Picture Perfect [v0.13] [SuperWriter]
I recently played "Picture Perfect", and I have to say, it's a game that manages to strike a balance between simplicity and depth. The storyline is refreshingly straightforward, sparing players from unnecessary details and instead employing time skips to keep the narrative concise. Initially, it felt like the game was laying the groundwork for something grander, but as I delved deeper, it became evident that the developer intended to deliver a more contained and focused experience.
The characters in "Picture Perfect" are a mixed bag. While I found myself genuinely fond of most of them, there were a few quirks that struck me as somewhat perplexing. Paris, for instance, emerged as my favorite character, boasting a well-rounded persona and an engaging character arc. However, her inexplicable blue hair left me scratching my head – black hair would have been a more fitting choice in my opinion.
Sasha, on the other hand, initially gave off an odd impression with something peculiar about her facial features. As the game progressed, I either got used to it, or her character design improved – perhaps a bit of both. She also had one of the game's more compelling character arcs.
Miracle, with her exaggerated social anxiety, often came across as mentally underdeveloped, and it seemed like she needed to be handled with kid gloves by the other characters. Sabrina's transformation into an adoptive daughter felt rushed and inadequately explained. It left me re-reading the relevant dialogue several times, still unable to grasp how this transition occurred. It almost felt like a narrative convenience rather than a well-constructed plot point. It also seemed that Sabrina was introduced later to serve as an English caricature character, considering her close friendship with Miracle.
The characters' names, such as Miracle and Sabrina, raised questions for me. I wondered if there was a deeper thematic connection or perhaps a subtle joke in their names relating to magic, but this was left unexplored in the game.
Finally, the character of the Mother intrigued me due to her appealing appearance, which I found to be the best among all the characters. However, her backstory, which was portrayed as unnecessarily dark to justify her departure from the narrative, gave me a sense of tonal inconsistency, leaving me feeling somber.
In conclusion, "Picture Perfect" is a game that offers a streamlined and enjoyable gaming experience. It successfully avoids the pitfalls of excessive exposition and filler dialogue that can plague other titles. While there are some intriguing characters and storylines, there are also elements that could benefit from further development and clarification. Despite these shortcomings, the game manages to deliver an engaging and concise narrative that sets it apart from those that tend to overindulge in complexity.