Aloners [GxB] (a post-apocalyptic romance)

[waffrus]

Oh, man. Ordog's glowing review got me interested in this, and so I started this today. I'm also in the middle of it right now and not even through one play-through. But I'm really loving it, the story, writing, characters.

Awesome job! <:

[sonnet009]

Virelai:

Haha! Well, then, I'm glad Aloners got a second chance with you. As my main job was the writing, it means a lot to me personally for you to praise that part so highly. Thank you!

Ordog:

Wooow. That's quite the honest review, there! Thank you for giving Aloners a try (even if it was to be contrary! hehe) and I'm really glad that you're enjoying/enjoyed it. I look forward to the stalking! ;-)

waffrus:

Thank you! I hope you like/liked the rest of the game as much as the first half. :-D

[Ordog]

I just finished reading your game !

And that personality-shaping thing is really fun !

So far I tried to get:
-Funny M.C
-Leecher M.C
-Shy/cute M.C (not that great)

I love how Trash's answers and teasing changes according your choices. And I wanted to ask you: How many different endings and personalities can we get ?
(I mean, how many "descriptions from Trash to his ma' did you write ?)

And I notice something else (5 minutes ago), you're the one who wrote "Rei" ?! Omg... I've been recommending it for a year but didn't...like recognize your name xD

Sorry and really thank you for all your games ! I hope you'll keep on making more (No pressure)

[sonnet009]

I'm glad you enjoyed trying out the different personality options. :-)

In all, there are 3 main personality traits, and 2 minor ones. I'll put them in more detail below if you're interested.

The "descriptions from Trash to his ma" personality traits:

Argumentative
Funny
Kind

The smaller personality traits:

Woman of Action (affects how much confidence Trash has in your ability to do physically difficult things)
Shy (really only has an effect in the early chapters)

And, wow, that's so cool that you liked Rei, too! Thanks. :-D

[Seni]

Aloners was the first romance game (is this a real term? I hope so XD) what I played these days since years. And it made quite an impression on me. c:

I typically love these kind of people like Trash, so you won me in an instant. ^^ He wasn't too friendly in the beginning, but neither a jerk who ignores another human. I could easily imagine the situations, the evolution of the MC's/my and Trash's relationship, their logical (and sometimes crazy) decisions.

I ADORED the background musics. Sometimes I even forgot to read, I was there just listening to the music. :'D (They were so good, I kept all of them in my laptop, thank you. <3)

One of the bad things was the lack of drawn characters (what others mentioned too). Although I understand it now that I've read the cause of this.

But still... if only Gamma would have got a face, I think I would've trust him (I almost trusted him this way, too... HE SHARED HIS COCOA WITH ME).

On the other hand, the CGs were absolutely FANTASTIC! (Saved them too. >///<) It can be seen that they were not some last minute sketches - which I usually see in other VNs or otome games.

My death was when there was a romantic background music, he said nice things, MC/I said nice things, everything and everyone was happy... and then MC/I sighed his name: Trash. It was SO disappointing for me, like she/I was trying to hurt him with this name... :'D

At first I understood it, but I thought when Trash talked to his mother and said "it's Carlito", MC/I would at least ask him if she/I can use his real name instead of Trash.

Your other completed game, Rei, is in my bookmarks from the moment I saw that you've made it, and maybe in a couple of days I'll play it too. ^^ Also, I'm looking forward to your bigger project, it sounds good. c:

[WizzyGameMaster]

Before I started this one, I really hadn't expected it to be as great as it was. Once I started it, I was really impressed. The characters are very realistic, and I actually felt something during the story, which actually doesn't happen often for me.
So, this is one amazing game. Very likely one of the top 5 of this type of game that I've ever played.
Definitely worth playing again.

[sonnet009]

Seni:

Awww, thank you for sharing so much of what you enjoyed about the game! :-)

I agree that if only Gamma had a face, I would trust him, too. I think anyone could win me over if they just offered me cocoa. ;-)

And, you know, I never considered an option of letting the MC call Trash by his "real" name. Maybe I should've put a conversation about it in there, but my feelings on the subject are that Trash would probably prefer to be called Trash anyway. After all, that's the name he chose for himself. I think the name Carlito might be too painful for him now.

I appreciate your interest in my other games, too. Cheers!

WizzyGameMaster:

Phew! I'm glad you were impressed. :-) Thanks for playing, and suuuuper thanks for letting me know what you thought.

[kisa]

*strangled noises*
I want to play this so badly... But, I need my new computer for that and I still don't have it....
*stares at game for eternity*
Soon.

[qirien]

Thought I'd let you know I posted a recommendation for Aloners on my gaming blog in an article about serious indie games! Thanks for the fun VN!

[RainJester]

This.
I enjoyed this game so much that I had to play through it in one go. Forget about eating and sleeping! I had to know how this story would end and I wasn't disappointed (except for the fact that this meant that I was done). Awesome character and relationship development and the story progression felt quite natural. I loved the artwork aswell. In fact it made me really happy to see you guys went with that particular art style. Great game. I am just sad I am already through it.

[sonnet009]

kisa:

Well, I am so super late in replying to this, it's possible you already have your new computer by now. I sure hope so! (I am also currently waiting on a new computer. The struggle is real.)

qirien:

Wow, thanks for mentioning me! Also, I was super excited to see The Shivah on there. I played that game a looong time ago and fell absolutely in love, so it was awesome to be reminded of it. Might have to go on a bit of a Wadjet Eye nostalgia binge...

RainJester:

Aw, nothing makes me happier than hearing that a person was gripped by this story. Thanks so much for playing. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Elmvine]

First of all, I just want to say that I never log onto these forums aha. But I had to because I had to say how much I enjoyed Aloners as a story.

I didn't know what to expect, since I just randomly downloaded it from a list of otome recommendation and got round to it this morning. I love it, because it honestly felt worth it. I found myself playing it how I'd honestly react and feel rather than playing it because I wanted a certain ending, or I just wanted to see what happens. I'm so glad that each choice felt like it had a heavy weight, and damn did I love the little plot twists.

I haven't even replayed it yet because I'm still thinking through the first run. I'm not sure if I even want to play it differently. I don't think visual novels have made me regret some choices so much, aha. Haven't had such a well thought out/natural feeling character in a VN for a while.

With things like the CD player and

being honest made me feel pretty good, Then I sat back and remembered that this was a game and probably didn't matter. And honestly, I don't know if most of those choices mattered. But getting the player to feel like they do? Kudos to you.

Like the part when you see Maddy as a mutie. And then later meet Alpha, and he tells you they can be saved? I felt terrible. I felt so bad. .But I enjoyed 'watching her fly' and just as I played my MC as the type to slowly be coming to terms with it all. Shit hits the fan and I got genuinely nervous. e____e
I had to take a moment when I couldn't find Trash in the storm.

Also in regards to having faceless characters. I get that its partly budget. But I do agree that it adds to the feel of being 'alone' together. I think at some point I completely overlooked the faceless characters because I had started to visualise what they would look like and sound like to me.

I'm sure I got a good ending. Aha, but with the way this game threw my emotions, I'm not so sure.

tldr: This is a good game. I heard you made Rei. I'ma go play it.

[sonnet009]

Elmvine:

Thanks so much for taking the time to post that. :-) I'm really glad that you got an immersive roleplaying experience, because that's what I hoped to create. And I hope you enjoy Rei too, though it is a very different game.

Also, if anyone thinks they "might" have got the good ending... they definitely got the good ending. ;-)

[kisa]

kisa:

Well, I am so super late in replying to this, it's possible you already have your new computer by now. I sure hope so! (I am also currently waiting on a new computer. The struggle is real.)

It is indeed.
I have it. But, now I'm waiting for a family member who is much more tech-savvy than I to finish tweaking it... Much impatience. OHO

[doodle]

Hello Sonnet! I re-played this game (because how could you not), but there was something strange in one scene:

In his house, when talking to his ma, he skipped the personality describing part. First time I played I got 'kind', but this time nothing! Have my choices been too mixed up and made him too confused of who I am? xD