To Be With You Reviews

10/10 would recommend story was well-written. Also, this game made me think about my current relation ship.

one of the most profound and cathartic visual novels i've experienced in my life. albeit, when looking at this piece from the perspective of a typical vn, it's narrative falls short. yet the crux of this vn is far from it's story. but rather, the true meat and substance lies in it's anecdotal storytelling; portraying a story that outlines the nuances of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse. when in the abused's shoes, it's especially hard to even comprehend the extent or validity of abuse. this is highly reflective in the first read, you almost feel like you're stringed along her thought process amidst the gaslighting and guilt-tripping. then it compounds with the suggested re-read, coupled with a director's commentary that deconstructs the nuance in the dialogue. being someone who's experienced an extreme case of ipv and am healing from it, i have never experienced a piece of media that accurately depicts the subtle ways the abuser manipulated their way into a co-dependent relationship. with tactics such as: incorrectly framing situations to benefit the abuser, gaslighting and misleading the abused, isolating and controlling the abused, love bombing out of desperation, and minimising the experiences and self-esteem of the abused; i would even argue that this is a mandatory read to garner a sense of understanding and empathy for victims in ipv situations. it's heartbreakingly educational. it's a triggering piece, but well worth it. it's hard to see abuse. i didn't see it for years. vns like "to be with you" are paramount to helping people recognise the signs of abuse and encourage people to prioritise their safety and well being in similar situations. and i'm grateful i'm in a position in my life to experience and appreciate this vn in a healthier place in my life. i needed to read this visual novel. and i'm glad i did.

Although this game is short, it is extremely well put together. A well made game about the ugliness of abusive relationships, This is certainly a must play, for both its lessons and for its story.

Play this game. Make your friends and loved ones play this game. The idea is simple; to show how insidious abuse can flow. She doesn't see it. But it's there. It's happening. Once you get the commentary, it's even more reveling. Tactics that you've possibly never encountered yourself are more thoroughly explained. This is a painful game. Short but to the point. Absolutely needed to show abuse in a real light.

SO SO beautifully made!! I bought this months ago and never picked it up until last night. The night I needed it most. It was the healing and validation I needed. To the creator, Thank you for reminding me of me.

This game really shows what it's like to be in an abusive relationship that uses gas lighting as a war tactic against their partner/friend. For those who do not know what gas-lighting is: It's a word to describe manipulation by psychological means to question ones sanity. Basically you start to blame yourself for the abuse you are going through. You begin to think you're to blame for everything that's wrong. The developer did a great job showing this in this semi-autobiographical story. I found myself crying and at times angry for the victim. I saw so much of my past self in this story. I applaud the developer for this gem. I hope it helps others.

Alright, let me tell you about "To Be With You" by llus Seed Games. This game is a semi-autobiographical interactive visual novel that delves into the struggles of a woman named Alsie as she navigates a relationship that seems to be falling apart. She's moved in with her childhood friend and long-distance boyfriend, James, but things aren't going smoothly. The game explores some heavy themes, and it's not afraid to tackle difficult topics head-on. It deals with emotional abuse, gaslighting, mental illness, and divorce, so it's definitely not a light-hearted experience. The developer has done a remarkable job shedding light on common abusive dynamics and manipulation tactics through a fictional narrative. It's not easy to do, but they managed to create an important game that may actually help victims recognize abusive behavior and empower them to seek help. One standout feature of the game is the "Director's Commentary" that becomes available after finishing a playthrough. It explains the strategies used by James, the abusive partner, as he gaslights, controls, and isolates Alsie from her friends. It's a powerful addition that adds to the game's impact. Now, I have to mention that "To Be With You" is a challenging experience, especially for abuse victims like myself. It hits close to home, but I still highly recommend playing it to anyone who feels emotionally stable enough to do so. It's a game that can offer insight and understanding for those who may not have experienced such situations themselves. My only gripe with the game is that the "resources" section, which points to websites and hotlines for victims of abuse, has to be unlocked. I believe it should be readily available from the start to provide immediate support for players who may need it. All in all, "To Be With You" is an impactful and important game that sheds light on abusive relationships and manipulation tactics. It's not an easy journey, but it's one that's worth taking for those who can handle its heavy themes.

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 the idea of trying to fix her boyfriend out of depression. I didnt realize myself/Alsie had fallen into a deep depression myself. I didnt realize that until it was too late. You honestly dont see games like this a lot, and you honestly dont see a lot of games with this kind of topic. Which is exactly why I think this game is important. It makes you think after you play it. it gives you insights into human interactions you may not have experienced before. Or if you have experienced similar situations before, as the story/your choices in the game unfolds, it teaches you how to recognize when you are in a toxic relationship. I don't feel right rating this game and I dont feel like using the word "entertained" is the right way to describe what I got out of it. I think I would describe it as an emotional, and educational experience. Like I said, it is something more than just a game. And I praise the the developer for crafting this mature, realistic, and at times heavy, experience. Now I must play the game some more times, I want Alsie to have a good ending.

This was so hard to go through. If you have been emotionally abused please beware of getting triggered, the depictions of abuse, gaslighting and manipulation are extremely accurate.

This game hit a little close to home, and not gonna lie, made me cry. I love this game because of their resource for hotlines, and a note at the end for people dealing with abuse. This game shows a topic that not many people would open up about, and I think it's important to try expressing them. I know that's easier said than done, but if any of you guys are dealing with anything please try your best to get help. I hope everyone does fine.