I am like. So miserable right now lol <-- (I promise this is a compliment)
I work with children on a daily basis, so this story was pretty much engineered to hit me where it hurts... seeing the conditions that the kids endured, the way they were treated by all of STOP's employees, and watching Pavel's horrific transformation from a bright kid to a person broken by all the trauma piled onto him... uh, I am gonna have to try extra hard to be normal when I go to work in an hour LMAOOOOO. In particular, Dr. Deidre's earlier case study critiquing the rigorous schooling and Dr. Tan's comment about "throwing them snacks just to see if they run harder" mirror some of my real-life experiences (in education, not in a child testing lab, thank god) and sort of got my blood boiling haha.
I liked the art a lot - all of it is very cohesive, not to mention extremely well-presented. The combination of speech bubbles, NVL-style text, textboxes, and records combined with the panning backgrounds and the very dynamic sprites made this such a fun and beautiful game to watch.
Overall, I'm so so impressed with how polished this game is for something that was made for a 30-day jam; it speaks volumes of both your prior experience and your clear vision for what you wanted this game to be. There are so many other myriad Thoughts (not to mention vague Feelings that haven't yet become Thoughts) that I want to communicate about what an experience this game was, but I fear that if I tried to get them all down this comment would end up very disjointed and rambly, haha.
Thanks very much for sharing this game, and I'll definitely be checking out malViolence after I've finished with this year's Spooktober entries!
Mwahahaha - protoViolence worked as intended! >:3c
SPOILERS:
I'm glad the story impacted you in this way; particularly... everything that happens to Pavel, since his experiences are the emotional crux of the story. I did my very best to make the art/sprites/camera movements as interesting as possible, and I'm glad they delivered for you.
I would love, love, love to hear your further thoughts and feelings on protoViolence if you have the time; I love hearing how the works I've directed are received/perceived by others - but if you don't have the time, I appreciate this comment as-is.
By the way, if you do get to malViolence, - I hope you enjoy it! You might see a familiar face or two...
Absolutely outstanding visuals and haunting story. The speech bubbles make it feel like watching animated series while the various phones chats, logs and diaries add some interesting variety and depth to the story. The cinematography is absolutely amazing! Like seriously, that camerawork must have taken ages to do!
The partial VA really drives the emotions home. I grew really attached to Pavel throughout the story, the characters were amazing with very memorable designs. That whole team did an amazing job!
Thank you so much! I'm very, very glad you enjoyed protoViolence. The cinematography was definitely time-consuming, but it isn't as hard as many think: Ren'Py's 3D camera and kyoryuukunn's Action Editor plugin both helped immensely. ;>
And I'm happy you like the voiceacting too: both Vyn and Adox did a fantastic job. I also wanna give a shoutout to D.Ray (my sound mixer/masterer) for making them sound as good as they did in the end.
Really having played malViolence first I may have known how this story was always going to end, but my god this was a gut-wrenching downward spiral. Beautifully tragic, the descent from clinically pale whites and silvers to black and red, and then yellows and oranges as it all comes crashing down-
The horror is very much in what's happening in the walls of this place, but an underrated second dose of horror comes from watching people justify and later dismiss it, the knowledge that any objections will be quashed not by force but by red tape, and the sheer helplessness of it all-
Warm and fluffy pancakes to Team Violence for all your amazing work!
I do love my horror on the dark side, and I think this is probably the darkest one I've played so far from the jam in terms of the narrative, so thank you for that ^-^ Wonderfully heartwrenching and bittersweet!
This is unbelievably slick and stylish! The art & cinematography are beyond gorgeous, especially in some of those scenes towards the end! Just *chef's kiss* :D
Overall, a fabulous triumph of a VN ^-^ I shall have to check out malViolence someday!!
One of the most cinematic i've seen so far! It felt like I was experiencing an anime before my eyes! The story had a lot of intrigue, and the characters were compelling and very well designed!
The dread inducing moments were gut wrenching but definitely supplied my horror fan sensitivities hahaha.
The sound was also well thought out, the music was on point and the effects really elevated the experience, it is a total package!
If you, like many of us, think Pavel deserved better - or even revenge for what happened to him... I'm happy to let you know that protoViolence has a sequel. :>
Already posted a glowing review for this game on the Spooktober submission page, but just gonna repeat my thoughts with a tl;dr again. If you've already played malViolence: this is a great game. If you haven't played malViolence: both it and malViolence are great must-plays. Though I will say I think malViolence should be played first, then this one. I think the reveals & story beats are much better with the sequel's context.
It's been an amazing journey seeing how Mado and their team has developed their skills through their VNs. Absolutely getting five stars across the board from me!
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SCATTERED, SPOILERY THOUGHTS BELOW:
+ The authorization input when you boot up the game is interesting. I only inputted "DEIDRE" so far since I already played malViolence... does it accept multiple answers?
+ GO!!!! uses Amen Breaks. best song in the game
+ "oh man I wish we could see what Deidre looked like in this time.. oh hey look we get a view of her, she looks pretty- oh wait no it's THIS part of the game- oh no fuck"
- Yes, the authorization input does take multiple answers. DEIDRE is one, but try some of the other cast members from protoViolence or malViolence... or even one of the people who developed this game. There's a lot to discover!
- GO!!!! is a great piece. melo-dii (one of my team's two composers) is a big fan of amen breaks, so what better way to put their musical signature than the escape sequence?
Full disclosure: While I was reading the setup of the story, I had to stop for a few minutes. I was wondering whether maybe this wasn't the game for me. I wanted to make choices to affect the flow of the plot. I therefore went back to the game's page to double-check the description, only then to realize that there was only one ending. I've enjoyed kinetic novels before, but I have a huge preference for multiple choices and endings. I seriously considered moving on to another game at that point. However, as I was skimming through the comments, I saw highly positive feedback that encouraged me to continue. And I'm eternally grateful that I did!
The distinct and expressive character designs, especially of Pavel, first drew me to download this game. But the entire project just wows on every level imaginable: the fleshed-out worldbuilding; the overall sci-fi/technological aesthetic and graphics; the way the sprites and camera move; the variety in visuals and storytelling formats, including the epistolary portions and the art style that shifts as the situation steadily grows direr; and the great music, sound design, and voice acting. In short, everything in this game is so meticulously planned to snag the player's attention right off the bat and to ensure that they stay engaged the entire way through.
I didn't expect to get so attached to the characters! I teared up not once, not twice, but thrice! And I gasped and cursed to myself so many times. Because I haven't played malViolence yet, I was totally in the dark about the fates of these characters and was filled with more and more dread as the story rapidly barreled toward its high-stakes and action-packed conclusion. Then I was super satisfied by the ending and overjoyed upon reading the extras. I can't wait to check out the sequel now. I'm desperate to learn more about these characters, the challenges they face, and the seemingly dystopian world they inhabit.
This is one of my favorite VNs/KNs in recent memory. Congrats to everybody in the team for delivering such a standout project! You're all incredible!
(Note: Copy-pasting this comment from the Spooktober VN Jam 2023 page.)
I'm glad you gave it a chance, and I'm happy the game impacted you as deeply as it did. Me and my team did our absolute best to make this project as polished as possible - so I'm glad you think it delivered on that front. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And I hope you enjoy malViolence. There are multiple endings in that VN - so I think you'll enjoy it a lot too. Just be aware that the puzzles can pack quite a punch!
Took me a while to get around to it because I wanted to wait till I was a little less sick so I could read this with a clear head, and it was well worth it!!
There are many things that stand out to me with this, but I think one of the most obvious words that jumps out to me is 'juice'. There are so many little details in the art, in the UI, in the design, in the just... general EVERYTHING that elevates this from a good game to a jawdropping one. The level of polish on everything really makes things so satisfying, and I loved being able to pick out little details, such as the backgrounds changing between dates (I particularly liked the little mug stains!) or references to malViolence (the stickers...!!)
This game certainly DID whet my appetite for malViolence content, but now I just want to know more things!! I really hope I can hear more about Shriya, she had such an absolutely wonderful design, but for now the team should rest up!! Thank you all for your hard work!
Thank you for the very kind words, Moka! I'm glad you like all the little attentions to detail in the game: my team did their utmost to weave everything together. I'm really proud of how it all culminated in the end.
And I do intend to elaborate on more things introduced in this title - so please look forward to those too in the future. Again, thank you so much!
So, I actually did not play MalViolence (the game this is a prequel for) before playing this VN. I had only seen illustrations from the director, whose artwork I've been a fan of for some time. I have to say, once finishing this game I went straight to Steam to download MalViolence so that I could see what happens next for these characters. I found the story we were shown here that compelling!
This is a tight, well executed, and emotionally gripping story. I was moved deeply by the characters we meet and was genuinely shaken by quite a few of the story beats. The first "shoe drop" moment we're given made me gasp out loud. The way the story is presented to us through the lens of a researcher taking notes, recording interviews, and even texting a friend was very creative and immersive.
I definitely recommend checking out this VN; the couple hours it took to play went by quickly (in a good way). No prior context to who these characters are is needed...though, be warned, you may be left itching or more of them once you're done. :) I look forward to seeing any further work from this team.
Those are the words that escaped my mouth after I finished this game. Like a tidal way of feelings washing over you, receding, and then letting you revel in what just overwhelmed you.
As a general scardey cat, I'm happy that the horror in this game didn't make me jump and scream. No, instead it made my heart drop into my stomach as dread for what happens and then my hands ball up into fists and my teeth to grind as anger replaces it after events happen and horrifying scenes play themselves out. I won't spoil the ending, but I'd say that if felt anger and rage like I did... hold onto it until the finale.
As mentioned earlier, this game does a great job at slowly filling you up with dread. You know that things aren't quite right, that things are certainly heading towards something sinister, and our protagonists does it as well, and perhaps worst of all we grow attached to someone who will be involved in the culmination of that dread. Until... well...
You see the horrible scenes play themselves out.
I'd say the strength of the game, aside from the slow build of dread is how it shows the multiple ways our protagonist also shows that same sense of dread. How it's handled, how they rationalize it, avoid it, come to terms with it, and ultimately... act upon it. In addition, I think that the game hits on themes that many people may go across in their lives. Power and it's use, the unintended side-effects and consequences of our ambition, and how the road to hell can be paved with great ideas, good intentions, and pure pursuits. But when that resource is exhausted... blood, bones, and suffering will do well.
At some point, you have to decide whether to keep walking, turn away, or dismantle the road itself.
Now with that poetic rambling over with, gotta give mad props to the voice acting. While sparse, it's used expertly well in the places that it appears. It was a pleasant delight whenever they popped up and, naturally, they fit the characters well.
Likewise, the music was fantastic. My favorite is how it plays during the introspective segments, and I believe that it shifts as the game goes on, but that might just be me.
UI is good, and the cinematic use of various parts of the screen, speech bubbles, and even a notebook/phone at times is very clever. Gives some nice dynamics to the game and keeps things fresh, same when interacting with the characters and how the sprites and camera shuffle and focus on various parts to highlight the text.
All this to say... props. This was an amazing game, and an excellent spinoff!
Thank you for the incredible and detailed comment! I'm very glad protoViolence affected you this deeply... And your discussions on the themes the VN has are really lovely too.
There is a genuine reason that this page is given a warning when you first open it up. Horror games usually end up trying to shock or scare, but eventually you come down from an intended chemical rush. This is not that.
ProtoViolence is genuinely horrifying in the events that transpire. Whether it's something more obviously graphic or a banal reality that exists today, there are subjects in here that should give you pause.
I finished ProtoViolence a few hours ago and I have so many, many feelings. I'm continually impressed by how this world is presented: whether it's the slow pans or how you, as Dr. Dierdre, can access information, to the voice acting and, of course, the writing. Full disclosure--I'm relatively new to playing games, so it took a bit for me to understand how to progress the story. ^^; (The rule appears to be that the computer is the last thing you can access, and the files + phone can be chosen in whichever order you like.)
That aside, though, I loved the slow build-up to the horror. When I read the warnings, I assumed it would all be in your face right away, but it's...really not. As Dr. Dierdre says, things at YTDI look peaceful and serene. "Look" being the operative word, as it doesn't take long for the real "bleeding edge" of progress to seep through the carefully-controlled margins. The point being: when the horror actually reveals itself, you flinch not because it's some monster beyond human comprehension, but the icy, clinical way that it presents itself. (Until it doesn't, and that art shift is great.) It's what was always going to happen, no matter the kid.
Speaking of kids, let's talk about Pavel, who you will want to spit in A Certain Scientist's eye for. Even knowing Malviolence's story, it still felt like meeting him all over again--as it should, since this is his, dare I say, "origin story" *laughs and cries*. Either you've known a kid like Pavel or you were a kid like Pavel. And the...things...that happen to him (and have happened to others) will make you want to shove A Certain Scientist straight off her ivory tower regardless of where you sit on that binary. Mostly because, well, they're inhumane, but also because they're not unlike how kids with special needs etc. are treated IRL, taken to their extremes. There's even a point where Pavel has a breakdown over it and man. Man. It resonated hard enough that I had to take some time away for a bit.
The real winner for the horror scenes though was easily the one near the very end, mainly because it hit the Unable To Help A Child Despite Being An Adult primal fear button with a vengeance. I literally gasped out loud! Which doesn't happen very often. It was set up beforehand, but it still felt like the worst case scenario in a situation full of worst case scenarios. "Get this kid out of here, Oh god", I kept thinking, even though of course that was already the plan.
And then, several scenes later I gasped again out of sheer, gleeful triumph. "Yes, Pavel, take control back! Run away, BE FREE, AHAHAHA", to give an example of my thought process. XD (I did feel that the other kids' fates were a bit too ambiguous at first? But now that I've had time to think, it fits. Looking forward to maybe seeing a few of them later on! Shriya Reunion Tour when??)
There's a lot to think about here, in a good way. I get the feeling I'll be mulling it over for a long while after this, and not just in the "somehow crossing over with other canons for fun" like I've been daydreaming these past few months post-reading Malviolence. The themes of child abuse and the systems that perpetuate it "for the greater good" are written in a very thought-provoking way here, so it was bound to happen.
(To end this on a lighter note: as an Ant-man fan, I got a kick out of Roach-man. XD And CONGRATS MADO AGAIN!!!)
Thank you for the INCREDIBLE and well thought-out comment!
I really appreciate reading your detailed review of the game. I'm glad a lot of the themes and intended beats of protoViolence came through to you.
Your comments about Pavel and his circumstances especially got me misty-eyed: because that's exactly what I wanted to get across with his character. Thank you, thank you, thank you... (I want to say more but I'm overwhelmed by the impressive response you had to this work)
JUST FINISHED PLAYING PROTOVIOLENCE IN ONE SITTING AND OMG IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEIDRE AND PAVEL MY BELOVEDS!!!!!!!!!!! what an immersive beautifully cinematic and haunting experience <3
This game is so special!!!! I've been dying to learn more about the malviolence world, and this did not disappoint! This team is seriously constantly pushing the envelope on making a VN experience feel full and immersive, the visuals went above and beyond, and the writing was haunting. I really enjoyed the gameplay loop of checking Deidre's different external and internal thoughts between logs. The camera movements throughout the game were so lively and impressively directed. My heart genuinely sank at multiple different points, despite ultimately knowing what the outcome was going to be. I really hope y'all make more games in this universe because there's still so much I want to know! Fantastic work!
That was definitely the intent with this visual novel. When I was directing this project, I wanted the VN to have the same level of immersion I had when I was watching playthroughs of certain TYPE-MOON titles like Mahoyo or the Tsukihime Remake. While those titles are full-on visual novels, their use of dynamic camera work helps readers engage with the stories more intimately.
I'm glad this story had a compelling loop and storyline for you - and I am interested in expanding on the Violence universe in the future. ;>
first of all if you haven't played malViolence first, do that! it's well worth your time! protoViolence is great on its own, but much better when you know a little more about what's going on!
second of all, WOW !! it's amazing what a more first-hand account of a story can give you, emotionally speaking. it's one thing to know about what happened to a character in the past, but to actually see it happen as the character is becoming more fleshed out and you learn more about where they came from and what their struggles are.... wonderful. delightful. heart wrenching.
also, great VA choice for pavel!! that one part with the drawn-out dialogue (that i don't want to go into detail about for spoiler reasons) was painful to hear (in a good way!). i have a problem sometimes where voice acting kind of takes me out of a story but both VAs did a great job!!
i'm looking forward to playing through this one again to really absorb everything, i feel like it definitely deserves another read!
help i stayed up until 2 am to finish reading this, so you know it's good aha >_< i'm surprised it reads so cohesively given there are so many writers involved. you all did a fantastic job! the visual presentation is great (love the comic book style textboxes + all the various poses and expressions the characters have, it's v lively) but the story is really, really good. this is going to be one of my fav entries for sure... also, wah... poor pavel..... poor baby............. i'm sad now hahaha ;;;;
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this title as much as you did - especially in the story and visuals department. That was my team's focus for this jam project. :>
I have to give a huge thank you to Brian and cluniies for helping me keep all of our writing styles consistent. They really did do an incredible job.
And yeah... poor Pavel. ;_; I hope he resides in your heart as much as he does in mine.
← Return to confidential program
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I am like. So miserable right now lol <-- (I promise this is a compliment)
I work with children on a daily basis, so this story was pretty much engineered to hit me where it hurts... seeing the conditions that the kids endured, the way they were treated by all of STOP's employees, and watching Pavel's horrific transformation from a bright kid to a person broken by all the trauma piled onto him... uh, I am gonna have to try extra hard to be normal when I go to work in an hour LMAOOOOO. In particular, Dr. Deidre's earlier case study critiquing the rigorous schooling and Dr. Tan's comment about "throwing them snacks just to see if they run harder" mirror some of my real-life experiences (in education, not in a child testing lab, thank god) and sort of got my blood boiling haha.
I liked the art a lot - all of it is very cohesive, not to mention extremely well-presented. The combination of speech bubbles, NVL-style text, textboxes, and records combined with the panning backgrounds and the very dynamic sprites made this such a fun and beautiful game to watch.
Overall, I'm so so impressed with how polished this game is for something that was made for a 30-day jam; it speaks volumes of both your prior experience and your clear vision for what you wanted this game to be. There are so many other myriad Thoughts (not to mention vague Feelings that haven't yet become Thoughts) that I want to communicate about what an experience this game was, but I fear that if I tried to get them all down this comment would end up very disjointed and rambly, haha.
Thanks very much for sharing this game, and I'll definitely be checking out malViolence after I've finished with this year's Spooktober entries!
Mwahahaha - protoViolence worked as intended! >:3c
SPOILERS:
I'm glad the story impacted you in this way; particularly... everything that happens to Pavel, since his experiences are the emotional crux of the story. I did my very best to make the art/sprites/camera movements as interesting as possible, and I'm glad they delivered for you.
I would love, love, love to hear your further thoughts and feelings on protoViolence if you have the time; I love hearing how the works I've directed are received/perceived by others - but if you don't have the time, I appreciate this comment as-is.
By the way, if you do get to malViolence, - I hope you enjoy it! You might see a familiar face or two...
Absolutely outstanding visuals and haunting story. The speech bubbles make it feel like watching animated series while the various phones chats, logs and diaries add some interesting variety and depth to the story. The cinematography is absolutely amazing! Like seriously, that camerawork must have taken ages to do!
The partial VA really drives the emotions home. I grew really attached to Pavel throughout the story, the characters were amazing with very memorable designs. That whole team did an amazing job!
Thank you for making this game!
Thank you so much! I'm very, very glad you enjoyed protoViolence. The cinematography was definitely time-consuming, but it isn't as hard as many think: Ren'Py's 3D camera and kyoryuukunn's Action Editor plugin both helped immensely. ;>
And I'm happy you like the voiceacting too: both Vyn and Adox did a fantastic job. I also wanna give a shoutout to D.Ray (my sound mixer/masterer) for making them sound as good as they did in the end.
WE ARE SO BACK LAB RATS LET'S GOOOOOO!
Really having played malViolence first I may have known how this story was always going to end, but my god this was a gut-wrenching downward spiral. Beautifully tragic, the descent from clinically pale whites and silvers to black and red, and then yellows and oranges as it all comes crashing down-
The horror is very much in what's happening in the walls of this place, but an underrated second dose of horror comes from watching people justify and later dismiss it, the knowledge that any objections will be quashed not by force but by red tape, and the sheer helplessness of it all-
Warm and fluffy pancakes to Team Violence for all your amazing work!
LET'S GO!!!! LAB RATS ASSEMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very glad you enjoyed protoViolence as much as you did - especially the horror segments. Thank you for playing!
I do love my horror on the dark side, and I think this is probably the darkest one I've played so far from the jam in terms of the narrative, so thank you for that ^-^ Wonderfully heartwrenching and bittersweet!
This is unbelievably slick and stylish! The art & cinematography are beyond gorgeous, especially in some of those scenes towards the end! Just *chef's kiss* :D
Overall, a fabulous triumph of a VN ^-^ I shall have to check out malViolence someday!!
Oho - a fellow grim horror enjoyer! I see we both have a common interest...
Very glad you enjoyed protoViolence as much as you did. I hope you enjoy malViolence too - it's a lot of fun. ^u^
One of the most cinematic i've seen so far! It felt like I was experiencing an anime before my eyes! The story had a lot of intrigue, and the characters were compelling and very well designed!
The dread inducing moments were gut wrenching but definitely supplied my horror fan sensitivities hahaha.
The sound was also well thought out, the music was on point and the effects really elevated the experience, it is a total package!
Overall great job!
Thank you, thank you! I'm very glad protoViolence could impact you in this way in every aspect.
"Experiencing an anime before my eyes" is the exact reaction I wanted - so that makes me very happy to hear. :>
gosh this was certaintly a rollercoaster emotions and i loved it sm.OH and also pavel deserved better:(
Thank you so much!
SPOILERS BELOW
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If you, like many of us, think Pavel deserved better - or even revenge for what happened to him... I'm happy to let you know that protoViolence has a sequel. :>
ohh yeyy ill check it out!
What a ride man. I'm literally crying, whyyyyy ;-;
10/10
Thank you! I'm glad protoViolence could impact you in this way...
Already posted a glowing review for this game on the Spooktober submission page, but just gonna repeat my thoughts with a tl;dr again. If you've already played malViolence: this is a great game. If you haven't played malViolence: both it and malViolence are great must-plays. Though I will say I think malViolence should be played first, then this one. I think the reveals & story beats are much better with the sequel's context.
It's been an amazing journey seeing how Mado and their team has developed their skills through their VNs. Absolutely getting five stars across the board from me!
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SCATTERED, SPOILERY THOUGHTS BELOW:
+ The authorization input when you boot up the game is interesting. I only inputted "DEIDRE" so far since I already played malViolence... does it accept multiple answers?
+ GO!!!! uses Amen Breaks. best song in the game
+ "oh man I wish we could see what Deidre looked like in this time.. oh hey look we get a view of her, she looks pretty- oh wait no it's THIS part of the game- oh no fuck"
+ shriya game soon? (insert pleading face)
Thanks again for the wonderful review!
ANSWERS TO SPOILER QUESTIONS BELOW:
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- Yes, the authorization input does take multiple answers. DEIDRE is one, but try some of the other cast members from protoViolence or malViolence... or even one of the people who developed this game. There's a lot to discover!
- GO!!!! is a great piece. melo-dii (one of my team's two composers) is a big fan of amen breaks, so what better way to put their musical signature than the escape sequence?
- YEAH........ that's rub with Deidre's appearances here. When you do get to see her face, it's uh... in some of the most disturbing scenes of the story. ;w; If it's a small comfort, I did draw a character reference of her a little while ago.
- [REDACTED]
Full disclosure: While I was reading the setup of the story, I had to stop for a few minutes. I was wondering whether maybe this wasn't the game for me. I wanted to make choices to affect the flow of the plot. I therefore went back to the game's page to double-check the description, only then to realize that there was only one ending. I've enjoyed kinetic novels before, but I have a huge preference for multiple choices and endings. I seriously considered moving on to another game at that point. However, as I was skimming through the comments, I saw highly positive feedback that encouraged me to continue. And I'm eternally grateful that I did!
The distinct and expressive character designs, especially of Pavel, first drew me to download this game. But the entire project just wows on every level imaginable: the fleshed-out worldbuilding; the overall sci-fi/technological aesthetic and graphics; the way the sprites and camera move; the variety in visuals and storytelling formats, including the epistolary portions and the art style that shifts as the situation steadily grows direr; and the great music, sound design, and voice acting. In short, everything in this game is so meticulously planned to snag the player's attention right off the bat and to ensure that they stay engaged the entire way through.
I didn't expect to get so attached to the characters! I teared up not once, not twice, but thrice! And I gasped and cursed to myself so many times. Because I haven't played malViolence yet, I was totally in the dark about the fates of these characters and was filled with more and more dread as the story rapidly barreled toward its high-stakes and action-packed conclusion. Then I was super satisfied by the ending and overjoyed upon reading the extras. I can't wait to check out the sequel now. I'm desperate to learn more about these characters, the challenges they face, and the seemingly dystopian world they inhabit.
This is one of my favorite VNs/KNs in recent memory. Congrats to everybody in the team for delivering such a standout project! You're all incredible!
(Note: Copy-pasting this comment from the Spooktober VN Jam 2023 page.)
Thank you so much for playing protoViolence!
I'm glad you gave it a chance, and I'm happy the game impacted you as deeply as it did. Me and my team did our absolute best to make this project as polished as possible - so I'm glad you think it delivered on that front. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And I hope you enjoy malViolence. There are multiple endings in that VN - so I think you'll enjoy it a lot too. Just be aware that the puzzles can pack quite a punch!
Took me a while to get around to it because I wanted to wait till I was a little less sick so I could read this with a clear head, and it was well worth it!!
There are many things that stand out to me with this, but I think one of the most obvious words that jumps out to me is 'juice'. There are so many little details in the art, in the UI, in the design, in the just... general EVERYTHING that elevates this from a good game to a jawdropping one. The level of polish on everything really makes things so satisfying, and I loved being able to pick out little details, such as the backgrounds changing between dates (I particularly liked the little mug stains!) or references to malViolence (the stickers...!!)
This game certainly DID whet my appetite for malViolence content, but now I just want to know more things!! I really hope I can hear more about Shriya, she had such an absolutely wonderful design, but for now the team should rest up!! Thank you all for your hard work!
Thank you for the very kind words, Moka! I'm glad you like all the little attentions to detail in the game: my team did their utmost to weave everything together. I'm really proud of how it all culminated in the end.
And I do intend to elaborate on more things introduced in this title - so please look forward to those too in the future. Again, thank you so much!
So, I actually did not play MalViolence (the game this is a prequel for) before playing this VN. I had only seen illustrations from the director, whose artwork I've been a fan of for some time. I have to say, once finishing this game I went straight to Steam to download MalViolence so that I could see what happens next for these characters. I found the story we were shown here that compelling!
This is a tight, well executed, and emotionally gripping story. I was moved deeply by the characters we meet and was genuinely shaken by quite a few of the story beats. The first "shoe drop" moment we're given made me gasp out loud. The way the story is presented to us through the lens of a researcher taking notes, recording interviews, and even texting a friend was very creative and immersive.
I definitely recommend checking out this VN; the couple hours it took to play went by quickly (in a good way). No prior context to who these characters are is needed...though, be warned, you may be left itching or more of them once you're done. :) I look forward to seeing any further work from this team.
Thank you so much for this lovely comment!
I'm very glad protoViolence got you to play malViolence, haha - all part of my greater plan...
'Wow...'
Those are the words that escaped my mouth after I finished this game. Like a tidal way of feelings washing over you, receding, and then letting you revel in what just overwhelmed you.
As a general scardey cat, I'm happy that the horror in this game didn't make me jump and scream. No, instead it made my heart drop into my stomach as dread for what happens and then my hands ball up into fists and my teeth to grind as anger replaces it after events happen and horrifying scenes play themselves out. I won't spoil the ending, but I'd say that if felt anger and rage like I did... hold onto it until the finale.
As mentioned earlier, this game does a great job at slowly filling you up with dread. You know that things aren't quite right, that things are certainly heading towards something sinister, and our protagonists does it as well, and perhaps worst of all we grow attached to someone who will be involved in the culmination of that dread. Until... well...
You see the horrible scenes play themselves out.
I'd say the strength of the game, aside from the slow build of dread is how it shows the multiple ways our protagonist also shows that same sense of dread. How it's handled, how they rationalize it, avoid it, come to terms with it, and ultimately... act upon it. In addition, I think that the game hits on themes that many people may go across in their lives. Power and it's use, the unintended side-effects and consequences of our ambition, and how the road to hell can be paved with great ideas, good intentions, and pure pursuits. But when that resource is exhausted... blood, bones, and suffering will do well.
At some point, you have to decide whether to keep walking, turn away, or dismantle the road itself.
Now with that poetic rambling over with, gotta give mad props to the voice acting. While sparse, it's used expertly well in the places that it appears. It was a pleasant delight whenever they popped up and, naturally, they fit the characters well.
Likewise, the music was fantastic. My favorite is how it plays during the introspective segments, and I believe that it shifts as the game goes on, but that might just be me.
UI is good, and the cinematic use of various parts of the screen, speech bubbles, and even a notebook/phone at times is very clever. Gives some nice dynamics to the game and keeps things fresh, same when interacting with the characters and how the sprites and camera shuffle and focus on various parts to highlight the text.
All this to say... props. This was an amazing game, and an excellent spinoff!
Thank you for the incredible and detailed comment! I'm very glad protoViolence affected you this deeply... And your discussions on the themes the VN has are really lovely too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
There is a genuine reason that this page is given a warning when you first open it up. Horror games usually end up trying to shock or scare, but eventually you come down from an intended chemical rush. This is not that.
ProtoViolence is genuinely horrifying in the events that transpire. Whether it's something more obviously graphic or a banal reality that exists today, there are subjects in here that should give you pause.
I highly urge everyone to experience it.
Thank you for this very thoughtful comment, I appreciate it. I'm glad protoViolence made you think a lot with the horrors it presents!
Spoilers inbound!
I finished ProtoViolence a few hours ago and I have so many, many feelings. I'm continually impressed by how this world is presented: whether it's the slow pans or how you, as Dr. Dierdre, can access information, to the voice acting and, of course, the writing. Full disclosure--I'm relatively new to playing games, so it took a bit for me to understand how to progress the story. ^^; (The rule appears to be that the computer is the last thing you can access, and the files + phone can be chosen in whichever order you like.)
That aside, though, I loved the slow build-up to the horror. When I read the warnings, I assumed it would all be in your face right away, but it's...really not. As Dr. Dierdre says, things at YTDI look peaceful and serene. "Look" being the operative word, as it doesn't take long for the real "bleeding edge" of progress to seep through the carefully-controlled margins. The point being: when the horror actually reveals itself, you flinch not because it's some monster beyond human comprehension, but the icy, clinical way that it presents itself. (Until it doesn't, and that art shift is great.) It's what was always going to happen, no matter the kid.
Speaking of kids, let's talk about Pavel, who you will want to spit in A Certain Scientist's eye for. Even knowing Malviolence's story, it still felt like meeting him all over again--as it should, since this is his, dare I say, "origin story" *laughs and cries*. Either you've known a kid like Pavel or you were a kid like Pavel. And the...things...that happen to him (and have happened to others) will make you want to shove A Certain Scientist straight off her ivory tower regardless of where you sit on that binary. Mostly because, well, they're inhumane, but also because they're not unlike how kids with special needs etc. are treated IRL, taken to their extremes. There's even a point where Pavel has a breakdown over it and man. Man. It resonated hard enough that I had to take some time away for a bit.
The real winner for the horror scenes though was easily the one near the very end, mainly because it hit the Unable To Help A Child Despite Being An Adult primal fear button with a vengeance. I literally gasped out loud! Which doesn't happen very often. It was set up beforehand, but it still felt like the worst case scenario in a situation full of worst case scenarios. "Get this kid out of here, Oh god", I kept thinking, even though of course that was already the plan.
And then, several scenes later I gasped again out of sheer, gleeful triumph. "Yes, Pavel, take control back! Run away, BE FREE, AHAHAHA", to give an example of my thought process. XD (I did feel that the other kids' fates were a bit too ambiguous at first? But now that I've had time to think, it fits. Looking forward to maybe seeing a few of them later on! Shriya Reunion Tour when??)
There's a lot to think about here, in a good way. I get the feeling I'll be mulling it over for a long while after this, and not just in the "somehow crossing over with other canons for fun" like I've been daydreaming these past few months post-reading Malviolence. The themes of child abuse and the systems that perpetuate it "for the greater good" are written in a very thought-provoking way here, so it was bound to happen.
(To end this on a lighter note: as an Ant-man fan, I got a kick out of Roach-man. XD And CONGRATS MADO AGAIN!!!)
Thank you for the INCREDIBLE and well thought-out comment!
I really appreciate reading your detailed review of the game. I'm glad a lot of the themes and intended beats of protoViolence came through to you.
Your comments about Pavel and his circumstances especially got me misty-eyed: because that's exactly what I wanted to get across with his character. Thank you, thank you, thank you... (I want to say more but I'm overwhelmed by the impressive response you had to this work)
JUST FINISHED PLAYING PROTOVIOLENCE IN ONE SITTING AND OMG IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEIDRE AND PAVEL MY BELOVEDS!!!!!!!!!!! what an immersive beautifully cinematic and haunting experience <3
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is so special!!!! I've been dying to learn more about the malviolence world, and this did not disappoint! This team is seriously constantly pushing the envelope on making a VN experience feel full and immersive, the visuals went above and beyond, and the writing was haunting. I really enjoyed the gameplay loop of checking Deidre's different external and internal thoughts between logs. The camera movements throughout the game were so lively and impressively directed. My heart genuinely sank at multiple different points, despite ultimately knowing what the outcome was going to be. I really hope y'all make more games in this universe because there's still so much I want to know! Fantastic work!
Thank you so much for this lovely comment!
That was definitely the intent with this visual novel. When I was directing this project, I wanted the VN to have the same level of immersion I had when I was watching playthroughs of certain TYPE-MOON titles like Mahoyo or the Tsukihime Remake. While those titles are full-on visual novels, their use of dynamic camera work helps readers engage with the stories more intimately.
I'm glad this story had a compelling loop and storyline for you - and I am interested in expanding on the Violence universe in the future. ;>
Can't wait to play protoViolence!
I hope you enjoy it!!
WOW!!!!
spoilers below, maybe?
first of all if you haven't played malViolence first, do that! it's well worth your time! protoViolence is great on its own, but much better when you know a little more about what's going on!
second of all, WOW !! it's amazing what a more first-hand account of a story can give you, emotionally speaking. it's one thing to know about what happened to a character in the past, but to actually see it happen as the character is becoming more fleshed out and you learn more about where they came from and what their struggles are.... wonderful. delightful. heart wrenching.
also, great VA choice for pavel!! that one part with the drawn-out dialogue (that i don't want to go into detail about for spoiler reasons) was painful to hear (in a good way!). i have a problem sometimes where voice acting kind of takes me out of a story but both VAs did a great job!!
i'm looking forward to playing through this one again to really absorb everything, i feel like it definitely deserves another read!
anyway. cushion :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I'm really glad you enjoyed this title as much as you did, and that you're going for another read-through later.
And it's true: knowing about what happened to a certain someone is one thing, but witnessing really it is another...
...
Also yes, Cushion. :)
help i stayed up until 2 am to finish reading this, so you know it's good aha >_<
i'm surprised it reads so cohesively given there are so many writers involved. you all did a fantastic job! the visual presentation is great (love the comic book style textboxes + all the various poses and expressions the characters have, it's v lively) but the story is really, really good.
this is going to be one of my fav entries for sure...
also, wah... poor pavel..... poor baby.............
i'm sad now hahaha ;;;;
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this title as much as you did - especially in the story and visuals department. That was my team's focus for this jam project. :>
I have to give a huge thank you to Brian and cluniies for helping me keep all of our writing styles consistent. They really did do an incredible job.
And yeah... poor Pavel. ;_; I hope he resides in your heart as much as he does in mine.
cushion...
cushion…