Paper Lily — Chapter 1 Mini Review
Release Date: January 26th, 2024
Developer: Leef 6010
Platforms: PC (Reviewed)
Price: FREE
It's not often you play a game for free and feel like you stole something that already held no monetary value, but Paper Lily - Chapter 1 — as well as its prequel title Project Kat — is certainly one of those titles that is so damn good you wonder how, or why, it isn't content that's paid for, but you're thankful and grateful nonetheless that you're able to experience a title like this that is a genuine work of art from beginning to end.
To preface, I love these sorts of games. I have a long history of RPG Maker-developed titles, visual novels, and pixel art games that span a variety of genres, but none hold my attention more than those that are in the realm of psychological horror. Whether it's intentional or not, I get many - and I mean MANY - vibes of Corpse Party, My Big Sister/Red Bow, Viviette, Mad Father, Doki Doki Literature Club, Re;Turn, and more, but the best part about about it all is that despite its similar strokes, Paper Lily, as well as Project Kat before it, still have a unique sense of identity that helps make it stand out among these sorts of games as well.
Paper Lily - Chapter 1 is an incredible story that has such flexibility that helps the linearity feel entirely at the hand of the player over being a scripted experience, and the writing is so well done that you immediately vibe with each character introduced however minor or major they may be. Lacie, the main protagonist, is relatable in more ways than I think most of us would want to admit, and her super cute design – as well as the creative and charming design of just about every other character you encounter – brings forth this yin/yang presentation where innocence and light overlaps with impurity and darkness. The imagery, environmental design, and art direction complement each other so well that this world feels so alive and inviting, despite the narrative context that would lead you to believe otherwise.
Not enough good things can be said about this game, and I only hope that as Paper Lily - Chapter 1 gains more traction in the months to come, and that its following chapters and releases are even more successful than the last.
Also, for those that enjoy a good achievement hunt from time to time (or all the time if that's your thing), this is a fun one to get all the achievements for, just like Project Kat was. That's another big bonus for Paper Lily - Chapter 1 that I wish more games would be mindful of: Make your achievements just as fun and attainable as the game to add another layer of depth and potential replayability.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go feed my Tamaghost.
PROS:
A fantastic art direction that never loses its mark throughout the entirety of the game, both with its illustrations and pixel art.
A complementary score that helps bring the world to life and accentuate each moment the player is in
Fleshed out characters really give a sense of depth and create an attachment with the player, however brief one may be, though all have a deserving amount of screen time.
CONS:
With a multitude of endings and death sequences, it can sometimes be cumbersome to know if you’re doing something correctly or not as Bad Ends tend to happen fairly frequently, though even those remain entertaining.