I just realized the foreshadowing on the cover. McCoy drinking water, Vonnie eating, Ryan (if you look closely) is watching June, and Carmen looks like shes all wet (the bath)
nonetheless, the 3 in front are leaving June behind but i like how Ryan is in the back still with June in a way
I HECKING LOVED THIS. Not only is the art stunning, but the story and character dynamics are well done. (But I want to know what happens to June in the ending when u go back!)
Sprites are really cute, love how June's friends have such different personalities, and make jokes very differently. I find that an issue with so many games in this genre, everyone talks the same way! so great, so refreshing to find a game and creator this amazing, have played some of their other stuff, (Dead plate specifically, cuz it's the best)
a pretty quick game with a relatable and deeply personal story i feel like a lot of people would resonate with! the mechanics and interactivity were good (i loved the silly running sprites), but the story, sound design and music really shone through
the implications of addiction and/or unhealthy relationships were subtle but pleasantly shown too! i love how the story was set in a resort, so it's like they all got into the same situation at the same time, but nearly every one of them had a different storyline. the different ways people could succumb to any kinds of addiction, peer pressure, or generally getting into the wrong crowd regardless of who they were at the start really puts different perspectives into place. i also appreciate the game showing how everyone starts "rotting", showing that getting into these kinds of circumstances isn't just a one-way thing: mccoy by accident, carmen taking vonnie along, and ryan by peer pressure. the two endings of june either letting herself be dragged down along with everyone else or to painfully swim back up and leave her friends behind seemed to be foreshadowed by the story of her cousin's situation early in the game, about leaving her friend group as well.
i like how the ocean (or water?) was also a metaphor. whether for substances or "fish in the sea" i.e. blending in with the crowd. there can always be too much of anything, including water. the shortness of the ending, i feel like, really fits. the path into and out of toxic bonds and addiction never feels good, whether or not we eventually get sober. it's as hard getting out of the cycle as it is to get in, but what matters is that we do find a way out.
gaaahhhh stories with hidden implications and symbolism>>>>>
A really good story! I enjoyed the art work, the cute walk sprites that gave everyone personality, and the sound design.
my only nitpick is that when june comes off unexpectedly dense in the cabana scene with her and mccoy. if my friend started chugging water in the middle of the night and lashing out I think most people would conclude that a medical problem is happening. Obviously she still couldn't have done much to help him in that situation, but I'm surprised that the thought never crossed her mind.
Other than that she's a solid character with interesting chemistry with her friends, and her reaction to the terrible situation she's in is compelling. she's even super brave when she pulled that man back on the beach, despite all her friends ignoring it.
It took me a bit to piece together that the reason everyone started compulsively eating iron was so that they would sink better 0.0 really cool!
Yes, I created an account to leave a comment and my observations and theories.I noticed that many people see this game as a toxic friendship, but for some reason I stick to the theory of dr#gs.To begin with,dehydration, aggression, and lethargy are the consequences of drug use. First of all, let's look at the official artwork for this game and the soundtracks. The soundtrack cover shows Ryan covering a glass of alcohol with his hand and preventing June from drinking the contents, as if protecting her from using illegal substances, but at the same time looking towards the rest of his friends(Recall that in the end he also succumbed to the "infection". At the same time, June herself said that Ryan is easily influenced by others).
On the cover of the game, Vonnie,McCoy,CarmenandRyan are walking to the left,butonly the firstfour are walkingconfidently,whileRyanlooks back at a frightenedJune. In the screensaverat the beginning of the game, Vonnie,McCoy,Carmen, andRyanstandin the orderinwhich they were "Infected."CarmenandMcCoyareclosertoJunebecause"got infected", thatis, they consumed the dr/nksfirst(Carmen at night,and a dr/nk was spilledonMcCoy at the beginning of the game). What follows is Vonnie,shedr@nk the dr/nksbecauseofCarmen, that is, literally, she"forced her to use a dr#g(a!cohol),"andJuneherselftriedquite a bitandsaidit wasn'tworth it.Ryanis the furthest away,ashe"got infected"at the verylastmoment(andevensohelooksatJune).At the momentwhen the two of them are lyingon the bed,June is wearingRyan's jacket in the morning,meaningheconsciouslyfollowed thispath.At the veryend, June is given a choice:follow her friendsand"drown"indr#gs, orswim to the surfaceandliveherlifewith the idea that herfriends are leftbehind.Ryanheld on to the last,butstill, becausehe is easilyinfluencedandeasilypressured,hestill could notrestrain himself.DuringJuneandRyan's conversations, one cannotice the classicreflection, "Is there really somethingwrongwith them, or am Ijustnotlike that?" That is, under the influence of the majority, you start to wonderifdr#g use is sobad,maybeit's just that I'm toocorrect.Isee this as a picture of dr#g use andhoweasily a largenumber of peoplesuccumb to addictionandconsciously sink to the bottomin an attempt to getanotherdose.
i like this interpretation! the symbolism in the game hinting to addiction/drug abuse is pretty spot on, and with lots of perspectives too. McCoy being reeled in by accident, Carmen roping Vonnie in with the drinks, and Ryan eventually succumbing despite almost staying till the end (bc of peer pressure). it shows a lot of sides on addiction that anyone can fall into, whether they get out of it or not. appreciate this analysis :3
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I just realized the foreshadowing on the cover. McCoy drinking water, Vonnie eating, Ryan (if you look closely) is watching June, and Carmen looks like shes all wet (the bath)
nonetheless, the 3 in front are leaving June behind but i like how Ryan is in the back still with June in a way
as we all know, every racheldrawsthis game is an amazing play
she NEVER disappoints my gosh
also the ending is quite sad, june came with all her friends and... well stayed and they went who knows where without her
that scene of her all alone is so sad sigh
STOP I JUST REALISED ITS FORESHADOWED IN THE FIRST PIC omg the creator is a genius
Oh, also, as my username implies, I am indeed a total simp. No joke, proceeding to simp for Ryan.
I HECKING LOVED THIS. Not only is the art stunning, but the story and character dynamics are well done. (But I want to know what happens to June in the ending when u go back!)
Sprites are really cute, love how June's friends have such different personalities, and make jokes very differently. I find that an issue with so many games in this genre, everyone talks the same way! so great, so refreshing to find a game and creator this amazing, have played some of their other stuff, (Dead plate specifically, cuz it's the best)
a pretty quick game with a relatable and deeply personal story i feel like a lot of people would resonate with! the mechanics and interactivity were good (i loved the silly running sprites), but the story, sound design and music really shone through
the implications of addiction and/or unhealthy relationships were subtle but pleasantly shown too! i love how the story was set in a resort, so it's like they all got into the same situation at the same time, but nearly every one of them had a different storyline. the different ways people could succumb to any kinds of addiction, peer pressure, or generally getting into the wrong crowd regardless of who they were at the start really puts different perspectives into place. i also appreciate the game showing how everyone starts "rotting", showing that getting into these kinds of circumstances isn't just a one-way thing: mccoy by accident, carmen taking vonnie along, and ryan by peer pressure. the two endings of june either letting herself be dragged down along with everyone else or to painfully swim back up and leave her friends behind seemed to be foreshadowed by the story of her cousin's situation early in the game, about leaving her friend group as well.
i like how the ocean (or water?) was also a metaphor. whether for substances or "fish in the sea" i.e. blending in with the crowd. there can always be too much of anything, including water. the shortness of the ending, i feel like, really fits. the path into and out of toxic bonds and addiction never feels good, whether or not we eventually get sober. it's as hard getting out of the cycle as it is to get in, but what matters is that we do find a way out.
gaaahhhh stories with hidden implications and symbolism>>>>>
A really good story! I enjoyed the art work, the cute walk sprites that gave everyone personality, and the sound design.
my only nitpick is that when june comes off unexpectedly dense in the cabana scene with her and mccoy. if my friend started chugging water in the middle of the night and lashing out I think most people would conclude that a medical problem is happening. Obviously she still couldn't have done much to help him in that situation, but I'm surprised that the thought never crossed her mind.Other than that she's a solid character with interesting chemistry with her friends, and her reaction to the terrible situation she's in is compelling. she's even super brave when she pulled that man back on the beach, despite all her friends ignoring it.
It took me a bit to piece together that
the reason everyone started compulsively eating iron was so that they would sink better 0.0 really cool!also the ocean view start screen art after completing the game is so beautiful and haunting. big props for such good art
i love this, i'm still a bit confused but I really like the idea of this symbolizing the usage of dr#gs or toxic friendhips
Yes, I created an account to leave a comment and my observations and theories.I noticed that many people see this game as a toxic friendship, but for some reason I stick to the theory of dr#gs.To begin with,dehydration, aggression, and lethargy are the consequences of drug use. First of all, let's look at the official artwork for this game and the soundtracks. The soundtrack cover shows Ryan covering a glass of alcohol with his hand and preventing June from drinking the contents, as if protecting her from using illegal substances, but at the same time looking towards the rest of his friends(Recall that in the end he also succumbed to the "infection". At the same time, June herself said that Ryan is easily influenced by others).
On the cover of the game, Vonnie, McCoy, Carmen and Ryan are walking to the left, but only the first four are walking confidently, while Ryan looks back at a frightened June. In the screensaver at the beginning of the game, Vonnie, McCoy, Carmen, and Ryan stand in the order in which they were "Infected." Carmen and McCoy are closer to June because "got infected", that is, they consumed the dr/nks first (Carmen at night, and a dr/nk was spilled on McCoy at the beginning of the game). What follows is Vonnie, she dr@nk the dr/nks because of Carmen, that is, literally, she "forced her to use a dr#g (a!cohol)," and June herself tried quite a bit and said it wasn't worth it. Ryan is the furthest away, as he "got infected" at the very last moment (and even so he looks at June). At the moment when the two of them are lying on the bed, June is wearing Ryan's jacket in the morning, meaning he consciously followed this path. At the very end, June is given a choice: follow her friends and "drown" in dr#gs, or swim to the surface and live her life with the idea that her friends are left behind. Ryan held on to the last, but still, because he is easily influenced and easily pressured, he still could not restrain himself. During June and Ryan's conversations, one can notice the classic reflection, "Is there really something wrong with them, or am I just not like that?" That is, under the influence of the majority, you start to wonder if dr#g use is so bad, maybe it's just that I'm too correct. I see this as a picture of dr#g use and how easily a large number of people succumb to addiction and consciously sink to the bottom in an attempt to get another dose.
i like this interpretation! the symbolism in the game hinting to addiction/drug abuse is pretty spot on, and with lots of perspectives too. McCoy being reeled in by accident, Carmen roping Vonnie in with the drinks, and Ryan eventually succumbing despite almost staying till the end (bc of peer pressure). it shows a lot of sides on addiction that anyone can fall into, whether they get out of it or not. appreciate this analysis :3