Genre, helpful as it can be for self-identification, is a commitment and a promise. With genre come certain expectations, tropes, and other things the writer must be aware of. Keeping that in mind, calling Pages of Tomorrow a "mystery" visual novel doesn't quite do it for me. I will try, to the best of my ability, to explain why that is – and why I settled on "psychological" instead.
Pages of Tomorrow isn't a thriller. It's not a visual novel that has fight scenes or chase sequences; while it has its exciting moments, and the mystery itself is gripping, moments of superficial relaxation are just as important. In Pages of Tomorrow, showing the daily lives of the patients isn't just buildup for showing something out of the ordinary, but something that's valuable in itself.
A psychological visual novel is one that gets deep into the characters' psyche; how they act, and especially how they think. Seemingly unexciting scenes become interesting and unique when approached from this angle. An ordinary conversation can become a vessel for symbolism, giving the audience a look into the characters' heads – and that's precisely what I want for Pages of Tomorrow.
Focusing on characters who are by definition out of the ordinary, as mentally ill people, ensures their reality isn't boring to the general audience. After all, it is very different to what most people are accustomed to in their lives. I believe the term "psychological" describes Pages of Tomorrow perfectly, as it literally is a story focused on the complexities of human psychology, or perhaps even psychiatry.
Thank you for making it to the end. As always, I invite you to wishlist Pages of Tomorrow – those who do will be notified immediately when the demo becomes available.
Dear Players,
