i had an idea of him pulling out a red mushroom girl with her hair down and like a long dress with red mary jane shoes and like a big hat and she has a more elagant form
OMGOODNESS This game was sooooo good especially for this being your first game you've made. Thank you for making this. It really brings out your emotions and you get attached. Spoiler btw. I really wish she didn't have to die but overall loved the story. I know you probably won't do this, but can you make an ending where she can live longer, not forever obviously, but maybe he finds a way to add a few more days or even a week to her lifespan so they can have more time together. It could be a secret ending or something. But its ok if you don't add it. Anyways thank you again for this game, and please make more. I'm now following you to keep up to date with your posts. Love your art too btw.
Thank you so much for playing and enjoying the game so much! I'm glad you want to spend more time with Button :) I'll see for the final game, but can't promise anything right now. Seems a lot of people want that, so it's something to bear in mind.
Also, thanks for following me and saying you love my art! That's so motivating to hear and I really appreciate your interest in the game. The next post on itchio will probably be closer to the game's release, but if you want to follow the game's progress I'm also posting on my Patreon.
So did I lol, the other endings that Lauren didn't get isn't worse compared to the last 2 ending. when I say worse I mean triggering. Really loved the game play.
Hi there! Thanks for checking out my page. If you've watched LaurenZSide's video completely, then you're already past the worst bits. I hope you enjoy, if you do end up playing!
Hi! It's notorious the effort and love put on this work! Story, art and music were all lovely. Now...
SPOILER ALERT
(like seriously, this might be heavy spoiler, please don't continue if you haven't completed the game yet)
When I was missing the last two endings, I thought there could be an ending where Button lived a bit longer at the price of not going to the beach and maybe having a more boring life (I thought ending 6 suggested some sort of hint with how salty the last meal was). But anyways, the last two endings are very good. In fact, in my opinion, they were even necessary, as they expand on the story's message, which leads me to the next point.
I really liked how the game in general not only dealt with death, existential dread and depression in a realistic and relatable way, but also showed how the characters handled with them differently depending on the choices: whether they tried their best to live as happy as they could despite their inner struggles, or they couldn't overcome the dread and felt miserable. It's very interesting how Button seems to kind of have understood death and its consequences even before really mentioning it to her, though depending on her perspective about it (influenced by the player) she decided to live happily even if it wasn't going to be for very long... or not.
I gotta admit when the protagonist talks about death it was way too relatable with my own experience. Even the "it would be cool to be immortal" part. I thought I was weird for thinking that, but it seems that may be a more common idea than I thought.
I tend not to cry often for stories, but I contributed a bit (ton) to the tears bucket this time, hehe. Speaking for myself (and for many others, I guess) that's certainly a sign that everyone who developed the game made a very good job with character development, and the smooth and deep treatment of serious topics.
Again, thank you very much for such a wonderful experience :'D
NOTE: By the way, I don't know if my deleted comment appears there, but it happened that my clumsy hands pressed some weird combination and it was sent before finishing lol. As a side note, the guys behind Meet n' Eat gotta be breaking human rights as a sport, man...
This is such a sweet comment! Thank you so much for playing the game and leaving me with your thoughts and compliments, Awserz.
I’m glad you like the last two endings, despite how much they deviate from the other ones, and that the themes were dealt with in a way that felt natural. It’s also a personal win when I hear that someone felt their own thoughts reflected during this game :)
Your side note made me laugh. The guys at Meet ‘n Eat definitely don’t care about anyone’s rights. I think they don’t even consider the mushroom girls as anything other than a novelty object.
Lastly, thank you for your salty contribution to the tears bucket :) Hope you have a great weekend!
This is so well done!!! Great job to everyone who worked on this! I really adore how well dynamic audio is utilized here! <3
My criticism is that when music loops back, the music stopped for a split second. I recommend to change the mp3 files to ogg as it makes looping seamless.
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, and especially the tip on making audio loops more seamless! I'll tell the composer so it can be even better for the full release :D I'm also glad you like how we used dynamic audio - I really liked implementing it and it's wasn't as tricky as I'd feared.
What a lovely experience! (Here's your obligatory spoiler warning).
Ok, where to start... I would like to give you a congratulations on nailing the story and presentation of the game. Most of the time, these types of games feel cheesy or Game Jam-like. However this time around, it felt more "real?". I'm not sure if it's the characterization or if the light-hearted absurdity but the game made me empathize with the characters in a way that I did not expect. It's not groundbreaking, just sweet.
It's always so enjoyable to see people push simple premises to their limits. It goes to show that sometimes all you need is a good creative direction. I can easily see ways it could be expanded upon. I'm sure many people would love to see even more of your signature creativity.
Button was quite relatable to me for better and worse. I believe her people pleaser personality meshed well with her own occasional bouts of self autonomy, the likes of which isn't commonly different than my own. She knows her boundaries and yet still tries to keep close to "Finn" whenever possible, making the most out of her life even if others aren't willing to do it for her. Bad End 8 however, also displays how such attributes could be pushed to the extreme. The way she selectively ignores the world around her in order to feed her own negative thoughts unfortunately feels oddly familiar. I'm not nearly going to dissect "Finn" that hard. Personally I feel like he speaks for himself.
Anyways, congratulations on telling a strangely demented yet endearing story. I still wonder however how to actually get the tenth ending though...
Thank you so much for playing my game, and for the congratulations! "Signature creativity" is quite the compliment!
I'm glad that the "absurd" bits don't detract from the serious subject matter I wanted to explore. It was important for me that, despite the wacky situation, the characters themselves don't feel whimsical, so it feels real means a lot to me. I also really like your detailed breakdown of Button's character - you're picking up on things that I put in there subconsciously, so I find it interesting.
You mention that you could easily see ways it could be expanded upon. I feel the same way and have a few ideas, though I am curious what you think. Since you enjoyed the game, I thought you might be interested to know that I'll be making an announcement on my itch.io devlog and Twitter before the end of the week regarding this game's future. If you are subscribed, which I think you are, you should be alerted.
There should only be nine endings. Please let me know if I or someone else suggested that somewhere so I can attend to it. Otherwise if you are stuck on an ending or you think a bug is causing the issue, feel free to describe it and I am happy to help. I've also got a walkthrough tutorial posted on my devlog you can check out.
Thank you again for writing such an in-depth review. It brightened my day to read it :)
Hi, I just wanted to say that this game is so awesome and cute! I loved all the interactions between the mc and button, I especially liked it when in the bad route, even if for a brief moment, the thoughts and choices were switched to button, very clever! I hope you can expand this game/idea in some ways, either by adding more endings, making a sequel or making a completely new game based on this! Either way, I had a great time playing this, felt all sorts of emotions, it was fantastic!
I'm happy to hear you had a great time playing it and that it was able to strike an emotional chord with you :) And that you enjoyed the interactions and the brief perspective shift to Button! Thank you for your encouraging comment - It's good to know that there are people who would be keen to see more from this game! Let's just say you might not be waiting for very long ;)
Hi, I’m considering working on developing this game further and adding different mushrooms you can choose in the new year! I’ll make an announcement once I’m certain, but I think it’s pretty likely.
Good job man! You know its a great game when it makes you feel like never before in a video game. Also I kinda want more even tho there's a lot of content.
The ending 8 and 9 route is so interesting cuz of the way her attitude changes from happy to dismissive to miserable. Attitude shifts are so interesting, and you did it right. Excellent game!
Thank you for playing and leaving such a supportive comment! I'm glad you found the way her demeanour changed during the end 8/9 route interesting, and it is gratifying to hear that you think it was represented well. Thanks for giving my game a chance :)
i know this sounds crazy but you should totally make merch!! im like hyperfixating on this and i need some stuff :3 maybe a plushie or something small like posters or stickers!!! awesome game<3
Haha, merch would be awesome and I'm sure it would be very fun to come up with some plushie or sticker designs! Maybe I should do that in the future when/if I release an update on the game, if people are still interested then. I feel very honoured that someone would hyper-fixate on my game. Thank you so much for playing it and leaving such a sweet comment :)
play the game if you hadnt yet. its much more better to actually experience it rather then reading!
honestly it felt a bit cheating with the fact that I had to watch a video to get two last endings lmao but like damn. when i played this game, I only got light-hearted endings before this and only expected that. I was entirely expecting just that. Wholesome content, silly, a bit dark (like End 7, shocked me but wasnt that surprising) but mostly very very comedic. but End 8 and End 9 is like HOLY SHIT. WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. IM SO SORRY???
(its so immersive too!!)
Like, its just so terrible and so depressing. Like the fact that Button wants to die and is begging MC to genuinely kill her is just uncomfortable. especially with how desparate MC is for her to live. and the other parts were she gets more dismissive, were shes more anxious, how she tries to not be a burden to MC and the fact that shes so uncertain about herself after the discussion about life and death is just so realistic. i feel so sorry for both Button and MC cause I entirely relate to how MC is. Anti-social, self-depricating, and overthinking. and I understand Buttons pain for it all to end sooner. The fact MC doesnt want her to go, how button wishes tomorrow doesnt end, how Button snaps and how she tells MC she hates him because of how selfish he is for wanting her to live. Its all a terrifying situation were both decisions are not ideal at all. Its so dark, so overwhelming, and it all ends with MC having to deal being by himself or buying a new one and entirely depending on them to make him feel happy again.
It is such a creative and cute game, and the way its protrayed such dark topics are pretty accurate. It also doesnt take much time! (talking about storylines with tons of dialogue) Others take hours, while this takes an hour at best (to get all endings). and its not even hard to know which ones to get. (I was pretty surprised when I already got 7 endings, all in order. It usually takes a while for me to get those, and I often just give up because it takes too long and I dont have alot of time for those.)
ANYWAY, SO GOOD! DEFINITELY A FOLLOW FROM ME!! I WOULD DEFINITELY PLAY ALOT MORE GAMES FROM YOU!
Side note: the messages who berate MC certainly become less and less when Button is around and it only appears when you make Button distressed. (from what i remember playing the game)
oops. i rambled a bit too much, but that just shows how i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
genuinely had me tearing up, made me do voicelines (i should definitely become a VA /hj), and I had to pause in some moments. SUCH A GOOD GAME!!!!! sobs in the corner clutching this game to my chest
I loved reading your rant! Thank you so much for the intricate comment! It brings me much joy to hear the thoughts of someone who's played and loved my game, especially when it includes such an in-depth analysis of the characters, their actions and the situation as a whole. In particular you're one of the few comments to discuss Button's shift in character as she becomes increasingly anxious/dismissive/etc. in the End 8/9 route, so it was fascinating to hear your thoughts on that.
Thank you for playing, and I'm really grateful to have your support! Wishing you all the best.
I know you always comment on other peoples comments but seeing you reply still makes me so excited!!! AHH!!!!! Thank YOU for even making this and for taking the time to read everyones comments!!!
It’s such a pleasure - Every comment is special and important to me, so I have a lot of fun replying to them! And I want to let anyone who made an effort to comment how much I appreciate it. Excitement is infectious, so it’s great we can share it between us :) Thank you for staying excited Kiv_by!
This is the first game I downloaded on itch.io platform. I played and eventually collected all the endings . Before playing this game, I had no idea about the possible plot. At first, I thought it was a game healing our mentality❤️🩹. However I didn't know it could be a depressing story . Overall, it was a type of game I had never tried and particularly astonished and impressed me . A special experience
I'm honoured this was the first game that you have downloaded on itch.io, and am elated that it impressed you despite it not being what you expected! Thank you very much for playing and for the lovely comment.
I just played your game. It was very cute! First and foremost,I really liked the protagonist's design. His short laugh when he makes a joke in his head gives me joy. (+ dark circles for the win!!). The dialogue flows nicely. Breaking the forth wall with Button's name was fun. I also enjoyed interacting with the inanimate objects, I'd ask for more interaction esp with the plushies but I know it'll never be enough XD..Having all the endings layed out on the home page was very convenient, as well. What I actually came here to comment on, however, is how you refreshingly captured the details of depression and anxiety. It's a theme we often see in media and a lot of VNs but the details in your depiction resonated a little more with me. It got a chuckle out of me at how realistic some lines were. I don't usually get that out of other VNs. I've been actually thinking about how I wished for a VN that focuses on and depicts anxiety more realistically and you made that come true, so thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future!
Thank you so much for playing my game and for such a genuine, heartfelt comment. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the little details, like the plushie interactions and using Button’s name.
I’m glad you liked the protagonist’s design too! The dark circles were added mostly because I liked how they looked on him XD even if he hadn’t been sleep-deprived.
It’s especially fulfilling for me that you could relate to certain lines of writing. I really wanted to represent anxiety and depression accurately, and there’s no better way to know that I’ve done it some justice than to hear from someone that it resonates with them.
Thank you again. Making this game was challenging, but support like this makes me just want to keep making more!
Thanks for checking me out! I enjoyed watching the play-through too - there’s a bunch of endings he didn’t show so I hope you give it a try yourself :) Regardless I appreciate the comment
Very good! I do have a suggestion though, that being that i think the absolute worst ending should be locked behind an option that is both dishonest *and* cruel. Because as of right now, the options are basically "be nice, but lie" or "be cruel but honest". Idk, maybe I'm missing the point of the game here.
The nice options really arent lies, youre choosing which option is the main character speaking his mind. Just because there is a bad option doesnt mean that is the "real" one and the nice one is him changing his personality. Even when choosing the nice options it becomes clear from the dialogue he's still speaking his mind and embarrassed about it, its just not purposefully pushing his own lifelong burdens onto someone he just met (which is objectively not a great thing to do). The way i read through it considering he had already had his window open for months and committed to a daily routine by the time you meet Button he is already a changed man and just doesnt realize it
Thank you for playing and I appreciate the suggestion!
-*SPOILERS BELOW*-
I take it that the choice you’re talking about is the one after the MC tells Button about death, where he chooses either to give a blunt, brutally honest response as to why the he chose Button (That she was the only option), or a comforting, sugar-coated response saying she looked cute and growing her would make him happy.
MC is never actively trying to be hurtful, he’s just missing out on social tact and experience, so I’m hesitant to hone in on the cruelty. The point of the more “cruel” answer is meant to show that he thinks being totally honest is the sensible to go, however he doesn’t recognise that, in delicate situations, this can be unintentionally hurtful.
I hope my explanation helps - I hardly get suggestions so I’m really grateful that you made the time to give one! I welcome more discussion on this or any more suggestions you may have :)
I unfortunately couldn't play as a lack of a pc but I watched a YouTuber's video on it and I loved the story and characters I hope future games you make will be just as great or better! :)
Thank you for taking the time to leave your supportive comment! It’s great to hear that the game’s story and characters can still make a strong impression through video :) I’m going to take what I’ve learned from developing GaG to my future projects so hopefully they can be even better!
Wow I actually had so much fun with this game! I didn't expect it to be so wholesome and not lewd! Fun ending hunt as well! Actually a really good visual novel, thanks so much for making this!
This was the first video I’ve seen with all the endings, so it was awesome to see how certain scenes were received, and even pick up a few typos, and one bug. I loved reading chat too. Really good and natural commentary btw! Thank you so much for playing and linking my game on your channel. I appreciate all the support :)
I played it on stream this weekend, will make a video with all the endings soon! Love the art direction and the live ending was bittersweet… no pun intended
I really enjoyed watching your video and seeing you react to some of my favourite scenes! Thank you so much for playing through my game and leaving such a sweet comment :) Hope you enjoy all the other endings too!
It would be good to have it on this page as well. Also, I believe a splash screen, like the old resident evil games do, would be more effective than a button on the menu. Not everyone is going to click that button, but everyone will see the splash screen, and it would be responsible to have this kind of warning visible for everyone by default.
Wont lie, this is one of the best short visual novels on this site. Happy to say i got the best ending first try (it isnt hard afterall unless you want to roleplay being an asshole), going for the other 8 endings was a increasingly depressing experience. I almost wish i could buy my own Button but her life is so upsettingly short.
Saw in another comment youre considering making the other 2 routes, really hope you do! Ill be looking forward to other projects as well either way
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the support!
It’s exciting to hear that a few people would be interested in the other routes and it’s getting increasingly tempting to start working on them! I will definitely announce if I do. For now since I just released, I want to debug and work on some aspects of Button’s route :)
how tf😭 I literally needed the walkthrough for endings 8 and 9 because i couldnt figure out how to possibly be that terrible of a person. You my friend have a talent
TBH I just picked what I'd want to hear. I'd rather like, live in dread of death and stuff but know the truth than live happily but cluelessly..... idk mate 😭
This game is amazing! I love it. I didn't looked how old is this, so when I saw it's freshly made I was very suprised. I got all endings and now I'm crying. ;-; But I got (I think) the best ending the first time, so it counts for something. Button will be always in my heart. <3
Congrats on getting all endings, and thank you so much for playing and loving my game and Button! Your tears are my currency, and you have made me a richer person for them :) I truly appreciate you leaving me a comment, and I’m so glad that this game was able to move others.
Tears were shed. It's so amazing how some writers can make a character so immediately loveable and motivational. And then STRIP it all away (sobs).
There is a lot that this game teaches about life and how we experience and choose to react to it. The artwork is stellar and varied, the music is lovely, and the sheer personality of it's characters is incredibly entrapping.
Would love to play another game from this dev in future.
Thank you so much for your tears, support and detailed comment! But yes, I do love making things super cute and stripping that happiness down to its bones haha. Sorry for the pain :)
Damn, this game is so polished and the writing is amazing! Noot noot and Blahaj caught my attention early on, even before Button got onto the scene. Also, there is so much attention to detail in the game, I loved the little disclaimer on the side of the meet 'n eat page. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Definitely cried a little during certain scenes.
Receiving your tears is the highest honour I could hope to achieve. Thank you for noticing and enjoying those little details, and for leaving such a lovely comment!
How do people make games that are able to make me cry even before i see the ending??? not fair, 10/10 fucking loved it, ending 7 scared me a lot and still stuck on 8 and 9 but still loved every second of i
Thank you so much for your comment. It's amazing to hear that this game could to move someone this much, and it lifts my confidence like you wouldn't believe. I'm genuinely grateful you loved it :)
That was something I was wondering. Looks amazing, was kinda hoping for lewd plant girl, but will accept normal dating sim. (Will keep lewd plant girl in mind for future projects)
Thank you! I originally wanted to do 2 more routes (you can see them on the website's "about" page) and as you can see for the description for Fly amanita, it would have been a way more lewd route compared to lil innocent Button.
Due to the game jam's time constraints I chose to do a more in-depth route for Button as opposed to multiple diverse ones so I could explore the themes I wanted. But make no mistake! I am still considering on adding those routes depending on how well the game is received :)
I'll keep my eyes peeled. I hope you and your collaborators continue to do cool experimental things like this into the future, especially if they involve monster girls.
OMG thank you so much for your amazing music! It has been such a pleasure to collaborate with you on this, and hopefully on more projects in the future!
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I don't even know what to say... The game is exciting! But it's a pity that it's so small(
I'm really looking forward to new versions!
I'm glad you're excited for the full version! Thanks for playing :)
I love this game sm but fr id die to see what the other mushrooms look like when you get the truffled mind ending🙏🙏🙏
i had an idea of him pulling out a red mushroom girl with her hair down and like a long dress with red mary jane shoes and like a big hat and she has a more elagant form
Please please please please please please please make a secret ending where she gets to live and be happy however that may be :(((
We will see... ;)
Fr bro laurenzside traumatized me trying to keep her alive
OMGOODNESS This game was sooooo good especially for this being your first game you've made. Thank you for making this. It really brings out your emotions and you get attached. Spoiler btw. I really wish she didn't have to die but overall loved the story. I know you probably won't do this, but can you make an ending where she can live longer, not forever obviously, but maybe he finds a way to add a few more days or even a week to her lifespan so they can have more time together. It could be a secret ending or something. But its ok if you don't add it. Anyways thank you again for this game, and please make more. I'm now following you to keep up to date with your posts. Love your art too btw.
Thank you so much for playing and enjoying the game so much! I'm glad you want to spend more time with Button :) I'll see for the final game, but can't promise anything right now. Seems a lot of people want that, so it's something to bear in mind.
Also, thanks for following me and saying you love my art! That's so motivating to hear and I really appreciate your interest in the game. The next post on itchio will probably be closer to the game's release, but if you want to follow the game's progress I'm also posting on my Patreon.
Anyway, hope you have a good week!
Came from LaurenZSide's playing of this, reminds me of Mushroom Musume!
There's something really interesting with the theme of literally growing a person! Or maybe that's just a raising sim.
Probably gonna bookmark this and try it later. The warnings are making me wary though~! Cool idea!
So did I lol, the other endings that Lauren didn't get isn't worse compared to the last 2 ending. when I say worse I mean triggering. Really loved the game play.
Hi there! Thanks for checking out my page. If you've watched LaurenZSide's video completely, then you're already past the worst bits. I hope you enjoy, if you do end up playing!
Hi! It's notorious the effort and love put on this work! Story, art and music were all lovely. Now...
SPOILER ALERT
(like seriously, this might be heavy spoiler, please don't continue if you haven't completed the game yet)
When I was missing the last two endings, I thought there could be an ending where Button lived a bit longer at the price of not going to the beach and maybe having a more boring life (I thought ending 6 suggested some sort of hint with how salty the last meal was). But anyways, the last two endings are very good. In fact, in my opinion, they were even necessary, as they expand on the story's message, which leads me to the next point.
I really liked how the game in general not only dealt with death, existential dread and depression in a realistic and relatable way, but also showed how the characters handled with them differently depending on the choices: whether they tried their best to live as happy as they could despite their inner struggles, or they couldn't overcome the dread and felt miserable. It's very interesting how Button seems to kind of have understood death and its consequences even before really mentioning it to her, though depending on her perspective about it (influenced by the player) she decided to live happily even if it wasn't going to be for very long... or not.
I gotta admit when the protagonist talks about death it was way too relatable with my own experience. Even the "it would be cool to be immortal" part. I thought I was weird for thinking that, but it seems that may be a more common idea than I thought.
I tend not to cry often for stories, but I contributed a bit
(ton)to the tears bucket this time, hehe. Speaking for myself (and for many others, I guess) that's certainly a sign that everyone who developed the game made a very good job with character development, and the smooth and deep treatment of serious topics.Again, thank you very much for such a wonderful experience :'D
NOTE: By the way, I don't know if my deleted comment appears there, but it happened that my clumsy hands pressed some weird combination and it was sent before finishing lol. As a side note, the guys behind Meet n' Eat gotta be breaking human rights as a sport, man...This is such a sweet comment! Thank you so much for playing the game and leaving me with your thoughts and compliments, Awserz.
I’m glad you like the last two endings, despite how much they deviate from the other ones, and that the themes were dealt with in a way that felt natural. It’s also a personal win when I hear that someone felt their own thoughts reflected during this game :)
Your side note made me laugh. The guys at Meet ‘n Eat definitely don’t care about anyone’s rights. I think they don’t even consider the mushroom girls as anything other than a novelty object.
Lastly, thank you for your salty contribution to the tears bucket :) Hope you have a great weekend!
This is so well done!!! Great job to everyone who worked on this! I really adore how well dynamic audio is utilized here! <3
My criticism is that when music loops back, the music stopped for a split second. I recommend to change the mp3 files to ogg as it makes looping seamless.
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, and especially the tip on making audio loops more seamless! I'll tell the composer so it can be even better for the full release :D I'm also glad you like how we used dynamic audio - I really liked implementing it and it's wasn't as tricky as I'd feared.
What a lovely experience! (Here's your obligatory spoiler warning).
Ok, where to start... I would like to give you a congratulations on nailing the story and presentation of the game. Most of the time, these types of games feel cheesy or Game Jam-like. However this time around, it felt more "real?". I'm not sure if it's the characterization or if the light-hearted absurdity but the game made me empathize with the characters in a way that I did not expect. It's not groundbreaking, just sweet.
It's always so enjoyable to see people push simple premises to their limits. It goes to show that sometimes all you need is a good creative direction. I can easily see ways it could be expanded upon. I'm sure many people would love to see even more of your signature creativity.
Button was quite relatable to me for better and worse. I believe her people pleaser personality meshed well with her own occasional bouts of self autonomy, the likes of which isn't commonly different than my own. She knows her boundaries and yet still tries to keep close to "Finn" whenever possible, making the most out of her life even if others aren't willing to do it for her. Bad End 8 however, also displays how such attributes could be pushed to the extreme. The way she selectively ignores the world around her in order to feed her own negative thoughts unfortunately feels oddly familiar. I'm not nearly going to dissect "Finn" that hard. Personally I feel like he speaks for himself.
Anyways, congratulations on telling a strangely demented yet endearing story. I still wonder however how to actually get the tenth ending though...
Hi Solstice Solstice!
Thank you so much for playing my game, and for the congratulations! "Signature creativity" is quite the compliment!
I'm glad that the "absurd" bits don't detract from the serious subject matter I wanted to explore. It was important for me that, despite the wacky situation, the characters themselves don't feel whimsical, so it feels real means a lot to me. I also really like your detailed breakdown of Button's character - you're picking up on things that I put in there subconsciously, so I find it interesting.
You mention that you could easily see ways it could be expanded upon. I feel the same way and have a few ideas, though I am curious what you think. Since you enjoyed the game, I thought you might be interested to know that I'll be making an announcement on my itch.io devlog and Twitter before the end of the week regarding this game's future. If you are subscribed, which I think you are, you should be alerted.
There should only be nine endings. Please let me know if I or someone else suggested that somewhere so I can attend to it. Otherwise if you are stuck on an ending or you think a bug is causing the issue, feel free to describe it and I am happy to help. I've also got a walkthrough tutorial posted on my devlog you can check out.
Thank you again for writing such an in-depth review. It brightened my day to read it :)
Spoilers alert!
Hi, I just wanted to say that this game is so awesome and cute! I loved all the interactions between the mc and button, I especially liked it when in the bad route, even if for a brief moment, the thoughts and choices were switched to button, very clever! I hope you can expand this game/idea in some ways, either by adding more endings, making a sequel or making a completely new game based on this! Either way, I had a great time playing this, felt all sorts of emotions, it was fantastic!
I'm happy to hear you had a great time playing it and that it was able to strike an emotional chord with you :) And that you enjoyed the interactions and the brief perspective shift to Button! Thank you for your encouraging comment - It's good to know that there are people who would be keen to see more from this game! Let's just say you might not be waiting for very long ;)
Do you plan on updating the game or making a sequel?
Hi, I’m considering working on developing this game further and adding different mushrooms you can choose in the new year! I’ll make an announcement once I’m certain, but I think it’s pretty likely.
Good job man! You know its a great game when it makes you feel like never before in a video game. Also I kinda want more even tho there's a lot of content.
Thank you! I’m glad it’s got you wanting more. What kind of feeling did it give you? I always love hearing how people felt about my game :)
I'm very happy to see the reception this game has gotten and loved working on it from the early design stages all the way to final testing!
Very grateful to have been able to be part of something like this.
The ending 8 and 9 route is so interesting cuz of the way her attitude changes from happy to dismissive to miserable. Attitude shifts are so interesting, and you did it right. Excellent game!
Thank you for playing and leaving such a supportive comment! I'm glad you found the way her demeanour changed during the end 8/9 route interesting, and it is gratifying to hear that you think it was represented well. Thanks for giving my game a chance :)
i know this sounds crazy but you should totally make merch!! im like hyperfixating on this and i need some stuff :3 maybe a plushie or something small like posters or stickers!!! awesome game<3
Haha, merch would be awesome and I'm sure it would be very fun to come up with some plushie or sticker designs! Maybe I should do that in the future when/if I release an update on the game, if people are still interested then. I feel very honoured that someone would hyper-fixate on my game. Thank you so much for playing it and leaving such a sweet comment :)
RANT AND SPOILERS!!
play the game if you hadnt yet. its much more better to actually experience it rather then reading!
honestly it felt a bit cheating with the fact that I had to watch a video to get two last endings lmao but like damn. when i played this game, I only got light-hearted endings before this and only expected that. I was entirely expecting just that. Wholesome content, silly, a bit dark (like End 7, shocked me but wasnt that surprising) but mostly very very comedic. but End 8 and End 9 is like HOLY SHIT. WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. IM SO SORRY???
(its so immersive too!!)
Like, its just so terrible and so depressing. Like the fact that Button wants to die and is begging MC to genuinely kill her is just uncomfortable. especially with how desparate MC is for her to live. and the other parts were she gets more dismissive, were shes more anxious, how she tries to not be a burden to MC and the fact that shes so uncertain about herself after the discussion about life and death is just so realistic. i feel so sorry for both Button and MC cause I entirely relate to how MC is. Anti-social, self-depricating, and overthinking. and I understand Buttons pain for it all to end sooner. The fact MC doesnt want her to go, how button wishes tomorrow doesnt end, how Button snaps and how she tells MC she hates him because of how selfish he is for wanting her to live. Its all a terrifying situation were both decisions are not ideal at all. Its so dark, so overwhelming, and it all ends with MC having to deal being by himself or buying a new one and entirely depending on them to make him feel happy again.
It is such a creative and cute game, and the way its protrayed such dark topics are pretty accurate. It also doesnt take much time! (talking about storylines with tons of dialogue) Others take hours, while this takes an hour at best (to get all endings). and its not even hard to know which ones to get. (I was pretty surprised when I already got 7 endings, all in order. It usually takes a while for me to get those, and I often just give up because it takes too long and I dont have alot of time for those.)
ANYWAY, SO GOOD! DEFINITELY A FOLLOW FROM ME!! I WOULD DEFINITELY PLAY ALOT MORE GAMES FROM YOU!
Side note: the messages who berate MC certainly become less and less when Button is around and it only appears when you make Button distressed. (from what i remember playing the game)
oops. i rambled a bit too much, but that just shows how i love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
genuinely had me tearing up, made me do voicelines (i should definitely become a VA /hj), and I had to pause in some moments. SUCH A GOOD GAME!!!!! sobs in the corner clutching this game to my chest
I loved reading your rant! Thank you so much for the intricate comment! It brings me much joy to hear the thoughts of someone who's played and loved my game, especially when it includes such an in-depth analysis of the characters, their actions and the situation as a whole. In particular you're one of the few comments to discuss Button's shift in character as she becomes increasingly anxious/dismissive/etc. in the End 8/9 route, so it was fascinating to hear your thoughts on that.
Thank you for playing, and I'm really grateful to have your support! Wishing you all the best.
I know you always comment on other peoples comments but seeing you reply still makes me so excited!!! AHH!!!!! Thank YOU for even making this and for taking the time to read everyones comments!!!
It’s such a pleasure - Every comment is special and important to me, so I have a lot of fun replying to them! And I want to let anyone who made an effort to comment how much I appreciate it. Excitement is infectious, so it’s great we can share it between us :) Thank you for staying excited Kiv_by!
This is the first game I downloaded on itch.io platform. I played and eventually collected all the endings . Before playing this game, I had no idea about the possible plot. At first, I thought it was a game healing our mentality❤️🩹. However I didn't know it could be a depressing story . Overall, it was a type of game I had never tried and particularly astonished and impressed me . A special experience
I'm honoured this was the first game that you have downloaded on itch.io, and am elated that it impressed you despite it not being what you expected! Thank you very much for playing and for the lovely comment.
https://www.tiktok.com/@draugrnaut/video/7313003731929386271
Whoa a tiktok! That's awesome - thanks for sharing :D
I loved this game, she was cute as a button and the guy reminds me alot of myself irl.
Some moments choked me up.
Thank you so much for playing and doing a video on it! I’m happy to hear that you loved it and could relate to the protagonist :)
I find it amusing to watch jahannamis talk about life and death.
I just played your game. It was very cute!
First and foremost,I really liked the protagonist's design. His short laugh when he makes a joke in his head gives me joy. (+ dark circles for the win!!). The dialogue flows nicely. Breaking the forth wall with Button's name was fun.
I also enjoyed interacting with the inanimate objects, I'd ask for more interaction esp with the plushies but I know it'll never be enough XD..Having all the endings layed out on the home page was very convenient, as well.
What I actually came here to comment on, however, is how you refreshingly captured the details of depression and anxiety. It's a theme we often see in media and a lot of VNs but the details in your depiction resonated a little more with me. It got a chuckle out of me at how realistic some lines were. I don't usually get that out of other VNs. I've been actually thinking about how I wished for a VN that focuses on and depicts anxiety more realistically and you made that come true, so thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future!
Reading your comment gave me such a smile :)
Thank you so much for playing my game and for such a genuine, heartfelt comment. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the little details, like the plushie interactions and using Button’s name.
I’m glad you liked the protagonist’s design too! The dark circles were added mostly because I liked how they looked on him XD even if he hadn’t been sleep-deprived.
It’s especially fulfilling for me that you could relate to certain lines of writing. I really wanted to represent anxiety and depression accurately, and there’s no better way to know that I’ve done it some justice than to hear from someone that it resonates with them.
Thank you again. Making this game was challenging, but support like this makes me just want to keep making more!
I've never thought I'd feel existential dread again in a fucking visual novel😰
My apologies for the suffering, although a part of me is glad I managed to impart existential dread upon the player 😅. Thank you for playing!
is there a way of turning her into a mushroom salad?
The closest you can get to that is a plate of fried mushrooms. 🍄
i found you through this guy here its a good story and sad and the end when you eat her ; - ;
Thanks for checking me out! I enjoyed watching the play-through too - there’s a bunch of endings he didn’t show so I hope you give it a try yourself :) Regardless I appreciate the comment
Amazing game looking forward to play more of your games
Thank you for playing! I look forward to checking out your video :)
🤍AMAZING GAME🖤
Thank you for playing and getting all endings! :)
Very good! I do have a suggestion though, that being that i think the absolute worst ending should be locked behind an option that is both dishonest *and* cruel. Because as of right now, the options are basically "be nice, but lie" or "be cruel but honest". Idk, maybe I'm missing the point of the game here.
The nice options really arent lies, youre choosing which option is the main character speaking his mind. Just because there is a bad option doesnt mean that is the "real" one and the nice one is him changing his personality. Even when choosing the nice options it becomes clear from the dialogue he's still speaking his mind and embarrassed about it, its just not purposefully pushing his own lifelong burdens onto someone he just met (which is objectively not a great thing to do). The way i read through it considering he had already had his window open for months and committed to a daily routine by the time you meet Button he is already a changed man and just doesnt realize it
Thank you for playing and I appreciate the suggestion!
-*SPOILERS BELOW*-
I take it that the choice you’re talking about is the one after the MC tells Button about death, where he chooses either to give a blunt, brutally honest response as to why the he chose Button (That she was the only option), or a comforting, sugar-coated response saying she looked cute and growing her would make him happy.
MC is never actively trying to be hurtful, he’s just missing out on social tact and experience, so I’m hesitant to hone in on the cruelty. The point of the more “cruel” answer is meant to show that he thinks being totally honest is the sensible to go, however he doesn’t recognise that, in delicate situations, this can be unintentionally hurtful.
I hope my explanation helps - I hardly get suggestions so I’m really grateful that you made the time to give one! I welcome more discussion on this or any more suggestions you may have :)
I unfortunately couldn't play as a lack of a pc but I watched a YouTuber's video on it and I loved the story and characters I hope future games you make will be just as great or better! :)
Thank you for taking the time to leave your supportive comment! It’s great to hear that the game’s story and characters can still make a strong impression through video :) I’m going to take what I’ve learned from developing GaG to my future projects so hopefully they can be even better!
Shed a couple tears on ending 6 wo
Thank you for playing! I’m glad it hit you in the feels.
This was the first video I’ve seen with all the endings, so it was awesome to see how certain scenes were received, and even pick up a few typos, and one bug. I loved reading chat too. Really good and natural commentary btw! Thank you so much for playing and linking my game on your channel. I appreciate all the support :)
I really hope this game gets some more love cuz it was so much fun! Good Luck on your next project!
https://youtu.be/cRSMnZCTp7k?si=BJMyMjwVp_-B_V3D
THIS IS SUCH A CUTE GAME!
I played it on stream this weekend, will make a video with all the endings soon! Love the art direction and the live ending was bittersweet… no pun intended
I really enjoyed watching your video and seeing you react to some of my favourite scenes! Thank you so much for playing through my game and leaving such a sweet comment :) Hope you enjoy all the other endings too!
It would be helpful to display a trigger warning for suicide on this page (and maybe before the game starts).
There is a large trigger warning button on the main menu that states the contents, but not one on this page yet
It would be good to have it on this page as well. Also, I believe a splash screen, like the old resident evil games do, would be more effective than a button on the menu. Not everyone is going to click that button, but everyone will see the splash screen, and it would be responsible to have this kind of warning visible for everyone by default.
I agree with your point - I think it would be a good idea to put a warning on this page. Thank you for the idea with the splash screen too!
You're welcome!
Wont lie, this is one of the best short visual novels on this site. Happy to say i got the best ending first try (it isnt hard afterall unless you want to roleplay being an asshole), going for the other 8 endings was a increasingly depressing experience. I almost wish i could buy my own Button but her life is so upsettingly short.
Saw in another comment youre considering making the other 2 routes, really hope you do! Ill be looking forward to other projects as well either way
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the support!
It’s exciting to hear that a few people would be interested in the other routes and it’s getting increasingly tempting to start working on them! I will definitely announce if I do. For now since I just released, I want to debug and work on some aspects of Button’s route :)
POV: You accidentally got the actual worst ending during your first playthrough
...what is wrong with me
how tf😭 I literally needed the walkthrough for endings 8 and 9 because i couldnt figure out how to possibly be that terrible of a person. You my friend have a talent
TBH I just picked what I'd want to hear. I'd rather like, live in dread of death and stuff but know the truth than live happily but cluelessly..... idk mate 😭
i never thought i would feel sad or grossed out for killing a mushroom, but i really enjoyed the experience
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the experience, including the more disturbing parts. Thank you for playing and for the comment!
This game is amazing! I love it. I didn't looked how old is this, so when I saw it's freshly made I was very suprised.
I got all endings and now I'm crying. ;-;
But I got (I think) the best ending the first time, so it counts for something. Button will be always in my heart. <3
Congrats on getting all endings, and thank you so much for playing and loving my game and Button! Your tears are my currency, and you have made me a richer person for them :) I truly appreciate you leaving me a comment, and I’m so glad that this game was able to move others.
Tears were shed. It's so amazing how some writers can make a character so immediately loveable and motivational. And then STRIP it all away (sobs).
There is a lot that this game teaches about life and how we experience and choose to react to it. The artwork is stellar and varied, the music is lovely, and the sheer personality of it's characters is incredibly entrapping.
Would love to play another game from this dev in future.
Thank you so much for your tears, support and detailed comment! But yes, I do love making things super cute and stripping that happiness down to its bones haha. Sorry for the pain :)
this was... so good...
Hearing that someone liked my work always makes me happy. Thank you for the comment :)
Damn, this game is so polished and the writing is amazing! Noot noot and Blahaj caught my attention early on, even before Button got onto the scene. Also, there is so much attention to detail in the game, I loved the little disclaimer on the side of the meet 'n eat page. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Definitely cried a little during certain scenes.
Receiving your tears is the highest honour I could hope to achieve. Thank you for noticing and enjoying those little details, and for leaving such a lovely comment!
How do people make games that are able to make me cry even before i see the ending??? not fair, 10/10 fucking loved it, ending 7 scared me a lot and still stuck on 8 and 9 but still loved every second of i
Thank you so much for your comment. It's amazing to hear that this game could to move someone this much, and it lifts my confidence like you wouldn't believe. I'm genuinely grateful you loved it :)
I've made an easy walk-through of the choices you need to make to get all the endings! (Spoiler warning)
If anyone else needs help to 100% it, please have a look ^
Yooo tyvm, i kinda gave up but now i wanna get through the entire game back again lol. Hope those 2 endings arent as scary as my last one hehe
Tyvm for providing!
It’s a pleasure! I’m just glad you prompted me to make a walkthrough since it’s been helpful to quite a few people!
9/10. You can't lewd the plant girl, but it's a really cool concept.
That was something I was wondering. Looks amazing, was kinda hoping for lewd plant girl, but will accept normal dating sim. (Will keep lewd plant girl in mind for future projects)
It's 100% the dev's choice. But if he did... well, I'm happy to take out my wallet.
Maybe in a future update :)
Thanks for your support and glad you like the art style too!
Thank you! I originally wanted to do 2 more routes (you can see them on the website's "about" page) and as you can see for the description for Fly amanita, it would have been a way more lewd route compared to lil innocent Button.
Due to the game jam's time constraints I chose to do a more in-depth route for Button as opposed to multiple diverse ones so I could explore the themes I wanted. But make no mistake! I am still considering on adding those routes depending on how well the game is received :)
I'll keep my eyes peeled. I hope you and your collaborators continue to do cool experimental things like this into the future, especially if they involve monster girls.
Awesome game that I am extremely lucky to have been involved with!
OMG thank you so much for your amazing music! It has been such a pleasure to collaborate with you on this, and hopefully on more projects in the future!