Stay safe ♡

Absolutely bone-chilling. The way Keith described how a person could suffer tremendously with burns and fires made me recall all the safety and burn survivor stories gave me chills, it was so vivid and visceral how he desribed the injuries and the fear was so palpable. I swear, I would react the same as Keith if Otis did something stupid like that, but I probably would try that wet handkerchief method, but either way I'd still rush after my stupid heroic friend and cry all the way.

The ending was so curious and mysterious, I'm so curious over what that creature was and why there was even a fire, I feel like the person Otis was trying to save could have used the fire? But I'm not fully sure how, the mystery is palpable and terrifying. Amazing job~!!

Ohhhhh this was absolutely CHILLING! The writing is incredibly raw and visceral - I really felt every sensation in Keith's body as he was going through this harrowing ordeal! I also really liked the set up of the visuals - with the almost NOVL format of the text on the right, framing the eerie fire looming in the distance (I really liked the fire animation, it was so creepy and atmospheric!) The VA sent absolute CHILLS down my spine when it appeared - the audio design was really well done - staying completely silent until things start to go "wrong," and then you are hit with the creepy sound effects! 

I really like all of the different text effects (the colors, the use of italics/bolds, the different text sizes, etc.) - they add so much color and dynamicism to the text. (For instance - the slight orange tinge you used to highlight "decimation," "seared," and then all the different instances of "melted" - it really made the fear and threat of danger so real and immediate!)

SPOILERS

Now for that PLOT! Ohhhhh there's so much to unpack! I think the events were a bit ambiguous, and I think deliberately so - was this real? Was it a dream that Keith had in in the hospital? The story starts off feeling very "real" and yet after Otis charges into the fire, it starts to feel very surreal. Who was the person lying on the ground? Who was telling Keith to "run"? Did Otis survive?

I'm still not quite sure, but my theory is this: the entire game was a dream that Keith had while in his hospital bed. The person that Otis runs to save in the fire is actually Keith himself - and he is saved, hence why Keith ends up in the hospital, safe and sound at the end. The card that Keith receives - "Stay safe" - was written by Otis. 

Alternatively, Keith runs in to save Otis - and Otis the person lying on the ground. And his inner battle between deciding to flee or run into the fire was literal at the time - and he ultimately decides to save Otis, ending up in the hospital. (In which case Otis may or may not still be alive?) 

Regardless, I do think that the story is meant to applaud the "valor" - and that the person who runs in to save the victim does end up alive at the end? Since the flower that appears on the title screen/in the ending - the tiger lily - symbolizes courage.

This was a head-puzzler for sure, and I'm still not certain about my interpretation of the ending, but this was SO INTERESTING! Really good job, snixiy!!

Hey! I played the game!!

It was such an experienc eand I really enjoyed it! First, I do love the kinda NVL format at the side of the screen! It really helped bringing a mood to the whole game! Also, using the fire as the sprite was such an amazing idea, the hwole composition really had an apocalyptic vibe!

Now, for the plot, goodness, how did you get such an idea? A forest fire! That might sound simple like that, but it was so intense: Keith's worry for Otis, how fires can destruct lives... It all felt very raw, very authentic, and somehow how I picture teenagers in the 80s??? Like, you really did a tremendous work! Using it as a horror element was a great idea, and I really enjoyed what you did there! The confusion between Keith losing his senses as a natural result of the fire and him losing them as a result of something more fantastical and horrific was a nice element too!

I enjoyed this entry a lot, and you can be proud of it, it was great!!