For some context, about 4 years ago I stumbled upon the mspfa upload of Psycholonials and decided to read it with the commentary that the uploader provided. I didn't play the game because I was young and broke (of which I still am technically but I like to think I'm a more mature adult than I was back then) and I saw the mspfa upload as "the only way I could get the experience without actually playing the game". I remember hating it at the time and agreeing with the commentator and his points, and deciding that the game wasn't for me.
So fast forward until recently and I see a bunch of people here with psycholonial profile pictures and forum signatures with "go play psycholonials", which makes me think that I was unfair to the game the first time.
And then we fast forward a bit later, and Gio's whole 'espose' on hussie dropped, and I realize that THEY were the person that wrote the commentary, and I think we can all agree when we say that Gio doesn't like Hussie and that mayyyybe his takes on the game weren't in good faith and perhaps I should give it another go without commentary from someone who hates the creator influencing my thoughts on the matter.
The only real thing stopping me is worrying that after I've read it again, Ill still dislike the game. I will be honest, seeing people chat about how much they like the game makes me feel like I missed something when I first went through the game, and I want to see if I can find it or if the game really just isn't to my tastes. What are peoples thoughts about this?
I highly recommend Psycholonials, idk what Gio's takes were but I'm sure they were convincing but lacked substance lmao Even if you don't like psycholonials as a whole there's definitely parts to like about it, I wouldn't get too in your own head about it though it's not like you're obligated to like it.
Honestly Squiddo, I dont remember much about Gio's commentary outside of snarking at it, disagreeing with the final showoff between zhen and z and writing a thing about it in the little blurbs, and that it had to have influence my thoughts on the piece, at least a little bit. I just kinda want to give it a honest try again, because I dont want Gio "Hussie is the scorpion and I am the frog and hussie is this massive manipulator bitch who hates everyone" H. to have had a hand in forming my thoughts about a game thats basically about hussie exploring her gender and relationship to the homestuck fandom.
i say give the novel another try now that it's free on steam! the mspfa is probably the worst way to experience it, it's full of really bitter commentary that won't let you form your own opinions 😭
The mspfa IS the worst way to experience it, as someone who did experience it through that lol.
Also idk if the MSPFA has the music in it but if not you're missing the fuck out
Side stepping all the Gio Gripes for a sec,
Psycholonials is such a fun and provocative visual novel. Its got all the usual trappings of Hussie's works: fun dialogue, thesaurus abuse, symbolism and joke reuse that would make any reader stand on a stump. Its also due to being WAY shorter than Homestuck, hell even Problem Sleuth, way more focused in scope and themes. Its a small nugget, but a dense one!
Like the other people in this thread have pointed out its a meditation on Hussie's experience with the homestuck fandom and gender but its so much more than that! It has so much to say on Leftist Revolution, Simping as a concept, love hate rage, substance abuse, and who could forget the chaotic juxtaposition dharma!
If you like Homestuck to any degree still and decide to go into it with an open mind, I think you will have a fun time!
yeah it'll help put a lot of things into perspective too, cuz, you've probably seen some of the patterns within it without realizing it
wait what the hecky is a signature
I don't blame you for not getting into psycholonials, it's very much got a similar issue to Homestuck with the fact that the first act is slow. Arguably even worse so than Homestuck since it's a very depressed main character taking part in self destructive tendencies. However, at the animation at the end of act 1 of psycholonials the action really takes off and it continues to ramp up in intensity higher and higher. It was crazy reading it as it released because after reading each chapter and having to wait a week we'd tell each other "okay well surely it won't get crazier" and, well, maybe you should read it.
A Warning: It's not easy. The story is very mature and deals with a lot of dark issues. The story is also very much about political and gender identity and how it's affected by social media. This isn't a light read.
TLDR: If you think the animation at the end of act 1 is cool you will like psycholonials.
-KeCh
you should absolutely give it another chance. it's ok if it's not to your tastes, it's very much not for everyone! but giving it a playthrough on its own terms rather than the terms of someone with an agenda against the creator might help you appreciate where it's coming from more at the very least :)
Honestly, just because it's a free game, you should. No harm done in that, lol.
preachin to the choir at this point but you should it's good wholesome juggalo fun even if the gender politics bounces off of you
It's free on steam as others have said and that's def a better way to experience it than through the mspfa! I def say give it a shot! I also want to replay it to form more nuanced thoughts on its politics and themes, but what I can say is that emotionally, it hit me like a fucking truck, and I really value and appreciate that lol
Thank you to everyone who engaged with this in good faith. I will be honest, I got worried that I would've been hammered to death (metaphorically) for saying "I didnt like it when I first got the game". Once I finish up the current game series Im playing Ill give it another shot