Ren'Py Lessons in Love [v0.48.0] [Selebus]

[Moonflare]

It's different in theory, but not so much in practice. Maya Prime didn't think Sensei was Sensei, until this timeline, hence the whole reincarnation theory of hers, but none of them lasted long enough to reach the point where Current Sensei actually remembered something. (Or apparently had Himawari sell them that Scarf, plus whatever other divergences)

Maya Prime was thinking Current Sensei could "probably" be her Akira:

Spoiler

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But, unless he had been through what they've been through:

Spoiler

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She probably wouldn't truly see him as her Akira.

And Maya Prime was aware that Current Sensei didn't share their memories:

Spoiler

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Current Sensei was basically just close enough, and seemed to be like her Akira, but at the end, it probably didn't matter.

Maya Prime probably wouldn't have even remembered the resets if all that was left in her head, was Akira. There being other Senseis probably wouldn't be distinguishable, and therefore there'd be only one, as far as she'd be aware.

It's also possible that Current Sensei isn't actually Akira. He "regained" a memory but he saw himself in it:

Spoiler

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This game loves playing with the idea of perception, and has mentioned Shapeshifters and other kinds of entities that can appear human:

Spoiler

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While also noting that there can be false memories:

Spoiler

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I haven't completely written off that Current Sensei could just end up being New Akira, if not something akin to Knife Boy. It's probably fine to see him as Akira though, until more gets revealed.

I mean, yes, I don't think either of us have written off much (including the most wild theories).

I am of the camp, however, that probable is good enough for the current middle of the road. Otherwise, if we get really technical with a game that flirts with perception we'd get nowhere.

Is it possible our Akira is the thing from outer space? yes. Is it more likely he's just Akira? also yes. Is it even more, even if slightly, likely that he's the original Akira (as all others) but that through Himawari/Pareidolia's tampering was able to remember more of his past? I'd say so too.

The only thing that's certain is that Himawari's name is Ami/Amy - anything other than that I'm open to be corrected on. Selebus better put both a moon and a flare on the event that's revealed cause that'll be my moment.

 

[fdsasdf_p]

This made me think, Akira considers "his" Maya dead because new Maya doesn't have her memories but he never regained all of his memories so Maya Prime never truly got "her" Akira back, at least not by Akira's logic.

I suppose Maya's definition of "his Akira" must have changed or become more abridged over the course of meeting millions of Sensei iterations and watching all of them die.

She can't choose the most luxurious option that is "an Akira with all his memories" as "his Akira"; she only has either "an Akira with no memory" or "an unknown third party that uses Akira's body, and also with no memory". The most unfortunate girl in the universe literally cannot afford to be picky.

This argument still works if the past iterations were not some randos like Prime Maya believed, but were actually "all real Akira but all failed to recover any bit of his memory due to various reasons" (how she made this judgment, randos vs real Akira, was never clearly elaborated). If that's the case, then Maya still follows the memory criteria to a certain extend, but her bar is obviously a lot lower than Akira's with good reasons.

 

[Leoxsama]

Good Kid’s songs weren’t even that bad.

View attachment 4041216

I always read the VN on mute so not like I ever heard a a song by them in the first place.

 

[Moonflare]

If someone plays this game on mute they must think me insane for the amount of things I quote that's only available in sound form. Like, seriously, I don't even wear denim.

 

[Riolol]

If someone plays this game on mute they must think me insane for the amount of things I quote that's only available in sound form. Like, seriously, I don't even wear denim.

I used to play all h-games on mute because the music annoyed me until this game told me not to play it muted and I listened. I'm honestly glad I did, there are so many times the music in this game has made the bottom fall out of my stomach.

 

[Moonflare]

I used to play all h-games on mute because the music annoyed me until this game told me not to play it muted and I listened. I'm honestly glad I did, there are so many times the music in this game has made the bottom fall out of my stomach.

I feel like, with debatable exceptions, Selebus does a really good job with his songs - not only choice wise, but as a sort of storytelling also. For instance, when he uses

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for Yumi's "wake me up when it's over" and mirrors "I will deliver you to the fireflies", that communicates so much without a single line.

Spoiler: Wake me up when it's over/I will deliver you to the fireflies

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Edit: By the way, both events are at the beach, in both events a kiss almost happens, both events have someone witness this, both events have Touka as either interrupting the kiss herself, or causing Chika to go interrupt it (granted she never finds courage to do it).

 

[Breadtaker]

Selebus is usually particular with the soundtrack selection. Music does a good job of setting the tone of a scene and I genuinely think he has a talent for selecting the right tracks.

My problem with Good Kid is it felt like he just slapped a whole album over an update and called it a day. That and the fact that hearing English lyrics is sorta distracting. I'm reading text one moment and then thinking about lyrics the next cause I apparently can't focus.

I like Good Kid, I just hope it's a little more contained.

 

[Fire Lord Zuko]

I used to play all h-games on mute because the music annoyed me until this game told me not to play it muted and I listened. I'm honestly glad I did, there are so many times the music in this game has made the bottom fall out of my stomach.

The soundtrack is so good, dude…

Just so many bangers throughout the game.

“Sweet Vermouth” for a nice and upbeat song every time you go to the Dorms.

“Sleepsong” for a relaxing yet off-putting vibe (those voices tho).

“Little Bunny” was the perfect song for the confession scene with Maya Prime during Christmas on the Beach… Such a memorable scene.

“Memories”, which rarely plays, but when it does, it’s always emotional. (Maya recognizing the Green Scarf, Noriko reuniting with Akira after years apart, Akira regaining the memory of him and Niki in her bedroom, Yasu’s flashback at the doctor, etc.)

“My Stomach Hurts”, played during Stomachache and just… blgghhhh… so fucking uncomfortable… (I love it.) That scene wouldn’t be near as impactful without the absolutely horrid music going on in the background.

And I’m not even scratching the surface…

The sound effects have a great role to play too. Can’t forget about them…

I could never imagine playing Lessons in Love muted. It’s just not the type of game for that.

 

[hcguy]

Good Kid has an alright singer and a alright sound which is considered good when discussing indie bands. But it could be much much worse... we could have Nodokathon the sequel with the Smiths playing in the background.

One of the best bands of the 80s? We can only hope.

 

[Detective Dc345]

Selebus is usually particular with the soundtrack selection. Music does a good job of setting the tone of a scene and I genuinely think he has a talent for selecting the right tracks.

My problem with Good Kid is it felt like he just slapped a whole album over an update and called it a day. That and the fact that hearing English lyrics is sorta distracting. I'm reading text one moment and then thinking about lyrics the next cause I apparently can't focus.

I like Good Kid, I just hope it's a little more contained.

Trying to play the update with the Good Kid sound track in a nutshell:
Noriko: Good luck trying to pull him off IT GOES FASTER AND FASTER first
Rin: Don't try to tell me what balls WE ALL GOTTA BREAK SOME TIME Mom!
Molly: Please tell me it was something flattering and not SO I WALKED OUT THE BACK BEFORE THE SECOND SET SETTLED MY DEBT I'LL MISS THE REST, THATS FINE I GUESS. I think I love you.

 

[Apollo259]

I was not a fan at first, but now I don't really mind how he used the good kid songs. As he did seem to pick ones that were at least somewhat lyrically relevant to that update. I can definitely see it being quite annoying if the English lyrics mess with you when reading. But I don't remember having that problem myself.

I also can't imagine playing this game without the soundtrack. Selebus does such a good job of reusing music that you have already associated with specific emotions from previous events as a tool to recall said specific emotions. In addition to just a good selection of tracks in general, especially the more eerie and uncomfortable ones. Stomachache soundtrack as a recent example.

I quite often find myself leaning on the soundtrack to help frame my state of mind when I come back to the game after these month long waiting periods. I think I would struggle somewhat to get back into it fully without the soundtrack when playing update to update. It might be a problem though, I seem to have developed something of a Pavlovian response, when I hear some of the royalty free songs in other stuff I endup teleported back to this game.

Spoiler: Cue flashback meme

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But with that said I do still endup muting the game sometimes when it gets too cacophonous for too long. When I started the untitled children's show song by accident in the last reset for example.

 

[Riolol]

Guys... Meat Puppet and Maya Prime have the same initials, what if they're the same person?

 

[fdsasdf_p]

On the topic of soundtracks, one of the newer soundtracks that has me unexpectedly shaken is iamhome played during Times New Roman.

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Listening to it without playing that event is ok; it's just a calm peaceful tune. But when I was first playing that update and when I was still in that room trying to break out, instead of feeling annoyed or overwhelmed like the rest of the resets, that track made me feel like this time I was absolutely fucked. With the amount of doomsaying immediately prior to reset6, I thought Akira this time was truly done for, and there was no more I could do.

This track somehow just resonates so well with my imagination about "What BGM would be played for someone who peacefully accept their impending death in slow motion, knowing this time there truly is no escape from the disaster that's doomed to happen in 2 second".
Someone who's about to get hit by a car. Someone who's about to hit the ground after jumping. Someone who's about to be claimed by their own stage 4 cancer. The last few fleeting moments where they are still residents to this mortal plain. All that's left to do is listen to this epilogue music and quietly feel your own existence phasing out.

"This is it"
"The show's over"
"It's my turn"

I remembered letting my mouse go and just staring at that room and thinking, "Maybe I should just wither into nothing here".

 

[Detective Dc345]

We have new Kaori events and picture messages but no previews of a random animal. Something bad must happen to her this update.

 

[Nobodyknowsmeok]

Finally caught up to the game now I can read all the theories and what not

 

[Antosha]

It's different in theory, but not so much in practice. Maya Prime didn't think Sensei was Sensei, until this timeline, hence the whole reincarnation theory of hers, but none of them lasted long enough to reach the point where Current Sensei actually remembered something. (Or apparently had Himawari sell them that Scarf, plus whatever other divergences)

Maya Prime was thinking Current Sensei could "probably" be her Akira:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

But, unless he had been through what they've been through:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

She probably wouldn't truly see him as her Akira.

And Maya Prime was aware that Current Sensei didn't share their memories:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

Current Sensei was basically just close enough, and seemed to be like her Akira, but at the end, it probably didn't matter.

Maya Prime probably wouldn't have even remembered the resets if all that was left in her head, was Akira. There being other Senseis probably wouldn't be distinguishable, and therefore there'd be only one, as far as she'd be aware.

It's also possible that Current Sensei isn't actually Akira. He "regained" a memory but he saw himself in it:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

This game loves playing with the idea of perception, and has mentioned Shapeshifters and other kinds of entities that can appear human:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

While also noting that there can be false memories:

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

I haven't completely written off that Current Sensei could just end up being New Akira, if not something akin to Knife Boy. It's probably fine to see him as Akira though, until more gets revealed.

Hey, I’m sure this has been talked about, but… what is the first divergence Maya noticed from the ever-repeating round of sorrow?

if it was the scarf (which is how I remember it), then Himawari really is a major player, it seems to me. She’s literally changed the unchanging balance in this cycle of misery. She may not be very powerful — she can’t just change stuff. But she’s very important.

And the question of what her role is, not to mention her plan (aside from saving mom and dad) seem pretty central as well.

Not controversial, I know, but interesting.

 

[DeSkel15]

Hey, I’m sure this has been talked about, but… what is the first divergence Maya noticed from the ever-repeating round of sorrow?

if it was the scarf (which is how I remember it), then Himawari really is a major player, it seems to me. She’s literally changed the unchanging balance in this cycle of misery. She may not be very powerful — she can’t just change stuff. But she’s very important.

And the question of what her role is, not to mention her plan (aside from saving mom and dad) seem pretty central as well.

Not controversial, I know, but interesting.

Probably Ami becoming a Maid:

Spoiler

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Then the scarf stuff happens.

Although, in theory:

Spoiler

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Overall: Ami becoming a Maid is the first notable thing Maya seemed to notice, but it might be Yumi preventing Sensei from seemingly erasing himself/walking into static in 'Not Even Me' that really changed the timeline, if that was new.

Edit: Could be a few other things, though. Hard to tell since Maya focused mostly just on Sensei and Ami.

 

[JelF547]

We have new Kaori events and picture messages but no previews of a random animal. Something bad must happen to her this update.

Can Nyao-chan be considered a random animal?

 

[shmurfer]

We have new Kaori events and picture messages but no previews of a random animal. Something bad must happen to her this update.

Sel cutting content again.

 

[LessonsInDissonance]

Just need that text to speech Sel uses in the happy events and a John Wick credit card copypasta at this point.

JOHN WIRES???