Breathless Winds - LGBT Visual Novel

[code] I played the game with my partner's through family sharing, on their account - my actual playtime is closer to ~11h as I'm writing this. [/code] I've completed Rue's route and I've loved it. I knew it would be a good story, but the writing exceeded my expectations. As part of the target audience, it really felt like a Visual Novel that was written for people [i] like me [/i] and I really liked it. Will complete the other routes eventually. [u] Keypoints: [/u] [list] [*] [b] An LGBT romance story with a trans lead that is a key part of the story [/b] - And not about how miserable she must be, but rather, how happy she can become by embracing herself and her community, while still confronting her own struggles. [*] [b] A story that ends well, but isn't "light" [/b] - There's definitely some darker elements and implications in the story. It's good to have a plot and characters that feel real, and don't shy away from certain themes, while still not fully ending in total tragedy (Check CWs) [*] [b] 4 fairly linear stories with 'decorative' dialog options, and a clear route selection [/b] - Definitely a pro for me: I've played my fair share of "maze-like" VNs that you can only 'solve' with a walkthrough/guide. It can be fun sometimes, but some other times it's good to be able to read something without having to double check every five minutes you're not on the wrong path. [/list] I didn't want to write it as a "good and bad" list because this is a choice for you, the review reader. Some people don't like linear stories, some people prefer lighter (or darker) themes. Personally those are only "pros", but I'm not you. All I can say is the game's page and descriptions are exactly what you'll find in the box - An LGBT/trans story, wrapped in a linear VN with great art - If that sounds like a story you want to read, you won't be disappointed!

[h1]Discovering yourself while saving an island. :o[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]Breathless Winds[/i] is a LGBTQ+, fantasy visual novel developed and published by ForeverFuture Games. You take on the role of Dorman, a closeted transgender woman who has recently recovered from a sailing accident that had left her almost dead as she went on a futile search for her missing (presumed dead now) parents. As Dorman tries to settle back into normal life, she struggles with her past identity since her parents wanted her to be more of a man despite that Dorman has always felt more like a woman. In addition, her parents always wanted her to follow in their footsteps of being a sailor even though that has never been Dorman's passion. At the same time, a calamity is happening on Two Elk Island, Dorman's home, and the problem is exacerbated by the presence of unwanted foreign visitors. Can Dorman stop this impending disaster, all while discovering her true identity and finding love? As for the gameplay, lots of choices are presented throughout the story. Dorman can go on one of four romance routes: Gallardia (Dorman's childhood friend and fellow sailor), Lantana (Dorman's childhood bully who has since turned over a new leaf and is now a healer), Valerian (the prince of Castle Island who seeks a cure for his ailing father), or Rue (the resident witch with mysterious powers and a mysterious past). Regardless of which route Dorman goes on, the ending will always be good, with choices only impacting dialogue slightly. There are several CGs and a varied music track as well as Steam achievements. However, achievements won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "profile features limited". [h2]Review[/h2] [i]Breathless Winds[/i] caught my interest early on, especially after reading the store page description. As far as I'm aware, there aren't many visual novels out there with a transgender main character, so I was curious to read such a story. The developers were very kind to send over a review key, so that I could have a chance to play the game and give my thoughts. ^^ The beginning starts off a bit on the slow side, with Dorman having recently awakened from what is called Melancholy, a state of depression. It is assumed that Dorman's Melancholy is due to her parents' death, and part of it is. However, now that they're gone, Dorman is struggling to break free from the identity that her parents placed on her, of being a man and a sailor. I like how the writer developed Dorman's character. It feels very realistic, as Dorman has fears and struggles. It's a sensitive topic, and the writer did a wonderful job of approaching the topic with care. As for the routes, I enjoyed all of them. Each romance option has their own fair share of troubles and backstory, such as Gallardia, who wants to be a better sailor and has romantic feelings towards Dorman but doesn't pursue them due to thinking of Dorman as a man. Of course, I enjoyed some routes more than others. My personal favorites would have to be Valerian's and Rue's routes. (For anyone who's curious, I'd recommend this route order: Gallardia -> Lantana -> Valerian -> Rue.) I liked their stories the most, but I also like how it's revealed that both Valerian and Rue are transgender. Getting back to the main story plot, I liked that it revolves around Two Elk Island being in danger due to the presence of foreign poachers killing spirits. Dorman is the key to preventing Two Elk Island from sinking in the ocean although the answer is only completely revealed in Rue's route (another reason to save her route for last). [i]Breathless Winds[/i] has both a main story and romance, which isn't always easy to find a balance between the two with romance visual novels. Also, I like how only good endings appear, regardless of the choices made. Sometimes, bad endings can really hurt the heart, and I like that everything gets resolved and that all loose ends are tied (for the most part). However, I will say that [spoiler]it's only in Valerian's route that Castle Island can be saved, so it made me sad that it can never be saved in the other routes[/spoiler]. As for the writing, the pacing is well done. The story consists of a prologue, five chapters, and an epilogue. There's a good balance between the exciting moments and the slower-paced, emotional ones. I only noticed a couple of typos, so major kudos to the proofreader for wonderful work. ^^ With the gameplay, I didn't encounter any technical problems, and I was able to unlock all the achievements. A couple of them can be quite tricky to obtain, though, so you may need to look up info or do some trial-and-error with choices to get them. In regards to the art, it is gorgeous. I love this hand-drawn, painted style that shows that it was done with care. The drawings can appear blurry at times, but personally, I like this style that's reminiscent of those from well-known artists. It makes it unique, and here are some beautiful CGs from early on in the story: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491377508 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491378052 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491378213 I only wish that a CG gallery had been present, so I could view all of the unlocked CGs at any time. With the music, the tracks are lovely to listen to. They vary from the sweeter, emotional moments to the more action, battle-packed scenes. The music volume can be on the quieter side, though, so depending on individual computers, you may need to adjust the volume in the game's settings as necessary. No voice acting is present, but it's not necessary to enjoy the story and get to know the various characters. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]Breathless Winds[/i]? If you enjoy fantasy visual novels and want to read one that has sweet romance, an engaging main plot, and approaches the topic of being transgender in a thoughtful, caring way, this is definitely worth considering. [i]Breathless Winds[/i] is a visual novel that will make you feel good and lets you know that it's more than ok to be yourself, as the people who truly care about you will support you. For the asking price, it's worth getting, especially if you go through all the routes and get all of the achievements. Finally, I'd like to thank ForeverFuture Games for the review key. This was such a wonderful visual novel to read, and it truly deserves more attention. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]

this. game. is AMAZINGGGG Each of the paths place a different emphasis on which of the characters has the moral high ground. I played Rue's path first, where the prince was completely IRREDEEMABLE.. but play the Prince's path.. no spoilers but you see things from his perspective and it's totally romantic too. All paths are romantic, exciting, adventurous, and you MUST play them all because there are unseen characters, different gender experiences, and each path fills in the mystery of what's going on a little more <3 great game. My god if you are LGBT, this game will hit HARD, many characters get the opportunity to recount their journey, and I swear you feel heard <3

I knew I loved this game from the start, but I decided to play through all the four routes before writing a review. Don't let my playtime deceive you, however, I'm a very fast reader and that's honestly to my detriment, 'cause this story benefits from being played slowly and I already regret it being over. Perhaps I shall remedy it by replaying, I still have a coupld of achievements to catch. Now I'll attempt to structure my ramblings: [b] Art-style [/b] Honestly, the game page says it all, but I wanted to reiterate that it's lovely and warm in the best way. I love how much personality each character and place is given. I also deeply respect the developers for drawing up several additional characters and locations for a certain route. Also, no spoilers, but there's a certain character who has. An interesting sprite change in his introduction (in some routes anyway) that was SO effective despite being simple that I couldn't catch a blink half the night. Wow. [b] The overarching plot [/b] Again, no spoilers, but I loved the way all the characters were linked to the bigger story. Loved the way choosing your love interest also chooses the way you approach the bigger problem at hand and how different the solutions and the outcomes were. Loved that just by choosing one character you didn't stop seeing or engaging with others. And also, on the topic of being linked, it's very fun to play through multiple routes and see references to stuff you would know from another route, but you aren't supposed to know in this one. On that note, while I'm a staunch happy ending lover, I feel like the endings here strike the perfect nore between feeling earned and good but also not being too sugary. You win some, you lose some. Realistic, but still rewarding. [b] The MC [/b] Without being too dramatic about it, I would die for Poppy. She's an amazing heroine to follow around, the way she interacts with different characters is very entertaining in its variety and her personal journey had me crying my eyes out more times that I cared to count. None of the choices ever left me feeling frustrated (even if they're here just for storytelling and immersive purposes, that's still important I think) and I adore the way her mind works. Also, she herself is just lovely, which I was gushing about the whole game. Also also I may have had happily screeched out loud upon reaching my first epilogue. No details, iykyk. [b] The gender of it all [/b] Okay, might be a weird name for the section, but I'm blanking out. The game is obviously marked as an LGBT story, and it's no secret that Poppy is a trans woman, and oh did those aspects deliver. I myself am not a trans woman, however, as mentioned, I cried at Poppy's journey quite a lot. It's also remarkable how differently that journey is approached depending on the route - you basically never find yourself saying 'Ah, I know this part' even on your fourth play. There are also so many identities represented throughout this vibrant world - I certainly found myself represented, along with some of my friends' experiences (Not just in the gender/sexuality journey, by the way. I guess our stories often do go hand in hand with certain familiar traumas, don't they?). Also it's incredibly obvious that the story is done by people for whom it's all a lived experience (either their own or through the community). There were certainly a few inside jokes in there that landed very well without ever becoming tone-deaf. Fear not, however, there's plenty to chuckle (or cry) at even if you're not on the alphabet. [b] The world [/b] Look, the worldbuilding is my personal weakest point as a writer, hence me not really knowing how to compliment it properly, but I love the premise of this world and the core troubles of it. I loved all the critters and spirits created for the world and the way we interact with them. It's also great that some of them you only meet in certain routes - one is never bored even on that level. It is certainly a world I would love to visit. [b] A few more words on The Themes [/b] As mentioned, there are struggles and traumas our characters faced that go far beyond just their identities. I appreciated the option to view content warnings at the start of every route, although I personally never used it myself. Prefer to go in blind and never regretted it, however it's nice that the option is there for the people who need it. Lantana's story arc, for example, reminded me so much of my best friend that I felt all the related emotions all over again. That was A Ride. [b] The music [/b] Almost forgot! The soundtrack is very nice! It's not too much, but very distinctive. I've recently caught myself humming one track or the other in my spare time, which is usually a high praise from my brain. And speaking of reading fast - I certainly wish I sometimes just sat and listened to the flute longer. Also the atmospheric (and sometimes comedic) usage of the music suddenly stopping is used masterfully, in my opinion. [b] The conclusion [/b] It's 4 am and I'm writing this with half of my brain asleep, so I may be forgetting something, but also I wanted to write this right after finishing the game, while the emotions are fresh in my mind. The gist of all this rumbling is - 10/10, would (and likely will) play again, loved the characters, LOVED Poppy, went through so many emotions and personal feelings, left smiling and feeling very warm at the end. Miss them all already. Thank you for this wonderful experience. This story deserves more attention (the positive kind) and fans, honestly! Which is what I wish to the developers, along with all the best.

Breathless Winds is a fantasy visual novel that mostly focuses on an impending metaphorically-ecological magical disaster, with a strong romance side plot centered on a pre-transition trans girl protagonist. The art is GORGEOUS, the artist has a really distinctive and evocative style. I really want to find her on social media and see more of what she’s up to! If anyone knows her art social media, let me know! I did 100% this game, not sure if the hours played is correct, I played it offline for a while. I also thought that the worldbuilding is very good and immersive, and the writer does a great job doing something that I don’t think is required in a branching visual novel, but I still appreciated, which is making all of the different routes be operating in the same reality—problems that crop up mainly to serve one route will appear in another as well, but with different focuses that make it fresh. Characters’ personalities are very consistent whether they’re acting as a love interest or as a supporting character or even an antagonist. Romance plotlines I think take a backseat to the fantasy adventure, but they’re very fun and very romantic. The romance is very much a bisexual dream, with two men and two women with equally weighty plotlines. Two of the love interest are also trans (one man and one woman), which made my little t4t heart extremely happy. I have A LOT of thoughts about the trans representation, which, again, is not the main plot. Thoughts below: I’m a sensitivity reader for trans representation, and as someone with that experience, I was pretty shocked because this visual novel pulls off something that I’ve never seen any other narrative do before. Namely, writing about pre-transition extensively with a high level of empathy and compassion. My advice to writers whose projects show up in my inbox is usually to not set scenes in pre-transition because writers tend to have a lot of problems there. But reading Breathless Winds has taught me that writing about pre-transition is not the problem—the problem is the level of compassion. Breathless Winds has this compassion in spades. Where many works would get caught up in finding edginess in the contradictory nature of pre-transition, Breathless Winds is concerned with Poppy’s inner world and her mental health. Where many works would have her be “walked in on” wearing dresses and use that for humor or conflict, Breathless Winds allows Poppy to experiment in private and come out when she’s ready. Where many works would treat her upcoming transition as something that disqualifies her from romance, Breathless Winds’ romantic options all validate Poppy’s real gender even when she’s pre-transition. Maybe this is because that my pre-transition days are 11 years in the rearview mirror, but I’m kind of shocked that it never even occurred to me that a romantic fantasy for a pre-transition person is something that could/should exist. I love that this exists not just for pre-transition people (or people unable to transition, etc.), and also for those of us who have transitioned, to imagine a compassionate fantasy for the ways we used to live our lives. I do just want to advise the reader that Poppy is misgendered and deadnamed by the narrative by necessity, so if that would be troubling for you to read, I would say consider this one carefully. I also thought that they did a great job in the portrayal of Prince Valerian, a trans man (who transitioned a long time ago in the plot), to be A+, chef’s kiss. I may be biased, but I thought that his route was the crown jewel (ha ha) of the routes, and I’m really glad I did it last. When it comes to trans men who are passing for cis but also out and their problems with cis men, many writers can easily imagine overt, misgendering transphobia. However, this novel captures other real, more subtle problems in those relationships. Namely, a sense that even if the cis men gender the trans man correctly, the trans man will never be in the “boy’s club.” This isn’t a big part of Valerian’s route, but this struggle pervades his relationships with other men from his home country, and I thought the writer really deftly included this. The writer also did a great job avoiding another pitfall many writers fall into, which is sort of “damseling” the trans man character and exploiting (what a writer might presume to be) his “natural” physical weakness—Valerian is portrayed to be as physically capable and powerful as the other male characters, and a worthy adversary. If you want to do all of the routes, my recommendation for route order would be to do Gallardia’s route first, then the girls, and then Valerian last. Just a note that outside of picking the route, all of the choices are “for fun”, so don’t stress about your choices! I did Rue’s route first, which had a bit of a goth, downery vibe, and I was like “Oh god, I’m picking bad choices,” but no, that’s just the route, lol. I would love to read something like a “behind the scenes” about the creators’ thoughts reflecting on what got them started making the game, their journey making it, and what inspired them, etc.

People always ask what it's like to be transgender. I never know how to encapsulate something like that in words, especially when everyone's experience is unique. But this was the first time I felt like I could confidently point to something and say "that". Empathizing with fictional characters is nothing special, but at multiple points in this game I felt a palpable shock as if it had reached out and physically touched me. Again and again, private thoughts and feelings and aspirations I had feared to be invalid or fraudulent were there, printed clearly on the screen. As useful and important as it is, not even therapy has managed to deliver on such unshakable feelings of validation and solidarity. Because the game's four routes avoid overlapping so aggressively, I got to experience these moments over and over again from different perspectives and in various contexts. Other moments helped me explore lingering uncertainties in my identity, while still others made me discover feelings I didn't even realize I had. Obviously a game can't fix you or replace professional help, but I can say that there's a small but distinct certainty in my identity which wasn't there before I began playing. For a game constructed with such evident care and devotion, the modest price tag feels like a steal.

I'm pretty bad at writing reviews but I've been having a blast and I desperately need more games like this so I'm writing a positive review now. As of writing, the game's story and writing has been absolutely amazing. There's been plenty of emotional moments that really got to me. The art and music has been really wonderful. Even if visual novels aren't usually your thing, if you're a trans woman (or really any flavour of queer), I 100% recommend you give this a try.

10/10 story, gorgeous art (I loved the CGs so much), and made me shed a few tears! I've only tried Valerian's route so far, but I'll definitely try to finish them all because this was such a lovely game. Although I can't personally relate to Poppy's experiences as a transwoman, I still found myself connecting with her and I loved watching her journey of growing more confident in herself through the course of the story. I only have one minor criticism, but it's far from a dealbreaker: From what I can see, there's no CG gallery to review the beautiful illustrations, which is a shame. I just screenshoted everything instead though, so it's not the end of the world. However, if you - like me - really love the art and want to look at it again and again, remember to screenshot! P.S. My hours aren't a hundred percent accurate because I tend to pause mid-game and leave the game on in the bg oops. However, it took me a good few hours still to get through just the prologue and Valerian's route so there's definitely more than plenty content here! Happy pride to the devs and thanks for the game! I greatly look forward to whatever you guys might work on in the future.

I was intrigued by this game but wondered if it would speak to me as a cis woman. I've never dealt with gender identity issues, but Breathless Winds is so emotionally resonant, it was easy to empathize and identify with the protagonist. I honestly wept during Rue's route - she was my first choice, but I also really loved Gallardia's route, too. It's not the sort of storyline I'd normally be interested in for a cis woman protagonist, but it felt so beautiful and affirming for this woman and this story. I still haven't done the other two routes but I'm really looking forward to them! I've singled out the writing, but the art is also really gorgeous. Can't recommend this enough!

This game is so good. I've only completed two routes but the way it showed her emotions and struggles helped me come out to my mom and for that I will be forever grateful to this game. Highly recommend.