P2 Refined Prototype – Krystal Li

Link to Renpy files for download: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zvM0WZl4F9cp1wAqo8TsF3MCM2NrvD04?usp=sharing

In this new iteration, I added character sprites and backgrounds to bring more visual depth to the story. I also rewrote several story endings to make the branching paths feel more natural and less predictable. My goal was to reduce moments where the “right” choice felt too obvious and to make player decisions feel more meaningfully connected to how they impact other characters.

Playtest 3 feedback:

• the player said the visuals look amazing, having characters and backgrounds made it feel “alive.” they liked seeing everyone on screen, felt connected to the dialogue.
•  some options still feel too similar. they weren’t always sure what the difference was between two choices, or how each would actually change things.
•  characters sometimes overlap, especially in group scenes which makes it confusing who’s talking. maybe adjust positioning or size a bit.
•  when text said “music plays,” they expected to actually hear something. no sound made it feel a bit empty. background sounds or ambient music could help.
• wanted stronger reactions after big choices, like a line, a pause, or visual cue showing the emotional impact. right now it moves on too fast, so it’s hard to feel the consequence.

Changes to be made:

Overall, based on this playtest, I plan to focus on a few key updates to player immersion and feelings of impact. First, I’ll make the choices feel more distinct, both in tone and outcome, so players can better sense how each decision might shape the story. I’ll also adjust character placement and scaling to fix overlapping during group scenes, making it clearer who’s speaking, this was more of a fidelity issue.

I’ll also add basic background music and ambient sounds to fill moments where text mentions “music plays” or when a scene could use more atmosphere. This should make the experience feel more complete and less empty. I’ll also work on adding feedback after big choices that shows emotional impact before continuing. 

Playtest Questions:

1. How would you describe how you feel after playing this game? 
2. Does it feel like you know who the characters are through the first play through? 
   1. Are there any character motivations or relationships that feel confusing or underdeveloped?
   2. Were there any moments that made you feel emotionally connected to the characters?
3. Are the flashback scenes clear in how they relate to the present timeline?
4. Were you ever confused about who was speaking or where the scene took place?
5. How did you feel about the pacing between dialogue and choices?