Saihate Station

shion i love you

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spoiler]Before getting into the expansion, I decided to write a review for the main game. 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 In my opinion, this game ultimately tells a story about 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. Both characters have suffered horrible experiences that molded them into who they are now. Events that carved into them the relentless search for validation, the longing for everlasting love, and the desire to get back some of the sense of safety that was cruelly taken from them as kids/teens. Adults failed them; the people who were supposed to make them feel safe betrayed them, and that ends up shaping their mental health. It leaves them confused, unable to truly comprehend even the most basic of their emotions. Trapped in this never-ending cycle of trauma, we join two characters, 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧. Our protagonist, 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐮, escapes from his scars through self-inflicted numbness and self-hatred. If he takes the blame for everything, then he is free from injustice, free of conflict; he can redirect all his anger into himself, giving him control over his situation and allowing him to accept everything that happened to him. Of course, if it were all his fault, it would make sense that he had to suffer so much... right? He is a prime example of internalized blame. On the other side, we have our deuteragonist, 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧. He is much harder to analyze, mainly because the story is told from Haru's POV and not his. What we can deduce is that he uses obsession as a shield. His biggest desire is to prove his parents wrong: to be loved, to deserve love, and to be 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. If he can make one person see that, one person submit to his ego, then he wins... all the damage will be undone, and he will finally be free of his chains. At least, that's what his defense mechanism tells him, but what we see through his actions is a lot different. He truly cares for the protagonist; beyond that obsession, there is something real... but that's the issue with a brain built on hypervigilance: he cannot comprehend anything he feels, and he is lost. Due to his poor mental state, he eventually ends up committing three grave sins. Now, having our two main characters introduced, let's talk about their interactions and development throughout the game. From start to finish, we follow them as they figure out the situation they're in, wandering through memories and searching for clues regarding what is keeping them there. It didn't take long for me to appreciate that they have amazing chemistry, making the dialogue quite fun and keeping the pacing intriguing. I can't say the plot twist wasn't obvious, though. I don't think it was meant to surprise us, to be honest. It was probably intended to be something you don't want to address, something that is right under your nose but that you still attempt to look away from. And they achieved their goal, lacking subtlety and being edgy, as most RPG Maker games are, but achieving it nevertheless. Of course, I found some of the cheap shots a bit over the top, but it didn't bother me. I like how melodramatic indie horror games often are, though it would certainly be better if they had a bit more tact instead. I will take a moment to shift the focus towards the art direction. The drawings are wonderful! Truly GORGEOUS to look at; they did a majestic job with expressions and conflicted emotions. Backgrounds and objects looked cool, though the movement sprites felt a bit cheap at first. I ended up liking them anyway. Music was also a huuuuge highlight. I think it elegantly complemented the game, and so did its atmospheric sound design. 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐦 𝐈𝐭 𝐔𝐩 I had a great time playing this game! I had high hopes for it; I even bought the DLC before playing it because I had a feeling I would like it. Got the secret ending on my first try too, and that felt nice. It's great when games reward players for paying attention to their surroundings... though I have to admit it gives way too many clues about what to do at times. Still, leaving minor critiques aside, it was worth every second I poured into it :))[spoiler]

I love toxic yandere yaoi

damn.

cinematic masterpiece