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rionaleonhart) wrote2024-12-04 11:16 pm
rionaleonhart) wrote2024-12-04 11:16 pm
Entry tags:
I've Been Here The Whole Time.
Nemlei, the creator of The Coffin of Andy and Leyley, also has a handful of earlier visual novels. Unfortunately, these aren't easily accessible because the developer was harassed off the Internet by arseholes, but the files still exist if you know where to look, or, in my case, if an extremely lovely person sends them to you (thank you!).
Anyway, I've been playing Jack-in-a-Castle! As far as I know, this was Nemlei's first published game, so I went in expecting something a little rough around the edges. I was surprised and impressed! It's a very cute, polished little visual novel. The art style is charming and distinctive, and the branching is more ambitious than I expected.
For a while, I thought this was mainly a dating simulator and wasn't expecting much in the way of plot beyond that. The revelation that the land was in danger really grabbed me, though! I like that this is a save-the-world story that takes a little time to explore the protagonist's internal struggle with the possibility of impending death, rather than launching straight into the world-saving.
I got Sylvester's bad end on my first playthrough, and I really liked the implications of the final image; what a cool way to end the story! It reminded me of the Maria ending in Silent Hill 2; they're both endings that look on the surface like the struggle is over, but carry the implication that this will happen again.
I went back to get Sylvester's good ending, which was cute, but I think I like the bad ending more. I'm glad I 'messed up' the first time around, because I doubt I'd have gone back for the bad ending after getting the good end!
Having done both Sylvester routes, I went back in with the aid of a walkthrough to play through Jack's good route. Jack's the character who interests me most; I enjoy his blend of 'wild and slightly scary' and 'genuine emotions and concerns'. I felt bad about betraying Bunnie and Sylvester after playing the route where you aid them, though!
Jack's route is a little less narratively satisfying than either of Sylvester's, but he's a more fun character, and I do love it when characters commit a romantic murder together! Jack has some good weird chemistry with Marion, too. To be honest, I feel Jack's the sort of character who could have good weird chemistry with anyone.
Interesting that, although violence makes things worse in Sylvester's route, violence is in fact the answer in Jack's route! Having played Sylvester's route first, I assumed the game was taking a 'violence is never the answer' stance, but in fact the correct approach depends on what character you're spending time with. Violence might sometimes be the answer; it depends on the company you keep! Hey, maybe you're trying to impress someone who loves violence!
I doubt this is going to become a fandom for me, and I'm not currently planning to play through the other routes (sorry, Bunnie), but it was a fun diversion, and I'm very impressed by it as a debut.
('I doubt this is going to become a fandom for me' is famously the sort of thing I say just before writing six fics for something in a row. I... don't think it'll happen? I don't think it'll happen. Oh, huh, there are no Jack-in-a-Castle fics on AO3; maybe someone should fix that? NOT ME.)
Anyway, I've been playing Jack-in-a-Castle! As far as I know, this was Nemlei's first published game, so I went in expecting something a little rough around the edges. I was surprised and impressed! It's a very cute, polished little visual novel. The art style is charming and distinctive, and the branching is more ambitious than I expected.
For a while, I thought this was mainly a dating simulator and wasn't expecting much in the way of plot beyond that. The revelation that the land was in danger really grabbed me, though! I like that this is a save-the-world story that takes a little time to explore the protagonist's internal struggle with the possibility of impending death, rather than launching straight into the world-saving.
I got Sylvester's bad end on my first playthrough, and I really liked the implications of the final image; what a cool way to end the story! It reminded me of the Maria ending in Silent Hill 2; they're both endings that look on the surface like the struggle is over, but carry the implication that this will happen again.
I went back to get Sylvester's good ending, which was cute, but I think I like the bad ending more. I'm glad I 'messed up' the first time around, because I doubt I'd have gone back for the bad ending after getting the good end!
Having done both Sylvester routes, I went back in with the aid of a walkthrough to play through Jack's good route. Jack's the character who interests me most; I enjoy his blend of 'wild and slightly scary' and 'genuine emotions and concerns'. I felt bad about betraying Bunnie and Sylvester after playing the route where you aid them, though!
Jack's route is a little less narratively satisfying than either of Sylvester's, but he's a more fun character, and I do love it when characters commit a romantic murder together! Jack has some good weird chemistry with Marion, too. To be honest, I feel Jack's the sort of character who could have good weird chemistry with anyone.
Interesting that, although violence makes things worse in Sylvester's route, violence is in fact the answer in Jack's route! Having played Sylvester's route first, I assumed the game was taking a 'violence is never the answer' stance, but in fact the correct approach depends on what character you're spending time with. Violence might sometimes be the answer; it depends on the company you keep! Hey, maybe you're trying to impress someone who loves violence!
I doubt this is going to become a fandom for me, and I'm not currently planning to play through the other routes (sorry, Bunnie), but it was a fun diversion, and I'm very impressed by it as a debut.
('I doubt this is going to become a fandom for me' is famously the sort of thing I say just before writing six fics for something in a row. I... don't think it'll happen? I don't think it'll happen. Oh, huh, there are no Jack-in-a-Castle fics on AO3; maybe someone should fix that? NOT ME.)
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I hate that the creator got ran off, but honestly I hope they are doing better having this barrier between themselves and their works. I should check out the earlier works too, but time... (well I am sure I can find the time)
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why would you do this to me
I'm so tired of seeing people chased out of online spaces for the crime of creating and sharing fiction. I'm glad Nemlei is still working on the story they want to tell, at least, and I hope they're doing well.
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Glad you've been enjoying :) And good luck not fixing the lack of fic for this poor fandom ;)
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And good luck not fixing the lack of fic for this poor fandom ;)
Ha, thank you; I'll need it!
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Violence might sometimes be the answer; it depends on the company you keep! Hey, maybe you're trying to impress someone who loves violence!
Ahahaha, love that.
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It does, alas! I hope Nemlei's doing well and having fun working on future chapters.
Incredible reason for the edit! I'm delighted.