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(+2)

Nice storytelling and characters, and some interesting options in approaching your expeditions and exploring. The conversation mechanics are a fresh approach to building conversation into a game, with a co-operative system of matching styles with NPCs and anticipating what they may bring to the conversation.

However I found the deck management (or lack of it) to be a massive source of frustration. It becomes incredibly difficult to try and develop a deck that can provide what you need when there is no option to store cards for later use or experiment with different strategies. Gaining and losing a card after each conversation usually leaves you with a lot of dead weight in your deck, which combines with the fatigue cards and your small hand to frequently rob you of any chance of success. 

In terms of the narrative, this essentially locks you into just a couple of areas based on how the people there talk - which doesn't really gel with the story of exploring the environment, building business connections, meeting new people, and learning about the past.

Perhaps an option to change the difficulty with things like the rate of fatigue accumulation and number of cards allowed in your hand could go towards balancing the game better. Even just to allow people a level of challenge they can enjoy while also experiencing the wider story.

(+3)

Incredible replay value for me.  The game mechanics are addicting and the story is compelling enough that I found myself playing it over and over to find new snippits of stories and new characters.  Easy game to learn, very difficult to master.  Frustrating at times because of random card draws and I wished sometimes there was an option NOT to get a new card from a conversation, but overall I adore this game.

Is the game still in development (like the itch page says) or is it released fully now?

(+2)

its released fully now!

(+4)

Really unique mechanics, nice ambient music, a lovable style, I like this game for these reasons.

Gameplay wise, I appreciated how it represented how difficult actual conversation and connecting people can be, but at a certain point it went beyond my threshold. As I neared the end of my first playthrough, I found it hard to adjust to nigh-constant failure (sometimes just from a poor initial hand!).

(+5)

The fatigue card system just discourages exploration, they come too fast and means that I end up constantly cutting myself off from the beautiful worldbuilding, as everyone cooly dismisses me.

I must agree! 

(+1)

It looks like an amazing game... yet no Linux version. :')

Wish you all the best!

(+6)

im on ubuntu and it runs fine for me with wine :)

(+1)

I confirm the Wine workaround. :)

(+3)

this game is so gorgeous i've already replayed it three times so far and i adore the different towns to explore and the different characters to interact with!! the colors and the art of the game is so stunning and i love how the cards affect how u interact with them as well! 10/10!!!

(+3)

This game is so beautiful! I quickly got very attached to the characters xD Can't wait to play though it again and see what I can do differently!

(+4)(-2)

As much as people say that this game is great, I can't say that I enjoy it. In fact, this game made me incredibly anxious and sent a message that I don't think you were intending. To me, this game said that trying to make new friends will only hurt your ability to keep the friends you already have, and working to keep the friends you have will hurt you in the long run. I put this game down halfway through my first playthrough, because that isn't the type of world I want to occupy.

(+1)

Do you mind explaining on why you think this way? To me, the way you are building your deck, it tries to accomodate everyone, yes, you will sometimes lose conversations due to RNG or being tired but you cant win them all in real life too.

(3 edits) (+3)(-1)

Honestly? It's about personal experience and psyche. It's not the game's fault, it's just that in real life the only people I've not had solid positive interactive with at least 90% of the time (aside from my mom, who I've had more conversations with than I can count, so ups and downs are expected) have simply been caustic people, so a game where learning to talk to more people could make it impossible to talk to someone you've known your whole life is abjectly terrifying to me. Meeting more people should make you better at communicating, not worse. :/ And I actually was being fairly rigid, as I was trying to maintain effective communication with the best friend, but even still it led to me being unable to meet my obligations to my village and the shop.

Maybe I'm just sheltered? It's worrying.

If this is something that you don't think is the game's fault, you probably shouldn't leave a negative review that initially makes new players believe it is. I'm halfway through my first playthrough now and have a great relationship with Elias (the childhood friend) while also meeting my shop obligations. It's definitely possible to do both in a lot of different ways, including when trying to accommodate to everyone (which is what I'm struggling to do - and is not the game's intention, because trying to accommodate to everyone definitely makes the game harder and more anxiety-inducing, just like in real life) or when picking and choosing who to talk to.

(1 edit)

It's a valid point of criticism?
Like I don't actually think this myself, since I like having interesting discussions, but...
"if you don't like this review, why did you leave a negative comment on it?"

purrsonally, I don't think it's about being better or being worse at talking to people, although I haven't played this game. One thing I have noticed in my actual real life is that often I just... grow as a person. And that people don't grow, sometimes, or they grow apart from you. I don't want to have to stagnate to maintain a friendship with someone. I don't want to have to copy someone else's personality to be friends with them.

I'm just annoyed and hoping you don't take it too personally -- it's okay to leave negative or mixed reviews on a game. No matter what game it is. It's okay to express your feelings even if you don't understand them or others find them disagreeable. That is why I am hoping you don't take this too personally -- your feelings are including when I say this: everyone's feelings matter.

That being said I am not one of those people who thinks everyone's feelings are automatically valid or like what the ... beep... ever.... sometimes your feelings are not valid i guess. i don't know you well enough to actually assess that so im just guessing.

also the part where you were like all "i have a great relationship with elias and im meeting all of my shop expectations. its definitely possible" came across as... how do i put this. dismissive? bragging, and not the fun kind?

also like it's okay to be sheltered. parents are... parents are supposed to do that. i figure if the world actually is cold and hard and cruel then like,,, your family and friends are supposed to be warm and soft and nice? to make up for it?

sheesh. sorry if i came across as scolding you in this reply. i don't know you well enough to do that. Oops. I was mostly just trying to express that this reply annoyed me.

(wow this got long. please reward yourself with a cookie if you actually took the time to read this. Yes, you!)

(+1)

I know you left this review months ago, but I just wanted to let you know that I understand what you mean! I think this is an interesting, innovative game, but I agree that the conversation theme can have some unintended negative implications. In spite of all the complexity built into the system, it still has to depend on a reductive model of communication. That can't be helped, of course, because human communication is incredibly complicated, and it's a game, not real life--but I found I had to remind myself to keep a "this is just a game" mindset sometimes, because it doesn't feel great to be yelled at for no good reason, even by cartoon characters. 

In my first play-through, I ended up acting like an insular, cowardly person (repeatedly going to the same places and buddying up to the same characters regardless of whether I liked them), not because that's who I wanted to be, but because I felt the system rewarded me for doing so. If I do another play-through, I'll lean even harder into "this is just a game" and just make the opposite choices I did before so that I can explore the rest of the map, even if it means acting like a jerk.

Basically, I think this is a fascinating game, but it's not always fun for me to play it. (Does a game have to be fun to be considered successful? Getting into game philosophy here...) So I just wanted to tell you, random stranger on the internet, that I hear where you're coming from!

I've done two playthroughs of this and I'm looking forward to a third. This has such a clever fusion of narrative point and gameplay, plus so many interesting paths and characters. It's really great. I love how the story deepens the more I play through it.

Only thing I'd change - it would be great to have a new game + mode to explore the world more fully.

(+6)

Just finished my first playthrough of this game. Great game! Especially the moments of heartbreak as I failed to communicate something I desperately wanted to help with.

The one comment I'd suggest as an improvement is some sort of log that would allow me to review who I connected with, what my deck looked like and what story lines/endings I completed in my previous playthroughs as I look forward to replying this game again. Something like the Run History in Slay the Spire would be the example of what I'd like to see. 

(+2)

Really captures the difficulty of talking to people in real life.

(For a real review, the game has a great artstyle and writing, and an interesting system of gameplay that slowly feeds the player new complexities over time. Would definitely recommend giving this a try)

(+2)

This is looking like my favorite game of 2020, absolutely an all-time great. Gorgeous aesthetic, fantastic writing, a novel and super interesting core mechanic that's surprising, challenging, and emotionally charged right up to the end. I love this game!

(+3)

This game is trully amazing. The mechanics are so well integrated with the story that i always feel that i'm engaged in a true conversation about past times, free will and sorrow, creating a community or rebuilding it from the ashes.

Is amazing how the traveling and the deck building mechanics synergize to bring a message of self change, experience, adaptation, but also of connection and empathy.

I enjoyed all the way, and i can't wait fotr your next game!

(+1)

This game is fantastic! Lovely art, great soundtrack, and a very engaging story that is very well tied into the mechanics. Easy to get hooked into it.

(+2)

This is such a lovely little game!! It is relaxing but still has narrative stakes and it's very easy to get attached to the characters. Would definitely recommend! My only complaint is, as a few people have said, a lack of ending galleries. It would have more replayability if I knew how many endings there were!

Absolutely LOVED this game. The artwork is beautiful and the game mechanics is unique. So underrated. 

(+5)

P.S. I would LOVE some kind of endings gallery for the ones I've unlocked

What a lovely game! Travel the land, talk to new people. You won't get along with everyone, but that's not unheard of!

(+3)

This game is absolutely amazing! Though if I could add one thing it's that maybe after you've completed it a few times you can keep your deck, it would make it easier to unlock all the endings. But absolutely love it and it has such heartfelt dialogue! 

(+1)

Really love this game, some of the best and most lively NPC dialog, easy to get invested in the characters

(+2)

This game is so charming! I love the artwork and color palette, and the story and mechanics are so unique. The conversation mechanic is the most interesting thing to me; the farther you travel from home and try to get along with strangers the harder it is to connect to the people close to your city, though if you don't leave home you have no chance to save your mom's store. You guys have done a fantastic job!

(+1)

Loving the game. However, I’m changing computers: any idea where the saves are from Mac to Windows? (are they compatible?)

(+2)

This is one of the best and most intelligents and warm hearted games I've played in years. Thanks a lot, really. I don't know you, but I love you people. <3fromSpain

(+9)

I loved this game! The art is charming, there's just the right dialogue/gameplay ratio to my taste, and the mechanics are very smoothly introduced; I didn't feel either lost or overloaded with information.

Most of all, I think the mechanic is fabulous. Not only is it fun in its own right, it does a great job of creating a real sense of conversational dynamics despite its simplicity. And I love the warnings about how you can't get along with everyone, and how that ends up being true in practice because of deck limitations.

The characters are so good, too! The dialogue, character design, and mechanics combine to evoke a strong sense of identity for each one, and I found myself very fond of all of them. I'm going to want to re-play the game just to get to know more of them.

(1 edit) (+5)

I stumbled across this game as part of the Racial Justice bundle, and I'm glad I did. 

This game is conceptually really interesting. You start out in your familiar small town, with familiar customs, and you can easily converse with people you've known your whole life. As you wander farther, customs start to change, but there's enough similarities that you can still bridge the culture gap with a bit of effort. However, if you don't pick up on local customs, you'll soon find yourself unable to communicate at all. As you make your way back home, you have to re-acclimate yourself or you'll find that you've changed so much you don't know how to talk to the people you grew up with.

I really wanted to see a full-color portrait of the main character. Do they have cat-ears or is it just a hood? The world may never know.

(+4)

I don't usually write comments, but I think I should probably change that, and your game seems like the perfect starting point. It really is something special.

Kudos too for adding it to the bundle despite it being so recent.

(+3)

I can not praise this game highly enough. The art style and music made it extremely immersive and the deck building mechanic was fun as well as challenging. Honestly the bundle would have been worth it for this game alone.

(+1)

Lovely game! Picked it up with the bundle and been enjoying it immensely.

(+6)

I typically struggle with card games and was worried that Signs of the Sojourner  would be complicated but it proved me wrong and incorporated a simple card system that was a delight to play with. 5/5 game, the storyline, graphics, and overall gameplay was incredible!

(1 edit) (+1)

The concept of this game is super neat, and the characters are all very lovable. It's also more challenging than I thought it'd be! I'm going to have to replay this a few more times to get better at it for the other endings, but it breaks my heart to stray from Elias.

(+4)

aaaa so good! still getting through all the endings. personally i think it'd be cool to have some sort of log of the endings you've gotten.. but hey, guess i have screenshots.

man that klaus ending. love her

(+3)

Loved the game. Using cards for conversations is a v good idea! The characters are unique and I really wanted to learn more about all of them. There’s a lot going on and I feel sad that I can’t explore it all in one go, haha! I was upset when I couldn’t connect with one of my favorite characters because I had too much fatigue... I’ll definitely give it another go later. 

(+5)

I am LOVING this game so much! I have started it for the third time and this made me put forth this request: could the initial tutorial section be skippable if you have already finished the game once? This is something I see myself playing multiple times, and it would be great to see some "NG+" type of thing, either by keeping some information across playthroughs or just this ability to skip the initial section!

(+6)

I love this game- found it while scrolling through 25 pages of games from the charity bundle and I'm really glad I got to play this! One thing- I really, really wish I knew how many days it takes to travel between towns! (Like - "estimated arrival June 8th" before clicking confirm). 
The feeling of changing, getting new cards and exploring new towns- but fearing that I'll lose the ability to relate to my best friend at home when my "O" shape cards dwindle.... really unique. You truly can't always please everyone. I'll replay this more than once.

(+1)

I think you see the estimated arrival day colored on the top left corner, but I agree that it could be clearer!

(1 edit) (+1)

You can! If you count the colored squares along your path between the two towns, that's the number of days it'll take. Fatigue happens on the black squares.

(+1)

hi, i was wondering if there's going to be a full release of this game on itch or if it's only going to be on steam? thanks :)

(+2)

We're planning to release on both itch and steam! 

oh sweet!! thanks!!

(+1)

sots has been really intruiging so far, i really like it!!  I like the characters' personalities and designs, and what their game-play reveals about them. all the card variations and meanings are fun to think about, thanks for adding some explanations and symbolism about the cards on indiegogo. im eager to play the full game upon it's arrival, good luck and thank you for making it <3

(+1)

So glad to hear you're enjoying it!

(+1)

I've played this demo with my family and loved it! Definitely adding it to my Steam wishlist.

I did manage to break the game at one point tho. While playing with Thunder, I only played fatigue cards and at the end of the round the game sort-of froze and I couldn't do anything at all. Hopefully that won't be too hard to fix. Good Luck on your game! 

Thank you for the info, we will look into it! Glad you enjoyed it!

(+1)

This is lovely

Any chance you might be able to put out a Linux build of the demo? This sounds like very much the kind of game I'd like to try, and I probably will, but having to get wine happy again significantly increases friction.

Unfortunately we're not currently planning to support Linux, sorry!

Just in case it helps anyone, I installed the windows version of the itch client with Lutris and the game runs flawlessly

(+1)

Cool concept and some lovely artwork. Good luck with the Indiegogo campaign! :)

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