this was for you.

Watercress makes plenty of well done Visual Novels, yet this one completely exceeds my expectations. The art is something else. It's so aesthetically pleasing, and the way it animates is great. The soundtrack in Watercress titles are unique and interesting, yet the way soundtrack could be nice, upbeat, and cheery on one hand, yet soft, sad, and a nostalgic tune makes it a pleasing experience. The story got me pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up, but in a good way! Overall, just a lovely experience, and would replay it again whenever I need a good soundtrack to listen to.

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This game is definitely worth your time. The entire game's over an hour long, and the story is amazing. It does get a bit boring at times; but these moments our made up for soon later. The artwork's alright; But still pleasing to look at. Plus, the game's free. go for it!

This Was For You has some good elements but it did do one thing that annoyed me. It lists there being choices on the store page but in actuality it has one single choice that makes absolutely no difference to the story. It should have just said it was a kinetic novel, which the developer has listed for other games they made. Getting that gripe out of the way I will say there is an interesting story to be had. I do wish I had more control over it as I don’t agree with some of the actions the main character does. The voice acting was good though and the plot does have at least one nice revelation to it. The sound effects were well done. The graphics and animations were actually quite good for the genre. It is told in the first person view, which isn’t unique, but the characters movements are. Most visual novels don’t depict things like getting out of bed; walking; etc yet this game does so and does it convincingly. The run time is short but the game manages to tell a fleshed out story in it’s time. There is zero closure though and it just ends. The game does have an interesting UI with menus to view emails as well as having a different main menu system than most games in the genre. I played This Was For You on Linux. It never crashed and I didn’t notice any bugs or spelling errors. You can save whenever you want and there are nine save slots. Game Engine: Ren’Py 7.2.0.424 Graphics API: OpenGL Disk Space Used: 434 MB GPU Usage: 0-46 % VRAM Usage: 1303-1567 MB CPU Usage: 1-4 % RAM Usage: 4.1-4.4 GB Despite my annoyance at the games lack of branching and ending I enjoyed the story and can commend it as well as praise it’s voice acting and UI. It could have been more than what it was but it was a solid game regardless. I finished it in thirty three minutes and given it’s price tag of free can easily recommend it. My Score: 7/10 My System: Intel i5-12600K | 16GB DDR4-3000 CL15 | XFX RX 590 8GB Fat Boy | Mesa 23.1.5 | Western Digital Black SN850 500GB | Garuda | Mate 1.26.0 | Kernel 6.4.8-zen1-1-zen

[i]''You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one'' - Anonymous[/i] [b]Watercress Studios[/b] more recent collaboration for the NaNoRenO 2019 one month long writer's game jam is a reminiscent journey for a social Gamer who is caught up emotionally in an ongoing cycle that is difficult to break out of. Before adding anymore I want to add a [u]warning - this story revolves around the depression felt when not being able to move on and, imo, can act as a trigger for anyone reading it who is vulnerable to this topic[/u] The journey taken through this story is portrayed in a way that you are not immediately aware of what has fully happened until the closing moments; what is a revelation with [b]this was for you[/b] is how you are gradually taken through the process that shows why we know the protagonist is depressed both from actions and mindset. The appeal to this Visual Novel is in its simple game-play design alongside the subtle writing used to guide the reader along as it progresses so there is an immersion from a 1st player perspective. It allows for emotive players to slow-build into experiencing the protagonist's dilemma [u]because[/u] the game design incorporates VO both in the form of real world Voicemails and with the upbeat use of [i]CH35H1R3[/i] VO that adds light humour throughout within a VR world. The real world interaction has emails to view throughout for extra perspective to the protagonist's escapism from real world responsibilities yet, surprisingly, the Reader can progress through this story without even looking at any of them which I found a minor drawback since there was invaluable detail there that elevates the story from the real world angle. Meanwhile, in the VR world, everything must be interacted with for the story to progress; I realise this is important to the protagonist in coming to terms with what has happened and can see that by making the emails optional in real world it can refer to the choice that the protagonist makes in dealing with the dilemma. Prioritising the VR world where the protagonist is struggling to comes to terms accepting what has happened there holds back progress in real world essential routines. Visually, the game design again delivers with lively, upbeat images in the VR world while the real world is shown as the complete opposite that mirrors the protagonist's state of mind but also delivers in showing the appeal to the protagonist's escapism in a MMO VR world where we see an online personal friendship began. The music is again catchy within the VR world yet the real world features excellent use of sound effects to show the everyday sounds we take for granted. There is a realistic approach to this visual novel that makes reading it a double-edged sword purely because it handles a topic that can be related to from alternative scenarios due to the emotional impact this writing centres upon. To be exact, as this sensitive experience revolves around the difficult process of grief we join the [url=https://www.verywellmind.com/five-stages-of-grief-4175361]5 stages of grief[/url] at the later stages with the finale of this Visual Novel being the only multi-choice decision but that, in itself, is the biggest decision of all. Curiously, the finale that has the multiple choice decision will no doubt surprise Readers and, personally, even though I see why that happens, many will be left wondering why no outcomes are shown and could even have been used to gain achievement replays. Another point I felt was unusual was the reveal on the store which I think would have had a much more powerful impact if it was not shown instead being left to be read in the finale of this VN. Aside from that, this free to play is like peeling an onion in that for some it will make them cry, for others it will have a strong sting in its reveal and, much like an onion, there are underlying layers to this story that are sensitively handled. [quote=Jodi Clarke, MA, LPC/MHSP]5 stages of Grief article shown above from the Verywellmind website[/quote] ~~~Liked what you see? You can find more at [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32839633]Have a word[/url]~~~

This visual novel really spoke to me... I have a really close online friend, I'd even say he's my best friend, but I've never met him in person. If he died on his way to meet me.... to be completely honest I'd probably kill myself. This game is very emotional and the writing is excellent. I loved it.

Well this was depressing.

[h1]Day-to-day life of a protagonist that has lost a close online friend.[/h1] Forewarning: This game deals with the subject of death [strike]and annoying catgirl AI[/strike]. Fairly short game, but I did enjoy it. Not many CGs, but it got its point across. Free-to-play, no more, no less. This game hit hard regardless of if my best online friend was watching me stream this or not. And that's precisely why I recommend it.

Make me big sad :(