To Be With You

Every once in a while, there comes a game that elevates itself to more than just a game. In this case, To Be With You, this was not just a run of the mill visual novel game, but is a very candid, raw, and sincere experience written from the POV of our main character Alsie, who is in a toxic relationship. The creator of the game has mentioned in the game store page that this is a semi-autobiographical game that's partly based on her own past relationship with an emotionally abusive boyfriend. The quality of the writing is excellent. As I play through the game, although I've recognized some of the techniques Alsie's boyfriend is using to emotionally abuse her, I couldnt help but still want to "fix" her boyfriend because "I love him", and when you love someone, of course you would want to fix them? Wouldn't you? And that's when you realize that's how gaslighters in toxic relationships trap their victims. They gaslight, they always pin the faults onto you, they make you feel worthless, they make you think it's all your fault. They make you doubt your own self worth and they make you feel useless, powerless. My first run of the game I got the bad end, because I got so fixated on t…

Didn't really meet the expectations. Good for one time read only.

Spoilers, obviously I cried so much playing this. In the Safe Ending when Chelsea hugs Alsie and tells her it's going to be okay I felt something fall out from inside me and I couldn't hold it in. The tragic scenes in the Bad Ending are worse (especially with the implication that James is going to eventually leave Alsie anyways and could hurt her before that happens), but the kindness shown by Chelsea hurts a victim of abuse even more. All I needed was someone to help me. It's quite an uplifting ending, to be centered on that small act of kindness. Stay safe out there.

VN from feminist for feminists. The game promotes hate against men

:(

ouch