it not often i use this account, it more of a throwaway/burn thing to get games when there is a bundle out for free or something but after checking this game and i have to say i love it
is it bad i kinda want a more extensive spicy scene? first time i ever got a game that really make me wish those scenes where longer and more detail
This is such an interesting take on the toxic yuri theme, I really loved this game! Nifty's music is amazing and all of you did such a great job on the visuals! Also I love the Sparkle On Raven poster cameo haha
The 3D model of Jinglebug is so cute. I like the story’s direction a lot: a “guy” who has a crush on a video game character and doesn’t know what he really wants out of life. It’s a refreshing horror tale – the art direction makes this game very memorable to me.
This was really cool! I got two endings, I'm not sure if there's more..? Jinglebug's 3D model is darling, the sprites and music are also top notch - I love her voice SFX too, all of these aspects mesh really well together and feel very evocative of that era of gaming. I completely understand how Max gets lured into Jinglebug's world. With a character you've latched onto since childhood like that, it's certainly easy to imagine how they might know you better than others, how they might accept you in a way that others don't seem to... it's a very seductive kind of concept. All in all a very lovely short and sweet title
It's hard to describe how much my neurons lit on fire when I saw the link to this game posted to BlueSky. I stopped everything I was doing and launched into it immediately.
Truthfully, the idea caters a lot to my taste. I grew up on the N64 since birth, was around for the early Creepypasta era and especially stuff like Sonic.EXE or I HATE YOU, am Transfemme myself and am drawn towards Funny-Animal style mascot designs from a historical perspective, aesthetic enjoyment and; to out myself, have Normal Thoughts about characters with very non-provocative, cartoony proportions being flirtatious or portraying themselves as "Sexy." It's the internet and I hold little shame in admitting that.
I'm not going to act like my biases don't contribute to how much I enjoy this idea, but even in spite of that the story of this game was extremely enjoyable. Max is a protagonist written with a lot of earnest understanding to what it feels like when you're just barely on the cusp of transitioning. You may not have the words to describe it, or even understand whats happening, but it claws at you, exhausts you, makes you feel like you're stuck and incapable of the same change everyone around you is capable of.
It makes her dynamic with "Jinglebug" all the more scary, but just as alluring. How many people could say they were given the opportunity to fall in love with their fictional childhood crush? To be seen by them like no-one else has ever seen you? It adds to the classic tropes of Creepypasta Horror and refreshes them in a way that certainly stands head and shoulders above its inspirations (not that Sonic.EXE is exactly a high bar).
The art is a treat to look at, Jinglebug's design splits a perfect difference between Nintendo and SEGA's sensibilities with regards to Mascot Design. Weirdly enough, even though the console Jinglebug Journey is on is a mashup of the N64 and Playstation, Jinglebug feels like she'd be at home on the SEGA Saturn of all things, at least to me.
Without spoiling anything specific, one of my criticisms are that the game's NSFW Elements feel like they're too shy to get explicit. While i've only played three routes and don't know if any choice combinations deviate further than that, the two scenes I found where it got suggestive felt like it was too nervous to go really into it. The game is 18+, but aside from one scene in particular where you can fill in the blanks with what's happening, it's rather tame! Might also be worth it to signpost the game being 18+ on the Itch.io page, I had to tell a sex-repulsed friend ahead of time when she saw me reblog a post about this games release, as the itch.io page doesn't give the Age Check warning and there's nothing on the page itself that alludes to those events.
Obviously, I wouldn't want to pressure the writers to go graphic or too explicit if it was outside of what they'd be comfortable writing, but I think it could go more in depth! And not just for sex appeal reasons, part of the ethos of Toxic Yuri is that sexual scenes can further the depths of how Toxic a relationship can be, sex is inherently intimate, and seeing what both partners are willing to do for the sake of their carnal desires, to see what one or both are willing to back down on could both flesh out the characters whilst also being titillating!
That, and whilst i'd certainly say "Jinglebug" is a lot more fleshed out than her contemporaries by a country mile, a part of me was hoping for more from her with regards to her motivations. She certainly still fills the role she wants to play, and she can be delightfully devious and manipulative, I was hoping for maybe more details with regards to why she seeks what she does.
Alongside that, it would've potentially been very fun for there to be a route where Max stoops to"Jinglebug"'s level. It is Toxic Yuri Jam, afterall, and I think there'd be something fun in Max turning the tables and become worse, or just as worse as "Jinglebug".
But with regards to the dread that "Jinglebug" creates through manipulating Max, it hits very well. There was a moment where I had to pause from how real it felt, not in the moments itself of talking to a living Video Game Character, but real in how people can manipulate you by making you think they're the only ones who will be able to accept you for who you are.
The art for the game is also wonderful, "Jinglebug"'s sprites are so expressive and fun, the CGs give a lot of focus to the emotions the characters are going through, the art-style is fun and spooky, and the music seamlessly adds to the whole experience!
I can already tell i'm gonna be thinking about this game for a long time after the fact. Such a delight, well worth the time I spent playing. Everyone on the team should be damn proud of the work they put in!
this was really nice!! i think the standouts for me is jinglebugs sprite as well as the music, but as a whole it all came together awesomely! i think also bc it reminds me of old creepypastas, we're kind of put in the same nostalgic headspace as the protagonist :D i love when games do that! good work~
ohhhhh my god this did something to me and my brain. holy moly. i love what this does with so little. i love how the game ends so abruptly when you choose to shut off the console instead of letting jinglebug in. the touch grass sign gave me a big giggle LOL. i also adore the sexual aspects saying so much through only implications, it hits hard and. hopefully this isnt too blunt or forward? but its really hot LOLLLLL. also the sparkle on raven poster... yuuuup.
this like. did some shit to my brain. i love how max is both getting better and worse, shes becoming her true self but giving in to basically a parasite. the cgs are so good and express so much. the cg of jinglebug reaching out to max from the tv made me want to hit my head against the wall, its so pretty and raw and tender and i love that you cant see maxs eyes during it. like its all just so good and toxic and poisonous and godddd its so. AUAGGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i initially worried that like. the short length would make things feel rushed, and. maybe they are a little?? but i think that works in the games favor actually!!! max deteriorating the way she does with little snapshots almost? of the nightmares induced in her by the game, then seeing how bad things get towards the end, the eyebags and dead eyes and grown out unbrushed hair... oughf. the jumping from major point to major point really works in the games favor, it feels very "less is more" and hits hard. it lets your mind wander and fill in the blanks and i think thats what really pulled such a short piece like this together for me. it works so good. im probably talking in circles but i like had to ramble my thoughts out. this is so so so good yall did awesome with this!!!!!! (also the plush scene rocked. were getting objectum with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
its normal for girls and for bugs and for bugs who are girls. yuuuuuup.
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it not often i use this account, it more of a throwaway/burn thing to get games when there is a bundle out for free or something but after checking this game and i have to say i love it
is it bad i kinda want a more extensive spicy scene? first time i ever got a game that really make me wish those scenes where longer and more detailThis is such an interesting take on the toxic yuri theme, I really loved this game! Nifty's music is amazing and all of you did such a great job on the visuals! Also I love the Sparkle On Raven poster cameo haha
The 3D model of Jinglebug is so cute. I like the story’s direction a lot: a “guy” who has a crush on a video game character and doesn’t know what he really wants out of life. It’s a refreshing horror tale – the art direction makes this game very memorable to me.
This was really cool! I got two endings, I'm not sure if there's more..? Jinglebug's 3D model is darling, the sprites and music are also top notch - I love her voice SFX too, all of these aspects mesh really well together and feel very evocative of that era of gaming. I completely understand how Max gets lured into Jinglebug's world. With a character you've latched onto since childhood like that, it's certainly easy to imagine how they might know you better than others, how they might accept you in a way that others don't seem to... it's a very seductive kind of concept. All in all a very lovely short and sweet title
It's hard to describe how much my neurons lit on fire when I saw the link to this game posted to BlueSky. I stopped everything I was doing and launched into it immediately.
Truthfully, the idea caters a lot to my taste. I grew up on the N64 since birth, was around for the early Creepypasta era and especially stuff like Sonic.EXE or I HATE YOU, am Transfemme myself and am drawn towards Funny-Animal style mascot designs from a historical perspective, aesthetic enjoyment and; to out myself, have Normal Thoughts about characters with very non-provocative, cartoony proportions being flirtatious or portraying themselves as "Sexy." It's the internet and I hold little shame in admitting that.
I'm not going to act like my biases don't contribute to how much I enjoy this idea, but even in spite of that the story of this game was extremely enjoyable. Max is a protagonist written with a lot of earnest understanding to what it feels like when you're just barely on the cusp of transitioning. You may not have the words to describe it, or even understand whats happening, but it claws at you, exhausts you, makes you feel like you're stuck and incapable of the same change everyone around you is capable of.
It makes her dynamic with "Jinglebug" all the more scary, but just as alluring. How many people could say they were given the opportunity to fall in love with their fictional childhood crush? To be seen by them like no-one else has ever seen you? It adds to the classic tropes of Creepypasta Horror and refreshes them in a way that certainly stands head and shoulders above its inspirations (not that Sonic.EXE is exactly a high bar).
The art is a treat to look at, Jinglebug's design splits a perfect difference between Nintendo and SEGA's sensibilities with regards to Mascot Design. Weirdly enough, even though the console Jinglebug Journey is on is a mashup of the N64 and Playstation, Jinglebug feels like she'd be at home on the SEGA Saturn of all things, at least to me.
Without spoiling anything specific, one of my criticisms are that the game's NSFW Elements feel like they're too shy to get explicit. While i've only played three routes and don't know if any choice combinations deviate further than that, the two scenes I found where it got suggestive felt like it was too nervous to go really into it. The game is 18+, but aside from one scene in particular where you can fill in the blanks with what's happening, it's rather tame! Might also be worth it to signpost the game being 18+ on the Itch.io page, I had to tell a sex-repulsed friend ahead of time when she saw me reblog a post about this games release, as the itch.io page doesn't give the Age Check warning and there's nothing on the page itself that alludes to those events.
Obviously, I wouldn't want to pressure the writers to go graphic or too explicit if it was outside of what they'd be comfortable writing, but I think it could go more in depth! And not just for sex appeal reasons, part of the ethos of Toxic Yuri is that sexual scenes can further the depths of how Toxic a relationship can be, sex is inherently intimate, and seeing what both partners are willing to do for the sake of their carnal desires, to see what one or both are willing to back down on could both flesh out the characters whilst also being titillating!
That, and whilst i'd certainly say "Jinglebug" is a lot more fleshed out than her contemporaries by a country mile, a part of me was hoping for more from her with regards to her motivations. She certainly still fills the role she wants to play, and she can be delightfully devious and manipulative, I was hoping for maybe more details with regards to why she seeks what she does.
Alongside that, it would've potentially been very fun for there to be a route where Max stoops to"Jinglebug"'s level. It is Toxic Yuri Jam, afterall, and I think there'd be something fun in Max turning the tables and become worse, or just as worse as "Jinglebug".
But with regards to the dread that "Jinglebug" creates through manipulating Max, it hits very well. There was a moment where I had to pause from how real it felt, not in the moments itself of talking to a living Video Game Character, but real in how people can manipulate you by making you think they're the only ones who will be able to accept you for who you are.
The art for the game is also wonderful, "Jinglebug"'s sprites are so expressive and fun, the CGs give a lot of focus to the emotions the characters are going through, the art-style is fun and spooky, and the music seamlessly adds to the whole experience!
I can already tell i'm gonna be thinking about this game for a long time after the fact. Such a delight, well worth the time I spent playing. Everyone on the team should be damn proud of the work they put in!
this was really nice!! i think the standouts for me is jinglebugs sprite as well as the music, but as a whole it all came together awesomely! i think also bc it reminds me of old creepypastas, we're kind of put in the same nostalgic headspace as the protagonist :D i love when games do that! good work~
ohhhhh my god this did something to me and my brain. holy moly. i love what this does with so little. i love how the game ends so abruptly when you choose to shut off the console instead of letting jinglebug in. the touch grass sign gave me a big giggle LOL. i also adore the sexual aspects saying so much through only implications, it hits hard and. hopefully this isnt too blunt or forward? but its really hot LOLLLLL. also the sparkle on raven poster... yuuuup.
this like. did some shit to my brain. i love how max is both getting better and worse, shes becoming her true self but giving in to basically a parasite. the cgs are so good and express so much. the cg of jinglebug reaching out to max from the tv made me want to hit my head against the wall, its so pretty and raw and tender and i love that you cant see maxs eyes during it. like its all just so good and toxic and poisonous and godddd its so. AUAGGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i initially worried that like. the short length would make things feel rushed, and. maybe they are a little?? but i think that works in the games favor actually!!! max deteriorating the way she does with little snapshots almost? of the nightmares induced in her by the game, then seeing how bad things get towards the end, the eyebags and dead eyes and grown out unbrushed hair... oughf. the jumping from major point to major point really works in the games favor, it feels very "less is more" and hits hard. it lets your mind wander and fill in the blanks and i think thats what really pulled such a short piece like this together for me. it works so good. im probably talking in circles but i like had to ramble my thoughts out. this is so so so good yall did awesome with this!!!!!! (also the plush scene rocked. were getting objectum with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
its normal for girls and for bugs and for bugs who are girls. yuuuuuup.