Well, considering you get a warning in the main menu, it is not much of a spoiler to say that this is not entirely a typical visual novel. Having said that, the rest of my opinion is about details of the plot.

The basic idea of this game - that it knows it is a game, is not particularly original these days. I would name ICEY and Pony Island as two other examples, among others. It does not mean it is bad, it only means it does not deserve praise only for being innovative.

As for the execution of this concept, it is fine, mostly entertaining, but not much more. I think its mainy problem is it becomes too obvious too soon. The death of Sayori is a good emotional moment and interesting psychological stuff, as it deals with hiding a depression. So it is unfortunate that game immediately shows planned glitches and bugs, rendering it completely unimportant. It is than clear that Monika is changing the game code and she's modyfing the behaviour of other characters. It is therefore not a story about them, it can only be a stroy about her - the only self-aware person. This is further reinforced by the ending.

To some degree her dialogue touches the subject of free will and existentialism, which I like, but I feel it does not entirely drive the point home. She is obsessed with the player and this constitution makes her suffer, but that is mostly all that can be said about that. It is a short game, I know, but quite a long portion of it is a filler serving only to hide the twist. And because the twist did not particularly impress me, a lot of its volume feels wasted.

I probably would be more satified if the twist was only that the true character of the girls was completely different then you initially assumed, and player's ignorance was caused by his brainless approach typical for visual novels. The game suggests this a little, but sabotages its own efforts of character nuance by all this fourth-wall-breaking stuff.

It is still good, especially as a free game, but it had potential to be something more.

Well, considering you get a warning in the main menu, it is not much of a spoiler to say that this is not entirely a typical visual novel. Having said that, the rest of my opinion is about details of the plot. [spoiler]The basic idea of this game - that it knows it is a game, is not particularly original these days. I would name ICEY and Pony Island as two other examples, among others. It does not mean it is bad, it only means it does not deserve praise only for being innovative. As for the execution of this concept, it is fine, mostly entertaining, but not much more. I think its mainy problem is it becomes too obvious too soon. The death of Sayori is a good emotional moment and interesting psychological stuff, as it deals with hiding a depression. So it is unfortunate that game immediately shows planned glitches and bugs, rendering it completely unimportant. It is than clear that Monika is changing the game code and she's modyfing the behaviour of other characters. It is therefore not a story about them, it can only be a stroy about her - the only self-aware person. This is further reinforced by the ending. To some degree her dialogue touches the subject of free will and existentialism, which I like, but I feel it does not entirely drive the point home. She is obsessed with the player and this constitution makes her suffer, but that is mostly all that can be said about that. It is a short game, I know, but quite a long portion of it is a filler serving only to hide the twist. And because the twist did not particularly impress me, a lot of its volume feels wasted. I probably would be more satified if the twist was only that the true character of the girls was completely different then you initially assumed, and player's ignorance was caused by his brainless approach typical for visual novels. The game suggests this a little, but sabotages its own efforts of character nuance by all this fourth-wall-breaking stuff. It is still good, especially as a free game, but it had potential to be something more.[/spoiler]