Disclaimer: This review contains heavy spoilers for the game. Do not read if you want to keep the plot a surprise.
Intro:
I first played this short, yet spellbinding visual novel in its first Game Jam version back in October. This version is mostly the same, aside from occasional cosmetic changes. I wanted to wait until I finished this recent version to review it, so here I am! I think this gripping feminist thriller needs more love, and I’m going to write about why I loved it so much! So, now let’s get into my overall thoughts and conclude after that.
Overall Thoughts:
The setting of 1900s England is very convincing, with great attention given to the look, feel, and manner of speaking the characters express themselves in. And sadly, the way Alma is treated by everyone feels very realistic and shows how much misogyny existed in that time period, and still does now… The setup with her being sent to a cottage for “hysteria” feels historically accurate and exactly how others would use that against her. And her futile attempts to get others to believe the strange messages she sees on the leaves is sad and shows just how hard it is for women to be believed by men. The eventual reveal of the Neighbour and the Boy is utterly brilliant and I didn’t see it coming at all. Once again, Borealis chose to keep this in reality, and not diving into delusions or fantasy like I half-expected. And Alma’s resolve is well-earned and easy to root for as the player.
While there aren’t many characters, they are all interesting and serve to effectively enhance Alma’s journey and motivations. Alma herself is likeable and sympathetic, with her unfairly being treated when she’s just trying to live her life the way she wants. Her development into rebellion and solving the conflict herself is rewarding and a good example of empowerment. I also like how you might doubt her senses at first, but come to quickly believe in and cheer for her. Mrs. Miller is cold, but wants to please Alma’s father deep down. She is a good obstacle and foil to Alma, and shows how other women can also contribute to the patriarchy and be someone’s obstacle and caretaker at the same time. The Neighbour is the perfect villain for this story, and the most frightening of any of Borealis’s games so far. His cruelty towards his own son and evil actions towards women make him terrifying and a good symbol of the privilege men get in that time period. His predator-like mannerisms are scary as well. And I love the fact that the villain of the story is a realistic person like him, I think he’s far more scary than any monster could possibly be… And the Boy is a sad and tragic figure that is the perfect motivation for Alma and the player to reach the end. He could also act as a symbol of the pure people facing the violence of the patriarchy. Him being the secret messenger retroactively makes the previous leaves so sad and scarily real.
There aren’t many choices in the game, only a few. But they all affect the ending you get, so they matter a lot. Bad Ending 1, where Alma tells Mrs. Miller everything, is the most sad yet possibly most realistic outcome for Alma, and really shows the stigma against mental health as well. Bad Ending 2, where Alma sneaks into the Neighbour’s house during the day is a good and tense path that shows more of the Neighbour and the Boy, and what their interactions are like. The brutality of it is also shocking, which makes Alma’s fate sad, since she tried to resist and died for it… However, the Good Ending is satisfying and really showcases Alma’s bravery and agency. The tense rescue at night is unnerving, and I actually got scared when the Neighbour started chasing them. Using the plants as a cover was smart and thematically clever, along with the happy and well-earned epilogue.
The art is on par with True Colours. The character sprites look gorgeous and are fitting of the era. The backgrounds are beautiful and memorable. Sadly, there’s only one CG (the image at the Good Ending that’s the same on the game’s banner), and it’s my sole criticism of this game. I wish there were at least 2 or 3 more, since I wanted to see more of this world, but I understand that this made for a Game Jam, and I still enjoy everything. And it might be because of the shorter length, but the partial voice acting, especially on Alma and the Neighbour, really enhance the experience greatly and make the tense moments all the more anxiety-inducing. It’s so well done. And the music and sound effects are top notch. I love the small, yet very effective amount of music. It’s all old-fashioned and really captures the feeling of being alone in the country, with the more creepy music really grabbing my attention. I wish I could listen to it separately from the game… And the sound effects are used masterfully, with certain moments, like the Neighbour’s cottage door throwing open or the garden shears hitting the ground really putting me on edge and presenting itself so amazingly! It’s one of the highlights of the game.
There are other things I like. Such as the tension leading up to the Boy reveal that is so uneasy and mysterious, and makes you really want to see what happens next. This would make a good thriller movie. I also like how no one came to save Alma at the last second, her resolving the conflict on her own makes the message have more integrity. And the pacing is so good! I was gripped from beginning to end the whole time and never lost interest. There was never a dull moment and everything felt natural, with suspense being there the entire time. This is so good, especially for a game made in such a short time frame.
Conclusion:
All that being said, this game is very well made and its story and characters are so fresh and interesting. It truly is a feminist tale wrapped in a Victorian thriller that truly sells you on its terror. And like the last two, Borealis positively portrays mental health and has an uplifting ending message, something that is very nice to still see. The music and art are nice with its overall tone. You could argue that the price is too high for its 1-2 hour length, but it’s important to remember that this was only made in a few weeks for a contest. It’s well polished for that, and it’s not expensive. At least you can keep it forever, and replay it anytime you want. So, if you like strong women and mysterious thrillers, definitely check this out!
Personally, I love this a lot and it shows why Borealis is one of my favorite game developers. It made me terrified and happy for its main character to succeed, and really shows how important it is for women to be represented as capable. It’s a shame once again that few people have played it, since women empowerment stories are quite rare and this is an unusual setting for a visual novel… Still, I loved it and I’m glad I could share my thoughts. To end this, I’ll just say: never give up and fight back against oppression, and do what’s right, no matter the cost!
