#true colours

So far on replay 6 years later I feel largely the same as I remember feeling when it came out. I think some plot points grate a little more knowing where they end up (or don't), and some of my criticisms remain, but ... I am charmed. Alex is so great and vivid and I think TC's big strength is how much of a personal character study the whole story becomes for her. Erika Mori is wonderful. I remember how pleasantly surprised I was by having a LIS protagonist beat the shit out of someone in the first episode. As much as the "empathy" branding still bothers me and is generally kind of goofy, a lot of uses of it in the story, and the way they try to balance it being an ability and being a "curse" is good. Episode 1 is a great introduction to her, does good work to get us attached to Gabe, and sets the stage nicely with all the various characters in Haven Springs.

My most unpopular TC opinion is probably about the ships. The first time I played this I romanced Steph as I think did a majority of the fandom. When I did my platinum opposite-choices play I went with Ryan, and on replay now ... I do think this game, like Double Exposure, has an issue where the romances are just not equally integrated into the story. Ryan is so much more integral to the actual plot than Steph -- his connection to Gabe, his presence during Gabe's death, his connection to Jed and the Black Lantern, to Haven itself. And then Steph is there -- sure, she's grieving Gabe too, but her relationship with Alex exists mostly independently from the main plot and isn't really impacted by its events. I like Steph and Chenrich alright, they're cute, but I think the popularity of Chenrich is carried by the demographics of the fandom and fandom's general love for Steph herself.

Likewise in DE, Vinh is tied into the overall mystery of Safi and Maya and all of that, and Amanda is just... nice and uninvolved. In some ways I wonder if the thought process is that the f/f will be more popular in this specific fandom, so the male love interest needs a plot justification to be in the story even if the player is disinterested in romancing him. But if that's the case it kind of sucks, not least because it means relegating the f/f romance option to sidequest.

I suspect Reunion will be similar in that if you're not romancing Chloe you may as well not be romancing anyone at all. I do sort of wish these games would either make the romance paths equal or just drop the gimmick and commit to having a central relationship the player can make romantic or not.

Lastly, speaking of things that are just a bit goofy... Alex, this is the weakest possible hold on Ethan lmfaoooo. Despite her reassurances she lets go as soon as the log shakes. If that log fell that kid is going down. Why didn't they give her extra rope to tie to him. Thank god this isn't the direct cause of death because it would be so annoying.

It sounds like the song is coming into land before it finds rhythm. When it lands and finds its rhythm it’s an upbeat march drowning in the sounds of melancholy. As polar opposite as that sounds. The drums feel uplifting and full of promise while the music weighs heavy in the guts pulling on all the anxious feelings that love to dwell there. A hopeful misery is the tone. We got a situation, where your presence tears me apart. My head says this is about meeting that person that causes you to fall apart from just existing. My heart says this about meeting the other side of you that you refuse to show the light of day to. 

If I could take it easy, And let passion back in my heart. God that cuts like a knife. Gotta keep up the mask. Gotta keep the facade going for just one more day. Never let it slip. If it ever slips. Well. My true colours. Don’t talk about it. I wish I could be fun around you, Oh Lord, I do. When you can’t even be fun around yourself when you are completely alone and no one is watching. What is the point then? What are you hiding from in this situation? For some it takes a minute to open up and let someone in. For some, it’s once in a lifetime. And I’ve had mine.