Having finished and adored the game immensely, I went to look at people's reviews/thoughts of the game here in the community tab, and (being a hater supreme), I found myself a little disappointed by how people were feeling about the game elements; partly because some people have never heard of a visual novel, apparently, and partly also because it felt like people weren't finding the ludo-narrative connection, which I think is pretty essential to how this functions as a work of art.

So, I thought I'd write some prompts in the style of reading comprehension questions to try and provoke further thought among people as to analysis of the narrative. Feel free to write your own/complain in the comments if you feel I've done some element here a disservice (or missed something).

Hekki grace.

• How does involving the element of direct interaction with the story shape the player's experience of the narrative?
  
  
• Relating to the above point, how does the use of the gameplay element of communions shape the player's understandings of and relationships with characters such as Iris and Mother? Does this create separation or closeness, and how is our own sympathy affected? What does the perspective of the player as a semi-active participant in these scenes bring - how would you define the player's role?
  
  
• The story unfolds in a largely non-linear fashion. We are often asked throughout the narrative to make choices or responses that relate to our own, partial and unreliable understandings of events as we have perceived them. How do you think this relates to and expands upon the themes of memory and its role in liberation and oppression, particularly when considering why these are unreliable?
  
  
• The point of view character that we follow in the narrative shifts halfway through the story. How is our experience of this - particularly in relation to the themes of memory, resistance, and generational trauma - affected by our ability to exert control over the characters?
  
  
• At the climax of Chapter 5, having experienced everything so far through Watcher's eyes as she had, and previously having had an aspect of control over her actions, did you feel the use of the cutscene removed or harmed player agency? How do you feel this is impacted by the theme of generational trauma, particularly in relation to the wider contexts of liberation and oppression, as well as intra-narratively through the influence of Principal? Consider also that part of this cutscene was shown at the very beginning of the game - how does this affect your response?
  
  
• Similar to a previous point: the climax of the game in Chapter X involves players directly making a choice which leads to multiple different endings. Considering the theme of memory, and particularly its role in liberation and oppression, what do you think the developers were trying to say by making the outcome one of player choice?
  
  
• To expand upon the previous question - what is the difference between the 'Epigraph Endings', which lead to the credits, and the 'An Endings', which return you back to the final choice? What point do you think the developers were trying to make, particularly considering what each of the different choices and lights represent, as well as the ideas of compliance, docility, and the significance of actions over expressions of sentiment? Consider especially the context surrounding the game.

Thank you for reading through this, I hope this is able to help and allow some growth of thought on the ways in which the narrative is shaped and developed, and particularly so with the element of player interaction. If any of these ideas interested you, I'd highly recommend reading John Berger's 'Ways of Seeing', as it covers similar ideas to those I've tried to express (though in relation to art theory and history) with much greater depth and skill. I'd also really suggest re-playing at least the first segment of the game again once you've finished it - retrospective really changes some things.

Hekki ALLMO everyone.