Admittedly, I have a hard time getting myself to try games without seeing people talk about them in the right way, or otherwise having prior reason to think I'll like them. (For instance, I've basically never tried out a game on itch.io that I found just scrolling through a list.) Unfortunately, I feel this effect tends to be even stronger with games that advertise their queerness. The broad range of queer experience makes it feel more likely it might not strike a chord with me, and - as I've seen others express as well - over-focusing on that part (by the creators or otherwise) can obscure what it actually has to offer.

I'd heard about SLARPG up to its release, and did even see some recommendation of it. I figured it probably was good, but dismissed it as not something worth engaging with personally for reasons like these, and it being released in late December last year. (Especially given the title - I know Bobby has talked about this and the historical reasons for keeping it, but it really does enhance the "okay, but what's your story actually about" effect.)

Because of that recognition that it was at least "good," I figured I would watch Holly Hollowtones (and Puzz) stream it when she did. And if anyone reading this still has a similar perception to the one I had, I would strongly suggest giving it a try, because it far exceeded my expectations. The story and writing is both consistently hilarious and emotionally strong, with good themes involving relationships and identity. It has tons of perfectly charming and interestingly-written characters that will stick with me forever. The music is fantastic, and all the graphics are really nice. And those bitches (plural (but like, double plural)) gay, good for them, good for them.

The only part that was more or less as I'd expected was the combat, being a best attempt at making standard RPG Maker combat interesting. But honestly, it does do quite a good job of that, and the fun and humorous enemy designs help. Not to mention there are easy mode options if you're just not here for that.

Mostly enjoyable game. Trip is good. Some bad wait-around bosses, but I can deal with that, at least when they have their normal amount of health.

Don't wanna have to beat those last two bosses ever again. Really hope they patched or will someday patch the true last boss so it doesn't just take away your "scheduled" opportunities to get rings at random?? Who designed this, and then who broke that design?

This is New Super Mario Bros. to me. (And even if I liked those more than most seem to, I dunno if I would have called any of them Games of a Year.) But I mean, you can play the whole game as Peach or a bunch of other characters, and there are certainly more fun ideas and art direction than NSMB usually had, so I would consider it a generally improved version of that formula even if it doesn't break from it as much as it probably could.

The bosses are still a big weak part as usual. And the (thankfully silenceable) flowers are only good for like, a couple jokes - the idea that they at one point wanted to have "full commentary" sounds like a total nightmare. And I'm not sure if the Break Time levels were all that necessary to include except as padding, at least in that form. But it's still a pretty fun time overall while it lasts! Which isn't all that long, but!

I do have to recognize the online adds some cool fun as well, even if i'm not the kind of player who can engage with it "properly," preferring to run along and find things on my own. Also, I like the Action Badges and their challenge levels, but the system definitely feels at odds with the nature of the normal levels; it's hard for me to want to use something different, especially an Expert Badge, when doing a first run. And the game provides no motivation to go back for Expert Badge runs or recognize it if you do, which means I probably won't. My guess is they were worried it'd make people feel like they had to if it were recognized at all, which I sorta get, but c'mon.

Can you can imagine there being more to it? Yes. Could a sequel probably build off it to make something more substantial? Also yes. Does it do the important part of doing dress-up well enough for me to enjoy it? Extremely yes.

I actually played Style Savvy: Styling Star just earlier this year, so it's not like I don't see the ways this game isn't that... but I also didn't necessarily need all of that. I get some dialog from a charming weirdo, I dress them up with a vague guideline, I take a cute photo with them. Meanwhile, my trans-flag-colored sweater and socks got more likes. That's the essence of gaming right there.

No I'm not putting it on blast that's just the joke I came up with. Usually my "sounds cool" category means "I've seen a bunch of this game and it deserves to be recognized here but I haven't played it, at least not yet," but I actually have picked up a lot of knowledge about it in this case. I also probably won't end up playing it.

I definitely have to respect a game like this. Parts of it sound up my alley on paper; I just don't know if endless Sokoban, or the idea of trying countless things in a vast possibility space, feels like the kind of thing I want to play anytime soon.