Short and sweet, a compact game with great writing that rewards people for being genre aware and for having critical opinions of its cast. Did both routes and 100%ed the achievements!
The 2000s mean girls vibes were [chefs kiss], and I thought the custom character achievements and dialogue boxes were super inspired as well.
SPOILERS: ------------------
I watched Cabin in the Woods as part of a course on horror films as my final elective in college, and this game really reminds me of it on a metatexual level. I think taking the "Virgin" final girl trope -- someone who is supposed to be purer, less vapid and more intelligent and reasonable than the rest -- and having it spun as a femcel with that deep-rooted teenage mean girl resentment like Barbara is a very fresh take that I haven't seen before. Also, using Barbie, with all its connotations, as the name of your main character is clever.
From the very start of the game, interacting with the other four characters feels odd because they seem overall pretty chill? They don't say or do anything that seems to warrant the ungenerous, judgmental, and gratuitously venomous narration that Barbara tacks to them. I think my favorite version of the "second to be killed" is Ayesha's! I've always had a soft spot for characters like her, and I think she hits the nail on the head when she calls Barbara out for being a bully who self-victimizes because she can't get bitches* (paraphrased)
The murder ending is great for all the reasons why the original Get Out ending is great -- police drive up and see our archetype final girl crying for help, and before we even see the dialogue explaining it, those who are familiar with slasher movies already know exactly how this will go
I also appreciate that the game acknowledges and rewards you for fighting against Barbara for all 4 murders, even if it doesn't seem to make a difference while playing.
Finally, I would like to say that Barbara may play the role very well but players, don't let that distract you from the true final girl of this game -- Mr. Ryker <3
TYSMMMMMM for playing the game and commenting, completionist queen!! As I have been informed, it was very much inspired by Cabin in the Woods and old slasher films from the 2000s + any and all things 'girly advertising', so we're glad those vibes came through >:D
Mr.Ryker... the only man who understands Radiohead's Creep like a teen girl would.
as soon as the diary came out I thought of the Mattel my password journal- my face LIT UPPP!! Anyway, I liked how in the end it acknowledges the fact that we tried to stop Barbara. And maybe it was just me, but I felt like she was unnecessarily hating on everyone? maybe it's because I personally would brush off the things that happen more easily, but I see where things went south. And I also really like the little insight when you type in the right words!!
thank you so much!! yesss that was a huge inspo for lea who designed it so major props to her for that :D
but yay! congrats and thank you again for playing our game all the way through and noticing the little details. one thing we wanted was to have the narrative intentionally focus in on your behavior as the player. it definitely shouldn't just be you questioning barbara, as that's something we want players to really think about and consider with all the information that's provided throughout the game, from her and others.
and as for the right words... of course! it wouldn't be a secret, passcode locked journal if it couldn't hide its most hidden entries, right? ;^)
Yay! Just finished it! I was wondering, are the options in settings that are crossed out intentional? Or are they something you unlock? Also, I remember playing the OG game submitted for the Jam, and in tandem with the current patch, got the vibes that Luke had a small thing for Barbara? Am I delusional?
the crosses out were just for the beginning of the game since they were crossing out the buttons to return to the main menu and save I think.
And I also felt the same at first when I read that Luke had the strawberry vape till I read the interview where he changed it since Barbara seemed to be having a problem with it so it was more of a way to get Barbara off his shoulders about vaping?
thank you both for the comments! yes, the crossed out menu options are only when there are certain things you can't do, like access history if there's no history. hopefully it works as intended otherwise!
and as for luke, i don't think you're delusional at all. i hesitate to confirm or deny anything for the sake of keeping our plot and ways mysterious, but...i will say the relationships between the cast are more complex than what they appear to be, and the narration you're reading is not necessarily the full truth. the interviews are completely true, at least from the standpoint of the people giving them! hope you guys enjoyed <3
I can't get past the moment with the journal. It asks me to write something and after I do, it just repeats the text about binders and what not and makes me write again.
oh! iirc that section is a part where you get looped back until you give the 'right' answer as part of the tutorial on keywords. have you tried typing the bolded and underlined phrase they give you in the section it loops you on?
Maybe I'll add a note somewhere on the page that'll help in case anyone has trouble with it!
Absolutely LOVE the UI and the game page aesthetics holy cow !!!! nailed the 2000s vibes, can't wait for an update(s) if/when you get the chance~ it's definitely a cool concept, but also TAKE CARE OF URSELVES month game jam crunching is hard work lmao <33
hahah thank you!!... the exams we had were not on our side but we persevered and now have a game we can really be proud of! [insert game errors i am unaware of]
I was definitely wondering about some of the glitches in this one, but then I read the devlog and it all made sense hehe. I need to be able to date them goddamnit!!! They're all so pretty!!!
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Short and sweet, a compact game with great writing that rewards people for being genre aware and for having critical opinions of its cast. Did both routes and 100%ed the achievements!
The 2000s mean girls vibes were [chefs kiss], and I thought the custom character achievements and dialogue boxes were super inspired as well.
SPOILERS:
------------------
I watched Cabin in the Woods as part of a course on horror films as my final elective in college, and this game really reminds me of it on a metatexual level. I think taking the "Virgin" final girl trope -- someone who is supposed to be purer, less vapid and more intelligent and reasonable than the rest -- and having it spun as a femcel with that deep-rooted teenage mean girl resentment like Barbara is a very fresh take that I haven't seen before. Also, using Barbie, with all its connotations, as the name of your main character is clever.
From the very start of the game, interacting with the other four characters feels odd because they seem overall pretty chill? They don't say or do anything that seems to warrant the ungenerous, judgmental, and gratuitously venomous narration that Barbara tacks to them. I think my favorite version of the "second to be killed" is Ayesha's! I've always had a soft spot for characters like her, and I think she hits the nail on the head when she calls Barbara out for being a bully who self-victimizes because she can't get bitches* (paraphrased)
The murder ending is great for all the reasons why the original Get Out ending is great -- police drive up and see our archetype final girl crying for help, and before we even see the dialogue explaining it, those who are familiar with slasher movies already know exactly how this will go
I also appreciate that the game acknowledges and rewards you for fighting against Barbara for all 4 murders, even if it doesn't seem to make a difference while playing.
Finally, I would like to say that Barbara may play the role very well but players, don't let that distract you from the true final girl of this game -- Mr. Ryker <3
TYSMMMMMM for playing the game and commenting, completionist queen!! As I have been informed, it was very much inspired by Cabin in the Woods and old slasher films from the 2000s + any and all things 'girly advertising', so we're glad those vibes came through >:D
Mr.Ryker... the only man who understands Radiohead's Creep like a teen girl would.
as soon as the diary came out I thought of the Mattel my password journal- my face LIT UPPP!! Anyway, I liked how in the end it acknowledges the fact that we tried to stop Barbara. And maybe it was just me, but I felt like she was unnecessarily hating on everyone? maybe it's because I personally would brush off the things that happen more easily, but I see where things went south. And I also really like the little insight when you type in the right words!!
thank you so much!! yesss that was a huge inspo for lea who designed it so major props to her for that :D
but yay! congrats and thank you again for playing our game all the way through and noticing the little details. one thing we wanted was to have the narrative intentionally focus in on your behavior as the player. it definitely shouldn't just be you questioning barbara, as that's something we want players to really think about and consider with all the information that's provided throughout the game, from her and others.
and as for the right words... of course! it wouldn't be a secret, passcode locked journal if it couldn't hide its most hidden entries, right? ;^)
Yay! Just finished it! I was wondering, are the options in settings that are crossed out intentional? Or are they something you unlock?
Also, I remember playing the OG game submitted for the Jam, and in tandem with the current patch, got the vibes that Luke had a small thing for Barbara? Am I delusional?
the crosses out were just for the beginning of the game since they were crossing out the buttons to return to the main menu and save I think.
And I also felt the same at first when I read that Luke had the strawberry vape till I read the interview where he changed it since Barbara seemed to be having a problem with it so it was more of a way to get Barbara off his shoulders about vaping?
thank you both for the comments! yes, the crossed out menu options are only when there are certain things you can't do, like access history if there's no history. hopefully it works as intended otherwise!
and as for luke, i don't think you're delusional at all. i hesitate to confirm or deny anything for the sake of keeping our plot and ways mysterious, but...i will say the relationships between the cast are more complex than what they appear to be, and the narration you're reading is not necessarily the full truth. the interviews are completely true, at least from the standpoint of the people giving them! hope you guys enjoyed <3
I can't get past the moment with the journal. It asks me to write something and after I do, it just repeats the text about binders and what not and makes me write again.
oh! iirc that section is a part where you get looped back until you give the 'right' answer as part of the tutorial on keywords. have you tried typing the bolded and underlined phrase they give you in the section it loops you on?
Maybe I'll add a note somewhere on the page that'll help in case anyone has trouble with it!
OHHHHH Haha, Yeah sorry maybe that wasn't clear enough for my dumb brain
Feels Weird getting bullied by a girl with the same name as you
Absolutely LOVE the UI and the game page aesthetics holy cow !!!! nailed the 2000s vibes, can't wait for an update(s) if/when you get the chance~ it's definitely a cool concept, but also TAKE CARE OF URSELVES month game jam crunching is hard work lmao <33
hahah thank you!!... the exams we had were not on our side but we persevered and now have a game we can really be proud of! [insert game errors i am unaware of]
I was definitely wondering about some of the glitches in this one, but then I read the devlog and it all made sense hehe.
I need to be able to date them goddamnit!!! They're all so pretty!!!
Do you know how many endings this game has?
One I think