IF Comp Review #5: Lake Starlight
by SummersViaEarth
I sorted the remaining entries into choice-based, 1.5 hours long, and this one sounds perfect. Young Adult coming of age is a genre I like. I’m 41 and still working out who I am, so the themes work for me (and tend to be fairly gentle, even if the world might be ending).
Lake Starlight says almost nothing, but evokes a mystical, natural feel. So does the cover, which is simple and effective. The description sounds pretty gentle too, and the writing style is pleasant without making demands on me. Perfect.
There are some minor grammar and spelling errors, that would not be picked up with a thorough spell check (which I’m confident this writer has done). They’re not egregious enough to truly annoy me.
Ooh, use of a language other than English. Love it.
And a choice of weakness, which I also love.
Neat stat and notification system. Very similar to ChoiceScript, which of course I like. Some neat visual tricks too.
The magical teachings are all, I think, therapy tools. And it is really working in the story. It feels like a story my daughter could easily enjoy—and, thanks to the forms of magic, it could be really beneficial too.
I… think I’m in love.
And a choice of weakness, which I also love.
Neat stat and notification system. Very similar to ChoiceScript, which of course I like. Some neat visual tricks too, used appropriately and effectively.
Many of the magical teachings are real-world therapy tools. And it really fits in the story. It feels like a story my daughter could easily enjoy—and, thanks to the therapeutic magic, it could be really beneficial too.
Hmm. I got a little bored due to the simplistic story and writing. Appropriate for a tween I think. The “evil corporation is coming” plot was told in a very expository and cliched way.
I was surprised to get to the end and find out I’d only read Part 1 of a much longer story. It’s sort of good because I can compare it to the two other ‘beginning of a much longer tale’ games I’m judging this year, but it also means I didn’t get to see where my strengths were useful. Or an ending, of course—although doing one successful bit of magic was satisfying.
Felicity Banks 
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