Under the Stars

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!