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(+1)

This game was good perfect, i will remember it as one of my favourites. Whoever is reading it and still didnt played it yet, just do it, you wont regret.

Thank you so much! ❤️

I have only recently finished playing thought all 4 endings in one go(literally 10 minutes ago) and oh lord. I didn't one bit expect it to be so emotionally impactful. Of course by reading the game description and warnings I had an idea that it'll be rough, since I also tend to feel as if I upset people or that things are my fault, found the MC very relatable in a lot of ways. The twins personalities and backstory is so well written and I think it comes across subtly enough but noticably once you hear their backstory that how much it links(as it usually does with trauma). I loved how nearly each route you discover something new, a different side to your sweetheart, a detail about their twin, more of their backstory it's just amazing. The endings 3-4 both required for me to take a few minutes afterwards to process everything. 4 literally had me crying. It was such a bittersweet ending, I felt sad for losing contact with them in a way but I was also happy for the MC that they did the thing that is so hard to do and just move on(in my case they forgave).

Besides the story itself the graphics were amazing. I'm totally in love with the character designs, they're both so pretty and the style is just amazing. The CGs somehow always cought me off guard in a way but give the point and the feeling in the scene back so well. The backgrounds are lovely, I honestly love the flowers and especially the lighting. I also think the sound effects were done very well.

Altogether I really enjoyed the game and I'd say it is very impactful, both emotionally and mentally in a way. Despite the slight fantasy element it portrays a very real kind of relationship that I know more people I know and although a lighter version I have gone trough. Having to tiptoe around someones feelings and moods just to ensure their well being is never fun.

Congratulations for the amazing game!! It's very well done and I hope a lot more people will find it who will love it!

Sorry for the late response, but I wanted to leave a thank you here for playing the game, and for writing such thoughtful feedback. <3 The team and I really appreciate it.

(+2)

Its so, so hard to find the words to even begin to describe this game. 

The tactfulness, the care and empathy with which this game tackled all sides affected by abuse is astonishingly powerful and truly moving. It found the perfect ground between not sugar-coating the effects of abuse, quite far from doing so, yet didn't demonise a caricature of the average abuser. That is truly a wonder to behold, for it is an art so very difficult to master. And yet somehow this game does it perfectly. 

The use of the hanhakki disease here is so apt for the subject matter. I was worried it would simply be either a plot to excuse the abuser's actions "by making them desperate and evil!!" or turn out to be a fluke devised by the abuser (ie they were somehow eating the flowers to make themselves that way to keep MC around). It was, instead, used to mirror the insecurities and mental effects of the generational cycle, as the game puts it. This acts as a tool to help the player understand the suffering that causes abuser to do what they do and act in the way that they act, and in such a poetic way.

But the game also does not shy away from the slow and tragic breakdown of the victim. It goes into gruelling detail, depicting every step of the way of their slow descent. The dependency, the panicked guilt, the helplessness, the isolation. All in a gradual and palatable enough format for the average person to learn about and understand. I particularly found it impactful towards the end with the loop sequence, the way it puts the player in MC's shoes. 

Something I feel most likely would have overlooked among this excellent commentary is how greatly, in the use of writing, several panic attacks are protrayed. Though it seems to be becoming a trend with media nowadays, i can't argue that here it is served absolute justice, imo mimicking the jumbled thought processes during such a panic attack to a T

Really, just an immensely impactful, powerful and moving commentary on abuse and it's effects; my words could not do it justice. I feel I have so much more express, but I just cannot put it into words.

So I may aswell comment on things other than the narrative. Such as the music. Unsure if it was specifically composed for the game, but the main track has such a nostalgicy yet harrowing feel to it, it so perfectly encapsulates the feelings within the story. I have to say, though, some of the tracks not only switch too suddenly, somewhat ruining effect, but also feel too, how do I put this, dramatic? It feels like a comedic action sequence and imo doesn't really oftentimes match with what's happening on screen. I also wanted to comment on the visual transition used throughout, it's strangely fitting to how the abuser is slowly taking over the MC's entire life, so that's a nice touch. 

Thank you so much for the thoughtful feedback. It means a lot to me that my writing touched you this much and it had the intended impact; I was very careful while crafting Hydrangea’s story. Outside of game dev I’m a clinical psychology intern, so I’m happy that my studies and practice has also influenced my writing positively. The team and I really appreciate it ❤️🫂

(+1)

Truly one of the best games I have played. The true ending makes me cry as it's similar to my own experiences and has helped me realize things as well. The ending where it's been a while after these events is truly beautiful. Wonderful message even helped knock some sense back into me again. You guys did a great job!

(+2)

I happened upon this game out of chance, and I'm glad I did. I cried a lot, especially during the endings, but the overall message is one I'll never forget. Thank you for making this, truly. <3

(+1)

Thank YOU for playing <3

(1 edit)

Hi! I really enjoyed the game and the meaning of the game too. I haven't been in an abusive relationship before so this really opened my eyes at the perspective of someone in a toxic relationship. I got all the endings, but I got this error after the MC promised Yuu/Yua that they would read their letter at home. Is this supposed to happen?

(1 edit) (+2)

That was supposed to be fixed……….. [looks off into sunset, thinking of better days] uploading a fix now.

Thanks for playing!

EDIT: Fixed. If this bug turns up again I’m gonna mclose it

(+1)

It's gone now, thank you!

(+1)

hey!! i love this game, really. you illustrated the sort of cycle well, just watching it repeat gave me a genuine sense of dread :')
anyway, all in all, i like the spin on the hanahaki trope, and just the way a toxic relationship is illustrated. the repeating manipulation, and how usually both need to step away from each other, and find closure.

Thank you for playing, I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed it! <3

(+4)

Thank you so much for writing this. Hanahaki disease has always been a touchy subject for me as a grey aroace. The idea of someone falling in love and then blaming me for making them sick, the fact that it is a trope that pretty much explicitly states "PLATONIC LOVE IS WORTHLESS HERE. FAMILIAL LOVE IS WORTHLESS HERE. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KISS THIS PERSON YOU MIGHT AS WELL SIGN THEIR WILL AND TESTAMENT RIGHT NOW". The guilt that it inspires worse than the claims that already exist in the real world. That someone having a crush on you means you MUST give them a chance because if not you're a horrible human.

My favourite scene was the depiction of the cycle. Abuse, gifts, abuse, gifts, never speaking, never confronting, the sibling trying to help you see past the fear and repetition. It got to the point that my own memory irl began to blur. Haven't I read this already? How long has it been? Am I rewinding scenes? What is happening? Is this all there is?

And then Ending 4, gashkls god that took me out. I think I cried a bit. I need to sit with this for a while.

(+1)

It wasn't at all what I expected, but I ended up loving the narrative of this game. 

I also appreciate the acknowledgement that Hanahaki disease can be made a pretty toxic trope at times with the emphasis on the possibility that a character could die if their romantic feelings weren't reciprocated. If it were real it could easily turn into situations like this.

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(+1)

I see you. <3 Thank you for playing, and I hope you’re doing okay.

(+1)

Thank you so much for making this game, i love how in one scene it displays the cycle over and over again the result and changes with mc's behavior as day go by i really loved that one ending and thank you so much for explaining and displaying what a abusive relationship is, I really love this game and I have a lot to say about it

The emotions that was being displayed and shown felt so real and as someone who just got out of an abusive relationship this really explained why im so apologetic and self blame all the time. This was a good game and I kept playing it over and over again. You did such a good job with the story lines and the feelings that was being shown.

I feel like this game needs more attention, Thank you so much for making thus game <33

i loved this game so much. while it brought back painful memories of a relationship i had (extremely similar), it felt good to let that pain go. and i loved the 4th ending.

I really loved the game, it made me feel so much damn emotions and my sympathy passed from character to character until I realize we were all the victims in the first place 😭 I literally cried 


Tnx for this ver much <3 I luv Yua and Yuu

This game made me cry for 20 minutes straight with how wonderfully sad ending 4 was. I'm still crying.

(+3)

100/10 game, it was amazing and made me cry. its so realistic to my life experiences and i skipped the TWs like i usually do but omfg the game made me emotional like no other game has. Also, i have this thing where i lose focus after like 5 mins but i read every single word. this game felt so close to home and im so glad i found it. in a month or so im gonna tip 50 dollars when i get enough to put it aside. the demonstrations of abuse and manipulation were absolutely perfect and i loved the symbolism. this game is genuinely perfect. this is one of those games that i wish i could experience for the first time all over again. also i love the choices. they feel so meaningful, even the smaller ones. the art is some of my favorite that ive ever seen and genuinely my favorite visual novel ever. the dialogue was written perfectly and the art style was perfect along side it. like i suggested this game to all my friends. also, the customization was absolutely perfect, it was personalized easily but didnt feel overwhelming. this game is so far the only 10/10 game ive ever played and easily the best VN out there. It passed my old favorite(DDLC) by a long shot. The only problem i had with this game was that it was so short, but honestly, i think that also makes it better. TLDR; this game is perfect

(+2)

As someone who was in an abusive relationship, this game is so accurate. I choose not to forgive Yuu/Yua at the end, and the detail about people saying that you need to forgive is so true to reality, and still breaks me. I had a therapist who literally said it was my fault, and I should forgive my ex. I still have nightmares. I still cry at night. But bit by bit, I'm getting better. I'm living again. Just yesterday, I went hiking, I had fun, I barely thought about it. However is reading this and had a similar experience, you are strong, it's not your fault and you can go back to being the happy person you were before. I hope you are having a good day 🖤

I cried. I loved this sm<333

(+3)

I now know even more that I have attachments issues from how my parents drifted apart are deeper than I thought 

for god sake I cried so hard on one of the ending (no my fellow vn enjoyers I won't say which one it was) ...I wasn't ready to see someone drifted away again but I know from my parents that it's for the best

still.. I legit hope that mc would ended up with happy reunion though.. that might just be my attachment issue self saying stuff again.. it never easy so let someone so close go.. well..from my experience with my father.. it was 13? maybe 14 years I can't remember.. I still missed that person.. 

good game with amazing arts. I hope anyone that reading this so long comment to have a wonderful day ^^

(1 edit) (+3)

Downloaded the game for fun as I didn't expect much from it but it came out as a masterpiece absolutely loved the story also got a bit emotional on *that* one ending. Would definitely rate it a 10/10 amazing work ❤️

Edit: absolutely fell in love with the character design and the story.I was a little disappointed that the story wasn't that long but still enjoyed it (yes I did all the 4 endings) would love to play a similar game like this.

(+2)

Damn, this one hit way closer than expected. Amazing work

(+1)

im speachless i loved the game!!

(+1)

Hiii! I like this game, but is there a walkthrough?

https://meiri.itch.io/hydrangea/devlog/698995/quick-hint-guide

(+1)

Gosh it was so good. Thank you. It did a great job with how abusive relationships stay together. 

(1 edit)

Hi, I'm playing the game on Linux and when I reach the stage where I get to customize "sweetheart" and press continue the game crashes

(1 edit)

I believe I’ve found out why this crash happens - update should be out in a couple minutes!

(Crash happened because I made an oopsie with the code for the french pronouns [sobs)

EDIT: update is out, redownload the game and let me know if it’s fixed for you

(+1)

You got it, oh and by the way I worked around it by pressing the ignore button on the crash screen

absolutely beautiful

(+1)

Thank you for playing! <3

(+2)(-1)

Let me start off by saying this game was fantastic. When first booting the game up, I had no idea that I was about to be confronted with such deep and heavy topics. Content warnings have become something I mostly skip through, because I normally feel as if they are over exaggerated. This game really caused me to take a look and reflect on my own personal experiences though, and I think those warnings were warranted. 

As someone who has been in cycles of abuse exactly like displayed, I was hit with so many emotions. This game is exactly what I needed. Even after moving on from these sorts of dynamics, it can be super hard to recover and return to the person you were before the abuse started. I felt like a lot of things in this game were something I really  needed to see and hear. It was a great reminder that what I've been through is valid. I'm not crazy. Relationships like this are not healthy. Things of that nature. 

To anyone else who has suffered through similar events, or may even be in a similar situation now, I wish you the best. Your feelings are important. Don't let anyone make you second guess yourself. You are not a slave, and no matter what they say you don't have to be there. Even if they threaten horrible things, it isn't your fault. You're not evil for wanting to help yourself, I promise.

----------------

Anyways with that out of the way, 10/10 game. I was blown away at each turn. I recorded a video where I got all endings, as well as went over the secrets of the game! I hope you all enjoy, and maybe it can help out anyone if they get stuck.

I did notice several grammar and pronoun issues in my playthrough, but things like that  happen all the time, especially in such a long game. It's a lot of text to proofread.

(+1)

Gosh, thank you so much for recording your playthrough and writing such a in-depth comment. I can’t believe you recorded all the endings omg

I wrote Hydrangea exactly with the goal of sharing a story with a realistic depiction of what an abusive relationship looks like and what its impacts are in the people involved and those around them. I’m really glad to hear it touched you and I hope you’re doing okay as well. <3

(As for the typos and pronoun issues, I want to fix them so if you or anyone reading this could let me know where they happen, I’ll release a patch ASAP!! We sadly ran out of time to check each possible combo of pronouns before the game jam ended RIP)

(+1)

ending 3 has me shivering my timbers

we’re all shaking in our BOOTS

(+1)

I almost cried during that ending, great game, 10/10. 

Thank you for playing! <3

(+1)

This was truly wonderful. As someone who went through a toxic relationship in high school, I was really able to connect with the emotions throughout. Very, very well done.

Thank you for playing. I’m glad to hear the story touched you in some way and I hope you’re doing okay today. <3

(+2)

De magnifiques graphismes pour une histoire qui l'est tout autant! Les fins sont toutes aussi intéressantes les unes que les autres. J'ai adoré y jouer plusieurs fois ^-^

(+1)

Wow, i that was amazing. I cried a bit

(+2)

This is the first visual novel I ever played, and played it all the way through. I could find myself relating on both ends, but specifically Yua in some ways. I feel like Yua would feel guilty, but either way, a enjoyable playthrough. I recorded the entire thing to and put it on youtube. 

I'm glad this was the first visual novel I played, I didn't think I'd enjoy this type of genre. I was suggested doing a visual novel for reading outloud, due to my voice. Thank you for this experience, it made me think of my own life, and reflected a bit more.
(+1)

Thank you for recording your playthrough! And whoa, that’s a doozy VN to start with haha. I’m happy to hear you had a good time even though you don’t usually play games in this genre!!

(+1)

I cried, 10/10 would recommend

(3 edits) (+1)

Thank you to the entire team for making this thoughtful game.


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[[[ Vague Spoilers ]]]


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Downloaded this game to see how the Hanahaki trope would play out while searching for more horror games, despite having an idea of what would go down.

In genuine truth, this story made me realize a lot about myself and the relationships I've had with others - from family to friends. So much so that it made me bawl several times over and reflect on familiar words and thoughts within the text, haha.

I hope anyone who plays the game and relates to their hardships, that they're able to find joy and grow. Even if it's hard and takes a while, I'll keep doing the same!

(+1)

Thank you for playing, the team and I really appreciate the feedback ;w; I hope you’re doing okay today.

(+2)(-1)

didnt play... yet! i clicked immediately on this game since my fav flowers r hydrangeas and I'm so happy ppl at least know hydrangeas exist!! ill play this soon :3

this was such a hard game to play but it really opened my eyes on things. I didn't really realize at first a lot of things about my own life....till i played this game so.. ANYWAYS ENOUGH ABOUT ME.


THIS GAME WAS GREAT WAUGHHHW AUGHHHW AGHJHJHJHJHSHJHS (thank you)

(+1)

THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!!! WAAAAAUGH [SCREAMS WITH YOU]

(+1)

Nem joguei ainda mas vou dar 10 só por ter tradução brasileira, muito bom!!

É BR UHUUUUUUUUUU

(1 edit)

Mas é claro

(+2)

Love the end!!! Gosh, I really cried a lot. Thank you for making such a wonderful game.

(+1)

Thank you so much for playing! <3

(+2)

I love this game, a lot. I love how the psychological abuse was perfectly portraited since I've been in a mentally abusive relationship once. I think I might need a quick break after playing this game because holy. I didn't expect a dating sim to hit too much like home, honestly XD. But, seriously, I love this game a lot and I don't think I can describe my love for this game.  Maybe you can make sense of this because right now, I'm not sure I can.

(+1)

Thank you for playing. Hope you’re doing okay now. <3 Take care of yourself!

(+2)

this was an amazing game, but I uninstalled it as soon as I got to the final ending. i just can't replay it anymore, it felt too real. beautiful game and beautiful art though!

(+2)

Honestly I can understand, some games make me feel that way too. Glad you enjoyed the experience!

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