I just played and it was beautiful. The spider task was the hardest for me but I was able to complete it. Found 2 of the endings and I'd definitely play till I find the remaining 2. Really wonderful game I must say.
I love fae, and this gorgeous VN just made my day! The mystery, the folklore, little folk's games and advices, your writing style... everything is perfect! Thank you so much for gifting us your work of art!
Rather enjoyed this! I'm seeing in the comments that there's definitely content I missed, since I met neither an owl, nor a raven, nor a fox... seems a replay will be in order!
I'm so happy to hear you liked it! I've been on hiatus for a bit and missed this comment, but if you're still interested and have not yet encountered the Helpers, I'll hint that meeting them comes at a cost... โจ
I love this game so much! It's a beautiful fairytale that doesn't feel corny or shallow while not being too long or short. Thank you for making this VN
Choosing to play this before going to bed was the best idea ever. As a kid I loved reading all about fairies, and I took cautionary tales of the trickery of fae to heart- I've long since outgrown that (boo) but this game and the writing really reignited my love for the whimsical!
Ah, the writing! I absolutely adore the writing, truly sucks you into this world and so wonderfully poetic! The entire cast of characters and their designs felt so charming and alive! (I'm always up to fall for the wiles of The Fairy king cough) The puzzles and trials were clear but remained clever and challenging in a fun way. The atmosphere was immersive, the UI was gorgeous and fun to interact with (providing wisp with a proper form was a delightful surprise), and overall, it was a wonderful experience that I'll surely remember for a long, long time!
Great work, everyone! ( ห๊ณห )*: ๏ฝฅ๏พ (sprinkling fairy dust)
How macabre and wonderful it is to choose what vegetable head to return to a headless huntsman! I will be replaying to meet the raven, who eluded me this playthrough!
I'm very happy you enjoyed it! Please let me know if you still have trouble meeting the Raven friend (FYI, they also have an Owl and a Fox counterpart)--though I'll warn you, meeting them comes at a certain price. โจ
10/10 would trade my name for a chance to play this game.
Okay first, I want to mention the writing level on this game is off the charts, I played A LOT of Visual Novels and this is definitely top 3. I even feel bad that my illiterate brain could no make it justice while reading, my voice was giving out at the end, I apologize for that.
The story is really fascinating and not only it holds a deep meaning it also draws inspiration from proper fairy tales and I can always appreciate that; The character design goes really well with the narration and writing style. It really feels like reading a classic dark fairy-tale book but enhanced by Illustrations and interactivity.
The music and the User interface are also worth mentioning they fit the game so well and both are gorgeous and unique.
The riddles and puzzles are so fun, they add a lot to the game and are so well implemented that they never take you out of the story.
The replayability is so high since there is a multitude of choices, endings and creatures to encounter and talk to; As far as I can see a lot of choices affect what happens, I can hardly believe this is a gamejam game, outstanding job in every aspect of the game.
Oh my stars and garters, I just watched your VOD of Burdock, and thank you so so much! โจYour reading is so lovely to listen to (I watched the whole thing!), and I'm so grateful you chose my game as one to stream. ๐ Thank you again, both for playing and for streaming!
In two words: Hauntingly beautiful. From music to art to writing to UI, each piece (petal? >:) ) of Burdock comes together in seamless unison, supported by the effectively used atmosphere of flora, creeping mists, and fall. And, of course, Fae.
The description of the wedding at the beginning is immaculate; I've never read a more harrowing instance of "I do." The voice of the protagonist (who is gender neutral and can be renamed) has that lovely, time-appropriate charm of being remarkably well-spoken and logical, even when their means are meager.
As for the primary love interest, The Fairy... Woof!!! How could you NOT fall for them after they offer to /bargain with Death/ on your behalf?! (Sure they called us a "Sacrifice" and mentioned how delicious you must be and want to squirrel away your name in exchange, but we all have our quirks don't we)
In addition to a solid writing and gorgeous artwork, there are in-game riddles and puzzles that are both clever and wonderfully implemented - though, admittedly, I had the privilege of early access to the story and was not able to try them for myself without getting spoiled.
Every single character was memorable and delightful to meet.
The title card graphics are a particular favorite of mine, and the sound design is incredible as well -- special shout-out to the sorry steed and all the other animals I love so dearly.
๐๐๐ Thank you so very much, both for the lovely review and for helping coach me through my first-timer hiccups and headaches! Incredibly grateful for you. โจ
Simply amazing, on so many levels! The writing really build up an amazing atmosphere, whimsical, but somewhat sinister. I had to think through many of the choices very carefully because of this; even characters who might have seemed well-intentioned may have done me harm if I wasn't careful! The art is beautiful; such well detailed sprites and backgrounds! The music really helps draw you into the world as well. I also have to seriously compliment the UI, which simply looks amazing. Having the text displayed in nvl-mode on the side was such a unique choice, and it helps make it feel like a storybook.
I want to congratulate the team on putting together something truly special for this jam! You've all done some amazing work here!
On one last note, I LOVE that log line! :)
Thank you so much for the wonderful and kind review--I'm so glad you enjoyed it! ๐ The idea to use a half-NVL textbox is credit to our stellar UI artist, ingthing; I definitely thank my lucky stars I was able to work with such a talented team! โจ
The writing in this visual novel was simply outstanding -- ornate and apt for the subject matter without being totally inscrutable. The game masterfully captured the feeling of being trapped in fairy tales, with each decision feeling loaded and with each character filling me with doubt as to their potential ulterior motives. Speaking of the characters, I loved them all. Shout-outs to the fairy, the woodsman, and the merrow-man. I didn't know whether I wanted to hug them or to run for my life whenever they appeared, to be honest.
The puzzles and riddles were tremendously fun and just the right amount of challenging. The ring was also a really nice feature upon which to fall back whenever I was stuck, even though every time I used it, the toll that I would end up having to pay would always make me curl up in shame.
I adore the NVL/script-like format of the text. The logo and interface tie together so nicely. And the look of the entire project is just exquisite, including the sprites, the backgrounds, and the foggy effects. The sound design, especially at the beginning, was super eerie and immersive. The music was incredible -- I stopped at various points just to admire the tracks playing in the background.
I achieved four endings and managed to avoid dying even once! Overall, this was an extraordinary experience that I would heartily recommend to anybody who loves fairy tales or who enjoys well-written fantasy narratives in general!
(Note: Copy-pasting this comment from the Spooktober VN Jam 2023 page.)
Oh, wow--thank you for the incredibly kind review! โจ I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented team, and I'm so happy you enjoyed the game!
(Copied from my Spooktober review to help this game with Itch.io's algorithm)
Stunning work! I was especially impressed by the quality of prose here. As someone who grew up in the UK, I was obsessed with fairytales, and Burdock brought that same feeling all over again. Special shoutout to the game's portrayal of the fair folk; I love how they're written as forces of nature - neither "good" nor "evil", but deserving of respect all the same.
The logic puzzles within the game are also well-done; I had a lot of fun solving them.
All in all, this is a very strong Spooktober entry, and an excellent visual novel overall! Thank you for making this.
๐ Thank you so very much for the lovely comment--it made my day! I spent much of August revisiting old folk and fairytales in preparation for the jam, and I'm very happy that their influence comes through!
The artwork and storylines are absolutely stunning! Such an incredible addition for Spooktober and itโs obvious with Bright Oakโs demo and now Burdock that Butterfly Rocket Studios is one to keep your eyes on! Anxiously awaiting the full release of Bright Oak!
I only played through one ending, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the story and riddles, and especially the fae. The interactions and situations the mc found themself in dealing with the otherworldly beings felt like very on brand scenarios for those types of creatures.
And the character sprites were so beautiful! Thank you for creating and sharing this awesome game!
Burdock is rather pretty when you look closely at it, despite being a humble plant, and I love the delicate illustration in the main menu art. I appreciated this theme throughout - the search for the woodsman's head, the spider... the story draws attention to things that generally go unnoticed and makes you look at them in a different way. The gorgeous art, whimsical UI and beautiful prose all work so well with the SFX, music and overall sound design.
The riddles were so much fun. I want to buy a game that has riddles like these. Would completely go on a quest to appease the Fairy again.
perfectly spooky and magical like fairy tales ought to be. the writing is absolutely beautiful; I really liked MC and their journey throughout their quest.
the characters you meet are so fun (turniphead woodsman, i love you), cute (wisp!!!), not to mention gorgeous (the deer woman) or simply enigmatic and hot (the fairy we meet in the beginning or the merrow man).
character art is really, really pretty, the UI is gorgeous, the music beautifully fitting, and the sound design (as always) just breathtaking. lots of little details like animated fog/mist too that i adored!
thoroughly enjoyable. i had a lot of fun figuring out all the ways i can die (๐ญ) and just loved the good ending!! lots and lots of variations and different choices with different outcomes. story overall is very well thought-out and designed -- my only complaint is that i want to chill with the pixies without the danger of being killed and eaten but alas. pixies.
โ Return to game
Comments
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I just played and it was beautiful. The spider task was the hardest for me but I was able to complete it. Found 2 of the endings and I'd definitely play till I find the remaining 2. Really wonderful game I must say.
Thank you! โจ I hope you enjoyed the last endings as well!
I love fae, and this gorgeous VN just made my day! The mystery, the folklore, little folk's games and advices, your writing style... everything is perfect! Thank you so much for gifting us your work of art!
Oh gosh, thank you so much for the incredibly kind words! ๐ I'm very happy that you enjoyed it!
Rather enjoyed this! I'm seeing in the comments that there's definitely content I missed, since I met neither an owl, nor a raven, nor a fox... seems a replay will be in order!
I'm so happy to hear you liked it! I've been on hiatus for a bit and missed this comment, but if you're still interested and have not yet encountered the Helpers, I'll hint that meeting them comes at a cost... โจ
I love this game so much! It's a beautiful fairytale that doesn't feel corny or shallow while not being too long or short. Thank you for making this VN
Thank you for the kind words--I'm so glad you liked it! ๐
Words cannot express how much I adore the writing style. What an immersive experience this vn has offered me; one of the best!
Thank you so much! โจ I'm very happy you enjoyed it!
(note- copied from jam page!)
Choosing to play this before going to bed was the best idea ever. As a kid I loved reading all about fairies, and I took cautionary tales of the trickery of fae to heart- I've long since outgrown that (boo) but this game and the writing really reignited my love for the whimsical!
Ah, the writing! I absolutely adore the writing, truly sucks you into this world and so wonderfully poetic! The entire cast of characters and their designs felt so charming and alive! (I'm always up to fall for the wiles of The Fairy king cough) The puzzles and trials were clear but remained clever and challenging in a fun way. The atmosphere was immersive, the UI was gorgeous and fun to interact with (providing wisp with a proper form was a delightful surprise), and overall, it was a wonderful experience that I'll surely remember for a long, long time!
Great work, everyone! ( ห๊ณห )*: ๏ฝฅ๏พ (sprinkling fairy dust)
๐ Thank you very much for the kind and detailed review! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
How macabre and wonderful it is to choose what vegetable head to return to a headless huntsman! I will be replaying to meet the raven, who eluded me this playthrough!
What a darkly enchanting experience this was!
I'm very happy you enjoyed it! Please let me know if you still have trouble meeting the Raven friend (FYI, they also have an Owl and a Fox counterpart)--though I'll warn you, meeting them comes at a certain price. โจ
Eeeeee I love animals I am eager to meet them!! ๐ฆโโฌ๐ฆ๐ฆ (I mustโve passed the trials* and tribulations too well hahaha)
Okay first, I want to mention the writing level on this game is off the charts, I played A LOT of Visual Novels and this is definitely top 3. I even feel bad that my illiterate brain could no make it justice while reading, my voice was giving out at the end, I apologize for that.
The story is really fascinating and not only it holds a deep meaning it also draws inspiration from proper fairy tales and I can always appreciate that; The character design goes really well with the narration and writing style. It really feels like reading a classic dark fairy-tale book but enhanced by Illustrations and interactivity.
The music and the User interface are also worth mentioning they fit the game so well and both are gorgeous and unique.
The riddles and puzzles are so fun, they add a lot to the game and are so well implemented that they never take you out of the story.
The replayability is so high since there is a multitude of choices, endings and creatures to encounter and talk to; As far as I can see a lot of choices affect what happens, I can hardly believe this is a gamejam game, outstanding job in every aspect of the game.
Keep up the good work!
Oh my stars and garters, I just watched your VOD of Burdock, and thank you so so much! โจYour reading is so lovely to listen to (I watched the whole thing!), and I'm so grateful you chose my game as one to stream. ๐ Thank you again, both for playing and for streaming!
In two words: Hauntingly beautiful. From music to art to writing to UI, each piece (petal? >:) ) of Burdock comes together in seamless unison, supported by the effectively used atmosphere of flora, creeping mists, and fall. And, of course, Fae.
The description of the wedding at the beginning is immaculate; I've never read a more harrowing instance of "I do." The voice of the protagonist (who is gender neutral and can be renamed) has that lovely, time-appropriate charm of being remarkably well-spoken and logical, even when their means are meager.
As for the primary love interest, The Fairy... Woof!!! How could you NOT fall for them after they offer to /bargain with Death/ on your behalf?! (Sure they called us a "Sacrifice" and mentioned how delicious you must be and want to squirrel away your name in exchange, but we all have our quirks don't we)
In addition to a solid writing and gorgeous artwork, there are in-game riddles and puzzles that are both clever and wonderfully implemented - though, admittedly, I had the privilege of early access to the story and was not able to try them for myself without getting spoiled.
Every single character was memorable and delightful to meet.
The title card graphics are a particular favorite of mine, and the sound design is incredible as well -- special shout-out to the sorry steed and all the other animals I love so dearly.
A wonderful, wonderful game overall.
๐๐๐ Thank you so very much, both for the lovely review and for helping coach me through my first-timer hiccups and headaches! Incredibly grateful for you. โจ
Simply amazing, on so many levels! The writing really build up an amazing atmosphere, whimsical, but somewhat sinister. I had to think through many of the choices very carefully because of this; even characters who might have seemed well-intentioned may have done me harm if I wasn't careful! The art is beautiful; such well detailed sprites and backgrounds! The music really helps draw you into the world as well. I also have to seriously compliment the UI, which simply looks amazing. Having the text displayed in nvl-mode on the side was such a unique choice, and it helps make it feel like a storybook.
I want to congratulate the team on putting together something truly special for this jam! You've all done some amazing work here! On one last note, I LOVE that log line! :)
Thank you so much for the wonderful and kind review--I'm so glad you enjoyed it! ๐ The idea to use a half-NVL textbox is credit to our stellar UI artist, ingthing; I definitely thank my lucky stars I was able to work with such a talented team! โจ
The writing in this visual novel was simply outstanding -- ornate and apt for the subject matter without being totally inscrutable. The game masterfully captured the feeling of being trapped in fairy tales, with each decision feeling loaded and with each character filling me with doubt as to their potential ulterior motives. Speaking of the characters, I loved them all. Shout-outs to the fairy, the woodsman, and the merrow-man. I didn't know whether I wanted to hug them or to run for my life whenever they appeared, to be honest.
The puzzles and riddles were tremendously fun and just the right amount of challenging. The ring was also a really nice feature upon which to fall back whenever I was stuck, even though every time I used it, the toll that I would end up having to pay would always make me curl up in shame.
I adore the NVL/script-like format of the text. The logo and interface tie together so nicely. And the look of the entire project is just exquisite, including the sprites, the backgrounds, and the foggy effects. The sound design, especially at the beginning, was super eerie and immersive. The music was incredible -- I stopped at various points just to admire the tracks playing in the background.
I achieved four endings and managed to avoid dying even once! Overall, this was an extraordinary experience that I would heartily recommend to anybody who loves fairy tales or who enjoys well-written fantasy narratives in general!
(Note: Copy-pasting this comment from the Spooktober VN Jam 2023 page.)
Oh, wow--thank you for the incredibly kind review! โจ I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented team, and I'm so happy you enjoyed the game!
(Copied from my Spooktober review to help this game with Itch.io's algorithm)
Stunning work! I was especially impressed by the quality of prose here. As someone who grew up in the UK, I was obsessed with fairytales, and Burdock brought that same feeling all over again. Special shoutout to the game's portrayal of the fair folk; I love how they're written as forces of nature - neither "good" nor "evil", but deserving of respect all the same.
The logic puzzles within the game are also well-done; I had a lot of fun solving them.
All in all, this is a very strong Spooktober entry, and an excellent visual novel overall! Thank you for making this.
๐ Thank you so very much for the lovely comment--it made my day! I spent much of August revisiting old folk and fairytales in preparation for the jam, and I'm very happy that their influence comes through!
The artwork and storylines are absolutely stunning! Such an incredible addition for Spooktober and itโs obvious with Bright Oakโs demo and now Burdock that Butterfly Rocket Studios is one to keep your eyes on! Anxiously awaiting the full release of Bright Oak!
Thank you so much! ๐
I only played through one ending, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the story and riddles, and especially the fae. The interactions and situations the mc found themself in dealing with the otherworldly beings felt like very on brand scenarios for those types of creatures.
And the character sprites were so beautiful! Thank you for creating and sharing this awesome game!
Thank you so much for playing, and for the kind words! โจ I'm very glad you enjoyed it!
Burdock is rather pretty when you look closely at it, despite being a humble plant, and I love the delicate illustration in the main menu art. I appreciated this theme throughout - the search for the woodsman's head, the spider... the story draws attention to things that generally go unnoticed and makes you look at them in a different way. The gorgeous art, whimsical UI and beautiful prose all work so well with the SFX, music and overall sound design.
The riddles were so much fun. I want to buy a game that has riddles like these. Would completely go on a quest to appease the Fairy again.
Thank you so much for the lovely review and kind words! ๐ I'm very happy you enjoyed it!
Very nicely done! I love the art and the character designs, and the writing is gorgeous. Incredible work!
๐ Thank you--I'm so glad you liked it!
just wanted to say the art and the writing looks sick, iโm hella excited to play this!
Thank you so much! โจ I hope you enjoy it!!
this game is just so lovely!!
perfectly spooky and magical like fairy tales ought to be. the writing is absolutely beautiful; I really liked MC and their journey throughout their quest.
the characters you meet are so fun (turniphead woodsman, i love you), cute (wisp!!!), not to mention gorgeous (the deer woman) or simply enigmatic and hot (the fairy we meet in the beginning or the merrow man).
character art is really, really pretty, the UI is gorgeous, the music beautifully fitting, and the sound design (as always) just breathtaking. lots of little details like animated fog/mist too that i adored!
thoroughly enjoyable. i had a lot of fun figuring out all the ways i can die (๐ญ) and just loved the good ending!! lots and lots of variations and different choices with different outcomes. story overall is very well thought-out and designed -- my only complaint is that i want to chill with the pixies without the danger of being killed and eaten but alas. pixies.
Thank you so much for playing it, and for the incredibly kind words! ๐ I'm so happy you enjoyed it!