The Returnees

this game is really promising, especially with the premise. i’m excited to see if you take it into the body horror aspect! the shadow with the neck snapping and the sound effects were sooo unsettling. i love how the music complements the scene and enhances the tension. it’s so soothing when something is obviously wrong and when it suddenly stops, it makes your stomach fall through the floor. the composition of the backgrounds are so clean and the cgs of the three love interests are beautiful. i especially enjoy the soft lighting; it makes everything feel surreal. i also like the sense of mystery you have without overexplaining. easily one of the most intriguing openings i’ve seen in a while.

aside from some structural issues in the narration, the rest of the pacing holds up beautifully. each scene and dialogue has its place and adds more to the story. i didn’t feel bored at any point and kept watching for subtext. wondering why Doctor Edwin is gaslighting us into believing the shadow creature was a hallucination. if the shadow’s neck snapping was supposed to be indicative of how they died. if the shadow was even Icarus, given where it showed up. i also really appreciate that this isn’t a “one day and done” kind of demo. you actually show us at least a week of progression. it lets us get comfortable and makes us more attached to the routine before things (presumably) fall apart.

all that said, the foundation is incredibly strong, and the atmosphere alone has me fully invested. i’m genuinely interested to see how you refine the writing, because the bones of something great are absolutely here. i already like what you’re doing with Doctor Edwin, as he clearly knows more than he’s letting on. Mathis is a solid, supportive friend. and Icarus, obsessed with us for reasons still unclear, has me uneasy in the best way. i’m also curious to see if the police cases from the beginning tie back in. really excited to see how all of this connects!