Under the Stars

is this blind accessible?

are any of your other games blind accessible?

I feel like I don't know how to really put into words how Under the Stars has really got through to me but I will try. 

This story is beautifully written and I love how thought-provoking the messages are especially for anyone who feels out of place where they currently are at in life. Dulari is a character you can't help but empathize with and root for as she worries about turning another year older and even closer to becoming queen. 

The two main routes address various aspects of what the core of these worries are and we see how Dulari comes to embrace who she is and her situation in general by the time they end. I like that Dulari has good friendships with Ezekiel and Leon and strong support from them also! (I happy cry because of their relationships -- ok??? T_T) . I liked the order I ended up playing these routes (Ezekiel's route then Leon's) as it seemed that there was more backstory that contributed to the overall story in Leon's route than Ezekiel's (so I personally would play in that order again). 

The secret route was also just intriguing and had a shift in the theme/message of the story while still contributing to theme of loneliness and how to reach out to connect with people in little ways. I love this route a lot!

Anywho, all I know now is that I'm rooting for the characters (though maybe not a certain king lol) and particularly Dulari. I feel like that after you play this game that you can't help but continue to root for her and hope that all the best happens in her life. I also feel like this story is just a nice reminder to find the people who get you and don't be too hard on yourself <3 <3 (helen, this game is wonderful -- I am happy that I could experience such a lovely story!)

The art and visual aspects of the game are so cool too so another reason to  play this game ASAP if are not yet convinced for some reason :) 

Under the Stars is a wonderfully tender fairy tale about loneliness, growing up, and finding your place in the world - with people who understand you. It's a melancholic story that pulls at your heartstrings with its earnest heartfeltness. 

The art is lovely, oftentimes painted in blues and pinks that give it a very ethereal, fairytale-like quality. The sprites are wonderfully expressive. I love the GUI, which also evokes that storybook feel, and the BGM is well-chosen, perfectly suiting the atmosphere and mood. The writing is incredibly poetic, painting the world and the characters just as much as the visuals (of course, it's a len game, how could it not be beautifully poetic...) 

The characters, despite their differences, are all wonderful and likeable in their own ways (well, except Saruva). Dulari is deeply introspective, a gentle person who worries more for others than herself. Ezekiel is a big ball of sunshine. Leon is somber and melancholic, but at the same time he's very conscientious towards others. The jester is mysterious but never appears outright villainous - they always seem to be hiding something. Dulari's parents appear a bit less, but I appreciated the nuance in their portrayal - neither is a perfect ruler or a perfect partner, but you can tell that they try to be good parents. 

===SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT===

I loved both of the "main routes." They share a similar structure, but I liked how well they showed Dulari's differing dynamics with Ezekiel and Leon. I like how the portrayal of the relationships are pretty much up to reader interpretation - whether they interpret them to be platonic or romantic. Even in the third ending, it's clear that the relationships between the three are as strong as ever - be it friendship, love, or anything else. 

Each route really centers around Dulari having to adapt to how the "complexities of the adult world" are changing her friendships. She has been friends with both Ezekiel and Leon for a long time, and once upon a time those friendships were simple and easy. However, as they get older, Dulari feels guilty that Ezekiel is pressured to stay by her side and protect her; she wants him to have a life of his own. At the same time, Dulari's relationship with Leon is shaken by the death of his mother and his downward spiral into mourning. Over the course of the route, she has to navigate and overcome these "adult troubles," and in turn Ezekiel and Leon recognize Dulari's own struggles and support her in their own way. 

Saruva as a villain is INCREDIBLY fitting. He is a wonderful contrast to Dulari. Saruva, like Dulari, appears to be a person who is "searching for someone" - a person for him. However, unlike Dulari, he does not see people as people - instead, he views them as "objects." He does not care about or respect the queen's feelings, he only cares that she loves him. He treats Iris as a tool and a form of entertainment. On the other hand, Dulari is conscious and sensitive to the people around her - almost overly so, and each route ends with her coming to a genuine understanding with her "love interest" - one that is tender, gentle, and wholly unselfish. At the end, it really feels like Saruva's toxic, solitary obsession is pitted against the understanding love between Dulari and Ezekiel/Leon. 

On a more "societal" level, Saruva is also a good contrast to Dulari. Both Saruva and Dulari are nobles - privileged people who stand above the masses. However, Saruva is selfish, delighting in his wealth and privilege, partying all day with no care for the people. On the other hand, while Dulari is also privileged, she accepts it and seems to care genuinely for her people, worrying about fulfilling her duties to the kingdom. In the secret route, she even takes the time to understand Iris - that jester who is mocked and dismissed by everyone.

While the first two routes are good, I think that the game TRULY becomes something special with the addition of the secret route. Up until then, Dulari's "coming of age" mainly centers around understanding her own feelings, growing more confident in herself, and understanding the people around her. She is confronted with "the complicated feelings that the world of adults has," but she's not seriously challenged. In Iris' route, that changes. Iris is a person who was ripped from their childhood and their idyllic childhood dreams and thrust into a world in which they were mocked and used, subject to the whims of a selfish king; they hate the monarchy, and with good reason. At this point, Dulari is forced to confront the realities of her own privileges - how good her life has been, despite being born under the Star of Solitude. And despite this, she chooses to do her best - to reach out and offer kindness and understanding to someone who is even more unfortunate than she. It's a powerful statement about growing up, and a lesson that is useful to many - that growing up is about accepting harsh realities, showing gratitude for your blessings, and spreading good in the world however you can, even if you know that the world won't change so easily. I really appreciate that, in this route, you learn the "jester's" name - Iris. In that way, Dulari truly makes an effort to know and understand this person. 

Overall, this is such a lovely game that I would recommend to just about everyone. Truly lencore! Fantastic work!

Welp that popped a frog boner, nice work!

"That's how love works, I guess. It never truly ends if you're willing to nurture it."

I feel bad that I hadn't commented yet, I'd played half of the game when it first came out but forgot to do the secret route until now. I ended up replaying the whole thing to refresh my memory and I'm very glad I did.

The story length ends up being relatively short but the relationship for the characters is so warm and believable in that time. The routes do a good job of showing the different aspects of Dulari's strengths. Despite being so warm and loving, there's still a slight bitterness concerning Dulari's mother and her dissatisfaction, which I liked. Happiness is hardly so clean cut. Everyone was sweet but I found Leon to be particularly heart-tugging. The two openly gave such affection to each other which made me smile (～￣▽￣)～
After reading it, I tried to think of what tied everything together. Family? Friendship? Fate? But I decided it was Dulari's empathy-- not a weak and gentle thing, but a courageous and smart one. It causes her to overthink certain situations but it's also like a magic key that is able to unlock closed hearts. She is a princess but she knows the pain of isolation so she is able to humble herself for others. Even if I forget the story or the names of the characters I'm sure that the warm feeling of Dulari's empathy will remain. "Yes, that's the story that made me smile. I thought about it for the whole night."
Thank you very much for making it. You wrote it so sincerely so had no choice but to surrender my heart. You'll surely lighten the day of anyone who touches your work.

PS: steiner ff9 is the ideal man there is no two ways about it

I don't know how much I have to say but I'll say what I have to say anyway.

I absolutely love the "casual poetry" writing style that you have. It's really adding to the feeling that UTS could be a fairy tale from another world, it really feels like something I could read in one of the weird old fairy tale compilations I used to read when I was a child. The characters are extremely huggable (this is a high compliment btw), ESPECIALLY Dulari, I will protect her at all costs I don't care. ALSO. Big shoutout to platonic love here, I love it when that happens, we need more of it.

Not to mention, gods, the story did make me cry at one point (you know which one), and even outside of that point, it was emotionally engaging all the way through, so I didn't even have trouble with my terrible attention span (which is rare these days). It's landing on my Certified Classics list. Thank you for the experience.

Hi, I want to leave my very thorough itch review!

So... what can I say about this game? God, it was good. It was so good! Aaaah!

I loved all the choices regarding the art: the colour schemes were great and adjusted to the characters, the writing was a delight to read (a smile being compared to a flame illuminating the world????? wonderful!!!!), the music was hypnotising and entrancing... I really loved that! The overall was very dreamy and whimsical (and can I say I love the gui? I love the gui)

Regarding the main characters, I really loved them. I have to start with Dulari. I've rarely loved a protagonist that much. Her solitude felt heavy, her fears and insecurities were tangible and how she uses everything in the end to empower herself without denying her tenderness... Sure, she's one of my favourite protags ever, maybe MY favourite protag, like the number 1?? I only wanted the best for her! I also really enjoyed how much of a dreamer she was: I like characters who can get in their own world. She's compassionate, empathetic, and yet, she doesn't handle everything perfectly. She's flawed (as a person, and as we all are, not as a character from a writing perspective), but it feels so right. And seeing all these classical "feminine values", which I personally hold dearly, and that are always disregarded by patriarchy, being what empowers her felt so right and so sweet.

I also really enjoyed Leon as a love interest! He is very melancholic, but also present for Dulari. I appreciated he knew how to respect her boundaries and how he tackled the terrible situation he was in, since he's very concerned by the general scheme behind the three routes. Even the backstory he had, and how it has influenced his vision of love... it was very tender.

Of course, I have to mention my himbo Ezekiel. He was hilarious! I do feel like his route should be played first, as I felt it was a bit less climactic than Leon's, but I really enjoyed his interactions with Dulari and how his backstory tackled the pressure of having children to have some sort of legacy. His love for Dulari also sounded very true.

For the secret route, I really enjoyed how it gave a whole new perspective of the jester. Well, their general motive was somehow revealed in the other routes by their dialogue, but once you explore it... It sounded so grounded in reality... Very true, very sad and very bitter. Obviously, very interesting commentary on capitalism from the game, but it also was just so moving. And seeing Dulari being able to answer to it with hope... made me love her even more to be honest! I was a bit worried about the love story, since I didn't want it to be romantic, and I'm glad this route was aro!

Let's talk about love: it is such a sweet take of what love can be. It's mostly supporting each other, showing empathy, caring in the broader sense... Actually, it can exist in so many different forms, and the game shows that so beautifully.

That's it! Long story short, it was an amazing game, thank you! Empowering, tender, melancholic, bittersweet, sweet, soft, sad, happy... It touched my soul!

Wonderful and heartfelt as always!! <3
I adored the story so much, I can't wait to finish all the different routes!
Some of the drama reveals made me gasp irl LMAO
the art is so mwahmwahmwah I love
ALSO big up the tall girl rep with Dulari!???!?! I felt so seen it made me so happy (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ) hehe

this was an incredibly fun game, helen!!! you really knocked it out of the park! the characters are so charming, the sprites are well done, the CGs are - so cute!!!!!! oh my god. ez and leon took my heart and ran with it! 

ALSO, the vashti bunyan music? i was so excited i recognized her. amazing taste. 

i've yet to find the secret route, BUT i had to comment.  i'll probably add more once i find that jester route!