I don‘t understand the great reviews

[Creynt]

I just watched a whole playthrough of this game and I feel MISERABLE. Why is this game getting praised in the review section? I‘m not even talking about graphics/animation since it’s an indie game afterall. It seems like they overlooked the terrible things that happened in this story and they weren‘t even justified.
Dawn was constantly being mistreated by these terribly written characters. A daughter who almost killed her own mother just because she is sick and she can‘t handle healthcare bills. What the hell?? And then the cat still decides to find a way back to Olive as if the game forces me to apologize to the characters for their terrible unjustified actions. I understand what the devs were going for but it was badly executed. It already failed by giving Dawn a human instinct. I really lost it when they made the cat almost unalive itself. The game literally forces you to feel miserable. Just because you put „sad“ story elements every 5 mins inside the game doesn’t mean it could touch the player emotionally.

I really hope the devs won‘t rest on the good reviews since it’s their first game but reflect on the bad things we report on, so they can improve

[FlyingAllNight]

Actually this is the reason I didn't buy the game. The reviews confuse me too.

This has been on my wishlist for 2 years. I played the demo and felt a little worried what the final product would look like but still didn't think the story would be this bad.

The story is horrible. Ignoring the daughter/Mother/Pillow relationship.

SHE DROPS YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST! 'You'll have a better life here. No dogs here'

♥♥♥♥♥ its the forest! I'm dead Day 1. I'm a cat.

I guess it could have been worse. She could have dropped me in Springfield.

[oddity]

Also the Australian wildlife is particularly vulnerable to feral cats, so if Dawn did manage to unleash her inner 'wildcat' and learn to survive, it would be good for her but quite damaging to the ecosystem.

Either way, Olive was hurting the animals she loves by doing what she did.

[FlyingAllNight]

Originally posted by oddity:

Also the Australian wildlife is particularly vulnerable to feral cats, so if Dawn did manage to unleash her inner 'wildcat' and learn to survive, it would be good for her but quite damaging to the ecosystem.

Either way, Olive was hurting the animals she loves by doing what she did.

Australian ?!

That explains the scene where the daughter was going to snuff out their Mom with the pillow. Those empty Foster cans on the night stand took away the emotional drama I felt.

[Patola [Linux]]

Originally posted by Creynt:

I just watched a whole playthrough of this game and I feel MISERABLE. Why is this game getting praised in the review section? I‘m not even talking about graphics/animation since it’s an indie game afterall. It seems like they overlooked the terrible things that happened in this story and they weren‘t even justified.
Dawn was constantly being mistreated by these terribly written characters. A daughter who almost killed her own mother just because she is sick and she can‘t handle healthcare bills. What the hell?? And then the cat still decides to find a way back to Olive as if the game forces me to apologize to the characters for their terrible unjustified actions. I understand what the devs were going for but it was badly executed. It already failed by giving Dawn a human instinct. I really lost it when they made the cat almost unalive itself. The game literally forces you to feel miserable. Just because you put „sad“ story elements every 5 mins inside the game doesn’t mean it could touch the player emotionally.

I really hope the devs won‘t rest on the good reviews since it’s their first game but reflect on the bad things we report on, so they can improve

I tried an explanation here. For me the game was perfect and gave me closure. I felt that it was not about the cats, it was about the capacity of the player to forgive flawed, imperfect people. And the cats were better off due to that forgiveness.

I really loved the game and won't be forgetting it soon. It made a big impact on me. It's already one of the best games I purchased this year.

[maestro]

Originally posted by Creynt:

I just watched a whole playthrough of this game and I feel MISERABLE. Why is this game getting praised in the review section? I‘m not even talking about graphics/animation since it’s an indie game afterall. It seems like they overlooked the terrible things that happened in this story and they weren‘t even justified.
Dawn was constantly being mistreated by these terribly written characters. A daughter who almost killed her own mother just because she is sick and she can‘t handle healthcare bills. What the hell?? And then the cat still decides to find a way back to Olive as if the game forces me to apologize to the characters for their terrible unjustified actions. I understand what the devs were going for but it was badly executed. It already failed by giving Dawn a human instinct. I really lost it when they made the cat almost unalive itself. The game literally forces you to feel miserable. Just because you put „sad“ story elements every 5 mins inside the game doesn’t mean it could touch the player emotionally.

I really hope the devs won‘t rest on the good reviews since it’s their first game but reflect on the bad things we report on, so they can improve

So basically your logic is "bad things happened in the story therefore story itself is bad".

Hey, life sometimes sucks. It's about how you deal with said stuff.

Like, pretty much every mainsteam game has violence and murder... so all of those stories are bad, too?

[Creynt]

Originally posted by maestro:

Originally posted by Creynt:

I just watched a whole playthrough of this game and I feel MISERABLE. Why is this game getting praised in the review section? I‘m not even talking about graphics/animation since it’s an indie game afterall. It seems like they overlooked the terrible things that happened in this story and they weren‘t even justified.
Dawn was constantly being mistreated by these terribly written characters. A daughter who almost killed her own mother just because she is sick and she can‘t handle healthcare bills. What the hell?? And then the cat still decides to find a way back to Olive as if the game forces me to apologize to the characters for their terrible unjustified actions. I understand what the devs were going for but it was badly executed. It already failed by giving Dawn a human instinct. I really lost it when they made the cat almost unalive itself. The game literally forces you to feel miserable. Just because you put „sad“ story elements every 5 mins inside the game doesn’t mean it could touch the player emotionally.

I really hope the devs won‘t rest on the good reviews since it’s their first game but reflect on the bad things we report on, so they can improve

So basically your logic is "bad things happened in the story therefore story itself is bad".

Hey, life sometimes sucks. It's about how you deal with said stuff.

Like, pretty much every mainsteam game has violence and murder... so all of those stories are bad, too?

I did not say that the story is bad because bad things happened. I knew what was coming for the story as soon as the disclaimer came up. In my opinion it was just poorly executed. Making the story realistic doesn’t make it believable AT ALL. Literally any character acts like a douchebag and the game really wants me to have any empathy left for these characters? I don’t buy it that a cat that got constantly mistreated by being left alone in the house, almost starving, getting kicked, screamed on and dumping it on the street still wants to find a way to get back to his horrible owner. The game tries too hard to stomp at your heart at every opportunity. I can‘t seem to fumble any meaning that was eventually put into this story. The game even gives you an illusion of choice because they don‘t matter. It just throws an „happy ending“ at you so everything that happened is justified. I don‘t want even start on the ending quote: „Home is there where you are needed.“ Absolutely not. Home is there where you are safe. And these cats are definitely not safe by staying anywhere near these people. 🤷🏻

[Patola [Linux]]

Originally posted by Creynt:

Originally posted by maestro:

So basically your logic is "bad things happened in the story therefore story itself is bad".

Hey, life sometimes sucks. It's about how you deal with said stuff.

Like, pretty much every mainsteam game has violence and murder... so all of those stories are bad, too?

I did not say that the story is bad because bad things happened. I knew what was coming for the story as soon as the disclaimer came up. In my opinion it was just poorly executed. Making the story realistic doesn’t make it believable AT ALL. Literally any character acts like a douchebag and the game really wants me to have any empathy left for these characters? I don’t buy it that a cat that got constantly mistreated by being left alone in the house, almost starving, getting kicked, screamed on and dumping it on the street still wants to find a way to get back to his horrible owner. The game tries too hard to stomp at your heart at every opportunity. I can‘t seem to fumble any meaning that was eventually put into this story. The game even gives you an illusion of choice because they don‘t matter. It just throws an „happy ending“ at you so everything that happened is justified. No sorry.

That's not it. You get to meet characters that are already miserable. You see Olive from the start lying to the shelter worker, saying she's not the same one from a few weeks ago. She lives in denial. She tried to substitute her lost cat with a lookalike, like they were objects and not individuals. She skips on her medication, doesn't answer calls and makes the life of her daughter miserable, along with the medical bills. It is never said explicitly but it seems she has limited time to live, due to her emphysema, and she still wants to take care of a cat that will get attached and soon enough have no one to take care of them, and her daughter doesn't like cats and certainly will not try and get them in proper care.

Olive is in despair. Mae is in despair. When Olive sees the terrible mistake she had by adopting two cats, she tried to hide one of them from Mae, they probably had an agreement on that. She doesn't take Dawn to the shelter because she knows she will be recognized (it's early in the morning, so maybe it is not even open yet). She is ashamed.

It's all messed up. You see these people doing these bad things, you feel like shouting at them: "Don't do that. You're harming others. You're harming yourself. You're rationalizing, not reasoning, don't do that."

The end however ties it all together. It's the best ending. Both cats have a home, become friends, are taken care of. Mae is not usually there, will not make an effort to get rid of the cats. They are in a nursing home with many identical homes, if Olive dies people there will likely take care of them, that's how it usually goes in those places. Olive is not punished for her misdeeds, but she was already dying, what good would punishment do in this case? Mae will not start liking cats if she's punished too, and already has the bills to worry. Let the grudge go away. The naïve cats feel good now. They would be in a worst state if these people were punished. Let it rest. Be happy with them. Unburden your heart.

I really don't think it was poorly written. I legitimately felt like I've watched a masterpiece. I can't say if that was the intention of the writers of the story, but it really resonated with me, specially when I realized my forgiveness was part of the gameplay.

[maestro]

I also think that the game also has some object lessons on how to NOT take care of a cat.

Pay attention to Olive's home at the beginning of the game.

So.
Many.
Mistakes.

Being made, it's like the developers are screaming to players "Don't do this with your cats!"

The paint room, leaving food sitting out where it's accessible, having an easily tippable trash can with food items in it in the kitchen that isn't covered, food bowl next to litter pan, etc.

[Patola [Linux]]

Originally posted by maestro:

I also think that the game also has some object lessons on how to NOT take care of a cat.

Pay attention to Olive's home at the beginning of the game.

So.
Many.
Mistakes.

Being made, it's like the developers are screaming to players "Don't do this with your cats!"

The paint room, leaving food sitting out where it's accessible, having an easily tippable trash can with food items in it in the kitchen that isn't covered, food bowl next to litter pan, etc.

Yeah, it has already being said on the forums that that house is not 'catified' at all. This term was invented (or popularized) by the cat youtuber Jackson Galaxy.

[maestro]

Originally posted by Patola Linux:

Originally posted by maestro:

I also think that the game also has some object lessons on how to NOT take care of a cat.

Pay attention to Olive's home at the beginning of the game.

So.
Many.
Mistakes.

Being made, it's like the developers are screaming to players "Don't do this with your cats!"

The paint room, leaving food sitting out where it's accessible, having an easily tippable trash can with food items in it in the kitchen that isn't covered, food bowl next to litter pan, etc.

Yeah, it has already being said on the forums that that house is not 'catified' at all. This term was invented (or popularized) by the cat youtuber Jackson Galaxy.

And sad thing of it is, I see so many short videos on Facebook of cats destroying peoples' living rooms and bedrooms, and they do some of the most stupid crap and it's like... "well, what did you expect was going to happen?"

Then they act like it was the cat's fault that they had 3 million glass/pottery objects sitting on narrow shelves that the cat ends up knocking to the floor.

And with Olive in the game... it's not like this is her first cat, she's adopting this cat to replace a cat she lost, so she's been a cat owner for some time and didn't know to properly set her house up? Kinda weird.

[JungHeinz]

Heh, real game of real life. :D

I guess I pass. I am sick of real life I need to actually live. No need to play it as well. :D

[Reapers]

The people in the game are unforgivable but ill focus on Olive. She loses one cat which can happen to anyone and she decides to replace the cat literally by getting one that looks like her old cat and calls it the same name which were morally told not to do as its treating an animal as an object. She then realises that she has two cats now because the missing one has returned and decides that taking the 2nd cat and dumping her in the countryside where there are alot of wildlife that can kill her is "safe" for the cat when she knows the cat would literally be safer in the shelter and this is a guess but ive met people like her that would rather endanger an animals life then take responsibility and do what is best for the animal like taking them back to the shelter because they dont want to look bad in front of other people because it makes them feel bad. Olive was being completely selfish and left the cat where she thought the cat would not be able to find its way back home. Animal abuse like this is completely unforgivable to someone who cares more about their animals then themselves. Is it because shes an elderly woman that so many people are trying to give her a free pass like "aww she would never intentionally hurt anything so its not her fault she dumped a domestic animal in the countryside to fend for itself"? would it be okay if it was someone in their 30's? what if they worked at a shelter and then dumped the cat in the countryside?

Also I do not like this "home is where you are needed", it seems like a way to say that your loved ones will treat you horribly and even discard you but you should forgive them and allow them to have another opportunity to do it again despite them proving they are capable and willing to treat you like that. I thought we advocate for people to keep distance from abusive/ toxic relationships even if they are family.

and the final part that bothers me is the contract or declaration that Olive signs which she pretty much goes back on all of it. She should not own cats and the cats living as outdoor cats at the retirement homes with what that person has done to the 2nd cat being sold as the "happy ever after" is just like a sick joke. Part of me feels like someone would make a game like this to pull a nasty prank on animal lovers but ive looked at the game updates and it seems to be about people who do love cats so I am mind blown this is the ending they chose after everything that happens.

I actually thought that the second appearance of the mother and child was hinting that we would end up being rehomed by them. I approached the child and so I saw the child was kind and then on the second encounter felt that what the child said was both sweet and that he would be our owner. The mom was a bit harsh shoeing us away but that behaviour I can understand as being protective of her child as the cat could have rabies for all she knows. But with the mention that they had two cats that also had me thinking we would be given a home by them and that the mom would soften up to us because of her son being so interested in us and caring for us enough to even feed us.

I feel like the devs could have made two endings, one with us going to the child and mother if we could not forgive Olive. Then all those people who think what Olive did was no big deal can happily enjoy that ending and I get any ending that doesn't involve going back to Olive.

[Ink Hyaena]

Originally posted by Reapers:

The people in the game are unforgivable but ill focus on Olive. She loses one cat which can happen to anyone and she decides to replace the cat literally by getting one that looks like her old cat and calls it the same name which were morally told not to do as its treating an animal as an object. She then realises that she has two cats now because the missing one has returned and decides that taking the 2nd cat and dumping her in the countryside where there are alot of wildlife that can kill her is "safe" for the cat when she knows the cat would literally be safer in the shelter and this is a guess but ive met people like her that would rather endanger an animals life then take responsibility and do what is best for the animal like taking them back to the shelter because they dont want to look bad in front of other people because it makes them feel bad. Olive was being completely selfish and left the cat where she thought the cat would not be able to find its way back home. Animal abuse like this is completely unforgivable to someone who cares more about their animals then themselves. Is it because shes an elderly woman that so many people are trying to give her a free pass like "aww she would never intentionally hurt anything so its not her fault she dumped a domestic animal in the countryside to fend for itself"? would it be okay if it was someone in their 30's? what if they worked at a shelter and then dumped the cat in the countryside?

Also I do not like this "home is where you are needed", it seems like a way to say that your loved ones will treat you horribly and even discard you but you should forgive them and allow them to have another opportunity to do it again despite them proving they are capable and willing to treat you like that. I thought we advocate for people to keep distance from abusive/ toxic relationships even if they are family.

and the final part that bothers me is the contract or declaration that Olive signs which she pretty much goes back on all of it. She should not own cats and the cats living as outdoor cats at the retirement homes with what that person has done to the 2nd cat being sold as the "happy ever after" is just like a sick joke. Part of me feels like someone would make a game like this to pull a nasty prank on animal lovers but ive looked at the game updates and it seems to be about people who do love cats so I am mind blown this is the ending they chose after everything that happens.

I actually thought that the second appearance of the mother and child was hinting that we would end up being rehomed by them. I approached the child and so I saw the child was kind and then on the second encounter felt that what the child said was both sweet and that he would be our owner. The mom was a bit harsh shoeing us away but that behaviour I can understand as being protective of her child as the cat could have rabies for all she knows. But with the mention that they had two cats that also had me thinking we would be given a home by them and that the mom would soften up to us because of her son being so interested in us and caring for us enough to even feed us.

I feel like the devs could have made two endings, one with us going to the child and mother if we could not forgive Olive. Then all those people who think what Olive did was no big deal can happily enjoy that ending and I get any ending that doesn't involve going back to Olive.

I mean, in all honesty, literally the best fix to this would be to switch what Olive did with Mae. That's it. That would fix the only glaring issue with the whole game. I can deal with Olive getting another cat to replace the one she lost and naming her after the first cat, even if it's weird and ehh, but having Olive dump Dawn off in the middle of nowhere after all she said to her and signed the adoption papers, that made her a twist villain. Mae easily could've done that and it would be no issue to see Dawn try to find her way back home.

'Also I do not like this "home is where you are needed", it seems like a way to say that your loved ones will treat you horribly and even discard you but you should forgive them and allow them to have another opportunity to do it again despite them proving they are capable and willing to treat you like that. I thought we advocate for people to keep distance from abusive/ toxic relationships even if they are family.' This is what bothered me the most out of the ending. It's so bittersweet because of this. That said, I'm pretty sure the positive reviews come from cat fans, plus the way the game was handled. It touches subjects not many others dare to, let alone this well done. The ending is where it fumbled and felt rushed.

[maestro]

I will admit that bit about "home is where you are needed" was kinda "eeeeeh" to me.

Okay, so philanthropy is great and all, but there are limits.

Though the idea of having Mae be the one to drop the cat in the countryside makes a LOT of sense, and it baffles me as to why they didn't do it that way, now that you mention it.

It's well within Mae's character to do something like that, and it would have indeed made the ending far better.

[ComparisonWorld]

Its heart is in the right place and I think people appreciate that (or maybe also because it's manipulative) but yeah the game is unnecessarily mean spirited and emotionally manipulative. Everyone was so mean to this cat, even complete strangers. Sometimes I feel like that these animal stories are intentionally trying to make you feel emotions instead of just telling a good story. At least the cat didn't die though because that would've really pissed me off.

Still, I don't understand why Olive couldn't have just taken Dawn back to the shelter. Sure it probably wouldn't have led to reuniting with her, but it would've been a more respectful thing to do instead of letting that poor cat suffer.

It's an okay game overall. I'm glad that at least Olive redeemed herself.