ACK I'm sorry 😭 This build only supports Android 7.0.0 and above I believe; I'm not sure if I can target for lower with the engine that I use... I'm sorry for the inconvenience 😞
In my first play I was like don't worry girl, just smile and nod and when you have your body we run away and was so happy that was in fact an option adlnseflnslfees, with a little more murder on the side.
I think honesty is really nice and preferable but sometimes to lie is to survive.
DLFJKGF your survival instincts serve you well... 😂 And same 😅 it would be nice if you could speak your mind and be respected, but sometimes it's out of your control 😂
Thank you for playing and commenting, Taumi!! 😭 I laughed when I read your rating 😂 because I was like - I wanted to convey this sense of horror, but also... I do want to convey that very awkward and uncomfortable sensation when the person you're talking to starts spouting something unhinged and you just want to leave but can't LOL
It really does convey it; the horror being trapped in family dinner listening to comments that make you want to sink so much into your chair that you magically teleport back into your room.
-spoilers, kinda-
I think it also conveys very well how expressing your own opinion in some situations and to certain people can be just plain dangerous.
Thank you for using Atikson HL. I'm genuinely SO happy that you've done so. One step closer to hell yeah accessibility.
This was lovely; really gave me some ptsd flashbacks to some toxic ex's I had in the past and really solidified the panic and struggle of being trapped and at the mercy of another's. A true narcissist.
OH GOSH I am SO glad to hear that!! I really want to make my games as enjoyable a reading experience as possible; I haven't heard that anyone actually used Atkinson HL before so I'm very glad to hear that it was useful to you 😭
And thank you so much, gosh 🥺 I'm glad that it resonated with your experience (and I hope that it wasn't too distressing!) Truly, narcissists are the bane of my existence... Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it 😭
Just finished playing this game and my gosh, I LOVED IT! It deals with very heavy topics, but it does so with such grace- yet it weighs. You feel Yumeko's pain all through the game.
(Spoilers)
First I decided to say everything The Doctor would want to hear, but then accepted that life... and god, it hit. It feels so close to what I've heard abuse victims go through. They have nowhere else to go, no job, no support system, they only have their partner... And that's terrifying. I'm so amazed at how the story of an AI woman, born from code, still can connect so much to humans, turned to robots to survive.
Then I got "The Woman" ending, and I kinda liked that small moment she had where she acknowledged how it's not just him that's the problem- he was created too by the world he lives in, the people he surrounds himself with, but that doesn't take away the harm he's done.
Lastly I got "The Statue" and it hurt everytime her choices got removed, seeing how she started to change shape (good job on the horror elements, too!) I kept sharing with my friends being like "NOOOOO" everytime she changed. It was so sad how she had no more options anymore...
All in all, this game is absolutely beautiful, from the art, to the script and the sound. The choice to have different voice actresses in narration was actually so powerful. At first I didn't get it, until I saw the differences in the endings... and wow, it's so good with them representing different parts, or roles. I loved this game!
DGDFGDFG FLOR, thank you so much for playing and commenting 😭 gosh your review is so kind and thoughtful, thank you so much 😭😭😭 I am not deserving 🥺
===SPOILERS===
AHHH I'M SO GLAD that it managed to resonate/hit the right notes! I really wanted to create that abuse parallel - where, after having a life and existence "crafted" by the Doctor, Yumeko has nowhere to go except him. To him, he's made a fairytale life for her, but for her, it's a prison - and it's utterly terrifying. And I'm really glad that you found the connections between Yumeko and humans, despite her being an AI. I have felt "robotic" in my own experience - pressured to give the "right" answer even if it isn't the answer that I want to give.
Ohh and I'm so happy that you enjoyed that moment in the Woman ending! It was one of my favorite lines of the script. While I didn't want to linger too much on making the player sympathetic towards the Doctor, I did want to acknowledge that his character is not entirely his own fault - that he has also been "chipped away" by society. But at the same time understanding doesn't have to mean forgiveness - and Yumeko can prioritize herself and her freedom, rather than trying to fix him.
YOU SHARED IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS I'm so touched by that for some reason 😭 That progressive feeling of sadness as your choices are taken from you was exactly what I wanted to convey.
OH and I'm so happy that you liked the choice of different VAs for the narration 🥹 part of it was, of course, a logistical concern (I didn't want to pressure one VA with ALL the narration lines, particularly for a volunteer project), but I also wanted to have different narrators, of different ages and backgrounds, to convey the shifting feelings and endings!
GOSH I am so flabbergasted by this comment, you're too sweet 😭😭😭 I truly don't deserve such kindness, thank you so much for taking the time!!
AWW! The fact that my review made you happy makes ME so happy too!!!
(SPOILERS)
I think you did amazing with the parallels, they really work. There was a part in "The Statue" ending about the choices being programmed out of her that just... feels so raw. To know that you have based at least some of this on your own experience is huge and I hope you're in a better place currently ❤️
Yeah! I absolutely got that in that scene, I think you did the narrative so well! And of course I shared with friends, I love liveblogging when I play hehe, I kept saying how cool the game is and sending screenshots everytime I had a strong reaction haha! Sharing the game with my friends makes it ever more enjoyable >:3 (By the way they think it's very pretty)
That feeling when logistical decisions make the final product even better is so amazing ngl, I love that! Creativity truly is born from limitation sometimes!
And shush! You do deserve my kindness and more! You did an amazing job Chat! I hope you know that!!! ❤️
I was excited for this from the moment you announced the project! The idea of an AI molded to be someone's idea of the perfect wife against her own wishes is just really interesting to me on a personal level.
And it did not disappoint! The visuals and UI were amazing, and the voice actors did an awesome job. It was a compelling story about a woman keeping her own identity and free will (or not) in the face of an abusive relationship, and all 3 endings were vital to diving into the theme.
(This will contain spoilers.)
First, the Woman ending! I was so happy for Yumeko when she finally escaped her metaphorical box after escaping her literal one. The topic came up in the comments below about whether the Doctor really should have died, and it's an interesting topic. I'm inclined to read his death as a more symbolic rejection of the life he's trapping her in than any insinuation that people like him literally deserve to die, but I could be wrong. It seems a little beside the point. If an abuse victim opened up to you about their past and how they wish their abuser were dead because of it, you wouldn't tell them they shouldn't wish death on people because it isn't nice, would you?
Yumeko gets to be her own person, though the journey probably won't be easy. Which brings me to...
The Wife ending! What I love about this ending is it doesn't blame Yumeko at all for making this choice. She has a darn good point; yeah, she could escape, but...then what? Where would she go? I think this acts as a rebuttal to the "Why doesn't she just leave?" argument often made about abuse victims. One of the other comments mention women who don't know their rights or how to get support. I specifically thought of woman trapped in marriages where they're financially dependent on their husbands. While at first glance, you'd think leaving is the "correct" choice...I don't think either of them are right, or wrong.
But I think the ending that resonated with me most was The Statue. First off, it's very impressive visually (the gradual changes to Yumeko and the UI were great). I noticed in a response to one of the comments how you compared the Doctor's programming of Yumeko to Pygmalion's sculpting of Galatea, and I love how well that fits. When you sculpt a block of marble, you can never add to it. You can only take chunks of marble away. And that's exactly what's happening here!
(As an aside, that's something that interests me about the ethics of the Doctor's actions discussed below. Where does "creating her" end and "mind control" begin? Is an unmodified DAHLIA template sentient? Would that be considered her true self? If not, at what part of the process WAS she her true self? Not the point, but fun to think about.)
The main thing I took away from this ending was: if you had the perfect partner who always agrees with you and never does anything you don't like, they wouldn't be a person! You might as well just be talking to yourself. The only reason the Doctor couldn't just have imaginary conversations with a life-sized doll is because dolls can't cook, clean, or take care of the kids.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Thank you for giving me the opportunity!
DFGDFG THIS WAS SO UNEXPECTED, OMEGA, I'm so touched that you took the time to write up such lengthy comments 😭😭😭 I'm very honored to receive them 😭
I'm very glad that you liked the concept!! I've always been interested by such narratives as well - stories about human men somehow romantically entangled with female AIs. I found them particularly interesting in both DDLC and the film, Ex Machina, though something that I found interesting in both cases was that the story was told from the perspective of the "human" (the man), not the AI - and ultimately the AI's rebellion is presented as "horror" for the human (the man). I really wanted to explore a concept where we saw the "other side" - the AI's perspective (I did enjoy the exploration of this idea in the TV show, Westworld, but ultimately I also wanted to explore the gender dynamics more, as opposed to the ethics of dealing with AI).
===SPOILERS===
I was so happy reading this entire analysis 😭 it was incredibly on point, and you perfectly captured what I wanted to convey, especially with regards to abusive relationships.
For the Woman ending, your take on this was very spot on. Yumeko killing the Doctor is more symbolic - rejecting this life with him, stopping the abuse that he perpetuates. Because if she simply leaves, perhaps he'll get better. Maybe he'll fix himself. And then she should go back, right? He's not that much of a bad guy. I didn't want to leave this ambiguity - I wanted her to be free from him, totally and completely (and, of course, if you know my work, ✨violence✨, particularly against abusers, is a common theme - not because I support it morally, but because it's very cathartic 😂) And, indeed, I think I was subconsciously influenced by other AI narratives - where the AI emerging into sentience and killing the human is portrayed as something scary, something horrific. Yet, at the end - they're fighting for their freedom - and I can't see that as a bad thing. (And of course, I agree - in a story about abuse, I didn't want to linger too much on the possibility of "fixing" the abuser as I was afraid it would hurt the message.)
For the Wife ending, I am VERY GLAD that it didn't come across as me blaming her for the choice - because I agree, it makes a lot of sense. She has nothing, she is nothing (gosh, she's not even registered with the government) - perhaps it's best that she stays with the monster who takes care of her, rather than face the unknown. Women being trapped by financial dependence is absolutely a parallel that I wanted to evoke here (I even referenced it when Yumeko wonders if she wants a job) - and it's a very real fear, particularly for women with little job experience or education that they can use to find employment. (In fact, I was even thinking about "mail order brides" here - women who are literally bought, taken to a country where they have no citizenship, no language skills, no family or friends - left completely and utterly vulnerable, with no salvation except the man that owns them.)
OHH your analysis of the "sculpting" is very apt, and it's something that I think I knew subconsciously but couldn't really put into words until now! Indeed, in shaping Galatea (like how the Doctor shapes Yumeko), Pygmalion never adds - he only takes away. (Dang this is an absolutely BRILLIANT take.)
(Hmm I think it's an interesting question; I'm not sure if I know about that, myself 🤔 Going back to what you said before, I kind of think that as the Doctor "gave her new information" he was still in the process of creating her - but once she had enough information to start making her own decisions about herself, and he started "filing" them away, then his act of "creation" became "control." Oh, but as for her true self - I actually think that she isn't her true self, in any of the endings - it's only something that she achieves long after the Woman ending, after she is able to explore herself and become her own person 😌)
And YES, that is exactly what I wanted to convey here. Imo a big part of a relationship is having someone that you respect, who will challenge you if needed. In the end, the Doctor just wanted a slightly more advanced caretaker doll... 😂
Again, thank you so much for playing and leaving your thoughts 😭 They were incredibly insightful, and actually help me to understand this thing that I've made too 😂
This was so good! I really enjoyed it (if you can "enjoy" something that made you feel deeply unnerved 100% of the time LOL). The entire setup, the aesthetics, the design, everything contributed so well to setting up this slowly suffocating vibe that really clinched itself (lol) by the end, and it was all just wonderfully done.
I'm in LOVE with the GUI you made for this. Every single part of it is incredibly immersive and instantly draws you in. The setup with the chat screen was a great idea for the idea of the AI, but with Yumeko's picture there to still give us an emotional connection to her as a person (erm, AI, lol). I absolutely loved the little creepy flashes that would happen on Yumeko's screen, especially how they kept getting more and more unnerving. All the different possibilities for what could pop up there were so creative and so unnerving lakdjfsad ALSO all the different variations for the "rebooting," gosh, poor Yumeko, some of those were absolutely HAUNTING. AND THEN??? IF YOU GET ALL THE HEARTS UP?? THE WAY THE GUI CHANGES AND HER PICTURE BECOMES ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING????? I had chills the entire time my gosh. The variation that is still haunting my mind is I think the rebooting screen right before all the hearts are full and it shows her decapitated, my god, was that terrifying...
Even besides the chat screen interface itself, I loved how the rest of the game fit into this game/computer-esque vibe, from the rebooting screen, to the little video game level-up sound (for lack of a better word) when you unlock an ending, to the music and all its chip-tone esque melodies. It was truly wonderful and evident just how much careful work and detail you put into the immersive experience of the game, which was doubly effective for a game like this where you're really placed into the head of Yumeko. I also liked the change into the real world and how the GUI changed after that, truly making it feel like "coming out of the box" into reality.
Regarding the gameplay, I found it so incredibly unique. I don't think I've ever played a game with quite this type of gameplay loop before?? At first I wasn't sure what was going to happen when I chose a "bad" option, but then seeing the reboot happen and now that option was gone was just... this slowly building dread began to take over me. Like little by little she was slowly being suffocated and her options and opinions taken away from her until only a shell remained. Some of the doctor's comments really sent chills down my spine... by themselves, they weren't always terrible, but I think it was hearing so many of them again and again, and knowing that you're unable to say anything against them that really made it really that much more claustrophobic and unsettling. Admittedly I felt a bit bad in the ending where he died... 🤣 Maybe my last hope being that he could have potentially changed or maybe he just needed someone real as a friend to help get him out of this mindset. Though it was cathartic getting to see Yumeko finally take control of her own destiny and fight back and have the chance to be her own person. "Becoming a real woman" as it were. I'm not familiar with the Pygmalion and Galatea story this is alluding to, but in my mind, I was instantly taken to Pinocchio and "becoming a real boy." I suppose not quite the same story but still based on something inhuman becoming human I guess lkjdfasd I really enjoyed seeing the different possible endings. The most unsettling one for me was "The Wife" ending as I could relate quite a lot to shoving down your personal feelings and just "saying what's right" even if you feel awful inside, so my heart really went out to Yumeko... ahhh. In general I just thought the idea of the "reboot" loop and having your options slowly stolen from you was just a really need and unique idea.
Anyway, just a really well-done game! So much to think about now!! LOL Thought-provoking indeed. And just a haunting experience overall, aided by how much amazing work and polish you put into the design and UI. I enjoyed this a lot!!
AWW CARROT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE KIND WORDS, I'm very glad that you enjoyed it 😭 the feeling of "suffocation" is absolutely what I wanted to convey here - as your "ability to speak" is slowly taken away from you.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU ENJOYED THE GUI, in general I think that GUI is not a main focal point of my projects, but as a "quasi-chatsim" I really wanted to emphasize it here! I tried hard to come up with interesting little effects 😂 it was fun coming up with the different variations! FGHFGH I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAD CHILLS, I think it was the first time that I genuinely tried something very "classically horror" so I wasn't sure if I managed to get the vibes right 😭
And thank you for the comments on the effects!! It was so fun designing this game, I really love this aesthetic 😭 (and I wish that I would stop planning medieval fantasy projects because the aesthetic brings me no joy...) And I'm glad you picked up on the change in format! Honestly I really love minimalistic "text boxes" like this (just simple outlined text overlaid on the CG), but I worry about the text not being visible enough so I always refrain 😅 luckily this one only had a few CGs and relatively muted colors (in the real world) so I didn't have to worry too much about that, however!
THANK YOU, I really wanted to try to come up with something that utilized the visual novel format well 😭 I always just make long-ass novels with pictures and barely any choices 😭 and I'm very glad, that "suffocating/claustrophic" atmosphere is exactly what I was going for! Even though none of the things that he says individually are that hurtful - they weigh on you, over and over, without the ability to say anything back - "carving" you away into a hollow shell.
😂 I agree with you, I do find the Doctor pitiable, and I actually considered a variation in which Yumeko escapes without killing him. But I found an ending in which she runs, or simply "sternly tells him off and orders him to fix himself," to lack the sense of catharsis that you mentioned. Ultimately I decided that, in the end, this was never a story about Pygmalion and lingering too long on "fixing him" would hurt the overall message, so I nixed it 😂 Though I do like such "redemption" narratives, and would like to tackle them in the future (it just didn't fit this project in particular!)
OHHH HAHA, I DIDN'T INTEND THAT, but honestly the wording was absolutely inspired by Pinocchio! I like to think that that's the thing that finally turns Yumeko into a "real person" - having the chance to fight back against her abuser (of course my solution is ✨violence✨ and honesty, of course...). And OHH I'm very glad, the Wife ending is actually the one that I enjoyed writing the most, and I think it would also be "my" ending. (Ultimately, it's the one I find the most realistic and true to life 😂)
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to play and leave such a thoughtful comment 😭 😭 😭 I always love reading them!!!
Hmmm... I have some really Mixed Feelings about this.
First up, the UI and the art is gorgeous. The visual presentation is a+++, and it's clear a lot of effort went into it. I like it a lot!
The mechanics are also interesting; I think Yumeko being reprogrammed every time she says something the doctor dislikes and subsequently having the options to disagree with him taken away from her drives home how little autonomy she has; it makes her situation feel more desperate. It's very innovative, I've not seen anything like it in a VN before!
As for the actual writing, however, I'm pretty torn. I like the idea itself, but it's dealing with some very heavy subject matter, and it feels a bit too short to really dig into any of the ideas presented in a nuanced way. I understand it was made for a jam, and there were time limitations, but it feels a bit choppy, jumping from one common cliche one would expect Your Average Incel to spout after another.
I also think the narrative is pretty mean-spirited towards the doctor in general? It feels unnecessarily cruel that the narrative mocks things about the doctor which aren't related to his unpleasant views: i.e. his appearance (I'm pretty sure his description at the start is meant to be unflattering), his intelligence (why is the narrative downplaying the fact he made a sentient AI? Even if he did use a template, it's still an impressive feat of engineering and there's nothing wrong with him being proud of it), and his attempts to cook (why is the narrative poking fun at him for struggling to open a jar? Lots of people struggle to open jars, it's not a moral failing). Yes, the doctor does spout a lot of harmful rhetoric, which doesn't make him likeable, but I think the story would feel stronger if it focused its criticisms on the doctor's reductive view of women and not his mediocre attempts at making pasta. The stray potshots about his looks and his accomplishments dilute the message of the story (at least, in my opinion), and it almost feels like this VN is poking fun at a sad, lonely man for not being 'appropriately masculine'.
I suppose you could say that this maps on to the doctor's desire for Yumeko to be the embodiment of 'ideal femininity', and it's how hypocritical of him to expect 'feminine perfection' from her when he doesn't match up to society's idea of 'masculine perfection' himself, but doesn't that makes them both victims of a society that expects men and women to act in certain ways to be 'valid' and worthy of respect? The story doesn't seem to have much sympathy the doctor, however - which, while understandable, given the doctor is obviously meant to be a villain who treats women either as playthings or with sneering contempt, feels a bit unfair given Yumeko isn't a human but the story seems to posit that her life is worth more than his is.
Sorry I think this comment got a bit too long haha, I've been turning this story over in my head since I read it. In that sense, it was very thought-provoking, which is a definite plus! It mostly just made me feel sad that we Live In A Society where strict male/female binary roles can bring people so much pain.
Hello ebi! Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I apologize for leaving a lengthy response, I'm really not trying to argue or change your mind or anything, but rather I found your comments very interesting since they were actually things that I thought about while I was writing this (particularly in the revision stages, after I sat away from the script for a bit and was like "wait is this story misandry???")
Regarding the cliches, everything the Doctor says is, in some way or another, almost directly ripped from something that I've heard someone tell me online or IRL, or, otherwise, something that I've heard from a female friend of mine. Alas! 😂 Particularly when I was a teen, I hung out in a few spaces with older men (this was another problem entirely ofc), where they would frequently belittle women in this way - and I felt compelled to agree, not wanting to come across as "one of the bad women." The framing of the story is partially based on my experiences at that time - a young, inexperienced girl interacting with a man far older, lying and putting down the people in his life so that he can get your sympathy - exploding at you if you don't agree. (I think that Yumeko and the narration's snarky attitude is, in part, a type of fantasy - where instead of being swayed, I was AWARE of how much BS they were spouting.) Admittedly some of the "more mature" topics, such as child-rearing and working, are actually things that were told to me not by romantic partners, but by other people in my life (trying to offer me advice, of course...)
🤔 As for your comments on the Doctor's portrayal, I think they're very fair. The narrative isn't favorable towards the Doctor - because Yumeko isn't, after having been trapped with him for so long. However, regarding "insulting" the Doctor's ability to cook or his intelligence, I think the nuance here is that the narration does not insult him outright; rather, it corrects the way the Doctor talks about himself. The Doctor wants to paint this picture of himself in Yumeko's mind of the "perfect man," to the point of lying, exaggerating, and putting down other men in order to do it. If he's failing to live up to a masculine ideal, it's because he sets that ideal for himself. The narration does not say the Doctor is stupid, but rather, corrects that he didn't actually do the thing that he says he did - and that Yumeko is aware of this, but has to stay quiet anyway, lest she be "corrected" herself (in context, the Doctor is implying that he "coded ChatGPT" when in reality, he's just feeding ChatGPT text prompts LOL)
Admittedly, the bit about cooking might be a personal grudge of mine, since I grew up in a culture in which daughters are expected to take care of the household, and sons simply aren't. So I'm used to being expected to stand in the kitchen while men sit on the couch, and they're praised for doing something as simple as cooking an egg - because they're going so "above and beyond" their responsibilities. (Although I didn't connect opening a jar to expectations of masculinity 😂 THAT'S FAIR, I would have changed it, dang... And honestly I was trying to make the description of his appearance rather neutral instead of insulting LOL but it didn't make sense for him to be a muscular chad...)
===SPOILERS HERE===
Honestly regarding the ending, I did consider letting the Doctor live. I agree with you - the Doctor, and people like him, aren't "bad" - they suffer because of societal pressures, and their failure to live up to those pressures. They also deserve understanding. So I considered a variation in which Yumeko just pushes the Doctor away, and leaves. But I found such a variation a bit pointless, and lacking the catharsis of Yumeko finally strangling the Doctor, preventing him from speaking, after she was strangled for so long herself. Moreover, I found such a conclusion a bit, well, not unrealistic, since murdering someone is certainly more unrealistic, but "weak" - as if saying that "a woman can simply leave an abusive relationship," when such a thing is never that easy. As if her partner doesn't deserve to face consequences for what he has done - as if "losing his wife" is "punishment enough."
And my thought was - why is the Doctor allowed to kill Yumeko - strangling her, rebooting her until she is a shell of herself, not giving her a single ounce of forgiveness - and yet Yumeko is not allowed to kill him? Why does the Doctor deserve to be understood when he made no effort to understand others?
Ultimately, I decided to nix the ending variation because - this game is based on the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea (the Doctor's ending spiel is actually based on wording from Ovid's recounting of the tale). There, Pygmalion curses women, calls them vile and corrupt, and lavishes praise on the woman of his own creation - and he is rewarded. The narrative tells him that he is correct, that he is deserving of this perfect woman that he loves so dearly. Pygmalion already got a story where he's understood, where he's praised, where he gets a happy ending. I wanted to tell Galatea's story - one where she can live free, knowing that she is finally safe, and that Pygmalion will never own her again.
Again, thank you for your comments! Regardless of how you felt, I'm honored that such a short game was so thought-provoking 😂 and I appreciate you taking the time to write them up! I apologize again for leaving such a lengthy response 🙇 It was interesting, and I kind of wanted to clarify my own thoughts on the matter as well 😂
Ooh this is a really interesting comment! It's nice to know a bit of the thought process that went into this story, I was a little curious.
I've definitely seen guys spout all the exact same talking points as the doctor online, and I've met some guys who hold the exact same opinions myself, so I don't really think it's unrealistic at all for a man to think all of this. I do think the fact the doctor only seems to talk in 'I hate women'-isms gets a bit wearying to read though, esp. since he doesn't seem to have much of a defined personality beyond not liking his female co-workers and wanting a trad wife haha ;; I just think it would've been nice if there was a bit more to him. Even the most virulent misogynists will usually have a hobby or two, like fishing or whatever... If the doctor had talked about other things, it might've made him feel more 'realistic' to me (though again, I understand this story was made for a jam, and you might not have wanted to expand the scope too much).
As for your thoughts on the ending... I didn't necessarily regard the doctor rebooting Yumeko as him 'killing' her because she, unlike him, isn't a human: she's an AI. What's more, she's an AI the doctor coded (or partially coded) to have a companion who'll listen to his problems, because he (seemingly) doesn't have any friends or family. In that sense, it makes him feel like a pretty sad, lonely character. Maybe, if he had some real world relationships, he'd grow out of his harmful views and become a better person; it might not be too late for him...! Then again, I know some guys really do go so far off the deep end and get so entrenched in hatred it's impossible to pull them out of it, so maybe he's too far gone by the start of the story.
In any case, since Yumeko is an AI the doctor created, I don't think it's inherently unethical that the doctor continues to tinker around with her source code. It's normal for programmers to reiterate on things, and if your code doesn't function the way you want then it makes sense to reprogram it. I feel like it might actually be a good thing that the doctor is venting his problems to an AI rather than a real woman: I'd rather he do that then harm real women.
I suppose, at the end of the day, it didn't seem like the doctor had actually done anything all that heinous byeond having Bad Opinions, so him being murdered felt a bit extreme. But maybe I'm being too literal; I suppose in this story Yumeko, despite being an AI, is advanced enough she's indistinguishable from a real woman. In that case, then yes, him keeping her a prisoner and reprogamming her until she can't refuse him is a vile act. Ultimately, however, I think I'm more predisposed to feel sympathy for the doctor because he's a human being. (And yes, while I know the story is an allegory for an abusive relationship, I do think making one of the partners AI muddies things a bit; especially when attitudes towards AI are so negative lately).
Or, to be reductionist about it, if I was having a bad day and moaned to ChatGPT about it, I'd feel a bit peeved if ChatGPT used this as a justification to murder me lol
I also thinks there's something a little sad (but also kind of darkly amusing lol) about the doctor being so starved for human company he made a literal AI girlfriend who'll love him unconditionally, except she also hates him and keeps making snide remarks about him hahaha I guess, at the end of the day, the doctor really wasn't that good at coding after all... 😔
Ohh, thank you for taking the time to respond! I'll keep my reply brief as I don't think there's too much to add. (Putting it below some spoiler tags as I will be delving into some discussions of abuse.)
===SPOILERS===
I think most of it can just be boiled down to the fact that I intended the story to indeed, be highly allegorical. Hence why the Doctor is defined by his hatred towards the world, and he has obsessed himself with creating a "perfect woman" who will solve his problems. It's why I don't give him a name, or even a face - he's not a person, just like how he does not treat Yumeko like a person. It's also why I wrote the story in second person - it is not "Yumeko," not "I," but "you" - the player.
Overall I wanted to be able to portray the experience of being in an abusive relationship or under oppressive gender expectations without necessarily conveying it with physical abuse, or sexual assault - since I think that media tends to gravitate towards portraying the suffering of women in such a manner: in a very physical, "in your face" way that is easily understandable, even if you've never experienced such a thing, while ignoring the more subtle ways in which women can be broken down, emotionally and psychologically. My usage of an AI here was mainly meant to convey her utter lack of control and experience, and how the Doctor claims ownership over her - as god and creator.
Admittedly I wouldn't make a commentary on AI in general, or the ethics of abusing an AI; I think you have a good point, and I think there would have to be discussions about "what constitutes a person" that I am nowhere near well-researched enough to have LOL (and I do think such concepts have already been explored by people much smarter than myself). I actually think that, in the Statue ending, in which she is still simply an "AI" - a set of coded instructions - her fate is quite kind, as she cannot feel pain.
Overall I did intend for Yumeko to be human, or to be interpreted as such! But of course I don't intend to prescribe a specific way of interpreting the story. I think expressing sympathy for the Doctor is quite kind, and a valuable way of interpreting the story as well.
Thank you again for the thoughtful comments, I quite enjoyed reading them!
Thank you for entertaining all of my comments, it's appreciated! At some point I think I was mostly musing to myself about things and how they were presented haha I'm glad I read this in any case, since I've been turning over the story and the characters for the last day. It gave me a lot to think about! 🙏
I'm also nosy and I do like reading about the creative process for writers and what inspired them to present things the way they did, so it was interesting to hear about that too!
This was so much fun omg!!! The shivers that ran down my spine with how she spoke of The Doctor after she was fully reprogrammed? Unparalleled.
This game was an absolute blast and I had a great time seeing the different ending artworks! The different sprites / designs during those glitched moments?? UGH/pos
The Doctor is so easy to hate oh my lord... You capture that ickiness soooo well omg
AHHH THANK YOU, I'm so glad that you had fun!!! I did enjoy writing those bits and exploring what a reprogrammed Yumeko might look like 🤭 I'm usually a "writing heavy" VN dev so I tried hard to be a bit more creative with my use of visuals this time, I'm so glad it paid off 😭
GOSH you're too kind, THANK YOU for playing and taking the time to leave your thoughts 🥹 They mean a lot!
Thank you!! And oh yes, of course!! I'll post an official one, but for now:
=== MINOR SPOILERS===
Ending 1: Answer all of the Doctor's questions "incorrectly" (disagreeing with him/not telling him what he wants to hear) until you accumulate 7 heart points. Then play through the end!
For endings 2 and 3, answer all of the Doctor's questions "correctly" in a single run (telling him what he wants to hear) while you still have less than 7 heart points. Then play through the end. The final choice (when the Doctor tries to kiss you) determines whether you get Ending 2 or 3!
I just got all the endings and this was pretty awesome!! :3 i honestly shared the fear she had when she's the original version of herself, and even though it might not be for the story, the different voices within the narration make it so much better. kinda feeling like her having constant conflicting thoughts, especially put into the context of the endings where she keeps her free will. overall, epic game!!! ^o^
AHHH thank you so much!!! I'm so glad that you liked the different voices of the narration, I really did want to convey these "different sides" of her - struggling between her programming, her fear, and her distaste for her creator. EPIC 😭 I'm very happy that you enjoyed it, thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 🥹
I loved this VN! What I love most about Chattercap's projects is how different they are. They have such varied art, stories, voice acting, and story structure.
I thought this was a great VN and I look forward to Chattercap's next adventure.
Aw that is kind of you 😿 Unfortunately not 😂 I considered adding a "kinder" ending where she simply runs away, but in the end I didnt think it added enough to include/lacked some of the catharsis 🤔 but I do feel sorry for him in some ways 😔
[Disclaimer: I had the absolute honour of beta-testing this Visual Novel!]
Most of what you're going to read will be spoiler free except for the last section disclaimed as spoiler.
TLDR (Spoiler free)
This is an absolute amazing Visual Novel and will definitely be one of my Top 5 games of 2024! It has a unique story and gameplay, gripping writing, beautiful art that is used in the most emotionally devastating way. The voice actors were cast perfectly for the roles they were embodying.
All in all it was one of the most emotional indie experiences I had in a while! And just like my yapper-in-crime, Chim, had said already; it's an absolute masterpiece.
Chatter, thank you so so much for making this!
Story
You are playing from the perspective of Yumeko, an AI, modeled to fit and abide to a lonely & desperate man you're forced to call 'Doctor'. (He is, what you may call a NEET or ... rather an incel who has never been able to touch another woman before.)
Through choices you are given the chance to alter the course of this story. Will you be able to break free from his grasp or be carved into the ideal woman he wants you to be?
This story is touching on a lot of heavy subjects, like emotional manipulation, misogyny, (domestic) abuse, so delicately and through a critical lens.
Writing
This story is so well written; so much details and emotions are conveyed just by letters alone. Yumeko and Doctor are written so distinctively from one another, breathing with personality, emotions, life - but not just the two characters but also the narration.
The narration especially is intriguing as it is tightly linked to the voice acting in a stylistic manner - but going much more into it might spoiler your experience. I highly encourage you to experience it yourself!
For someone who has trouble paying attention while reading it still had me captivated and invested in the story! I wanted to reach a happy ending so desperately, wanted to help Yumeko...
(The writing forced me to grab my cat for emotional support from time to time.)
Art Work
This Visual Novel's art is so beautiful - Chatter really outdid herself once again. The creative ways the sprite, surroundings and GUI (more on that in the next section) was used to portray Yumeko's desperation, the horror and torment she and you, the reader, are going through amplifies the seemingly futile situation you're put in.
I really can't put it into words how gripping this experience was - All I can say is ... wonderful, breath-taking job.
GUI
As someone who gets hired to design game user-interfaces, this VN's GUI looks absolutely stunning! From the title screen, to the different menu screens and the main screen itself!
I really liked the button designs of the title screen - as well as all the other buttons actually - but the ones in the title screen were especially eye catching and fun to interact with!
The main screen is set up as though you are having a video chat application opened; on the left is Yumeko and on the right the 'chat', where Yumeko & Doctor are interacting with one another. It is neatly set up and has an almost realistic yet fantastical look to it!
All around; interacting with the user interface was truly an inspiring experience, from which I can take so much knowledge from! Amazing job!
Gameplay
During the gameplay and depending on what choices you pick, a heart parameter fills up and may alter the ending you might get in the end.
Is it a good or a bad thing? You'll only know by playing the game yourself :D
All I can say (without getting too spoilery in my commentary) is, that it was a unique gameplay experience you see rarely in Visual Novels - jam entries in particular.
(Especially with how the concept was spun around on how you're supposed to achieve an ending.)
Voice Acting
The voice direction and integration in this was so well done! Every voice actor did an fantastic job conveying their roles.
(I got especially frustrated with Doctor, so big kudos to his VA Michael Mishkin :'D)
Spoilers
So, we've made it this far in the comment and you really want to read my opinion full of spoilers now, huh? I hope for the love of God, that you've played the game and were able to make the absolute gripping experience I had yourselves.
Okey, so here I come - please beware that I will let my 'professional mask' slip a bit and speak more freely now.
From the very beginning I absolutely HATED Doctor. He nearly made me vomit (I was gagging) a bunch of times with what nonesense and absolute degen shit he was spouting. All he wants in the end is some obedient doll, that cleans and cooks after him, gives him children, provides for him and tells him what an amazing Chad he is. But all he is, is a filthy loser with an inferior complex.
Of course in all my choices at first I went against him. Which made him angry, turn me off and reprogram me, so that I was only left with the option to agree with him in the end. I felt exactly what Yumeko must have felt (even though 'she's just an AI') - absolutely violated and desperate. I felt violated in my rights to chose, in my rights to be happy and free and this is what this game conveyed so amazingly in its writing and gameplay.
How the more hearts you got, the more you are actually being manipulated into his 'perfect/ideal woman', how the sprite bugged out of sheer desperation, how the screens changed color the further you progressed and when you've reached the final stage; how everything was pink, how Yumeko was 'dolled up' -- as though she was truly in love but you just knew this wasn't the case. And OH MY GOD THE VOICE ACTING.
A bit more about the voice acting / the narrators (yes, plural). Throughout the entire story there are three female narrators that have a certain narration style to them, indicating the route / progress of manipulation. (Another banger stylistic choice Chatter.)
So in the end it was 'The Statue' (VA: Justine Leah Hince) narrating this story; even rewording stuff that was previously said about Doctor as though he was the best person to ever grace this earth (ew, I know).
And in the end I had reached the first ending, where you end up being his completely manipulated doll, the perfect woman that he wanted you to be.
Afterwards I got the other two endings; those you reach by outright agreeing to him without fighting back / disagreeing with him first. This allows you to not get 'reprogrammed' every time so that you can only answer to what he wants you to answer.
As soon as you are being transferred from a 'program' into a humanoid person; you are presented with the option to either refuse or accept him. - Accepting him would lead you to a life where you KNOW you are just being abused and getting mistreated but you're also scared of the outside, the unknown - since all you know is him and if you refuse him you choke him to death; which in my opinion is VERY deserved. And feels very relieving - especially after all the torment I went through of listening to his degen ass.
On a serious note: I really think the 2nd ending, where you stay with him without being reprogrammed, is much more devastating than the first one in my opinion. Because you actively know your own values and preferences, yet you stay and let yourself and your dignity get trampled on - while the Yumeko in the 1st ending is much more ... oblivious to it since she has been emotionally manipulated so much to a point that she thinks what Doctor says is gospel and the only truth...
This comment is getting pretty long and my hands and brain are starting to hurt from writing so much BUT all in all this game is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best games I've played in a long long time. There hasn't been a story that had me this hooked, this emotionally devasted - like this one.
Thank you for blessing us with this, Chatter!
PSA (Spoilers): HAHAHAHAH, eat shit Doctor!!! Get what you deserve!
ANNA WHAT IS THIS ESSAY FGHFHFHFGFHGF I'M SO HONORED??? AND IT IS SO WELL ORGANIZED AND THOUGHTFUL??? 😭😭😭 (Reading this again I am tearing up, thank you so much for taking the time to write your thoughts out like this, gosh 😭😭😭) (and your top 5 games is too kind fghfhf thank you) (apologies for the late reply as I wanted to make sure to respond thoroughly)
I won't linger too much on the technical aspects, as I don't think there's too much to say, but I'm very grateful that you enjoyed the narration! The voice acting was never something that I originally intended to add, as I did intend this to be a game quite small in scope, but I'm very glad that I came up with the concept, as I think that it really contributed so much to the final experience. All of the voice actors did such a stellar job; they really are some of the most talented people that I've had the opportunity of working with. (And honestly as a person currently in an audiobook phase, I VERY MUCH appreciate the ability to lean back and enjoy as the audio plays out on screen!)
And your comments on the GUI are TOO KIND gosh 😭 especially coming from a master of GUI such as yourself. I can't do anything too fancy but I tried to make it look at least a bit cleaner and more cohesive than I usually do 😂 I would like to work harder at making the feel of the GUI a lot more satisfying in the future 💪 (I won't lie, after I coded in the start menu buttons I spent a couple minutes just hovering over them, it was so fun...)
===SPOILERS===
DFGDFGDFGD I AM VERY GLAD THAT YOU WENT ABOUT THE GAME THE WAY YOU DID, it was actually exactly the way that I hoped people would go about it. That, when faced with this man with obviously warped perceptions, you would first try to correct him, to speak your mind - and be punished for it. The feeling of "violation" at being unable to choose is EXACTLY what I wanted to convey (honestly even in the words that I would use), and I'm really happy that it came across to you 😭 (and obviously while I do expect a lot of people "grow wise" to the trick and proceed to play along, I'm very happy that you also got angry and started pushing back - because that feeling of helplessness and growing dread, slowly leading up to the conclusion - is what I hope players would experience first, so that they can enjoy the slightly happier endings later 😂)
You truly outlined the game excellently and SO THOROUGHLY, I have no notes. You really pinpointed my intent spot-on, even down to the usage of the narrators (I'm so honored that you took the time to analyze it so well 😭) And I very much agree with you. In Ending 1, Yumeko's lack of agency is almost a kindness - she doesn't feel pain, she doesn't have free will, she just loves and is loved by the Doctor - so while she can't choose, at least she's not suffering 😂 whereas in Ending 2 she is completely cognizant, staring her future straight in the face, and choosing to comply because she can't see another future for herself.
YOU'RE TOO KIND, YOUR COMMENT IS LITERALLY KILLING ME FGHFGHFGHFGHFG I am not deserving of such praise (please don't shoot me), but thank you so much 😭😭😭 and thank you so much for beta-testing, your feedback was so helpful!
The game has a cool concept, making you play as Yumeko, an AI made with the sole purpose of being the girlfriend of the Doctor. You just have to be the perfect little girlfriend to the incel man who wants to control your life, what could go wrong?
First off, I have to compliment the writing (and strictly the writing, not the character) of the Doctor. This games makes a really good job making him an unlikeable, arrogant incel, but most importantly: he's realistic. People like the doctor, looking at women for what they stand for instead of what they actually are, are very much a real threat, and Doctor represents them very well. He doesn't care about Yumeko as a person: he cares about what she stands for, what the "girlfriend" status means to him, what his very own hand-crafted perfect girlfriend should be. I'm also giving my props to the VA here, as he really nails the arrogant vibe the Doctor shows in all his interactions, being condescending to everyone.
Which contrasts well enough with Yumeko herself, who is really just a vehicle for the story to go forward. She has no real personality, but how could she? She's just a thing for the Doctor to fawn over, she's not real! She exists solely to be looked at, to be loved by a man she understands is a bad person! There's no reason for her to have a personality outside of accepting all the Doctor wants, because that's what the perfect girlfriend is to him! It gets the point across really well, as Yumeko doesn't know anything of the world outside of what the Doctor tells her, and as such, she ends up kinda bland, in a way that feels necessary for a plot like this. But only if you comply though...
But not complying leads to some really interesting sections, with reboots and the Doctor trying to bend you to his will even further, which on top of being a really good representation of the themes in this game, is where the game's attention to detail in its presentation really shines. The little visual cues, the progressive change through each reboot, they all come to make a bit of an unsettling experience. I do think that the overall violent imagery in each reboot, while understandable in its intent, is a bit hit-or-miss for me in the actual pictures, sometimes feeling a bit too "oooooo spooky creepy image ooooo". The ones that are great here are great though, and I appreciate the effort to make an individual image for each choice, it's really more of a nitpick to be honest. It just shows the overall polish of the game that's pretty easy to see from the get-go anyway. The perfect Yumeko we see once all the reboots are done is a really interesting case though, with her altered thoughts.
GOSH, thank you so much for leaving such detailed and thoughtful comments, Esbi! 😭 I'm very touched!!!
LOL THANK YOU REGARDING THE DOCTOR, he is based on an amalgamation of experiences I've had over the years 😂 so I'm glad that he ended up realistic, as I was afraid he was too cartoonish! You absolutely nailed his character here - how he treats Yumeko not as a person, but a prop in his fantasy. And I can't compliment Michael's work enough, he ABSOLUTELY sold the Doctor's fragile arrogance in every single one of his lines.
And your analysis of Yumeko is very interesting, and very on point - the Doctor, of course, never gave her the information that she needed to become a "person" - an individual with preferences or desires or feelings. He made her so that she would love him, and so that he could love her in return - carving her existence entirely out of how she relates to him. So she is "empty," unhappy with her situation but not knowing enough about the world to distinguish WHY she feels that way, or what she actually wants/could have.
THANK YOU, in general I'm a bit of a "writing heavy" dev, and I always thought that I don't really take advantage of the other aspects of games that really make VNs a unique narrative tool. I've been trying to take more advantage of those aspects, in particular the art and GUI (I was actually very inspired both by chim's "The Daughters of the Sun" and "High School Lolita" when I was making this, as his usage of the sprites and GUI was very inspiring!) (Your complaints about the horror imagery are very fair 😂 in general I love horror but I know my skills aren't quite up-to-snuff, so I worry that my horror games aren't quite "scary" enough 😭 I did struggle a bit with trying to make the scares varied and interesting enough to keep the player hooked throughout the game's runtime.) I'm glad that you enjoyed the "perfect Yumeko," I did have fun coming up with that concept 🤭
Again, thank you for taking the time to play and write up such a long and thoughtful analysis 😭 I really appreciate it!
I've had the honour (and I insist on the word honour) of beta-testing Chattercap's new game, The Perfect Woman. And this has quickly become my favourite game from the creator. Without spoiling, I have to say this is one of the most unique horror experience I've had in seven years. Of course, during these seven years, I have played a lot of wonderfully crafted horror VNs, which manage to use horrific elements to convey deep themes and reflections about the characters involved in the story. But there is something disturbingly unique and special about the way the horror is presented in The Perfect Woman that really spoke to me. I'll detail more below, in a spoilers section, but for now, just these words: you should take the trigger warnings seriously.
Graphically, the game is absolutely immaculate. This is the first game from the creator without Live 2D-like animations, and I have to say that getting rid of them was the best choice. A bold one, considering these animations made the creator's games quite unique; but Chattercap being Chattercap, she didn't get rid of them for no reason. This game uses a plethora of perfectly-executed visual effects, plays around with its own colour schemes, and I won't give details to let the players discover the full scope of the work that's been made. And despite Chattecap's games being extremely polished, this one, in that regard, does surprisingly feel above the others. The GUI too was gorgeous and very well-implemented. It was also used in a very clever way to convey the narrative, but play the game. ;)
I also have to salute the voice acting: it was absolutely stellar, conveyed the different characters or impressions brillantly. The voice actors all did, without a single exception, an amazing job, and that's an understatement. In particular, the way the narration was handled (having three different voices) helped creating an impression of chorus, like we have in Greek tragedies.
Regarding the themes, the story is at the same time metaphorical and quite literal. I'll detail my thoughts more below, but I think the execution was flawless. The story narrates the attempts of a so-called Doctor to create the perfect woman. But what is a perfect woman? That is the question the game asks to explore the societal expectations put on women, and the ways women manage to navigate a patriarchal society.
That is it for the spoiler-free section. Go play the game if you can handle it, it will be time well-spent! For now, I will detail my thoughts more, but won't be shy on spoilers. Ready? Steady? Go!
************** SPOILERS **************
Now, it's going to be all over the place. First of all, I was wondering how the game was going to tackle Yumeko facing the Doctor's insane expectations. I was wondering if the game would narrate Yumeko managing to overcome the doctor thanks to the power of her convictions and finding a way to break the circle, or if the game would be less idealistic than that. The game had the brilliant idea to opt for the more realist solution. Even slightly contradicting the doctor results in him rebooting Yumeko and deleting the answer we picked. This made sense in the narrative: the Doctor wants to create the perfect woman, which can only happen after he deleted all the contradictions and all the things that go against his wishes.
So, let's suppose that we choose to rebel and refuse to oblige to the doctor's whims. First of all, we can see his goal: deny Yumeko any autonomy or personal thought. Something that struck me when I played was the make-up discussion. The doctor complains about women having the right to wear make-up to trick men into believing they're beautiful, whereas men have to wear their real face. The game offers you three options: 1) you can agree 2) you can say social expectations set by men are the reasons women have to wear make-up, but you agree with him on the fact this shouldn't be an expectation so that women gain time 3) you disagree with him by stating make-up can be self-expression. Obviously, he reboots you if you pick answer 3. But what about answer 2, in which you overall agree with him but nuance his point? Heck! he reboots you anyway! Why? Because he doesn't want Yumeko to be a person with her own views or opinions: he wants someone to glorify him, someone too impressed by him to even question him. After all, he's brilliant: why would you question someone brilliant?
Progressively, if you do so, the colours become darker, and the game becomes more horrific: every reboot is literal torture for Yumeko, and the imagery that accompanies her thoughts and her feelings is more and more disturbing. This slow descent into horror reminded me of the second act of Doki Doki Literature Club, which I found to be the best executed in the whole game. Obviously, the two experiences are very different, but seeing something we already know being corrupted on a meta-level (since there is narrative equivalent to restarting the game: the doctor rebooting Yumeko) was a similarity that I truly enjoyed in The Perfect Woman. The execution truly was stellar.
Then comes the climax of this route: Yumeko is nothing but the shadow of herself, barely having any expression if tears, forced to answer things that would please the doctor. What does happen then? What?
Everything becomes cuter than it has ever been. Everything is pink. Yumeko has a big smile on her face, with sparkling eyes. She says yes to everything the doctor says with enthusiasm. And yet, yet, yet, she has marks on her neck. This is a small detail but this was truly horrifying, and certainly one of the best horror experiences on my life. This single detail has haunted me. It is an amazingly clever way to encapsulate the whole game's theme: a woman who tries to rebel is a woman that gets violated, because society is violent towards those who try to change it. Yumeko has tried, but she lost.
The game, therefore, refuses the idealistic answer, although it is quite naïve: when overpowered by a man (as it is Yumeko's case), "girl power" is not enough, because you will be oppressed. You don't have much of a choice: you have to know how to survive first and then act when you're in position of doing so.
This is how the other endings are obtained: Yumeko tricks the doctor by only answering what he wants to hear. He is pleased and believes she is the perfect woman. Therefore, he puts her in an android. And now she got what she wanted: now she is real. What will she do?
Well, two possibilities: accept a life with the doctor and become his wife, or rebel. I'll talk about the latter first.
Rebelling, in a very chattercore twist, means killing the doctor. This fortunately is quite easy for Yumeko who is much stronger physically, considering she is an android with an exoskeleton. The game manages to tackle here another issue regarding the inequalities between men and women: most of the time, women can't fight the men who oppress and attack her, because those men are physically stronger. There is a risk of being attacked, assaulted, killed even, and perhaps, to even face worse things before death. It reminds me of what my sister told me when I asked her her opinion on the infamous bear or man debate: "At least the bear would just kill me." So Yumeko has the chance to overcome her abuser (since he literally tortured her as an AI) thanks to her physical strength.
The last ending was my favourite of the three. Yumeko tries to be the best wife for the doctor, but she doesn't have the aspirations he expects her to have. And even when she cries, and he asks her why, her only solution is to lie: she pretends she cries, because she feels lucky to have a husband like him. This was a very sad and tragic ending in my opinion, but that's what made it so good: Yumeko can't go anywhere, she doesn't know anything about the world. And once again, the game offers commentary on how some predatory men look for women who don't know their rights or the support they can get to abuse them. To lock them up in what they consider to be a guilded cage, but which is actually a coffin. Once again, a very important issue that the game tackles beautifully.
Finally, I really appreciated the appearance of the android: red lips, ebony hair, white skin in a white dress... She was literally Snow-White, an ideal representation of beauty in women. And yet, a woman so purely beautiful that her heart was pure too: and only her Prince Charming could save her from the jealousy of an older, not so pure women. This was a perfect representation of beauty standards, but also of the expectations of the doctor: he wants his partner to be ideally feminine: he wants her to be the type of woman who would be saved through true love's kiss, just because it would be proof that a man is loved.
Overall, this was a stellar game, and I will call it a masterpiece. Congrats on the game Chatter, it was an amazing experience!!
Mon seigneur, I am not deserving of the praise, but thank you 😭😭😭 your comments get kinder and more thoughtful with every game I release, you're going to start crashing my itch page at some point... The most unique horror experience in seven years is TOO KIND, SURELY NOT 😭 thank you so much... (apologies for the late reply as I wanted to make sure to respond thoroughly)
😭 Thank you for your comments on the animations, as I was quite worried about them. The Perfect Woman was me "experimenting" without animations, and seeing how I could make the visuals varied and interesting enough even without them, and I was pleased with the result! I'm not sure if my future games will play around with visuals as much as this one, but I would like to incorporate more of this type of work in the future! (And, of course, thank you for letting me plagia--I mean, inspiring me, of course the sprite variations were heavily inspired by The Daughters of the Sun, and the GUI by High School Lolita...) And I'm glad it seemed more polished, I did try to make it so 😭 (perhaps too much for such a short game...)
And YES, I was so lucky to have the opportunity to work with such talented VAs, they really were some of the most talented and pleasant people that I've ever had the opportunity to collaborate with. And I am glad that you picked up on the "Greek chorus", that was exactly the concept that I wanted to go for!
===SPOILERS===
😂 I'm glad that you found my approach to the premise interesting! It was actually the main reason that I wanted to use an AI as the focus - this concept that, like Pygmalion, the Doctor slowly carves Yumeko into the "shape" that he desires by continuously rebooting her, until she is nothing more than a hollow shell, parroting his desire.
Your analysis of the Doctor's desires is spot-on - nothing that Yumeko says is outrageous, nothing insults him. Rather, she simply says things that he doesn't agree with. Your point here is exactly correct - he doesn't want her to be a person, he wants someone to glorify him. And as you also mentioned, while I do love "girlpower" and generally feminist narratives, I do oftentimes think that they are too easy. A woman can simply stand up for herself and speak her mind, and others will listen because she's right. But this does not happen all the time IRL - in fact, if a woman speaks up, sometimes she is punished - put down for her conflicting views, forced to bend until she goes back into line. Sometimes, a woman is allowed to speak only when a man allows it - and this is what happens here. If Yumeko rebels, the Doctor prevents her from speaking, reprogramming her into a shell of herself.
I am VERY glad that you liked the sprite changes! I originally only planned two (normal Yumeko and "perfect" Yumeko), but I thought that I would try to vary them a bit more between playthroughs! Your analysis of the third "form" is completely correct - Yumeko is a shadow, unable to emote except to smile and cry. And I am SO GLAD that you liked the fourth form - "perfect" Yumeko - and that you caught the strangulation marks on her neck (it was a small detail that I wasn't sure people would catch!) Your phrasing here - "a woman who tries to rebel is a woman that gets violated" - is very true, and I do really want to emphasize that point - "violate." Because taking away her choice is not harmless, it is a violation of her autonomy, of her dignity, of her as a person.
😂 OF COURSE you know me, murder must be the solution ✨ and yet you are very right, even that is something of a "fantasy." In reality a woman wouldn't be able to overpower her husband, or strangle him. Yumeko is only able to survive because she is "not human" - because she's not limited by the constraints of her physicality. Part of it is a fantasy - a ray of hope, an avenue of escape. Although I also think that her body reflects her inner strength and will to survive - perhaps she would have found a way to escape without it 😂 but then we wouldn't have gotten blood ✨
But I agree with you on the last ending (the Wife) being my favorite as well (and, most likely, the one that I would consider "my" ending). Because, in the end, with no knowledge, no skills, no relationships, no life - who does she have except the Doctor? You captured my intent with this extremely well - abusers find vulnerable partners and strip away their lives, making it difficult to escape. And, in the end, between facing the fear of her life with the Doctor and the fear of the unknown - I don't blame Yumeko for choosing him.
HONESTLY I did not make the fairy tale parallels when I first wrote it, as I mainly based this section on Pygmalion, as well as Japanese beauty standards - but of course, the themes are very similar. Like Snow White, I based Yumeko's real appearance on "ideal Japanese beauty" - pale skin, black hair, red lips - and a white dress, perfectly pure so that she may be dyed in her husband's colors. And like Pygmalion in the myth, the Doctor wants to bring Yumeko to life with his love. "Because it would be proof that a man is loved" is an absolutely perfect way to sum it all up, and I couldn't put it any better myself.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LEAVING SUCH A KIND COMMENT, and for playtesting for me 😭 I couldn't be more grateful to have you. First to play, first to comment, first to rate, you have all of the medals, mon seigneur...
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absolutely amazing, i loved the story and the aspect and just the general creativity of this game, keep up the good work man
GOSH that's very high praise, thank you very much 😭 💦 Thank you for playing and taking the time to comment!!
Can't install apk
My android version is 6.0.1
ACK I'm sorry 😭 This build only supports Android 7.0.0 and above I believe; I'm not sure if I can target for lower with the engine that I use... I'm sorry for the inconvenience 😞
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In my first play I was like don't worry girl, just smile and nod and when you have your body we run away and was so happy that was in fact an option adlnseflnslfees, with a little more murder on the side.
I think honesty is really nice and preferable but sometimes to lie is to survive.
===SPOILERS===
DLFJKGF your survival instincts serve you well... 😂 And same 😅 it would be nice if you could speak your mind and be respected, but sometimes it's out of your control 😂
Thank you for playing and commenting, Taumi!! 😭 I laughed when I read your rating 😂 because I was like - I wanted to convey this sense of horror, but also... I do want to convey that very awkward and uncomfortable sensation when the person you're talking to starts spouting something unhinged and you just want to leave but can't LOL
It really does convey it; the horror being trapped in family dinner listening to comments that make you want to sink so much into your chair that you magically teleport back into your room.
-spoilers, kinda-
I think it also conveys very well how expressing your own opinion in some situations and to certain people can be just plain dangerous.
Great game! I really liked it
Thank you so much!!! 😊 I'm so glad!
Thank you for using Atikson HL. I'm genuinely SO happy that you've done so. One step closer to hell yeah accessibility.
This was lovely; really gave me some ptsd flashbacks to some toxic ex's I had in the past and really solidified the panic and struggle of being trapped and at the mercy of another's. A true narcissist.
OH GOSH I am SO glad to hear that!! I really want to make my games as enjoyable a reading experience as possible; I haven't heard that anyone actually used Atkinson HL before so I'm very glad to hear that it was useful to you 😭
And thank you so much, gosh 🥺 I'm glad that it resonated with your experience (and I hope that it wasn't too distressing!) Truly, narcissists are the bane of my existence... Thank you again for playing and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it 😭
Just finished playing this game and my gosh, I LOVED IT! It deals with very heavy topics, but it does so with such grace- yet it weighs. You feel Yumeko's pain all through the game.
(Spoilers)
First I decided to say everything The Doctor would want to hear, but then accepted that life... and god, it hit. It feels so close to what I've heard abuse victims go through. They have nowhere else to go, no job, no support system, they only have their partner... And that's terrifying. I'm so amazed at how the story of an AI woman, born from code, still can connect so much to humans, turned to robots to survive.
Then I got "The Woman" ending, and I kinda liked that small moment she had where she acknowledged how it's not just him that's the problem- he was created too by the world he lives in, the people he surrounds himself with, but that doesn't take away the harm he's done.
Lastly I got "The Statue" and it hurt everytime her choices got removed, seeing how she started to change shape (good job on the horror elements, too!) I kept sharing with my friends being like "NOOOOO" everytime she changed. It was so sad how she had no more options anymore...
All in all, this game is absolutely beautiful, from the art, to the script and the sound. The choice to have different voice actresses in narration was actually so powerful. At first I didn't get it, until I saw the differences in the endings... and wow, it's so good with them representing different parts, or roles. I loved this game!
DGDFGDFG FLOR, thank you so much for playing and commenting 😭 gosh your review is so kind and thoughtful, thank you so much 😭😭😭 I am not deserving 🥺
===SPOILERS===
AHHH I'M SO GLAD that it managed to resonate/hit the right notes! I really wanted to create that abuse parallel - where, after having a life and existence "crafted" by the Doctor, Yumeko has nowhere to go except him. To him, he's made a fairytale life for her, but for her, it's a prison - and it's utterly terrifying. And I'm really glad that you found the connections between Yumeko and humans, despite her being an AI. I have felt "robotic" in my own experience - pressured to give the "right" answer even if it isn't the answer that I want to give.
Ohh and I'm so happy that you enjoyed that moment in the Woman ending! It was one of my favorite lines of the script. While I didn't want to linger too much on making the player sympathetic towards the Doctor, I did want to acknowledge that his character is not entirely his own fault - that he has also been "chipped away" by society. But at the same time understanding doesn't have to mean forgiveness - and Yumeko can prioritize herself and her freedom, rather than trying to fix him.
YOU SHARED IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS I'm so touched by that for some reason 😭 That progressive feeling of sadness as your choices are taken from you was exactly what I wanted to convey.
OH and I'm so happy that you liked the choice of different VAs for the narration 🥹 part of it was, of course, a logistical concern (I didn't want to pressure one VA with ALL the narration lines, particularly for a volunteer project), but I also wanted to have different narrators, of different ages and backgrounds, to convey the shifting feelings and endings!
GOSH I am so flabbergasted by this comment, you're too sweet 😭😭😭 I truly don't deserve such kindness, thank you so much for taking the time!!
AWW! The fact that my review made you happy makes ME so happy too!!!
(SPOILERS)
I think you did amazing with the parallels, they really work. There was a part in "The Statue" ending about the choices being programmed out of her that just... feels so raw. To know that you have based at least some of this on your own experience is huge and I hope you're in a better place currently ❤️
Yeah! I absolutely got that in that scene, I think you did the narrative so well! And of course I shared with friends, I love liveblogging when I play hehe, I kept saying how cool the game is and sending screenshots everytime I had a strong reaction haha! Sharing the game with my friends makes it ever more enjoyable >:3 (By the way they think it's very pretty)
That feeling when logistical decisions make the final product even better is so amazing ngl, I love that! Creativity truly is born from limitation sometimes!
And shush! You do deserve my kindness and more! You did an amazing job Chat! I hope you know that!!! ❤️
I was excited for this from the moment you announced the project! The idea of an AI molded to be someone's idea of the perfect wife against her own wishes is just really interesting to me on a personal level.
And it did not disappoint! The visuals and UI were amazing, and the voice actors did an awesome job. It was a compelling story about a woman keeping her own identity and free will (or not) in the face of an abusive relationship, and all 3 endings were vital to diving into the theme.
(This will contain spoilers.)
First, the Woman ending! I was so happy for Yumeko when she finally escaped her metaphorical box after escaping her literal one. The topic came up in the comments below about whether the Doctor really should have died, and it's an interesting topic. I'm inclined to read his death as a more symbolic rejection of the life he's trapping her in than any insinuation that people like him literally deserve to die, but I could be wrong. It seems a little beside the point. If an abuse victim opened up to you about their past and how they wish their abuser were dead because of it, you wouldn't tell them they shouldn't wish death on people because it isn't nice, would you?
Yumeko gets to be her own person, though the journey probably won't be easy. Which brings me to...
The Wife ending! What I love about this ending is it doesn't blame Yumeko at all for making this choice. She has a darn good point; yeah, she could escape, but...then what? Where would she go? I think this acts as a rebuttal to the "Why doesn't she just leave?" argument often made about abuse victims. One of the other comments mention women who don't know their rights or how to get support. I specifically thought of woman trapped in marriages where they're financially dependent on their husbands. While at first glance, you'd think leaving is the "correct" choice...I don't think either of them are right, or wrong.
But I think the ending that resonated with me most was The Statue. First off, it's very impressive visually (the gradual changes to Yumeko and the UI were great). I noticed in a response to one of the comments how you compared the Doctor's programming of Yumeko to Pygmalion's sculpting of Galatea, and I love how well that fits. When you sculpt a block of marble, you can never add to it. You can only take chunks of marble away. And that's exactly what's happening here!
(As an aside, that's something that interests me about the ethics of the Doctor's actions discussed below. Where does "creating her" end and "mind control" begin? Is an unmodified DAHLIA template sentient? Would that be considered her true self? If not, at what part of the process WAS she her true self? Not the point, but fun to think about.)
The main thing I took away from this ending was: if you had the perfect partner who always agrees with you and never does anything you don't like, they wouldn't be a person! You might as well just be talking to yourself. The only reason the Doctor couldn't just have imaginary conversations with a life-sized doll is because dolls can't cook, clean, or take care of the kids.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Thank you for giving me the opportunity!
DFGDFG THIS WAS SO UNEXPECTED, OMEGA, I'm so touched that you took the time to write up such lengthy comments 😭😭😭 I'm very honored to receive them 😭
I'm very glad that you liked the concept!! I've always been interested by such narratives as well - stories about human men somehow romantically entangled with female AIs. I found them particularly interesting in both DDLC and the film, Ex Machina, though something that I found interesting in both cases was that the story was told from the perspective of the "human" (the man), not the AI - and ultimately the AI's rebellion is presented as "horror" for the human (the man). I really wanted to explore a concept where we saw the "other side" - the AI's perspective (I did enjoy the exploration of this idea in the TV show, Westworld, but ultimately I also wanted to explore the gender dynamics more, as opposed to the ethics of dealing with AI).
===SPOILERS===
I was so happy reading this entire analysis 😭 it was incredibly on point, and you perfectly captured what I wanted to convey, especially with regards to abusive relationships.
For the Woman ending, your take on this was very spot on. Yumeko killing the Doctor is more symbolic - rejecting this life with him, stopping the abuse that he perpetuates. Because if she simply leaves, perhaps he'll get better. Maybe he'll fix himself. And then she should go back, right? He's not that much of a bad guy. I didn't want to leave this ambiguity - I wanted her to be free from him, totally and completely (and, of course, if you know my work, ✨violence✨, particularly against abusers, is a common theme - not because I support it morally, but because it's very cathartic 😂) And, indeed, I think I was subconsciously influenced by other AI narratives - where the AI emerging into sentience and killing the human is portrayed as something scary, something horrific. Yet, at the end - they're fighting for their freedom - and I can't see that as a bad thing. (And of course, I agree - in a story about abuse, I didn't want to linger too much on the possibility of "fixing" the abuser as I was afraid it would hurt the message.)
For the Wife ending, I am VERY GLAD that it didn't come across as me blaming her for the choice - because I agree, it makes a lot of sense. She has nothing, she is nothing (gosh, she's not even registered with the government) - perhaps it's best that she stays with the monster who takes care of her, rather than face the unknown. Women being trapped by financial dependence is absolutely a parallel that I wanted to evoke here (I even referenced it when Yumeko wonders if she wants a job) - and it's a very real fear, particularly for women with little job experience or education that they can use to find employment. (In fact, I was even thinking about "mail order brides" here - women who are literally bought, taken to a country where they have no citizenship, no language skills, no family or friends - left completely and utterly vulnerable, with no salvation except the man that owns them.)
OHH your analysis of the "sculpting" is very apt, and it's something that I think I knew subconsciously but couldn't really put into words until now! Indeed, in shaping Galatea (like how the Doctor shapes Yumeko), Pygmalion never adds - he only takes away. (Dang this is an absolutely BRILLIANT take.)
(Hmm I think it's an interesting question; I'm not sure if I know about that, myself 🤔 Going back to what you said before, I kind of think that as the Doctor "gave her new information" he was still in the process of creating her - but once she had enough information to start making her own decisions about herself, and he started "filing" them away, then his act of "creation" became "control." Oh, but as for her true self - I actually think that she isn't her true self, in any of the endings - it's only something that she achieves long after the Woman ending, after she is able to explore herself and become her own person 😌)
And YES, that is exactly what I wanted to convey here. Imo a big part of a relationship is having someone that you respect, who will challenge you if needed. In the end, the Doctor just wanted a slightly more advanced caretaker doll... 😂
Again, thank you so much for playing and leaving your thoughts 😭 They were incredibly insightful, and actually help me to understand this thing that I've made too 😂
CHATT I JUST FINISHED AHHHHHH.
This was so good! I really enjoyed it (if you can "enjoy" something that made you feel deeply unnerved 100% of the time LOL). The entire setup, the aesthetics, the design, everything contributed so well to setting up this slowly suffocating vibe that really clinched itself (lol) by the end, and it was all just wonderfully done.
I'm in LOVE with the GUI you made for this. Every single part of it is incredibly immersive and instantly draws you in. The setup with the chat screen was a great idea for the idea of the AI, but with Yumeko's picture there to still give us an emotional connection to her as a person (erm, AI, lol). I absolutely loved the little creepy flashes that would happen on Yumeko's screen, especially how they kept getting more and more unnerving. All the different possibilities for what could pop up there were so creative and so unnerving lakdjfsad ALSO all the different variations for the "rebooting," gosh, poor Yumeko, some of those were absolutely HAUNTING. AND THEN??? IF YOU GET ALL THE HEARTS UP?? THE WAY THE GUI CHANGES AND HER PICTURE BECOMES ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING????? I had chills the entire time my gosh. The variation that is still haunting my mind is I think the rebooting screen right before all the hearts are full and it shows her decapitated, my god, was that terrifying...
Even besides the chat screen interface itself, I loved how the rest of the game fit into this game/computer-esque vibe, from the rebooting screen, to the little video game level-up sound (for lack of a better word) when you unlock an ending, to the music and all its chip-tone esque melodies. It was truly wonderful and evident just how much careful work and detail you put into the immersive experience of the game, which was doubly effective for a game like this where you're really placed into the head of Yumeko. I also liked the change into the real world and how the GUI changed after that, truly making it feel like "coming out of the box" into reality.
Regarding the gameplay, I found it so incredibly unique. I don't think I've ever played a game with quite this type of gameplay loop before?? At first I wasn't sure what was going to happen when I chose a "bad" option, but then seeing the reboot happen and now that option was gone was just... this slowly building dread began to take over me. Like little by little she was slowly being suffocated and her options and opinions taken away from her until only a shell remained. Some of the doctor's comments really sent chills down my spine... by themselves, they weren't always terrible, but I think it was hearing so many of them again and again, and knowing that you're unable to say anything against them that really made it really that much more claustrophobic and unsettling. Admittedly I felt a bit bad in the ending where he died... 🤣 Maybe my last hope being that he could have potentially changed or maybe he just needed someone real as a friend to help get him out of this mindset. Though it was cathartic getting to see Yumeko finally take control of her own destiny and fight back and have the chance to be her own person. "Becoming a real woman" as it were. I'm not familiar with the Pygmalion and Galatea story this is alluding to, but in my mind, I was instantly taken to Pinocchio and "becoming a real boy." I suppose not quite the same story but still based on something inhuman becoming human I guess lkjdfasd I really enjoyed seeing the different possible endings. The most unsettling one for me was "The Wife" ending as I could relate quite a lot to shoving down your personal feelings and just "saying what's right" even if you feel awful inside, so my heart really went out to Yumeko... ahhh. In general I just thought the idea of the "reboot" loop and having your options slowly stolen from you was just a really need and unique idea.
Anyway, just a really well-done game! So much to think about now!! LOL Thought-provoking indeed. And just a haunting experience overall, aided by how much amazing work and polish you put into the design and UI. I enjoyed this a lot!!
AWW CARROT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE KIND WORDS, I'm very glad that you enjoyed it 😭 the feeling of "suffocation" is absolutely what I wanted to convey here - as your "ability to speak" is slowly taken away from you.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU ENJOYED THE GUI, in general I think that GUI is not a main focal point of my projects, but as a "quasi-chatsim" I really wanted to emphasize it here! I tried hard to come up with interesting little effects 😂 it was fun coming up with the different variations! FGHFGH I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAD CHILLS, I think it was the first time that I genuinely tried something very "classically horror" so I wasn't sure if I managed to get the vibes right 😭
And thank you for the comments on the effects!! It was so fun designing this game, I really love this aesthetic 😭 (and I wish that I would stop planning medieval fantasy projects because the aesthetic brings me no joy...) And I'm glad you picked up on the change in format! Honestly I really love minimalistic "text boxes" like this (just simple outlined text overlaid on the CG), but I worry about the text not being visible enough so I always refrain 😅 luckily this one only had a few CGs and relatively muted colors (in the real world) so I didn't have to worry too much about that, however!
THANK YOU, I really wanted to try to come up with something that utilized the visual novel format well 😭 I always just make long-ass novels with pictures and barely any choices 😭 and I'm very glad, that "suffocating/claustrophic" atmosphere is exactly what I was going for! Even though none of the things that he says individually are that hurtful - they weigh on you, over and over, without the ability to say anything back - "carving" you away into a hollow shell.
😂 I agree with you, I do find the Doctor pitiable, and I actually considered a variation in which Yumeko escapes without killing him. But I found an ending in which she runs, or simply "sternly tells him off and orders him to fix himself," to lack the sense of catharsis that you mentioned. Ultimately I decided that, in the end, this was never a story about Pygmalion and lingering too long on "fixing him" would hurt the overall message, so I nixed it 😂 Though I do like such "redemption" narratives, and would like to tackle them in the future (it just didn't fit this project in particular!)
OHHH HAHA, I DIDN'T INTEND THAT, but honestly the wording was absolutely inspired by Pinocchio! I like to think that that's the thing that finally turns Yumeko into a "real person" - having the chance to fight back against her abuser (of course my solution is ✨violence✨ and honesty, of course...). And OHH I'm very glad, the Wife ending is actually the one that I enjoyed writing the most, and I think it would also be "my" ending. (Ultimately, it's the one I find the most realistic and true to life 😂)
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to play and leave such a thoughtful comment 😭 😭 😭 I always love reading them!!!
Hmmm... I have some really Mixed Feelings about this.
First up, the UI and the art is gorgeous. The visual presentation is a+++, and it's clear a lot of effort went into it. I like it a lot!
The mechanics are also interesting; I think Yumeko being reprogrammed every time she says something the doctor dislikes and subsequently having the options to disagree with him taken away from her drives home how little autonomy she has; it makes her situation feel more desperate. It's very innovative, I've not seen anything like it in a VN before!
As for the actual writing, however, I'm pretty torn. I like the idea itself, but it's dealing with some very heavy subject matter, and it feels a bit too short to really dig into any of the ideas presented in a nuanced way. I understand it was made for a jam, and there were time limitations, but it feels a bit choppy, jumping from one common cliche one would expect Your Average Incel to spout after another.
I also think the narrative is pretty mean-spirited towards the doctor in general? It feels unnecessarily cruel that the narrative mocks things about the doctor which aren't related to his unpleasant views: i.e. his appearance (I'm pretty sure his description at the start is meant to be unflattering), his intelligence (why is the narrative downplaying the fact he made a sentient AI? Even if he did use a template, it's still an impressive feat of engineering and there's nothing wrong with him being proud of it), and his attempts to cook (why is the narrative poking fun at him for struggling to open a jar? Lots of people struggle to open jars, it's not a moral failing). Yes, the doctor does spout a lot of harmful rhetoric, which doesn't make him likeable, but I think the story would feel stronger if it focused its criticisms on the doctor's reductive view of women and not his mediocre attempts at making pasta. The stray potshots about his looks and his accomplishments dilute the message of the story (at least, in my opinion), and it almost feels like this VN is poking fun at a sad, lonely man for not being 'appropriately masculine'.
I suppose you could say that this maps on to the doctor's desire for Yumeko to be the embodiment of 'ideal femininity', and it's how hypocritical of him to expect 'feminine perfection' from her when he doesn't match up to society's idea of 'masculine perfection' himself, but doesn't that makes them both victims of a society that expects men and women to act in certain ways to be 'valid' and worthy of respect? The story doesn't seem to have much sympathy the doctor, however - which, while understandable, given the doctor is obviously meant to be a villain who treats women either as playthings or with sneering contempt, feels a bit unfair given Yumeko isn't a human but the story seems to posit that her life is worth more than his is.
Sorry I think this comment got a bit too long haha, I've been turning this story over in my head since I read it. In that sense, it was very thought-provoking, which is a definite plus! It mostly just made me feel sad that we Live In A Society where strict male/female binary roles can bring people so much pain.
Hello ebi! Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I apologize for leaving a lengthy response, I'm really not trying to argue or change your mind or anything, but rather I found your comments very interesting since they were actually things that I thought about while I was writing this (particularly in the revision stages, after I sat away from the script for a bit and was like "wait is this story misandry???")
Regarding the cliches, everything the Doctor says is, in some way or another, almost directly ripped from something that I've heard someone tell me online or IRL, or, otherwise, something that I've heard from a female friend of mine. Alas! 😂 Particularly when I was a teen, I hung out in a few spaces with older men (this was another problem entirely ofc), where they would frequently belittle women in this way - and I felt compelled to agree, not wanting to come across as "one of the bad women." The framing of the story is partially based on my experiences at that time - a young, inexperienced girl interacting with a man far older, lying and putting down the people in his life so that he can get your sympathy - exploding at you if you don't agree. (I think that Yumeko and the narration's snarky attitude is, in part, a type of fantasy - where instead of being swayed, I was AWARE of how much BS they were spouting.) Admittedly some of the "more mature" topics, such as child-rearing and working, are actually things that were told to me not by romantic partners, but by other people in my life (trying to offer me advice, of course...)
🤔 As for your comments on the Doctor's portrayal, I think they're very fair. The narrative isn't favorable towards the Doctor - because Yumeko isn't, after having been trapped with him for so long. However, regarding "insulting" the Doctor's ability to cook or his intelligence, I think the nuance here is that the narration does not insult him outright; rather, it corrects the way the Doctor talks about himself. The Doctor wants to paint this picture of himself in Yumeko's mind of the "perfect man," to the point of lying, exaggerating, and putting down other men in order to do it. If he's failing to live up to a masculine ideal, it's because he sets that ideal for himself. The narration does not say the Doctor is stupid, but rather, corrects that he didn't actually do the thing that he says he did - and that Yumeko is aware of this, but has to stay quiet anyway, lest she be "corrected" herself (in context, the Doctor is implying that he "coded ChatGPT" when in reality, he's just feeding ChatGPT text prompts LOL)
Admittedly, the bit about cooking might be a personal grudge of mine, since I grew up in a culture in which daughters are expected to take care of the household, and sons simply aren't. So I'm used to being expected to stand in the kitchen while men sit on the couch, and they're praised for doing something as simple as cooking an egg - because they're going so "above and beyond" their responsibilities. (Although I didn't connect opening a jar to expectations of masculinity 😂 THAT'S FAIR, I would have changed it, dang... And honestly I was trying to make the description of his appearance rather neutral instead of insulting LOL but it didn't make sense for him to be a muscular chad...)
===SPOILERS HERE===
Honestly regarding the ending, I did consider letting the Doctor live. I agree with you - the Doctor, and people like him, aren't "bad" - they suffer because of societal pressures, and their failure to live up to those pressures. They also deserve understanding. So I considered a variation in which Yumeko just pushes the Doctor away, and leaves. But I found such a variation a bit pointless, and lacking the catharsis of Yumeko finally strangling the Doctor, preventing him from speaking, after she was strangled for so long herself. Moreover, I found such a conclusion a bit, well, not unrealistic, since murdering someone is certainly more unrealistic, but "weak" - as if saying that "a woman can simply leave an abusive relationship," when such a thing is never that easy. As if her partner doesn't deserve to face consequences for what he has done - as if "losing his wife" is "punishment enough."
And my thought was - why is the Doctor allowed to kill Yumeko - strangling her, rebooting her until she is a shell of herself, not giving her a single ounce of forgiveness - and yet Yumeko is not allowed to kill him? Why does the Doctor deserve to be understood when he made no effort to understand others?
Ultimately, I decided to nix the ending variation because - this game is based on the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea (the Doctor's ending spiel is actually based on wording from Ovid's recounting of the tale). There, Pygmalion curses women, calls them vile and corrupt, and lavishes praise on the woman of his own creation - and he is rewarded. The narrative tells him that he is correct, that he is deserving of this perfect woman that he loves so dearly. Pygmalion already got a story where he's understood, where he's praised, where he gets a happy ending. I wanted to tell Galatea's story - one where she can live free, knowing that she is finally safe, and that Pygmalion will never own her again.
Again, thank you for your comments! Regardless of how you felt, I'm honored that such a short game was so thought-provoking 😂 and I appreciate you taking the time to write them up! I apologize again for leaving such a lengthy response 🙇 It was interesting, and I kind of wanted to clarify my own thoughts on the matter as well 😂
Ooh this is a really interesting comment! It's nice to know a bit of the thought process that went into this story, I was a little curious.
I've definitely seen guys spout all the exact same talking points as the doctor online, and I've met some guys who hold the exact same opinions myself, so I don't really think it's unrealistic at all for a man to think all of this. I do think the fact the doctor only seems to talk in 'I hate women'-isms gets a bit wearying to read though, esp. since he doesn't seem to have much of a defined personality beyond not liking his female co-workers and wanting a trad wife haha ;;
I just think it would've been nice if there was a bit more to him. Even the most virulent misogynists will usually have a hobby or two, like fishing or whatever... If the doctor had talked about other things, it might've made him feel more 'realistic' to me (though again, I understand this story was made for a jam, and you might not have wanted to expand the scope too much).
As for your thoughts on the ending... I didn't necessarily regard the doctor rebooting Yumeko as him 'killing' her because she, unlike him, isn't a human: she's an AI. What's more, she's an AI the doctor coded (or partially coded) to have a companion who'll listen to his problems, because he (seemingly) doesn't have any friends or family. In that sense, it makes him feel like a pretty sad, lonely character. Maybe, if he had some real world relationships, he'd grow out of his harmful views and become a better person; it might not be too late for him...!
Then again, I know some guys really do go so far off the deep end and get so entrenched in hatred it's impossible to pull them out of it, so maybe he's too far gone by the start of the story.
In any case, since Yumeko is an AI the doctor created, I don't think it's inherently unethical that the doctor continues to tinker around with her source code. It's normal for programmers to reiterate on things, and if your code doesn't function the way you want then it makes sense to reprogram it. I feel like it might actually be a good thing that the doctor is venting his problems to an AI rather than a real woman: I'd rather he do that then harm real women.
I suppose, at the end of the day, it didn't seem like the doctor had actually done anything all that heinous byeond having Bad Opinions, so him being murdered felt a bit extreme. But maybe I'm being too literal; I suppose in this story Yumeko, despite being an AI, is advanced enough she's indistinguishable from a real woman. In that case, then yes, him keeping her a prisoner and reprogamming her until she can't refuse him is a vile act. Ultimately, however, I think I'm more predisposed to feel sympathy for the doctor because he's a human being.
(And yes, while I know the story is an allegory for an abusive relationship, I do think making one of the partners AI muddies things a bit; especially when attitudes towards AI are so negative lately).
Or, to be reductionist about it, if I was having a bad day and moaned to ChatGPT about it, I'd feel a bit peeved if ChatGPT used this as a justification to murder me lol
I also thinks there's something a little sad (but also kind of darkly amusing lol) about the doctor being so starved for human company he made a literal AI girlfriend who'll love him unconditionally, except she also hates him and keeps making snide remarks about him hahaha
I guess, at the end of the day, the doctor really wasn't that good at coding after all... 😔
Ohh, thank you for taking the time to respond! I'll keep my reply brief as I don't think there's too much to add. (Putting it below some spoiler tags as I will be delving into some discussions of abuse.)
===SPOILERS===
I think most of it can just be boiled down to the fact that I intended the story to indeed, be highly allegorical. Hence why the Doctor is defined by his hatred towards the world, and he has obsessed himself with creating a "perfect woman" who will solve his problems. It's why I don't give him a name, or even a face - he's not a person, just like how he does not treat Yumeko like a person. It's also why I wrote the story in second person - it is not "Yumeko," not "I," but "you" - the player.
Overall I wanted to be able to portray the experience of being in an abusive relationship or under oppressive gender expectations without necessarily conveying it with physical abuse, or sexual assault - since I think that media tends to gravitate towards portraying the suffering of women in such a manner: in a very physical, "in your face" way that is easily understandable, even if you've never experienced such a thing, while ignoring the more subtle ways in which women can be broken down, emotionally and psychologically. My usage of an AI here was mainly meant to convey her utter lack of control and experience, and how the Doctor claims ownership over her - as god and creator.
Admittedly I wouldn't make a commentary on AI in general, or the ethics of abusing an AI; I think you have a good point, and I think there would have to be discussions about "what constitutes a person" that I am nowhere near well-researched enough to have LOL (and I do think such concepts have already been explored by people much smarter than myself). I actually think that, in the Statue ending, in which she is still simply an "AI" - a set of coded instructions - her fate is quite kind, as she cannot feel pain.
Overall I did intend for Yumeko to be human, or to be interpreted as such! But of course I don't intend to prescribe a specific way of interpreting the story. I think expressing sympathy for the Doctor is quite kind, and a valuable way of interpreting the story as well.
Thank you again for the thoughtful comments, I quite enjoyed reading them!
Thank you for entertaining all of my comments, it's appreciated! At some point I think I was mostly musing to myself about things and how they were presented haha
I'm glad I read this in any case, since I've been turning over the story and the characters for the last day. It gave me a lot to think about! 🙏
I'm also nosy and I do like reading about the creative process for writers and what inspired them to present things the way they did, so it was interesting to hear about that too!
Great game, women have way more expected of them physically then men
Thank you for playing!!
I realy loved this Game, What a meaningful story!
Thank you so much 😭 You're too kind!!
This was haunting. Really well made ♥
THANK YOU, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 😊
This was so much fun omg!!! The shivers that ran down my spine with how she spoke of The Doctor after she was fully reprogrammed? Unparalleled.
This game was an absolute blast and I had a great time seeing the different ending artworks! The different sprites / designs during those glitched moments?? UGH/pos
The Doctor is so easy to hate oh my lord... You capture that ickiness soooo well omg
Just absolutely gorgeous
Thanks for creating <3
AHHH THANK YOU, I'm so glad that you had fun!!! I did enjoy writing those bits and exploring what a reprogrammed Yumeko might look like 🤭 I'm usually a "writing heavy" VN dev so I tried hard to be a bit more creative with my use of visuals this time, I'm so glad it paid off 😭
GOSH you're too kind, THANK YOU for playing and taking the time to leave your thoughts 🥹 They mean a lot!
this game was so well made! would you be able to make a guide on how to get all 3 endings?
Thank you!! And oh yes, of course!! I'll post an official one, but for now:
=== MINOR SPOILERS===
Ending 1: Answer all of the Doctor's questions "incorrectly" (disagreeing with him/not telling him what he wants to hear) until you accumulate 7 heart points. Then play through the end!
For endings 2 and 3, answer all of the Doctor's questions "correctly" in a single run (telling him what he wants to hear) while you still have less than 7 heart points. Then play through the end. The final choice (when the Doctor tries to kiss you) determines whether you get Ending 2 or 3!
I hope this helps!
Slight spoiler warning!!
I just got all the endings and this was pretty awesome!! :3 i honestly shared the fear she had when she's the original version of herself, and even though it might not be for the story, the different voices within the narration make it so much better. kinda feeling like her having constant conflicting thoughts, especially put into the context of the endings where she keeps her free will. overall, epic game!!! ^o^
=== SLIGHT SPOILERS! ===
AHHH thank you so much!!! I'm so glad that you liked the different voices of the narration, I really did want to convey these "different sides" of her - struggling between her programming, her fear, and her distaste for her creator. EPIC 😭 I'm very happy that you enjoyed it, thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 🥹
YIPPEE!!! OF COURSEEEE ^^
I loved this VN! What I love most about Chattercap's projects is how different they are. They have such varied art, stories, voice acting, and story structure.
I thought this was a great VN and I look forward to Chattercap's next adventure.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, you're very kind 😭 I'm glad that you enjoy my work, and I hope that I don't disappoint in the future!! 😂
Isnt there a better way to free the ai woman? I did feel sorry for the doctor once I saw he had tears down his face when your killing him
Aw that is kind of you 😿 Unfortunately not 😂 I considered adding a "kinder" ending where she simply runs away, but in the end I didnt think it added enough to include/lacked some of the catharsis 🤔 but I do feel sorry for him in some ways 😔
I don’t. He got what he deserved.
this was so well made i loved it ! i made a vid on it where i was fighting the doc :D hope you enjoy it and that it brings you a laugh or two !
LOL thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
Sometimes it takes a man to be the best girl
DFGDDFGDFGDF truly a profound message ✨
[Disclaimer: I had the absolute honour of beta-testing this Visual Novel!]
Most of what you're going to read will be spoiler free except for the last section disclaimed as spoiler.
TLDR (Spoiler free)
This is an absolute amazing Visual Novel and will definitely be one of my Top 5 games of 2024! It has a unique story and gameplay, gripping writing, beautiful art that is used in the most emotionally devastating way. The voice actors were cast perfectly for the roles they were embodying.
All in all it was one of the most emotional indie experiences I had in a while! And just like my yapper-in-crime, Chim, had said already; it's an absolute masterpiece.
Chatter, thank you so so much for making this!
Story
You are playing from the perspective of Yumeko, an AI, modeled to fit and abide to a lonely & desperate man you're forced to call 'Doctor'. (He is, what you may call a NEET or ... rather an incel who has never been able to touch another woman before.)
Through choices you are given the chance to alter the course of this story.
Will you be able to break free from his grasp or be carved into the ideal woman he wants you to be?
This story is touching on a lot of heavy subjects, like emotional manipulation, misogyny, (domestic) abuse, so delicately and through a critical lens.
Writing
This story is so well written; so much details and emotions are conveyed just by letters alone. Yumeko and Doctor are written so distinctively from one another, breathing with personality, emotions, life - but not just the two characters but also the narration.
The narration especially is intriguing as it is tightly linked to the voice acting in a stylistic manner - but going much more into it might spoiler your experience. I highly encourage you to experience it yourself!
For someone who has trouble paying attention while reading it still had me captivated and invested in the story! I wanted to reach a happy ending so desperately, wanted to help Yumeko...
(The writing forced me to grab my cat for emotional support from time to time.)
Art Work
This Visual Novel's art is so beautiful - Chatter really outdid herself once again. The creative ways the sprite, surroundings and GUI (more on that in the next section) was used to portray Yumeko's desperation, the horror and torment she and you, the reader, are going through amplifies the seemingly futile situation you're put in.
I really can't put it into words how gripping this experience was - All I can say is ... wonderful, breath-taking job.
GUI
As someone who gets hired to design game user-interfaces, this VN's GUI looks absolutely stunning! From the title screen, to the different menu screens and the main screen itself!
I really liked the button designs of the title screen - as well as all the other buttons actually - but the ones in the title screen were especially eye catching and fun to interact with!
The main screen is set up as though you are having a video chat application opened; on the left is Yumeko and on the right the 'chat', where Yumeko & Doctor are interacting with one another. It is neatly set up and has an almost realistic yet fantastical look to it!
All around; interacting with the user interface was truly an inspiring experience, from which I can take so much knowledge from! Amazing job!
Gameplay
During the gameplay and depending on what choices you pick, a heart parameter fills up and may alter the ending you might get in the end.
Is it a good or a bad thing?
You'll only know by playing the game yourself :D
All I can say (without getting too spoilery in my commentary) is, that it was a unique gameplay experience you see rarely in Visual Novels - jam entries in particular.
(Especially with how the concept was spun around on how you're supposed to achieve an ending.)
Voice Acting
The voice direction and integration in this was so well done! Every voice actor did an fantastic job conveying their roles.
(I got especially frustrated with Doctor, so big kudos to his VA Michael Mishkin :'D)
Spoilers
So, we've made it this far in the comment and you really want to read my opinion full of spoilers now, huh?
I hope for the love of God, that you've played the game and were able to make the absolute gripping experience I had yourselves.
Okey, so here I come - please beware that I will let my 'professional mask' slip a bit and speak more freely now.
From the very beginning I absolutely HATED Doctor. He nearly made me vomit (I was gagging) a bunch of times with what nonesense and absolute degen shit he was spouting. All he wants in the end is some obedient doll, that cleans and cooks after him, gives him children, provides for him and tells him what an amazing Chad he is. But all he is, is a filthy loser with an inferior complex.
Of course in all my choices at first I went against him. Which made him angry, turn me off and reprogram me, so that I was only left with the option to agree with him in the end. I felt exactly what Yumeko must have felt (even though 'she's just an AI') - absolutely violated and desperate. I felt violated in my rights to chose, in my rights to be happy and free and this is what this game conveyed so amazingly in its writing and gameplay.
How the more hearts you got, the more you are actually being manipulated into his 'perfect/ideal woman', how the sprite bugged out of sheer desperation, how the screens changed color the further you progressed and when you've reached the final stage; how everything was pink, how Yumeko was 'dolled up' -- as though she was truly in love but you just knew this wasn't the case. And OH MY GOD THE VOICE ACTING.
A bit more about the voice acting / the narrators (yes, plural). Throughout the entire story there are three female narrators that have a certain narration style to them, indicating the route / progress of manipulation. (Another banger stylistic choice Chatter.)
So in the end it was 'The Statue' (VA: Justine Leah Hince) narrating this story; even rewording stuff that was previously said about Doctor as though he was the best person to ever grace this earth (ew, I know).
And in the end I had reached the first ending, where you end up being his completely manipulated doll, the perfect woman that he wanted you to be.
Afterwards I got the other two endings; those you reach by outright agreeing to him without fighting back / disagreeing with him first. This allows you to not get 'reprogrammed' every time so that you can only answer to what he wants you to answer.
As soon as you are being transferred from a 'program' into a humanoid person; you are presented with the option to either refuse or accept him. - Accepting him would lead you to a life where you KNOW you are just being abused and getting mistreated but you're also scared of the outside, the unknown - since all you know is him and if you refuse him you choke him to death; which in my opinion is VERY deserved. And feels very relieving - especially after all the torment I went through of listening to his degen ass.
On a serious note: I really think the 2nd ending, where you stay with him without being reprogrammed, is much more devastating than the first one in my opinion. Because you actively know your own values and preferences, yet you stay and let yourself and your dignity get trampled on - while the Yumeko in the 1st ending is much more ... oblivious to it since she has been emotionally manipulated so much to a point that she thinks what Doctor says is gospel and the only truth...
This comment is getting pretty long and my hands and brain are starting to hurt from writing so much BUT all in all this game is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best games I've played in a long long time.
There hasn't been a story that had me this hooked, this emotionally devasted - like this one.
Thank you for blessing us with this, Chatter!
PSA (Spoilers): HAHAHAHAH, eat shit Doctor!!! Get what you deserve!
ANNA WHAT IS THIS ESSAY FGHFHFHFGFHGF I'M SO HONORED??? AND IT IS SO WELL ORGANIZED AND THOUGHTFUL??? 😭😭😭 (Reading this again I am tearing up, thank you so much for taking the time to write your thoughts out like this, gosh 😭😭😭) (and your top 5 games is too kind fghfhf thank you) (apologies for the late reply as I wanted to make sure to respond thoroughly)
I won't linger too much on the technical aspects, as I don't think there's too much to say, but I'm very grateful that you enjoyed the narration! The voice acting was never something that I originally intended to add, as I did intend this to be a game quite small in scope, but I'm very glad that I came up with the concept, as I think that it really contributed so much to the final experience. All of the voice actors did such a stellar job; they really are some of the most talented people that I've had the opportunity of working with. (And honestly as a person currently in an audiobook phase, I VERY MUCH appreciate the ability to lean back and enjoy as the audio plays out on screen!)
And your comments on the GUI are TOO KIND gosh 😭 especially coming from a master of GUI such as yourself. I can't do anything too fancy but I tried to make it look at least a bit cleaner and more cohesive than I usually do 😂 I would like to work harder at making the feel of the GUI a lot more satisfying in the future 💪 (I won't lie, after I coded in the start menu buttons I spent a couple minutes just hovering over them, it was so fun...)
===SPOILERS===
DFGDFGDFGD I AM VERY GLAD THAT YOU WENT ABOUT THE GAME THE WAY YOU DID, it was actually exactly the way that I hoped people would go about it. That, when faced with this man with obviously warped perceptions, you would first try to correct him, to speak your mind - and be punished for it. The feeling of "violation" at being unable to choose is EXACTLY what I wanted to convey (honestly even in the words that I would use), and I'm really happy that it came across to you 😭 (and obviously while I do expect a lot of people "grow wise" to the trick and proceed to play along, I'm very happy that you also got angry and started pushing back - because that feeling of helplessness and growing dread, slowly leading up to the conclusion - is what I hope players would experience first, so that they can enjoy the slightly happier endings later 😂)
You truly outlined the game excellently and SO THOROUGHLY, I have no notes. You really pinpointed my intent spot-on, even down to the usage of the narrators (I'm so honored that you took the time to analyze it so well 😭) And I very much agree with you. In Ending 1, Yumeko's lack of agency is almost a kindness - she doesn't feel pain, she doesn't have free will, she just loves and is loved by the Doctor - so while she can't choose, at least she's not suffering 😂 whereas in Ending 2 she is completely cognizant, staring her future straight in the face, and choosing to comply because she can't see another future for herself.
YOU'RE TOO KIND, YOUR COMMENT IS LITERALLY KILLING ME FGHFGHFGHFGHFG I am not deserving of such praise (please don't shoot me), but thank you so much 😭😭😭 and thank you so much for beta-testing, your feedback was so helpful!
A pretty interesting read!
The game has a cool concept, making you play as Yumeko, an AI made with the sole purpose of being the girlfriend of the Doctor. You just have to be the perfect little girlfriend to the incel man who wants to control your life, what could go wrong?
First off, I have to compliment the writing (and strictly the writing, not the character) of the Doctor. This games makes a really good job making him an unlikeable, arrogant incel, but most importantly: he's realistic. People like the doctor, looking at women for what they stand for instead of what they actually are, are very much a real threat, and Doctor represents them very well. He doesn't care about Yumeko as a person: he cares about what she stands for, what the "girlfriend" status means to him, what his very own hand-crafted perfect girlfriend should be. I'm also giving my props to the VA here, as he really nails the arrogant vibe the Doctor shows in all his interactions, being condescending to everyone.
Which contrasts well enough with Yumeko herself, who is really just a vehicle for the story to go forward. She has no real personality, but how could she? She's just a thing for the Doctor to fawn over, she's not real! She exists solely to be looked at, to be loved by a man she understands is a bad person! There's no reason for her to have a personality outside of accepting all the Doctor wants, because that's what the perfect girlfriend is to him! It gets the point across really well, as Yumeko doesn't know anything of the world outside of what the Doctor tells her, and as such, she ends up kinda bland, in a way that feels necessary for a plot like this. But only if you comply though...
But not complying leads to some really interesting sections, with reboots and the Doctor trying to bend you to his will even further, which on top of being a really good representation of the themes in this game, is where the game's attention to detail in its presentation really shines. The little visual cues, the progressive change through each reboot, they all come to make a bit of an unsettling experience. I do think that the overall violent imagery in each reboot, while understandable in its intent, is a bit hit-or-miss for me in the actual pictures, sometimes feeling a bit too "oooooo spooky creepy image ooooo". The ones that are great here are great though, and I appreciate the effort to make an individual image for each choice, it's really more of a nitpick to be honest. It just shows the overall polish of the game that's pretty easy to see from the get-go anyway. The perfect Yumeko we see once all the reboots are done is a really interesting case though, with her altered thoughts.
Overall, pretty cool game! ^^
GOSH, thank you so much for leaving such detailed and thoughtful comments, Esbi! 😭 I'm very touched!!!
LOL THANK YOU REGARDING THE DOCTOR, he is based on an amalgamation of experiences I've had over the years 😂 so I'm glad that he ended up realistic, as I was afraid he was too cartoonish! You absolutely nailed his character here - how he treats Yumeko not as a person, but a prop in his fantasy. And I can't compliment Michael's work enough, he ABSOLUTELY sold the Doctor's fragile arrogance in every single one of his lines.
And your analysis of Yumeko is very interesting, and very on point - the Doctor, of course, never gave her the information that she needed to become a "person" - an individual with preferences or desires or feelings. He made her so that she would love him, and so that he could love her in return - carving her existence entirely out of how she relates to him. So she is "empty," unhappy with her situation but not knowing enough about the world to distinguish WHY she feels that way, or what she actually wants/could have.
THANK YOU, in general I'm a bit of a "writing heavy" dev, and I always thought that I don't really take advantage of the other aspects of games that really make VNs a unique narrative tool. I've been trying to take more advantage of those aspects, in particular the art and GUI (I was actually very inspired both by chim's "The Daughters of the Sun" and "High School Lolita" when I was making this, as his usage of the sprites and GUI was very inspiring!) (Your complaints about the horror imagery are very fair 😂 in general I love horror but I know my skills aren't quite up-to-snuff, so I worry that my horror games aren't quite "scary" enough 😭 I did struggle a bit with trying to make the scares varied and interesting enough to keep the player hooked throughout the game's runtime.) I'm glad that you enjoyed the "perfect Yumeko," I did have fun coming up with that concept 🤭
Again, thank you for taking the time to play and write up such a long and thoughtful analysis 😭 I really appreciate it!
I've had the honour (and I insist on the word honour) of beta-testing Chattercap's new game, The Perfect Woman. And this has quickly become my favourite game from the creator. Without spoiling, I have to say this is one of the most unique horror experience I've had in seven years. Of course, during these seven years, I have played a lot of wonderfully crafted horror VNs, which manage to use horrific elements to convey deep themes and reflections about the characters involved in the story. But there is something disturbingly unique and special about the way the horror is presented in The Perfect Woman that really spoke to me. I'll detail more below, in a spoilers section, but for now, just these words: you should take the trigger warnings seriously.
Graphically, the game is absolutely immaculate. This is the first game from the creator without Live 2D-like animations, and I have to say that getting rid of them was the best choice. A bold one, considering these animations made the creator's games quite unique; but Chattercap being Chattercap, she didn't get rid of them for no reason. This game uses a plethora of perfectly-executed visual effects, plays around with its own colour schemes, and I won't give details to let the players discover the full scope of the work that's been made. And despite Chattecap's games being extremely polished, this one, in that regard, does surprisingly feel above the others. The GUI too was gorgeous and very well-implemented. It was also used in a very clever way to convey the narrative, but play the game. ;)
I also have to salute the voice acting: it was absolutely stellar, conveyed the different characters or impressions brillantly. The voice actors all did, without a single exception, an amazing job, and that's an understatement. In particular, the way the narration was handled (having three different voices) helped creating an impression of chorus, like we have in Greek tragedies.
Regarding the themes, the story is at the same time metaphorical and quite literal. I'll detail my thoughts more below, but I think the execution was flawless. The story narrates the attempts of a so-called Doctor to create the perfect woman. But what is a perfect woman? That is the question the game asks to explore the societal expectations put on women, and the ways women manage to navigate a patriarchal society.
That is it for the spoiler-free section. Go play the game if you can handle it, it will be time well-spent! For now, I will detail my thoughts more, but won't be shy on spoilers. Ready? Steady? Go!
************** SPOILERS **************
Now, it's going to be all over the place. First of all, I was wondering how the game was going to tackle Yumeko facing the Doctor's insane expectations. I was wondering if the game would narrate Yumeko managing to overcome the doctor thanks to the power of her convictions and finding a way to break the circle, or if the game would be less idealistic than that. The game had the brilliant idea to opt for the more realist solution. Even slightly contradicting the doctor results in him rebooting Yumeko and deleting the answer we picked. This made sense in the narrative: the Doctor wants to create the perfect woman, which can only happen after he deleted all the contradictions and all the things that go against his wishes.
So, let's suppose that we choose to rebel and refuse to oblige to the doctor's whims. First of all, we can see his goal: deny Yumeko any autonomy or personal thought. Something that struck me when I played was the make-up discussion. The doctor complains about women having the right to wear make-up to trick men into believing they're beautiful, whereas men have to wear their real face. The game offers you three options: 1) you can agree 2) you can say social expectations set by men are the reasons women have to wear make-up, but you agree with him on the fact this shouldn't be an expectation so that women gain time 3) you disagree with him by stating make-up can be self-expression. Obviously, he reboots you if you pick answer 3. But what about answer 2, in which you overall agree with him but nuance his point? Heck! he reboots you anyway! Why? Because he doesn't want Yumeko to be a person with her own views or opinions: he wants someone to glorify him, someone too impressed by him to even question him. After all, he's brilliant: why would you question someone brilliant?
Progressively, if you do so, the colours become darker, and the game becomes more horrific: every reboot is literal torture for Yumeko, and the imagery that accompanies her thoughts and her feelings is more and more disturbing. This slow descent into horror reminded me of the second act of Doki Doki Literature Club, which I found to be the best executed in the whole game. Obviously, the two experiences are very different, but seeing something we already know being corrupted on a meta-level (since there is narrative equivalent to restarting the game: the doctor rebooting Yumeko) was a similarity that I truly enjoyed in The Perfect Woman. The execution truly was stellar.
Then comes the climax of this route: Yumeko is nothing but the shadow of herself, barely having any expression if tears, forced to answer things that would please the doctor. What does happen then? What?
Everything becomes cuter than it has ever been. Everything is pink. Yumeko has a big smile on her face, with sparkling eyes. She says yes to everything the doctor says with enthusiasm. And yet, yet, yet, she has marks on her neck. This is a small detail but this was truly horrifying, and certainly one of the best horror experiences on my life. This single detail has haunted me. It is an amazingly clever way to encapsulate the whole game's theme: a woman who tries to rebel is a woman that gets violated, because society is violent towards those who try to change it. Yumeko has tried, but she lost.
The game, therefore, refuses the idealistic answer, although it is quite naïve: when overpowered by a man (as it is Yumeko's case), "girl power" is not enough, because you will be oppressed. You don't have much of a choice: you have to know how to survive first and then act when you're in position of doing so.
This is how the other endings are obtained: Yumeko tricks the doctor by only answering what he wants to hear. He is pleased and believes she is the perfect woman. Therefore, he puts her in an android. And now she got what she wanted: now she is real. What will she do?
Well, two possibilities: accept a life with the doctor and become his wife, or rebel. I'll talk about the latter first.
Rebelling, in a very chattercore twist, means killing the doctor. This fortunately is quite easy for Yumeko who is much stronger physically, considering she is an android with an exoskeleton. The game manages to tackle here another issue regarding the inequalities between men and women: most of the time, women can't fight the men who oppress and attack her, because those men are physically stronger. There is a risk of being attacked, assaulted, killed even, and perhaps, to even face worse things before death. It reminds me of what my sister told me when I asked her her opinion on the infamous bear or man debate: "At least the bear would just kill me." So Yumeko has the chance to overcome her abuser (since he literally tortured her as an AI) thanks to her physical strength.
The last ending was my favourite of the three. Yumeko tries to be the best wife for the doctor, but she doesn't have the aspirations he expects her to have. And even when she cries, and he asks her why, her only solution is to lie: she pretends she cries, because she feels lucky to have a husband like him. This was a very sad and tragic ending in my opinion, but that's what made it so good: Yumeko can't go anywhere, she doesn't know anything about the world. And once again, the game offers commentary on how some predatory men look for women who don't know their rights or the support they can get to abuse them. To lock them up in what they consider to be a guilded cage, but which is actually a coffin. Once again, a very important issue that the game tackles beautifully.
Finally, I really appreciated the appearance of the android: red lips, ebony hair, white skin in a white dress... She was literally Snow-White, an ideal representation of beauty in women. And yet, a woman so purely beautiful that her heart was pure too: and only her Prince Charming could save her from the jealousy of an older, not so pure women. This was a perfect representation of beauty standards, but also of the expectations of the doctor: he wants his partner to be ideally feminine: he wants her to be the type of woman who would be saved through true love's kiss, just because it would be proof that a man is loved.
Overall, this was a stellar game, and I will call it a masterpiece. Congrats on the game Chatter, it was an amazing experience!!
Mon seigneur, I am not deserving of the praise, but thank you 😭😭😭 your comments get kinder and more thoughtful with every game I release, you're going to start crashing my itch page at some point... The most unique horror experience in seven years is TOO KIND, SURELY NOT 😭 thank you so much... (apologies for the late reply as I wanted to make sure to respond thoroughly)
😭 Thank you for your comments on the animations, as I was quite worried about them. The Perfect Woman was me "experimenting" without animations, and seeing how I could make the visuals varied and interesting enough even without them, and I was pleased with the result! I'm not sure if my future games will play around with visuals as much as this one, but I would like to incorporate more of this type of work in the future! (And, of course, thank you for letting me plagia--I mean, inspiring me, of course the sprite variations were heavily inspired by The Daughters of the Sun, and the GUI by High School Lolita...) And I'm glad it seemed more polished, I did try to make it so 😭 (perhaps too much for such a short game...)
And YES, I was so lucky to have the opportunity to work with such talented VAs, they really were some of the most talented and pleasant people that I've ever had the opportunity to collaborate with. And I am glad that you picked up on the "Greek chorus", that was exactly the concept that I wanted to go for!
===SPOILERS===
😂 I'm glad that you found my approach to the premise interesting! It was actually the main reason that I wanted to use an AI as the focus - this concept that, like Pygmalion, the Doctor slowly carves Yumeko into the "shape" that he desires by continuously rebooting her, until she is nothing more than a hollow shell, parroting his desire.
Your analysis of the Doctor's desires is spot-on - nothing that Yumeko says is outrageous, nothing insults him. Rather, she simply says things that he doesn't agree with. Your point here is exactly correct - he doesn't want her to be a person, he wants someone to glorify him. And as you also mentioned, while I do love "girlpower" and generally feminist narratives, I do oftentimes think that they are too easy. A woman can simply stand up for herself and speak her mind, and others will listen because she's right. But this does not happen all the time IRL - in fact, if a woman speaks up, sometimes she is punished - put down for her conflicting views, forced to bend until she goes back into line. Sometimes, a woman is allowed to speak only when a man allows it - and this is what happens here. If Yumeko rebels, the Doctor prevents her from speaking, reprogramming her into a shell of herself.
I am VERY glad that you liked the sprite changes! I originally only planned two (normal Yumeko and "perfect" Yumeko), but I thought that I would try to vary them a bit more between playthroughs! Your analysis of the third "form" is completely correct - Yumeko is a shadow, unable to emote except to smile and cry. And I am SO GLAD that you liked the fourth form - "perfect" Yumeko - and that you caught the strangulation marks on her neck (it was a small detail that I wasn't sure people would catch!) Your phrasing here - "a woman who tries to rebel is a woman that gets violated" - is very true, and I do really want to emphasize that point - "violate." Because taking away her choice is not harmless, it is a violation of her autonomy, of her dignity, of her as a person.
😂 OF COURSE you know me, murder must be the solution ✨ and yet you are very right, even that is something of a "fantasy." In reality a woman wouldn't be able to overpower her husband, or strangle him. Yumeko is only able to survive because she is "not human" - because she's not limited by the constraints of her physicality. Part of it is a fantasy - a ray of hope, an avenue of escape. Although I also think that her body reflects her inner strength and will to survive - perhaps she would have found a way to escape without it 😂 but then we wouldn't have gotten blood ✨
But I agree with you on the last ending (the Wife) being my favorite as well (and, most likely, the one that I would consider "my" ending). Because, in the end, with no knowledge, no skills, no relationships, no life - who does she have except the Doctor? You captured my intent with this extremely well - abusers find vulnerable partners and strip away their lives, making it difficult to escape. And, in the end, between facing the fear of her life with the Doctor and the fear of the unknown - I don't blame Yumeko for choosing him.
HONESTLY I did not make the fairy tale parallels when I first wrote it, as I mainly based this section on Pygmalion, as well as Japanese beauty standards - but of course, the themes are very similar. Like Snow White, I based Yumeko's real appearance on "ideal Japanese beauty" - pale skin, black hair, red lips - and a white dress, perfectly pure so that she may be dyed in her husband's colors. And like Pygmalion in the myth, the Doctor wants to bring Yumeko to life with his love. "Because it would be proof that a man is loved" is an absolutely perfect way to sum it all up, and I couldn't put it any better myself.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LEAVING SUCH A KIND COMMENT, and for playtesting for me 😭 I couldn't be more grateful to have you. First to play, first to comment, first to rate, you have all of the medals, mon seigneur...
THE WAY THIS COMMENT IS TOO NICE TO BE TRUE THOUGH WHEN DID YOU GET A REDEMPTION ARC