The previous work of this developer, [i]SoulSet[/i], is one of my all-time favourites, so I was happy to find out that they were going to proceed with their creative endeavors. The reasons I absolutely love [i]SoulSet[/i] are plenty: charismatic, multi-dimensional characters; its plot being a complex non-linear ontological mystery that is revealed slowly, layer by layer, with tons of details foreshadowing these reveals; inventive, meta-narrative features, and playing around with the fourth wall; a delightful mix of heartwarming and hilarious moments, organically interwoven with deeper, darker and uncomfortable stuff, dealt with tastefully and honestly; high production value; the way that even the structure of the visual novel itself supports its premise in a meaningful way; etc.
I was sure that at least some of these features would be represented in [i]Blankspace[/i], and you know what? They are! All of them!
[i]Blankspace[/i] is a bit more compact than [i]SoulSet[/i]–there are only two characters, and the underlying mystery is significantly less complex; it is also possible to achieve the True End (not the Secret End, however) during your first playthrough. Still, it is hardly less ambitious, given that the gameplay of [i]Blankspace[/i] involves both reading and solving puzzles, so [i]a lot[/i] of effort went into designing them, making them an intrinsic part of the story, creating all their constituents (such as 3D models and artwork), programming them and ensuring their correct operation.
And these puzzles are so well-designed, to boot! I read and solved two rooms out of three when [i]Blankspace[/i] was at its beta stage (the main creator, Nayru, was extremely kind to provide me with a copy, even though my support tier on Kickstarter hadn’t been high enough to get me the participation in the beta phase), and it was difficult enough to keep me challenged and thoroughly entertained, however, not so difficult that I would have stuck completely and lost the motivation to proceed. They were pretty diverse, too! I enjoyed them a lot, both the puzzles themselves, and how they were merged with the story, providing a framework for Chris’ and Beryl’s interactions.
As for the main characters… At first, I was a bit wary, because I tend to dislike the stories of “Male MC meets a mysterious girl/woman under unusual circumstances, and then inevitably romance happens” type. Still, I trusted NoBreadStudio and was entirely right to do so! The relationship between Beryl and Chris does not feel cliché at all; I guess, the main reason is that there is no heteronormativity, none whatsoever; and the second major reason is that they both feel like distinct human beings with their complicated mental landscapes, and very much not some placeholders who only exist for wish-fulfillment purposes.
All-in-all, my experience with [i]Blankspace[/i] was extremely satisfying! I properly played through its completed version during a not-so-peachy period of my life when my general state of being made it very difficult to focus on anything; however, [i]Blankspace[/i] miraculously conjured my enthusiasm for things and even resonated with some parts of my psyche in a very, um, pertinent manner. Give it a chance, if you haven’t already, especially if you like to be agonizingly intrigued!
