finally beat farewell. i started a fresh file about a week ago after not playing this game for so long. it felt nice going back to the roots. and i proved to myself that i could do all this. the last screen was probably the biggest challenge i ever faced in a video game, but the ending is worth it.

i bought this game not too long after it released, and was delighted when the dlc dropped. i didn't yet have the skills to finish the dlc, but when maddy thorson came out as trans and reflected her thoughts onto madeline by also deciding she was trans it was a huge eye-opener for me. at the time i had struggled with my gender since 2017 but only recently had i been public about it. to have someone with the talent and presence like maddy open up about it to the whole world... it made me feel so much more confident about myself and my goals. she is one of two trans individuals in the games industry that helped me realize that even if i can't find somewhere in the industry to fit, i can still carve my own way making things that appeal to me. it mattered so much to me that i chose my middle name to be madeline (this was in the interim between the dlc releasing and maddy coming out, for the record. the name comes from the character, not the real person ^^;).

so thank you to extremely ok games for making one of those rare games that i felt i could really connect with and be influenced by. i can't wait to see what's up your sleeves for earthblade :>