Twofold

by Salty Salty Studios, Studio Coattails, Studio Élan, Studio Elan

The Developer Says...

In a bid to avoid failing out of college, Olive Penn inadvertently finds themselves caught in the middle of a feud between two campus club leaders whose rivalry seemingly threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Players Like...

❤ Narrative and Storytelling

The captivating, character-driven story propels the gameplay. Players assume the role of Olive, an outsider who finds themselves caught in the middle of a conflict between two close-knit friend groups. The narrative unfolds across two parallel routes, each focusing on one of the two club leaders - Millie and Caprice. This dual perspective allows players to experience the same events from different viewpoints, deepening their understanding of the characters and the central conflict. Reviewers praise the realistic, emotionally impactful writing. The polished, well-paced narrative tackles themes of love, family, and the fragility of close bonds in a thoughtful, relatable manner. The nuanced characters and their authentic motivations and relationships captivate players. Reviewers note that exploring the optional side paths and epilogue content provides additional depth and context to the story.

❤ Branching Narrative and Choices

Early on, players must choose to initially align themselves with either Millie or Caprice, setting them on one of the two main story routes. Throughout the game, dialogue choices influence character relationships and the progression of events, though reviewers note that most impactful decisions occur early on, with the story then progressing in a more linear fashion. While the choices do not drastically alter the core narrative, they shape the nuances of the story and the player's understanding of the characters. This structure is seen as both a strength, providing a clear narrative focus, and a potential weakness, as it may limit player agency later in the game.

❤ Visual Novel Conventions and Quality-of-Life

The game's high production values and attention to detail enhance the visual novel experience. Expressive, well-animated character sprites and beautiful, watercolor-style background art create a cozy, handcrafted feel. The full voice cast delivers compelling performances that bring the characters to life. Reviewers praise the inclusion of user-friendly features, such as a skip function that respects unread text, a rewind/rollback option, and intuitive menu navigation. These quality-of-life improvements contribute to an overall polished and accessible experience.

❤ Replayability and Completeness

Completing both the Millie and Caprice routes is recommended, as it provides a more comprehensive understanding of the central conflict and the relationships between the characters. Optional side paths allow players to deepen their bonds with the supporting cast, adding further nuance and emotional weight to the story. Upon finishing the main narrative, players can access an additional epilogue content, "Perfect Circle," which offers a satisfying conclusion to the game's themes and character arcs. This sense of completeness and the desire to uncover all of the narrative threads contribute to the game's replayability and longevity for visual novel enthusiasts.

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