i feel like you did the best thing ever by really taking AWESOME story/narrative, using a great game engine to make something that CAN become something beautiful, and have the courage to post this crazy early test/demo here for feedback.
But let's cut straight to the chase:
1. The Motion Blur is insanely terrible. I have all the settings maxed out. The motion blur really looks like shes on all of the drugs and everything is fuzzy/blury, while walking around/running.
2. I think you need to any development you are doing on the world/animations and get your characted polished and animated to an extremely satisfying degree. Take reference from WILD LIFE and SECTOR 7 for animation / character polish
https://f95zone.to/threads/section-7-project-unknown-101-test-version-update-mr-matthew.58610/ and
https://f95zone.to/threads/wild-life-build-23-06-2021-10-patreon-adeptus-steve.3810/ youve probably already played both, a lot, but still - I personally find these two games to have excellent character models/animations. I would also add PARALOGUE / Fallen Doll: Operation Lovecraft to that list:
https://f95zone.to/threads/fallen-doll-operation-lovecraft-v0-34-cracked-project-helius.33403/
3. Even in such a crazy early test/demo, your ideas look like this concept can be wildly fun and extremely addicting to play lol. Having the character use an object solo, only to be surprised and attacked, and perhaps resulting in great fun, is really wonderful. Wasn't expecting that at all - I thought it was going to be a super boring scene - the surprise REALLY made me want to explore more, play more, and see what else I can find or reveal.
4. Please don't get distracted by making some overly ambitious world. The quality of the character polish, the quality of the animations, and HOW THE ANIMATIONS CHANGE FROM POSITION TO POSITION, IS 10,000% MORE IMPORTANT THAN A BIG COLORFUL MAP! That being said, I love how absurd the world looks, and the night with the lights is fucking awesome.
5. THE SCALE! I love the scale so fucking much and im actually surprised I like it so much. Her barely being able to look over the top of the dining table is awesome - the perspective feels super spot on.
A few other notes:
Definitely start the journey with the Cat driving the story, as others have said.
I do like that the character can interact with the mouse click - instead of having to have both hands busy.
I think the dialogue/interaction UI needs to be changed - it just feels awkward and I want to be able to "skip" ahead, or even go back, or click at my own pace to speed up or slow down the text/dialogue/story advancement etc.
Really excited to see where you take this..... Great idea!!!