Perfumare took me unprepared in ways I cannot even begin to fathom. Everything about it is so immersive and descriptive, every emotion so raw and vivid that, at times, it was like I was physically there instead of playing the game. I really, really wish I could support you on Patreon, because a talent for storytelling like yours deserves every recognition (maybe in the future, when a dollar doesn't cost half of my kidney in my country).
And I must say: joke's on me. I began playing while having Reed in mind as a romantic interest for my character, but, boy, Laurent didn't just steal my heart. He stole my soul and my entire being! Chapter V's got me on tenterhooks and I'm, honestly, still recovering from the impact.
Thank you for sharing this game with us! I can't wait for the rest!
I have some words to say about this game: I LOVE IT!!! Like I don't know how to describe the amount of love I have for this game. Reed's and Laurent's route sent chills down my spine and I couldn't even stop thinking about how they expressed themselves. I kept pausing to save and I must say, this is probably the first ever game to pull me in more just to see what happens because these cliffhangers made go skyrocketing. I'm looking forward in the new chapters. :3
I made an account just to comment, but wow!! This game had me hooked from the very first sentence and I ended up playing all three routes in one day. I love everything from the character designs, to the story, to the characters themselves, and I have zero complaints other than this game being too short :") I love your work, thank you so much for taking the time to make this game and I can't wait for the next chapter!
Oh wow. This game. This has easily become one of my favorite VNs ever. The writing is mature and engaging, the art is dark and atmospheric and the characters feel like fleshed out people. Including the MC.
Thank you so much for creating such a fantastic piece of gaming experience, I truly appreciate it.
Sorry, I'm self - isolating at the moment and going a bit crazy, so I have to ask: Do you know at least the ball park of when we can expect chapter V?
Thank you again, you are so beautifully talented, it's refreshing!
Thank you, I am glad to hear you’re enjoying Perfumare!
I am having a bit of a medical emergency right now, and because of that my working schedule is really unpredictable. Sadly, I can't say for sure, but know that 2 out of 3 routes are already finished and beta checked by my Patrons, so hopefully it shouldn’t take long for me to finish the last one. Optimistically, I’d say two to three weeks, but I can’t promise anything. :,(
Omg I'm so sorry you're going through that, I had no idea. Just take care of your health first and take all the time you need, we can definitely wait for the update.
This game was just entirely *chef's kiss* and I loved every waking moment of it. You've done such a good job and I'm looking forward to the next chapter :)
I really liked the dark aesthetic and character designs of the game, as opposed to the anime style most otome games seem to go for, but the dialogue and choice options felt really lacking and the game seemed way too fast paced and short.
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate your thoughts, especially since Perfumare is my first game and I am learning as I go, so all the opinions I get are truly valuable to me. As for the rest, all I can say is that the game is still in the development stage and only 4 out of 7 chapters are currently out (so approximately 50 000 words per route). The final game will be more polished but it will be paced the same way because I don’t really plan on expanding already written scenes. :)
I love this! I like how Laurent is secretly into MC more than he wants to admit. Lmao! I have question though, in tumblr I saw posts saying there are 6 ROs? Thank you!
This is so so so so good. Everyone is so precious. Every reaction feels genuine and true to their character, never once I had to tell myself "this doesn't make any sense". Although I'm not a fan of game over ending :( . Can't wait for the full game, and can't wait for your next project!
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. :D
Backtracking system is already an implemented feature. As far as I know all you need to do is use the mouse wheel. Still, I’d like to remind you about the saving system with 9 pages of empty slots to use for your convenience.
The game in nowhere near finished, most of the choices made in early chapters have lasting consequences in the future. The plot changes depending on which route the player takes, why? Because I don’t see certain characters being able to resolve the issue in quite the same way the others can. I also wanted to show different perspectives on the events taking place in the game. I am not certain which dialogue choices are you talking about specifically, but I wanted to give the player a few options to customize their MC. As you said, they don’t change much in the game; they are there for cosmetic purposes only.
Thank you! again I am glad you enjoyed Perfumare! :)
Hello! I love this game, the art and GUI are very well done and the plot kept me invested in the game. I have but one question: do you know how many chapters long will the story be? (Also, will the full game still be free? (if not, I've got no problems with that, I can already see the work behind it and would gladly pay for it if it should come so))
Anyway, thanks a lot for your hard work! I'm looking forward to the next chapter :)
This is wonderful. It's the beauty I seek in the world. Though I wouldn't exactly describe this novel as "beautiful," it is very tasteful and aesthetic in its own way. I thought I didn't like it, but in the end I came back. The art is wonderful, realistic but not uncanny at all. The narration isn't first person like most VNs, but it fits this one well. The atmosphere is great and immersive. The concept of using perfume as a drug is rather novel and interesting to me. I love it.
Not sure if I'm supposed to pronounce Perfumare like an American southerner or read it phonetically. I prefer the latter.
I’d say the theme I was going for was the exact opposite of beauty. Perfumare is a story bordering on dystopian, hence the grim and gloomy atmosphere. I thought it would be fitting for what I had in mind. Thank you, I am glad you've found it to your liking.
Reading it phonetically is definitely a better choice, though really, to each their own.
This was a really great story so far. It has a good amount of options, romance, action and mystery. I cannot wait for the next chapter to come out if you are working on it. :)
No, Thankyou for the amazing game! I was also wondering if you plan on having any 18+ scenes or just keeping it like PG 13? Either way is great I was just wondering because I feel like it adds depth to certain characters and connections between them :)
I get what you mean, but to be honest I am not sure I will, not in this game at least. I don’t think I’d be able to fit an NSFW scene in the plot without it looking forced. Mainly because I had the plot already planned out before I started working on the game, and it didn’t include any 18+ content.
I'm loving reading the story so far. The mystery is intriguing. In my opinion, I really liked how we could choose the protagonist's origins and how she came to be in the present situation.
My immersion was never broke until the end of the chapter. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.
The issue is most likely related to the custom icon. It seems to be a false positive detection (some antivirus programs are known to give false positives on indie games such as those made with Ren’Py), but just to be sure, you can contact your antivirus providers and/or support so they can check the files themselves for your peace of mind.
If you’re using Windows Defender you might want to check [this] and [this] thread.
Amnesia, pining LIs, resourceful level-headed MC...ugh, I'm so glad I stumbled upon this trope-tastic goodness! I'm having so much fun replaying the game over and over again, shaping MC's character differently each time to see how it would play out. My current favorite is the socially awkward MC who is oblivious of Reed's interest in her, and thinks he's just being his flirty self. Sometimes I play as one who is also interested in him but is too scared to explore where it might go, because she doesn't want to risk their friendship. Other times still, I play as the callous MC to get all the angsty feels. In short, these variations (and more) are exactly what drew me to vn genre. This game has renewed my interest in it again. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Love the game. The art is stunning and so unique. Characters feel very well written and have real dept. Story pulls you in a doesn't let go. Can't wait for more. :) Thank you for your hard work.
Chapter 4 made my day/s! I was at first gravitating towards Laurent but Jewel and Reed also sauntered into my heart and I love them all! Your writing and art are great and I hope you're doing well.
Ah, thank you! That’s interesting to know. I was wondering which route will be chosen most frequently (if any), but it seems all the LIs are liked equally. Which is nice, I am really happy about that. Thanks, I hope you’re doing well too! <3
How have I not played this game before... I'm so obsessed right now?? Because god it's so rare to find a setting that is so genuinely enthralling from the get-go. The music and SFX, and the way you've crafted your lighting into the background art, makes this such an immersive experience. And your writing makes it even more so-- revealing bits of information at a time, playing into the mysterious atmosphere, never quite feeling steady on your feet but coming to trust your own decisions if only because you have to... I just seriously love your writing style, because it pairs with everything else (esp the art, I mean HELLO GORGEOUS!) to make this a very emotive story.
It's also super rare for me to find a game where I feel a connection to all of the RO's; I play a lot of games, admittedly, so I tend to grow tired of the typical archetypes that some people I think use as a crutch to help them grow their characters. I love Reed, Jewel, and Laurent very wholly and very separately, and am super impressed at how multi-dimensional they are. (I'll be honest, I love them all, but the moment I woke up in Jewel's lap and she squeezed my hand I was sank. And she is the one I was initially most suspicious of! Ow, my heart-- I'll follow you anywhere, ma'am!)
Anyways, TLDR, love this game to bits, and am super excited to see where it goes! Hope you're taking care of yourself, and thanks so much for sharing this with us all! 💞
Thank you so much, it means a lot to me to see my game being so warmly received. <3 I am happy to hear that. I was a bit unsure at first, about, well, everything since Perfumare was supposed to be just a short project, so I am glad to hear that people are enjoying themselves! Thanks for playing!
This game is stunning in so many ways, but one of the things I appreciate most about it is how deeply unsettling everything is. The music, the visuals, the writing. Also, Reed is just...I can't get over him.
Chapter 4 was simply amazing. I'm reeling. I love these little tidbits to mc's background. My utter absolute favorite is Reed!!!! Omg I love him and his chapter made my heart leap numerous times. <3 The story keeps getting better and better!! The new updates to the previous CGs look great, so are the BGs.
I already got a number of my friends started on the game, and they've been enjoying it too!! :3 One said that there is clearly a lot of love put into the game, and I completely agree! Fantastic work, cannot wait for more, but I will wait patiently x)
Thank you! I want to make as much as I can while I have the time.
I have planned at least two more chapters, so six in total. Though I can already tell that the fifth chapter will be much longer than this one, so it’s not impossible that I’ll have to add a chapter or two, but no more than that, I am pretty sure.
I just installed this game, and my virus checker gave me a warning (that the exe contained "the pattern of TR/Crypt.ZPACK.Gen"). Have you seen this error before?
No, I can't say I have, sorry. All I know is that some of the antivirus programs are known to give false positives on indie games such as those made with Ren'Py (like mine). Still, I'd recommend contacting your antivirus providers and/or support so they can check the files themselves. and if needed, updated their databases.
Since I only use the free version, I don't get support. At some point, I may download another antivirus program and see what it has to say. Thanks for trying to help! I know it isn't your job to debug my virus checker, so I appreciate it.
Oh, I get it. If you want, you could try downloading the game through the Itch App, and running it in the sandbox, there's a chance it might help.
It's not a problem. :) I looked into it and I think I found out what causes the false positive. I have a custom icon made, and apparently it freaks out some of the antivirus programs, especially Avira. You could try some of the free online scanners like ESET for example, if you want to be extra safe.
I can't stop thinking about this game! I just finished all three routes, and I'm so impressed. The story and atmosphere is fantastic and unique. The characters are fascinating, and I adore the mystery element. The sprites are gorgeous! I've been recommending this game to a bunch of my friends. Highly looking forward to future chapters! Amazing job! <3
I've been trying to think of how to review this story for a few days and im still not sure how to put into words how happy and relieved it made me, i guess i'll figure it out while i write.
I'd been trying out a different VN right before this one and i had to rage quit due to the (sadly) typical "dumb naive mc who can't put two and two together is constantly humiliated by smirking hot boys (but somewhow she likes it) and loudly&proudly announces she can handle herself (she can't, as it turns out)". HeartForge recommended Perfumare on their blog, and seeing as i love their games and respect their opinion i thought to give it a chance and i've loved what ive seen so far.
I love the setting and the fact that the plot is different in each route makes it so much more interesting to play, as it offers a new experience that fits each character individually. I love the characters, who are complex and layered, and how the writing is a good example of "show don't tell", allowing characters' expressions and mannerisms to paint you a picture of who they are even through the mc's lens, which doesn't feel disconnected from the player at all. They are observant, generally careful of what they say or do in front of other people, as their situation demands. At some point they even bring up somethign mentioned in passing by another character rather than just letting it go. I think that, as players, it's normal for us to sometimes make connections that would be easier to forget in the heat of things but i feel like we've all encountered a scene where somethign was so painfullyobvious and in-your-face that the fact that the main character didn't even register it felt like a deliberate choice of the writer to dumb them down so that the reader didn't get more clues, and ive felt that 0 times here. I do wish there'd been other gender options available as i generally prefer using neutral pronouns in games like these though.
All in all it's been a cool game so far and I've exhausted every option given, going back and forth to see what more i could experience. Also, for whatever reason my brain short-cricuit and made me think the game was finished when i downloaded it so you can imagine my wail of agony when i suddenly got the TBC screen lmao.
I Hope we'll be seeing updates in the future, im really curious of how this will end and being able to get to know the characters better!
The atmosphere you created with the neon lights, the art and your writing feels so real it's really immersive. I also like the way the MC perceives emotions through smells, that's so cool!!
Just a curiosity, is Reed supposed to be italian or just italian-american? cause one of the words he says (a fanabla i think?) doesn't mean anything in italian jsyk!
Short answer; the latter. Long answer: The world I created for this story isn't a copy of our world; it's just based on it. The countries, similarly, aren't taken from our world (though the languages are, for simplicity) the map is different, so I can't say that Reed is Italian-American since in the story there are no such countries. The reason I did this is - since I am European myself - I wanted to include other nationalities and languages in my game. That said, I don't know much about Italian slang, so I searched through several forums and articles, and I found that word there. Unfortunately, I don't have any Italian friends that could confirm it for me. But thank you for pointing it out. I'll make some changes, and I'll try to be extra thorough with my research in the future! <3
honestly i don't think it really matters if the word doesn't mean anything, given that is another world. In some games that's how they create "new languages". They take words from languages and change them up a bit so that they still sound like the original for diversity's sake but still doesn't have a direct link to it.
Being spanish, i was actually pretty happy to see that the game had its own world, as pretty much every other modern fantasy always seems to be based in america and it gets a bit tiring for everyone to assume that's the only place things can happen, even when the plot really doesn't depend on it at all (although before i knew yours was a fanatsy location, i thought it was based in britain for whatever reason) .
You're right, I know a lot of games do that kind of thing. Still, when using other languages in my game, I wanted to be as correct as I possibly can. And Sciambalala (thank you again <3) offered to help me with the dialogue I've planned for Chapter V, so I am feeling a lot better knowing that there should be no more weird words left. :D
I know what you mean! I wanted to make the world in my story as universal as it can be for that very reason. For example when creating the city, Elazar, I didn't use a specific location, just a set of things I think can be found in most of the cities around the world. I am sure every country has one of those cities, where some parts are more representative but largely the city is kinda ugly, kinda grim, you know. So hopefully, everyone can see a part of their own 'world' in this one and can imagine that, despite the language of the game, the story takes place wherever they want it to.
SO excited about this game! Everything is so tangible in the writing, and it really balances the concept of "the player character is a person who lives in this world" with "the player doesn't know anything about this world yet", which is a really fine line! Amazing job, really looking forward to more!
Thank you so much, I am glad you liked it! I was a little worried about making a temporary amnesiac MC in a completely new world so it's good to know I didn't mess it all up. Thanks again!
![Perfumare [VN]](https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzY5NDIyNTkucG5n/original/nwY%2BGE.png)
← Return to game
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Perfumare took me unprepared in ways I cannot even begin to fathom. Everything about it is so immersive and descriptive, every emotion so raw and vivid that, at times, it was like I was physically there instead of playing the game. I really, really wish I could support you on Patreon, because a talent for storytelling like yours deserves every recognition (maybe in the future, when a dollar doesn't cost half of my kidney in my country).
And I must say: joke's on me. I began playing while having Reed in mind as a romantic interest for my character, but, boy, Laurent didn't just steal my heart. He stole my soul and my entire being! Chapter V's got me on tenterhooks and I'm, honestly, still recovering from the impact.
Thank you for sharing this game with us! I can't wait for the rest!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate all the encouraging messages! It’s always nice to know that my work is so warmly received. :D
I have some words to say about this game: I LOVE IT!!! Like I don't know how to describe the amount of love I have for this game. Reed's and Laurent's route sent chills down my spine and I couldn't even stop thinking about how they expressed themselves. I kept pausing to save and I must say, this is probably the first ever game to pull me in more just to see what happens because these cliffhangers made go skyrocketing. I'm looking forward in the new chapters. :3
Thank you! I am glad to hear you enjoyed it! <3
I made an account just to comment, but wow!! This game had me hooked from the very first sentence and I ended up playing all three routes in one day. I love everything from the character designs, to the story, to the characters themselves, and I have zero complaints other than this game being too short :") I love your work, thank you so much for taking the time to make this game and I can't wait for the next chapter!
Oh, thank you, that’s super nice to hear! I am glad you found Perfumare enjoyable and thanks for playing! <3
Oh wow. This game. This has easily become one of my favorite VNs ever. The writing is mature and engaging, the art is dark and atmospheric and the characters feel like fleshed out people. Including the MC.
Thank you so much for creating such a fantastic piece of gaming experience, I truly appreciate it.
Sorry, I'm self - isolating at the moment and going a bit crazy, so I have to ask: Do you know at least the ball park of when we can expect chapter V?
Thank you again, you are so beautifully talented, it's refreshing!
Thank you, I am glad to hear you’re enjoying Perfumare!
I am having a bit of a medical emergency right now, and because of that my working schedule is really unpredictable. Sadly, I can't say for sure, but know that 2 out of 3 routes are already finished and beta checked by my Patrons, so hopefully it shouldn’t take long for me to finish the last one. Optimistically, I’d say two to three weeks, but I can’t promise anything. :,(
Omg I'm so sorry you're going through that, I had no idea. Just take care of your health first and take all the time you need, we can definitely wait for the update.
I hope it gets better soon ❤️
Thank you! ❤️ I am working on the game whenever I can, so it might take more time than it would usually, but I am still making progress. 👍
This game was just entirely *chef's kiss* and I loved every waking moment of it. You've done such a good job and I'm looking forward to the next chapter :)
Thank you! <3
I really love it so far ! Love the atmosphere and the character design, I was hooked from the first sentences.
(Really love Reed already...)
Can't wait to see where it goes ! Thank you for this game !
Thank you, I am glad you liked it!
I really liked the dark aesthetic and character designs of the game, as opposed to the anime style most otome games seem to go for, but the dialogue and choice options felt really lacking and the game seemed way too fast paced and short.
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate your thoughts, especially since Perfumare is my first game and I am learning as I go, so all the opinions I get are truly valuable to me. As for the rest, all I can say is that the game is still in the development stage and only 4 out of 7 chapters are currently out (so approximately 50 000 words per route). The final game will be more polished but it will be paced the same way because I don’t really plan on expanding already written scenes. :)
Will we be able to choose a male or female mc in the final game?
I am working on it! :D
Awesome! I'm really enjoying the game! Also, I fell in love with Maverick instantly lol. Too bad he's not a LI....Unless :p
Thank you! <3 There will be more of him in the sequel. And a lil bit in Laurent’s route. But for now, shhh. ;)
I love this! I like how Laurent is secretly into MC more than he wants to admit. Lmao! I have question though, in tumblr I saw posts saying there are 6 ROs? Thank you!
The other 3 ROs (Nino, Flavio and Alan) will be available to pursue in the sequel.
Thanks for playing! <3
This is so so so so good. Everyone is so precious. Every reaction feels genuine and true to their character, never once I had to tell myself "this doesn't make any sense". Although I'm not a fan of game over ending :( . Can't wait for the full game, and can't wait for your next project!
Thank you! <3 <3 <3
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. :D
Backtracking system is already an implemented feature. As far as I know all you need to do is use the mouse wheel. Still, I’d like to remind you about the saving system with 9 pages of empty slots to use for your convenience.
The game in nowhere near finished, most of the choices made in early chapters have lasting consequences in the future. The plot changes depending on which route the player takes, why? Because I don’t see certain characters being able to resolve the issue in quite the same way the others can. I also wanted to show different perspectives on the events taking place in the game. I am not certain which dialogue choices are you talking about specifically, but I wanted to give the player a few options to customize their MC. As you said, they don’t change much in the game; they are there for cosmetic purposes only.
Thank you! again I am glad you enjoyed Perfumare! :)
Reed is precious. Mama i want to marry him.
Can't wait full game to come out
Thanks for playing! <3
Hello! I love this game, the art and GUI are very well done and the plot kept me invested in the game. I have but one question: do you know how many chapters long will the story be? (Also, will the full game still be free? (if not, I've got no problems with that, I can already see the work behind it and would gladly pay for it if it should come so))
Anyway, thanks a lot for your hard work! I'm looking forward to the next chapter :)
Hi! I think about 6/7 chapters in total. (Yes, the full game will be free.)
Thank you. <3
This is wonderful. It's the beauty I seek in the world. Though I wouldn't exactly describe this novel as "beautiful," it is very tasteful and aesthetic in its own way. I thought I didn't like it, but in the end I came back. The art is wonderful, realistic but not uncanny at all. The narration isn't first person like most VNs, but it fits this one well. The atmosphere is great and immersive. The concept of using perfume as a drug is rather novel and interesting to me. I love it.
Not sure if I'm supposed to pronounce Perfumare like an American southerner or read it phonetically. I prefer the latter.
I’d say the theme I was going for was the exact opposite of beauty. Perfumare is a story bordering on dystopian, hence the grim and gloomy atmosphere. I thought it would be fitting for what I had in mind. Thank you, I am glad you've found it to your liking.
Reading it phonetically is definitely a better choice, though really, to each their own.
This was a really great story so far. It has a good amount of options, romance, action and mystery. I cannot wait for the next chapter to come out if you are working on it. :)
Thank you! I am. :) It should be done by the end of July (I hope so anyway).
No, Thankyou for the amazing game! I was also wondering if you plan on having any 18+ scenes or just keeping it like PG 13? Either way is great I was just wondering because I feel like it adds depth to certain characters and connections between them :)
I get what you mean, but to be honest I am not sure I will, not in this game at least. I don’t think I’d be able to fit an NSFW scene in the plot without it looking forced. Mainly because I had the plot already planned out before I started working on the game, and it didn’t include any 18+ content.
I understand that :). Cant wait for the next chapter.
I'm loving reading the story so far. The mystery is intriguing.
In my opinion, I really liked how we could choose the protagonist's origins and how she came to be in the present situation.
My immersion was never broke until the end of the chapter. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.
I am glad you’re enjoying Perfumare! Thanks for playing!
oh my goodness I also forgot to add!! I love the aesthetic so much!!
Thank you!
ahhhh I love this game so much!! I've only played Reed's route so far but is the game complete? If not I'm super excited to see where it goes!
It’s not finished yet. :D There are 2 more chapters to go.
Getting a malware alert on running the exe: Win32/uwasson.A!ml
I've never had this happen with other games. Issue with the exe?
The issue is most likely related to the custom icon. It seems to be a false positive detection (some antivirus programs are known to give false positives on indie games such as those made with Ren’Py), but just to be sure, you can contact your antivirus providers and/or support so they can check the files themselves for your peace of mind.
If you’re using Windows Defender you might want to check [this] and [this] thread.
Yep was using Windows Defender. Scanned it with another antivirus program and it looks good! Thanks!
No problem!
Amnesia, pining LIs, resourceful level-headed MC...ugh, I'm so glad I stumbled upon this trope-tastic goodness! I'm having so much fun replaying the game over and over again, shaping MC's character differently each time to see how it would play out. My current favorite is the socially awkward MC who is oblivious of Reed's interest in her, and thinks he's just being his flirty self. Sometimes I play as one who is also interested in him but is too scared to explore where it might go, because she doesn't want to risk their friendship. Other times still, I play as the callous MC to get all the angsty feels. In short, these variations (and more) are exactly what drew me to vn genre. This game has renewed my interest in it again. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much! <3 I am glad you’re having so much fun with Perfumare!
Yes, the MC is a woman.
No problem!
Love the game. The art is stunning and so unique. Characters feel very well written and have real dept. Story pulls you in a doesn't let go. Can't wait for more. :) Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you so much! <3
Chapter 4 made my day/s! I was at first gravitating towards Laurent but Jewel and Reed also sauntered into my heart and I love them all! Your writing and art are great and I hope you're doing well.
Ah, thank you! That’s interesting to know. I was wondering which route will be chosen most frequently (if any), but it seems all the LIs are liked equally. Which is nice, I am really happy about that. Thanks, I hope you’re doing well too! <3
incredible art, world building and characters. can't wait for the next chapter.
Thank you! I am working on it. :)
How have I not played this game before... I'm so obsessed right now?? Because god it's so rare to find a setting that is so genuinely enthralling from the get-go. The music and SFX, and the way you've crafted your lighting into the background art, makes this such an immersive experience. And your writing makes it even more so-- revealing bits of information at a time, playing into the mysterious atmosphere, never quite feeling steady on your feet but coming to trust your own decisions if only because you have to... I just seriously love your writing style, because it pairs with everything else (esp the art, I mean HELLO GORGEOUS!) to make this a very emotive story.
It's also super rare for me to find a game where I feel a connection to all of the RO's; I play a lot of games, admittedly, so I tend to grow tired of the typical archetypes that some people I think use as a crutch to help them grow their characters. I love Reed, Jewel, and Laurent very wholly and very separately, and am super impressed at how multi-dimensional they are. (I'll be honest, I love them all, but the moment I woke up in Jewel's lap and she squeezed my hand I was sank. And she is the one I was initially most suspicious of! Ow, my heart-- I'll follow you anywhere, ma'am!)
Anyways, TLDR, love this game to bits, and am super excited to see where it goes! Hope you're taking care of yourself, and thanks so much for sharing this with us all! 💞
Thank you so much, it means a lot to me to see my game being so warmly received. <3
I am happy to hear that. I was a bit unsure at first, about, well, everything since Perfumare was supposed to be just a short project, so I am glad to hear that people are enjoying themselves! Thanks for playing!
This game is stunning in so many ways, but one of the things I appreciate most about it is how deeply unsettling everything is. The music, the visuals, the writing. Also, Reed is just...I can't get over him.
Thank you! Deeply unsettling is the theme I was going for, good to know I was successful! :D
Chapter 4 was simply amazing. I'm reeling. I love these little tidbits to mc's background. My utter absolute favorite is Reed!!!! Omg I love him and his chapter made my heart leap numerous times. <3 The story keeps getting better and better!! The new updates to the previous CGs look great, so are the BGs.
I already got a number of my friends started on the game, and they've been enjoying it too!! :3 One said that there is clearly a lot of love put into the game, and I completely agree! Fantastic work, cannot wait for more, but I will wait patiently x)
Thank you so much! I am happy to hear that both you and your friends enjoy the game!
I am working on the next chapter already, but it's going to be a long one, so the waiting time can be extended a little bit this time. :0
Both my friends and I are more than happy to wait :) Thank you for your hard work <3
I love the style and the story. I really like this dark, hazy atmosphere, it is something different. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you! I am glad you liked it!
I'm absolutely and obsessively in love with this game.
Thank you so much for letting me know, it means a lot!
Thank you! I want to make as much as I can while I have the time.
I have planned at least two more chapters, so six in total. Though I can already tell that the fifth chapter will be much longer than this one, so it’s not impossible that I’ll have to add a chapter or two, but no more than that, I am pretty sure.
amazing, awesome, glorious, telling all my friends to play
Thank you! <3 <3 <3
I just installed this game, and my virus checker gave me a warning (that the exe contained "the pattern of TR/Crypt.ZPACK.Gen"). Have you seen this error before?
No, I can't say I have, sorry. All I know is that some of the antivirus programs are known to give false positives on indie games such as those made with Ren'Py (like mine). Still, I'd recommend contacting your antivirus providers and/or support so they can check the files themselves. and if needed, updated their databases.
Since I only use the free version, I don't get support. At some point, I may download another antivirus program and see what it has to say. Thanks for trying to help! I know it isn't your job to debug my virus checker, so I appreciate it.
Oh, I get it. If you want, you could try downloading the game through the Itch App, and running it in the sandbox, there's a chance it might help.
It's not a problem. :) I looked into it and I think I found out what causes the false positive. I have a custom icon made, and apparently it freaks out some of the antivirus programs, especially Avira. You could try some of the free online scanners like ESET for example, if you want to be extra safe.
I do use the app, so I'll check the sandbox.
Ah! Interesting! Thanks!
Let me know if it worked!
Legit in love with this game! Keep up the great work!
Thank you! :D
I can't stop thinking about this game! I just finished all three routes, and I'm so impressed. The story and atmosphere is fantastic and unique. The characters are fascinating, and I adore the mystery element. The sprites are gorgeous! I've been recommending this game to a bunch of my friends. Highly looking forward to future chapters! Amazing job! <3
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear. <3 I am finishing up assets for the next chapter so hopefully you won't have to wait long to play it!
I've been trying to think of how to review this story for a few days and im still not sure how to put into words how happy and relieved it made me, i guess i'll figure it out while i write.
I'd been trying out a different VN right before this one and i had to rage quit due to the (sadly) typical "dumb naive mc who can't put two and two together is constantly humiliated by smirking hot boys (but somewhow she likes it) and loudly&proudly announces she can handle herself (she can't, as it turns out)". HeartForge recommended Perfumare on their blog, and seeing as i love their games and respect their opinion i thought to give it a chance and i've loved what ive seen so far.
I love the setting and the fact that the plot is different in each route makes it so much more interesting to play, as it offers a new experience that fits each character individually. I love the characters, who are complex and layered, and how the writing is a good example of "show don't tell", allowing characters' expressions and mannerisms to paint you a picture of who they are even through the mc's lens, which doesn't feel disconnected from the player at all. They are observant, generally careful of what they say or do in front of other people, as their situation demands. At some point they even bring up somethign mentioned in passing by another character rather than just letting it go. I think that, as players, it's normal for us to sometimes make connections that would be easier to forget in the heat of things but i feel like we've all encountered a scene where somethign was so painfully obvious and in-your-face that the fact that the main character didn't even register it felt like a deliberate choice of the writer to dumb them down so that the reader didn't get more clues, and ive felt that 0 times here. I do wish there'd been other gender options available as i generally prefer using neutral pronouns in games like these though.
All in all it's been a cool game so far and I've exhausted every option given, going back and forth to see what more i could experience. Also, for whatever reason my brain short-cricuit and made me think the game was finished when i downloaded it so you can imagine my wail of agony when i suddenly got the TBC screen lmao.
I Hope we'll be seeing updates in the future, im really curious of how this will end and being able to get to know the characters better!
Thank you for such a thorough review, and I am glad you enjoyed the game. Hopefully, you'll find the future chapters to your liking as well!
This is so so good!! ♡♡♡
The atmosphere you created with the neon lights, the art and your writing feels so real it's really immersive.
I also like the way the MC perceives emotions through smells, that's so cool!!
Just a curiosity, is Reed supposed to be italian or just italian-american? cause one of the words he says (a fanabla i think?) doesn't mean anything in italian jsyk!
Thank you, I am glad you liked it!
Short answer; the latter.
Long answer: The world I created for this story isn't a copy of our world; it's just based on it. The countries, similarly, aren't taken from our world (though the languages are, for simplicity) the map is different, so I can't say that Reed is Italian-American since in the story there are no such countries. The reason I did this is - since I am European myself - I wanted to include other nationalities and languages in my game. That said, I don't know much about Italian slang, so I searched through several forums and articles, and I found that word there. Unfortunately, I don't have any Italian friends that could confirm it for me. But thank you for pointing it out. I'll make some changes, and I'll try to be extra thorough with my research in the future! <3
honestly i don't think it really matters if the word doesn't mean anything, given that is another world. In some games that's how they create "new languages". They take words from languages and change them up a bit so that they still sound like the original for diversity's sake but still doesn't have a direct link to it.
Being spanish, i was actually pretty happy to see that the game had its own world, as pretty much every other modern fantasy always seems to be based in america and it gets a bit tiring for everyone to assume that's the only place things can happen, even when the plot really doesn't depend on it at all (although before i knew yours was a fanatsy location, i thought it was based in britain for whatever reason) .
You're right, I know a lot of games do that kind of thing. Still, when using other languages in my game, I wanted to be as correct as I possibly can. And Sciambalala (thank you again <3) offered to help me with the dialogue I've planned for Chapter V, so I am feeling a lot better knowing that there should be no more weird words left. :D
I know what you mean! I wanted to make the world in my story as universal as it can be for that very reason. For example when creating the city, Elazar, I didn't use a specific location, just a set of things I think can be found in most of the cities around the world. I am sure every country has one of those cities, where some parts are more representative but largely the city is kinda ugly, kinda grim, you know. So hopefully, everyone can see a part of their own 'world' in this one and can imagine that, despite the language of the game, the story takes place wherever they want it to.
OMFG This was so good! I can't wait to see/play more! Thanks for all the hard work!!
Thank you! :D
Is there a set gender for the mc
Yes, the MC is female.
SO excited about this game! Everything is so tangible in the writing, and it really balances the concept of "the player character is a person who lives in this world" with "the player doesn't know anything about this world yet", which is a really fine line! Amazing job, really looking forward to more!
Thank you so much, I am glad you liked it! I was a little worried about making a temporary amnesiac MC in a completely new world so it's good to know I didn't mess it all up. Thanks again!
On Reed's route there's an error in line 624.
Thanks, it should be fixed now.