so funny to me. He'll have the last laugh but I know he's occupying those third wheel couple places and glaring pettily at Kalei like a disgruntled cat.
The dialogue and narrative is so realistic and I love how our negative and self-deprecating thoughts are personified into this "Geist" (Which I looked up and turns out it means ghost or mind/intellect) To be honest I was kind of put off by getting the bad ending because this game really hits home so I deliberately chose the better options
Ok so I tried out the other route out of curiosity and I'm glad that I did. It wasn't as scary as I thought but it definitely was not right. If Geist was real then he would have to answer some questions of mine cuz why is a grown man following me around and going into my home with not even a cent contributed to the rent #unemployedfinalboss lololol
In all seriousness this game was beautifully made and it really showed that life isn't all black and white but what you make it out to be. Oh and also the Voice Actors were absolutely superb.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 The real horror is having this unemployed bum sitting on my couch the whole time!!! (ngl I won't lie the implication that Geist is just third wheeling Kalei and the MC in Kalei's ending is so funny to me...)
And you got Geist's name exactly right! 🙌 (Honestly the name was so fitting that it was the only reason I gave him a German name when his VA is British LOLLL) And you aren't the first person who avoided Geist's ending like the plague (at least at first). I think that a lot of people expect it to be worse than it turns out to be 🤣 but I did want to convey that "giving in to Geist" isn't something that's really catastrophic, just... a bit lonely LOL
Thank you so much for playing and for taking the time to comment, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts (and agreed, the voice actors' performances for this game were just immaculate 🙏 I was so lucky to have the chance to work with them!)
If anything happen to Kalei, I will crash out- But seriously this is such an original use of the yandere trope. At first I was like he doesn't seem very active-OH I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW, GET OUT OF MY HEAD. And Kalei moments were so sweet, I was swooning
OHHHH thank you so much for playing!! 🥹 (And I'm sorry for the late reply, I was BURNT OUT after otojam so I put replying to comments on hold for a bit!) I was worried that people would find Geist to be kind of a "passive" yandere but hopefully they got the "concept" after a while 😂 and honestly it was fun writing a yan who is mostly a catty jerk the entire time... I'm glad that you liked Kalei too, he's a sweetie and one of my favorite love interests that I've written 🥹 💦💦 Truly the emotional support extrovert that the world needs 😂
Thank you again for playing, and for taking the time to leave your thoughts!!! 🙇♀️
(I played this game 4 months ago but i forgot to comment here)
I simply loved it!!! It took me the past memory about meeting Geist before the school presentation to catch up with the fact that he is basically the materialization of MC´s anxiety and bad thoughts. As someone who had suffered with severe anxiety before and that is surronded by a few people who have sociel anxiety the most, i loved this game and how the creator adress this topic.
In my first play i chosed all the answers to fight against Geist and i felt my heart warming a little bit with the end were we got the chance to break out of our shell slowly and, even so, i liked the choice of the creator to show that Geist didn´t actually leaved completly but was mostly quiet since the MC started to try supress her bad thoughts to live a "better" life.
The other end, where we choose to listen to Geist and end up isolation ourselfs, also got a ton on me. I have fought against my anxiety and even "won" against my depression so i noticed that the MC seemed to be falling into a little depressive state after giving up on her fight to stand up against Geist. I love how everything was portrait and carefully adressed, it is an amazing job.
I also need to comment about the brillant Voice Actors that dubbed this game, i loved listening to it. Geist´s voice is amazing, showing his amusement with his sucessed attemps to manipulate the MC and his anger when they didn´t listened. Kalei´s voice made me feel warm inside with his playful demanor and lovely personality, i must admit that i am a little Kalei myself so i really loved his character in general and how he was able to help the MC thought it without judging or making it a big deal so they didn´t felt like they were "strange".
YOU PLAYED IT FOUR MONTHS AGO and still remembered it and took the time to come and comment??? 😭😭😭 For some reason that really warms my heart, thank you... (and I'm sorry for the late reply, I was crunching another game for about a month and it burnt me out hard, so I put answering comments on hold for a while!)
I'm really glad that you enjoyed the game, and that the writing resonated with your experience 🥹 I based it pretty heavily on my own experiences with anxiety, so I was a little worried that others wouldn't really understand it 🤣 so it really reassures me that players find it relatable! You caught onto Geist's identity pretty quickly, too 👀 I think that people who have had experiences with anxiety tend to "recognize" what Geist is faster than others!
And ohh your interpretations of the endings are really on point! Especially how you picked up on the MC's depression in Geist's ending 🤔 I think that sometimes people mistake depression as always being "sad," and they don't notice that chronic fatigue and a lack of energy are symptoms of depression as well, so I wanted to highlight that here 🙌 (Your compliments are really too sweet 🥲)
AND YES, the voice actors did an absolutely amazing job... I was so lucky to work with them both, and I swear that their performances are half the experience of playing the game 😭🙏 and 🤭 Kalei is definitely one of my favorite love interests that I've written (I need an emotional support extrovert like him, honestly...)
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment, I had a lot of fun reading your thoughts! 🥹
Thank you so much for replying to me!!! I hope you're doing better, please don't forget to take care of yourself as well.
I can assure you that the game is amazing, you passed the message and the feelings in such a real, yet subtle, way that i still remember vividly about it like if i had just playes yesterday. It became one of my favorites. I completly believe in your potential and will make sure to check any other game you make 'cause i'm sure that they will be just as awesome!!!
(Sorry for any mistakes, i'm brazilian so sometimes i misspell some words hehe)
I like how this game handles anxiety and shows mental struggles in a metaphorical way. It made me see some of my negative thoughts in a different perspective. I could feel the protagonist's suffering in some scenes, it's portrayed very well. I think the characters are fairly complex and written with nuance. Kalei's personality is likable and his route was heartwarming. Geist's route was both realistic and sad to me, I found it interesting too.
(Thank you so much for commenting, and I'm sorry for the late reply 😢 I was pretty busy for a while so I put answering comments on hold for a little bit!)
I'm glad that you liked the game's concept, and that it helped reframe your own view of your negative thoughts too - I really wanted to make this game to help people externalize their own anxiety in a way, so it makes me happy whenever someone mentions that it helped them 😆 I'm glad that you found both endings to be interesting, too! I wanted to make Geist's route a bit more nuanced than a straightforward bad ending 🤔 (although I'm not sure if that made it any more fun to play through 😆)
Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment!! 🤗
such a great depiction of social anxiety and its insidiousness!! Geist was so damn Brutal it even made me wince at times.
made me think a lot tbh. I know it can be triggering to those with history with negative self-talk but for me, it made me realize that my own form of social anxiety is so insidious that my own brain bypasses the intrusive thoughts and just go straight to the feelings and beliefs (ex. feeling like a burden or that people don't care abt me even tho I KNOW in my head COGNITIVELY that I'm surrounded by people who loves me).
So what happened was it articulated the thought process behind those negative self-feelings I have which kinda helped me in addressing them.
tl;dr Gonna have fun telling people I had realizations about self-perception and insecurity from a YANDERE VN LMFAOO
(Thank you so much for playing, and I'm sorry for the late reply! I was taking a break from answering comments since I released another game recently and I was getting a bit overwhelmed...)
I'm really glad it was thought provoking 🤭 (of course I like any kind of feedback, but as a thinker myself I'm always especially touched when my games make people think!) I agree with you - of course the guttural fear that anxiety induces is bad, but the worse part is how it gradually shapes your beliefs about the world and about yourself 🤔 because fear can be fought - but when you start truly believing that you're better off alone, then that's a much more difficult enemy to resist.
🤭🤭🤭 I'm very touched, and I'll take that as a win!!! Thank you again for taking the time to leave your thoughts, I really loved reading them 🥹
ahhhh welcome & thank you for taking the time to reply!! <33
I found Mind Mind Mind through a completely different path that I didn't even realize that you were also the one who created The Perfect Woman!! :00 (which I played almost a month earlier? and also yapped abt)
omggg u put out such bangers 🫶🫶
Also just realized that my comment didn't talk abt Kalei. WHICH IS A CRIME so just wanted to mention that Kalei was SO CUTE. I want to lift him up and present him to the world like Simba. He was just so soft and wholesome and gentle w the MC the entire timee I'm soo?? Aurghh.
Such a great depiction of that popular kid who is also genuinely kind, sensitive, and considerate. I also just love how his insecurities were also depicted without it turning into an oppression Olympics w the MC and was given equal care and thought.
DID ANYONE KISS KALEI???? WHAT HAPPENS?!?! IS IT TOO AWKWARD? SOMEONE TELL ME PLS!!!!
Never mind, my inner Geist couldn't hold me back from kissing Kalei! :D (I'm so relieved it wasn't awkward afterwards)
🙏🙏🙏 I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME YOUR INNER GEIST (just imagine if you went through all of that only for Kalei to completely avoid you after you tried to make a move... I would become a hermit after that...)
I loved everything about this
🥹🥹🥹 AW thank you so much, that's so sweet!!!
it's been one year and i still can't play this game bc it doesn't progress beyond "I look forward to Monday" even on steam ahshahhad
(I am so sorry 😭😭😭 And somehow I'm so touched that you tried to play the game a year later???
I've actually been working on an Android/Web port for the game that will port it to a new engine! I'm just waiting on some additional assets. I think that it will probably clear up any issues that you have..? I'll post an update post here/on my various socials when it's up! Again, I'm so sorry that you haven't been able to play all this time 😭 and thank you for checking back in!)
(I'm also sorry for the late reply fghfg I've been a bit overwhelmed lately so I put off responding to my comments for a little while!)
Bueno, definitivamente AMÉ a Kalei. Por otro lado pues...Sí, Geist no es nada más ni nada menos que esa voz interna, esos pensamientos intrusivos, y toda la negatividad que nos consumé. Me encantó su personaje en el sentido de que pues... está bien desarrollado para la función que debía desempeñar. Y su final fue justo lo que esperaba. Nice game!
(¡Muchas gracias por jugar! Siento mucho la tardanza en responder, últimamente he estado bastante agobiada... ¡y espero que mi texto no resulte extraño! ¡Estoy usando un traductor!)
Me alegra mucho que te haya gustado Kalei, es uno de mis personajes románticos favoritos 🥰 Sobre todo porque tenía que equilibrar lo terrible que es Geist 😂 Un buen personaje... un interés amoroso horrible 😂😂😂 (creo que probablemente no volveré a crear un interés amoroso tan horrible como él...). Gracias de nuevo por jugar y por tomarte el tiempo de dejar tus comentarios 🥰
I was terrified by the fact i found myself agreeing and nodding along to geist like.. i think thats bad but internally i was like' well yeah hes right, people just tolerate me-'
NOOOOOOOOOOOO 😭 It's understandable... I think a lot of people have similar thoughts - I definitely struggle with those types of anxieties sometimes, even now. I hope that you can overcome these worries 😢 and recognize that you're really a wonderful person, and people are lucky to be friends with you!