I Saw Him Today by MikomiKisomi

[raw]
made by MikomiKisomi for LD 42 (COMPO)

Sometimes you have to come face to face with ghosts from your past.

Warning: game contains no graphic images but contains mentions of suicide.

A short, emotional visual novel made in under 48 hours for Ludum Dare 42 by Mikomi Kisomi. Please do not ask for choices to be added, as they are not in the game for a reason.

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Ratings

Overall 386th 3.338⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Fun 629th 2.641⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 493th 2.935⭐ 33🧑‍⚖️
Theme 505th 3.235⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 104th 3.929⭐ 37🧑‍⚖️
Mood 12th 4.088⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 16🗨️

Feedback

YuKey0
12. Aug 2018 · 12:53 UTC
While intriguing, this was a very sad story to read, but to be considered considering what you wrote above. I liked the psychological aspect of this and how you described the situations and this other character's behavior, have not heard much about that kinda thing personally, so found it all the more interesting (spoiler, so saying no more). Great work, looking forward to see what you make in the future too (* ^ ω ^)
moonlightbomber
13. Aug 2018 · 01:26 UTC
Nice use of both the literal and metaphorical interpretations of the theme. The writing could receive a few touch-ups (like typos); but overall, this is fine.
yojammerjammer
14. Aug 2018 · 01:41 UTC
Love the use of the theme... nice work!
José Alvim
14. Aug 2018 · 22:44 UTC
The feels!
DrSkort
14. Aug 2018 · 22:49 UTC
Really great vn! I liked the story and how you described the inner emotion of the main protagonist. The art was also well done and I enjoyed playing it.
manusaiz
14. Aug 2018 · 23:25 UTC
Hey! Lovely visual novel there.

It is quite sad too, but I liked it. Well packed and the mood is pretty solid too.

Maybe I am tired but I felt like I missed the point about the theme completely.

Are we running out of space together, or the guy needs privacy and we insist so he is out of space without us? In the end we see it's all about a whole different stuff, so there i got completely lost and now I am not sure if It relates to the theme or not. We can pm each other on Twitter ( @ manuScythe ) to discuss without spoiling the piece here.

One piece of constructive feedback:
Although the clasic narrative was solid, it would have been nice to include a couple branching choices (or any other kind of interaction), so it could qualify as game too :P

Overall great job! reminded me of the good old dokidokiliteratureclub times.
Nyri0
15. Aug 2018 · 21:50 UTC
It's well written, it's interesting, the drawings are nice (though many drawings are missing probably because you didn't have enough time to draw) but I regret there's no interaction with the player. We don't move, or choose what to say, etc.
Crave
16. Aug 2018 · 02:03 UTC
Pretty admirable compo submission! Great Job overall, a personal 5/5 in art and mood
blinry
16. Aug 2018 · 09:51 UTC
Nice drawings and writing, but I wished there was some player interaction. Passively consuming the story didn't really do it for me.
Raccoon_JS
16. Aug 2018 · 21:47 UTC
I didn't finish reading it, but I liked the artworks.
incobalt
16. Aug 2018 · 23:58 UTC
I was really expecting a choice at least at the end, but it just didn't come. I think it's a good story that people will relate to, and it was an interesting take on the theme. The art was very good, and I think I remember that you submitted pretty early too, so that's some quick sketching!
JonahSenzel
17. Aug 2018 · 01:16 UTC
for a jam I found this a surprisingly mature and multi faceted take on suicide and youth. Loved the art style as well. The only thing is I feel this really would have had the same effect if it had just been a comic, the fact that it was a game didn't play a factor in the experience. would love to see an interactive branching story game from you with this same superb style though!
aug
19. Aug 2018 · 08:04 UTC
I enjoyed the well thought-out story, rough artwork, and VN style, but I wish there was some music! It goes a long way in the genre. No real complaints here other than that!
Lu7cie
21. Aug 2018 · 14:33 UTC
It was very good ! I really like everything, maybe a bit of music in the background would complete the story but anyway it's a compo, and a good compo ! All the feelings are well describe and the story is complete, I really wonder what happened at the end, did he speak to him ? Did he ignore him ? And the theme is well insert with all the thought of our character, and more, it reminds the different ways of thinking of people : "center of attention", all the notifications from "friends", "her" and the "guilty" who's not really.. Good job !
Matank
22. Aug 2018 · 03:02 UTC
Really liked the drawing and the writing! Personally, it's a bit hard for me to enjoy a visual novel without any choices or interactivity, but for a linear story I thought it was really polished.
saoi-games
23. Aug 2018 · 18:15 UTC
I think the story was very well written, and the pacing was excellent. I don't know how accurate the depiction of depression was. I know some people that are depressed and suicide with them is not about manipulating others.

I wish that there was music as I read the story. It would have polished the experience.

The art is very well done.

I do not understand how the theme was applied. It didn't quite feel like I was running out of space at all.

I hated the ending. I didn't get any resolution, and it left me frustrated.

Playing I was just clicking on next, and there were no choices I had to make. In visual novels, I often get to make decisions, and for this, I was just consuming a story instead of interacting. I don't think it qualifies as a game. I've seen some other Visual Novels in the Ludum Dare that did incorporate the theme and had some player agency, so I think I'll have to rate you down for not meeting these.

I had never heard of Ren Py before. Is it easy to use? I noticed that you didn't have a web version of the game. I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to download and install it. This would have been nice to read on my tablet or phone.

Thank you for submitting your novel. I know that writing a cohesive story in 72 hours must have been a challenge.
Team-on
23. Aug 2018 · 19:12 UTC
I love this artstyle. Subscribed!
George Lancaster
24. Aug 2018 · 22:13 UTC
I wanted to love it, but I only liked it a lot. I wanted to choose. The art style is good. I just wanted it to more of a "game".
MartinTristan
25. Aug 2018 · 03:25 UTC
pretty deep! very well written, the emotions of the characters are really well conveyed. the drawings are really good and works with the style and mood. i like the subtle application of the theme. it would be great if you can choose if you reach out or not, so that there will be 2 different endings and people will play it twice. great game!