I just finished the most recent version of Ken's route and wanted to share some thoughts on this visual novel as I can't stop thinking about it.
Before I begin I just want to note that I first downloaded this game about a year ago, tried Ken's route, got traumatized and put off by his abrasive personality, and since the game was at such an early stage I kind of left it in the dust.
For some reason the game popped into my head again recently and I saw it had received quite a few updates. I sighed, braced myself and gave it another go. And thank fuck I did.
Although I've only played Ken's route so far (as he is by far the most intriguing character to me as a new player) I am already impressed by the themes, genres, art and writing styles, and the clever use of simple techniques to make the experience more interesting. I just want to break down my thoughts here before I try any of the other characters.
1. Overall narrative and writing style
I think a lot of people gravitate to this VN because it blends horror, romance, trauma, humour and what appear to be genuine, human struggles. I am actually impressed by how well the different themes and genres mix together, even if the game leaves me traumatized and thoughtful at times.
One thing I particularlylike is the pacing and the "show, not tell" philosophy. I like that the writing takes its time to not only establish characters and scenes, but also spend just the right amount of time on them - many VNs tend to either rush through their story, or linger on certain moments for no good reason.
Another thing I really like is how the story always keeps me on my toes and while some scenes and characters are distracting, others are disorienting in a very satisfying way, implying there's a greater mystery and horror to the narrative. The mystery and supernatural aspects elevate the story and I'm genuinely curious where it's gonna go.
What I don't like about the story is how side characters from Grey's past seem thrust into it - it feels jarring, even if it starts to make sense down the line. I totally understand that the story is meant to make sense after playing all routes, but taken in isolation the experience can be disorienting. For that matter I'd say the story could have been a bit more concise and some of the extra characters feel a little unnecessary or superfluous (at this stage anyway). I totally get this is a big, sprawling story across time and space, but I feel like the cast and the writing could have been a bit tighter for more impact (sorry but I mostly don't care about the New Orleans characters :( )
Nevertheless, I think this is probably one of the best furry/BL VNs I've read, ever. I'm so pleasantly surprised to see such mature and interesting narrative choices, at times I'm genuinely hooked and can't wait to see what happens next. Good job!
2. Characters and choices
As I've said I only ever played Ken's route (for now) but I think I've a good understanding of the quality of the character writing.
First of all, Grey is probably one of the most interesting VN protagonists, at times a bit too interesting perhaps. I love that he has his own baggage, his own mistakes, his own flaws, virtues and vices - I really feel like I'm "roleplaying" as a Possum with a fleshed out personality. Unfortunately at times I feel like his own backstory interrupts the flow of the romance/dating route and it feels like we are forced to interact with story content that doesn't feel very relevant, even if it becomes moreso as we play along. I think this is just a personal preference, but again: character count could be tighter.
I also like the choice of making Grey bisexual (did not expect that, I think it's cool) and allowing him to befriend his romance options. I swear, between Ken's two scenes in the last update I genuinely think the friend choice is so much sweeter and more heartfelt, and leaves the door open for romance developing in the future. It somehow feels more appropriate for Ken, even if I absolutely think Grey loves him as more than a friend.
The friend choice also deeply resonatedwith me as I have a similar relationship with my best friend - we are intensely intimate and trust each other, and we've even fooled around, even if he's straight. It's a very strange but ultimately pure relationship in its honesty, simplicity and intimacy. In this regard, you completely nailed how one becomes best friends with a bicurious straight guy.
The other characters are all very well-written and I like how layered they are - especially the love interests. I've already skimmed some of the other comments and am happy to see that Ken's not the only "fucked up" and multi-faceted character. I genuinely think your sense of character depth is really good, without overwhelming the player/reader in the early parts of the routes.
The last thing I want to mention is choices. VNs often run into a problem here: you want to give the player some choices, but they often feel superfluous and obvious. This isn't entirely the case with Burrows, but let's just say that while some choices were very impactful, others felt very "meh". I know writing branching storylines is very hard so this is honestly not a big issue for me, but I wanted to mention it. I play VNs primarily as linear stories, just because I know that they're often designed with "good choice vs bad/stupid choice" in mind, and if there is ever a branching path it's easy to experience both branches with a quick replay. So I'm not super bothered, but wanted to mention it.
Also a quick side note: I feel like Grey should have more dramatic reactions to technologies and lifestyles in the different routes. He's literally a time traveler (in a way) so I'd definitely emphasize his shock at seeing certaint things!
3. Art style
I love your art style. I really do. It's very dreamlike and painterly while still remaining defined and readable enough. I like the colours, I like the choice of scenes for the art, I like the variety of angles and aesthetic choices. Visual novels live and die by the art they present so this is obviously a critical point for many players - and in your case the art is just superb! I am always excited when a new CG appears, whether it's a story scene, a sex scene, or a horror piece. All work really well, though I've a particular weakness for the dream sequences.
My only criticism is I wish I had a way of "sorting" the CGs in the album, at the very least between SW and NSW, or in other categories.
4. Presentation and creative direction
What makes Burrows so memorable for me is really two things: the great UI and the small animations.
I really can't stress enough how the UI can elevate a visual novel (I'm a UI designer myself and really value people putting effort into that). It's really cool that we can see a timeline of all the events in the story (implying all routes are interconnected/important), and that we get auxiliary content in the form of notes or photographs. I like the overall aesthetic, usability and content in the UI/systems and I'm looking forward to you polishing them further.
The animations and sounds are what makes this VN such an engaging experience. I'm not gonna lie: I sometimes get bored playing VNs as sprites cycle through the same set of poses and I read individual text lines as opposed to blocks of text (which would be more comfortable as a reading experience). So forgive me if I get super excited when I see the developers taking the time to actually time text responses and animate them based on the dialogue. So. Fucking. COOL.
It's something so simple yet so effective. Make certain words/characters bounce or tremble. Make the game delay a line delivery to show a real pause in the conversation (btw at first I thought I had to click, but then I learned these are intended pauses). Pan the camera sideways or upwards on a CG, creating movement and dynamism. Fuck, add poetry and music as well while you're at it!
(also the sound effects are fire, especially in the horror scenes)
I'm genuinely delighted and entertained by all the small touches both in regular dialogue lines and special CG moments - something as small as camera movement/panning and text animation can make the experience just so much more engaging. When things on my screen are moving and conveying something my brain is instantly rewarded with a hit of dopamine and I'm instantly refocused on the content. This means I generally don't rush through any dialogues and actually enjoy the intended pace of the delivery, like a play. I love this, I wish more visual novels would do this. It's something so small, yet so impactful.
Also, how dare you guys put actually good music and even a real performance in the game?!
Final verdict:
Yeah this is good. I can't wait to play more and goddamit Ken is my baby and all the trauma and abuse I suffered through were 100% vindicated and justified. The payoff was worth it. He's my kitty and I'd do anything for him!
10/10 I can't wait to also get traumatized by the other love interests.
wonderful vn. extremely bogged down by making nearly everyone a sexual/romantic interest though. I assume this is just fanservice but it really bogs down the game's themes and characters' relationships. I found the bonus stories and "flashbacks" more interesting than the main paths despite the lack of.. being a full, cohesive storyline.
This is one of the few times I actually take the time to comment on a VN, because I just couldn't not talk about this! I've read through many VNs and IFs and I've grown very fond of them but I think Burrows might be the best one I've played yet.
The writing in this is amazing, the characters are portrayed in a way that one can understand both flaws and virtues; they're multifaceted and it's so refreshing to see that. It's human. I really like how the deeper and serious issues are touched upon and how they are discussed and it shows understanding of how these issues affect people. The art is also amazing and it accompanies the narrative perfectly. ALSO the UI is so beautiful, I was genuinely surprised by it and the fragments, archives and timeline are such nice additions, it creates a complete experience. Overall, this is the only VN that I feel compelled to read it again after finishing it, the romance, the horror, the story, the side characters just tie it all together perfectly.
I think I have one point that falls a bit flat for me: In all the routes the characters admit to loving each other really quickly. I feel it's a bit odd to admit that in 2-4 days within knowing each other. In some occasions I might understand it better (See Mark's route), but in other cases like Gabe I can't understand it. Though it isn't that big of an issue to the narrative for me.
I want to also leave my thoughts and personal experience with the routes so spoilers are to be expected!
I played through all routes and secondary routes so far that are available. I have to say that ranked they are Mark, Hiro, Jessie & Colt (not a route yet, but the path so far feels really removed from Ken's), Ken, Sim/Ollie, Gabe. (Gabe being last is also due to the fact that his route is still at an earlier point).
I played them in route order but I was already drawn to Mark. His route is definitely disturbing yet very interesting. I think I played his route in one sitting, because I was hooked. I was running on adrenaline all throughout.
My opinion on Mark is mixed. He's definitely charismatic and attractive and I think he cares for Grey, but at the same time there's a lot to unpack there -brother stuff, suicidal tendencies in the car, etc.-. But I also can understand where he's coming from and feels like that kind of relationship where they swear they'll get better and you pray they actually do so (Still my favorite though, should I be concerned?) . In a sense I feel like he and Grey share a karmic relationship. Both of them have a darker past and are recovering from it, but they are the ones to have caused hurt as well. It'sgg definitely a journey of trusting another and self forgiveness, or at least it could be. Mark's route is also the most horror heavy and it's a nice reflection I think of his guilt and self pity/loathing. (I think out of all of them -so far- he's the only one who feels likes he's a bad person unable to be saved.)
But I can't help but wanting to stick to him. Also, the angst is very delicious here so it's even better. The cliffhanger at the end what with the eye and everything left me really itching for a new update.
Sim's route is fun and a bit indulgent because it's reminiscent of old times with Sim (can't wait to see the potential angst with Et in Gabe's route), but I found myself worrying over Mark during that route. I think it's the only route that diverged that I was wondering what would happen to the main "RO" (?), in Atri's too but Hiro made more appearances.
Gabe is a story that I'd love to unravel to be honest, because I think there will be a really rewarding outcome at around day 4/5, because there's a facade there ready to be broken. I feel like Gabe is too normal, which is obviously not the case, comparing to the others. I think the gang will play a big role and I want to see how Derek will be involved in the whole scheme. If he gets what he deserves as well that would be very satisfying.
Hiro's story is so beautiful, you can really see and sympathize with the struggle he is going through, the fight, the struggle to prove himself, to fit it, it's heartbreaking but also very raw and real. His sense of self preservation does push him to be manipulative towards Grey, but when confronted he, begrudgingly, understands it. I think this is also good though for Grey's growth as well, setting boundaries and what not. I really like how his character growth is also shown (him becoming more trusting).
Atri, on the other hand, reads to me as incredibly tragic. The border on schizophrenia and the intrusion of (presumably) Virgil is so sad. I love this character trope though, happy face, really troubled inside and I really want to explore this cult thing to see what it really is.
Onto Ken. I went through many feelings throughout this route. I should have known what I was getting into with the hard exterior, soft interior persona, but it was hard to get through to him when he kept pushing Grey away (which is a great thing for the narrative) it made it more rewarding when he started showing signs of trust. Jean making an appearance threw me off but I liked how the character development came along. The issues presented here made me really sick, it was well portrayed and it really shifted the perspective on Ken. The fragments here made it even more real and scary, which is a detail I appreciated a lot. Can't wait to get answers because it was a bit of a weird spot that we left off.
Jessie and Colt's route so far is simply adorable. The found family dynamics and the feel-good feeling is simply lovely. Although, I fear when the route splits there's bound to be some angst here.
After having played Mark's route, I expected things to be quite similar to other routes: red horrorscapes where you have to solve a puzzle to leave. To be honest, I was a bit relieved that it wasn't that high adrenaline, but after playing all routes I realized that the horror aspect might come later, so I'm looking forward to that a lot.
I do hope when the game is finished there will be multiple endings (maybe at least good and bad ones, depending on choices), or at least good endings.
I think I've dragged on for too long, but it was worth it and I was having a really slow day at work so. Keep on the good work!
I'd love for people to speculate on what their thoughts are on the how the routes are constructed and etc. Or anything really. (I just like seeing how people interpret things).
Its a amazing but right now The Smoke Room and Echo are on my top list. Echo mostly because it was my first visual novel and its writing and story were top notch. I will say this Burrows is realing amazing definitely in my top 5. Nikko and his team has down good work on it. It been quite the ride wish the Ken story was further along absolutely loving his story.
Omg, I forgot about Echo. That was a real wild VN. Amazing writing, I think I didn't connect that much with the characters though. Haven't played The Smoke Room yet, it was in my list but I forgot. Thanks for reminding me!!
ok... this is going to be a very long comment. And it will contain spoilers.
I got this game recommended to me by a friend, and fell in love with the prologue. The way it uses "Show don't tell" actually made me smile as a writer and artist.
The art is gorgeous, the character design (as someone whose main focus as an artist is character design.) is perfect and the dialogue writing flows naturally, it's just a delight to read.
I started with Ken's route, because my friend told me he was Brazilian. As a Brazilian myself, i love to see the representation.
I screamed in joy when the writing switched to portuguese, and blasted Brazilian memes all the time. Colt and Jessie where so sweet and Jean is just... the best character. (Also, i think he's kinda similar to a Brazilian singer called Ney Matogrosso, at least when it comes to his figurine.)
Ken's backstory broke me a lot, even if he's the funny dumb guy, i love how complex he is. His denial is very interesting and the fact he's actually pretty resourceful and has great deduction skills, really gives him a lot of layers to pierce through. (Even if it wasn't out at the time, i have to say, the friendship Jean forms with Michelle it's really great.)
Then i read Gabe's route. He was really sweet and i can't get into words how much i loved him (I thought he was ugly at first, but now he's my second favorite.) I really loved the vibe of the route in general. His friend group is great, even if it has flaws (Talia is my favorite.) and the 80's movie adventure mood was the cherry on top.
Also, the current ending (Day 3) was really nice to see. This was also the time i decided to always skip sex scenes if they weren't necessary, i think it just makes the pacing a lot better.
[Plus, i don't wanna talk about... the whole Derik thing, cause it made me feel really bad. But i have to say, a small problem i have with Gabe and Ken's route, it's the fact that some of the Fragments seem a bit... too shock value? More specifically 035 and 043. For 035, i think the shock was already there with the CG, and it was really easy to understand what happened, so the log just hammers it in and makes the shock linger for a bit too long.
For 043, it's just too explicit, slaps at your face something that you already know and it's not really necessary. Specially because the fragment right after it reinforces the information in a much more nuanced way. It really bothered me and felt a bit... unecessary.]
After gabe and ken's route, i read THE PATH....
GOD... FUCKING... DAMMIT.... It broke me, really broke me. I could see the queer horror being threaded and the fact i couldn't do anything to stop it made it even worse. The song at the end closed it all with a golden key, and made me tear up all the way.
It also made me love Grey as a MC, i already liked him because he was a very positive person, he always did his best to help people and overall was a very sweet person. But the fact that he can't see the good traits of himself and only thinks he's a terrible person, it made me connect with him even more.
Grey best main character.
Even if i was fucked up from crying, i started Hiro's route and... wow... it was like being on drugs. The setting and the supernatural elements blew me away, and i love how Hiro's character is portrayed.
He clearly puts a lot of his self worth on his work, and has a lot of pride for it. It does make him seem a bit selfish and manipulative at times. But you quickly understand that he doesn't mean any harm, and when he struggles to understand other people's perspectives, it's likelly because of his neurodivergency. He's a sweet boy, and i love him.
Also, i love the entity that stamps grey's tongue (I called the stamp "Mark of communication", because i really like rain world.), i wish he had a visible design.
Plus, GODDAMN, the choice of using body horror for the Trans character's route, it's just really witty and well thought.
I Read a couple more extras... but... then i had to start Mark's route....
All i can say is... god dammit, i hate this man with a passion. Sure, i can sympathize with him in some points, and i really love how he is still a really complex character and isn't just "Bad person ooga booga." But still, i can't like him, i can understand him, but never like him.
Plus, I LOVE SIMONE. I have to point out how much i'm happy that this VN has good female characters. Please continue writing great women, i love them very much.
The obligatory sex scene... i'll just say i started to tweak a bit because it made me actually boil with rage.
Overall, it was a great route, i love monster designs so i felt very well fed in it, and it was really cool to see the more on the nose supernatural stuff.
(Also, Ollie is terrible at his job, lol.)
Overall, this VN changed the way i view writing, changed my artstyle a bit and made me think a lot about how i create art. It's just so well done and captivating.
I love how NIkko understand suffering very well. He understands that for suffering in media to be bearable, you need to balance it well with hope. I guess this is why i never wanted to stop reading.
It was so good, it actually sparked my imposter syndrome a lot, and i'm still trying to deal with it. It feels really personal to me, because it seems a lot like something i would write.
It even became a bit of a meme between me and my friends, since Virgil looks a lot like me/my sona in concept and appearence. The furry characters, horror and mistery elements, the fact that this game can be played as an investigation.
It all came together to create something really special, cheers to all of the team.
Since the next part will be a bit negative, i wanna list some minor stuff i like/hope happens.
1. Please, please, please, make Virgil have a true entity form. I'd love to see him depicted as the true horror he can represent.
2. I love the way the supernatural is included in the VN, makes it seem like the characters are in a low level campaign in a low fantasy rpg.
3. IT WOULD BE METAL AS FUCK! If gabe's day 4 turned the gabe crew into a "Ghostbusters like" paranormal hunting team.
Now, even if i liked the VN... i'll have to leave a little constructive criticism to the author. This comes slightly from a place of jealousy, but also from a sincere comment.
The same friend who recommended me the VN showed me some screenshots and told me about some incidents of the creator being a bit... rude with his fans.
Plus, i've seen some examples of the same behavior on this comment section. Don't get me wrong, i'm really glad Nikko isn't a problematic person as far as i know, but it still bothers me a bit.
Dude, these people like your work, they donated their time to reading what you made and want to share their enthusiasm about it. Doesn't hurt being a bit nicer with them. (Excluding the obviously annoying and unecessary people, of course.)
I would die to have such a massive following, and to have created something so beautiful, chill a bit man, it can really be a bit of a moodbreaker. I myself sometimes feel a bit disencouraged to interact with the fandom and make fanworks for Burrows, because of this.
WELL.... i'll just end this text by apologizing if my english it's a bit hard to understand. Not really my mother language.
And if you read it all the way here, please, leave a comment and tell me your oppinion if you have one. I love to talk about the things i like.
And if Nikko reads this as some point, i hope you don't take anything personally, i still love your work and hope you have a lot of success.
Hino do brasil estourado, o Ronaldinho gritando VASCOOOOOOOO!. Mas principalmente o video anexado que eu disse que foi a minha reação a 90% da rota do Mark.
I noticed Grey reacts or in disbelief to the fact that he went back 30 years or 60 years in the future for Hiro and Gabe but like so nonchalant when he comes back 40 years into the future for Marks route and barely acknowledges of the changes in the 50s for Ken's route (hell, only time he noticed the year was off was when he went to the cemetery!!)
anyways, thats my useless rambling this fvn is PEAK actually, you go NIKKO 🗣️🔥🔥💯💯
I have to get this off my brain sorry but in Ken's route, when they were trying to go to Doc's basement through (what i presume to be) the cellar door, he mentions that he doesn't know how to pick locks but didn't he literally pick a lock when they went to the Red Room? Probably a different type of lock ig
I've been following Burrows for about 2 years now and man.... this VN is smthn special. Have never been disappointed by any updates. They all bring the sauce. Especially after this new update. I gotta say Kens route is an absolute masterpiece. Very heavy yet beautiful and everything has its place. Love how deep the writers are willing to go.
Every route is 100% worth the read. Marks route has a lot of unnerving & memorable moments, Gabriels's route surprised me this past update, and Hiros route is starting to come together, and I love its setting. I enjoyed all of them and they're super different. And it all looks great too. Art reminds me of a fresh clean newly waxed car 👌 the music is memorable af too
And THE SIDE STORIES!!! Bro don't get me started. Some of those are works of art. Especially the Path. I don't cry often, and I never thought I'd cry reading a FVN but I shed a few tears reading that one.
Even more, this VN talks about some real deep shit at times and its done super well. Had to pause sometimes for 5 min to think or revaluate my perspective on smthn like: "Huh....I never considered it like that" or "That's a very real issue ppl go through and don't talk enough about". Might be reading too much into it, but it makes this VN that much more special and alive. Had me in the feels at times even after reading ngl.
Haven't been the same after reading through Burrows. If you don't mind horror this is a gem you shouldn't skip.
im a bit disappointed in Grey our MC that he was with an older woman back in his young past if i remember correctly in Ken’s route. So that old woman was a pedo or some sort if she’s with Grey .back when he was 15
well. If i remember correctly he was also like kinda into it and doing it with another man too. So yeah that’s why i dissapointed. If i remember correctly
okay. After some heavy research now about what grooming is now. I now realized that i have been wrong and blamed it on our MC for no reason at all. I would like to apologize for that and will take heavy research on the things i may have not dig deep too next time
I can't get the new update to work with my previous saves. A huge page full of error texts pops up and I don't know what to do. I tried launching the old version of the game and it loads the saves just fine, just not in the new version. Is there a way to fix this?
Ken's update broke me, it all started with Michelle's tattoo and then the tapes, god those tapes broke me, I couldn't stop crying, poor Ken I just wanted everything to stop and just hug him, Nikko you are a genius at writing and the atmosphere of your VN is spectacular, I think this update hurt me more because I have a cousin who also suffered sexual abuse, and I felt the same when she told me, that helplessness of not being able to do anything, that anger and pain, anyway you are a genius Nikko and I love Ken.
Sorry for my englihs i use Google traductor, i'm from argentina 💜
i dont get it in kens route we have so many odd balls and yet i relate to all of them to some degree and its the kinda stuff ive had issues putting into words hows he do that
okay soooo I played the game (currently on mark's route ATM ) but I gotta say I absolutely love it and how vastly different it is with each route.. I especially loved Gabe (I can't wait to see him possibly top the mc in the future) I like that out of all the characters in each route, Gabe seemed to be the one who understood the most about Grey's and his situation (IMO). Also loved Jessie and Colt. The horror is Veryyyyy good...... And Virgil is hot (I hope we get to do something with him even if it's a hallucination)
hey Nikko, you know the sprites for Michelle in the saucy lingerie? yeah, she has three hands in them; the two hands connected to her arms plus a third floating in her hip
Zeppelins are mentioned in Mark's story line, which could hint @ Hiro's, & in Gabriel's a character mentions "The Empire Incident" hinting @ Mark's story line. I TRULY hope all 4 timelines reconverge at some point!!!
One of the most well written (and definitely the one with the best artwork/designs) fvn i have played! it's definitely not for everyone because of its heavy themes (only played mark/ken for now so idk about the other two) Is there any way to see how far % each route is to be finished?
To think I kept putting off playing this game because I have a hate boner for pre computer era. WOW this game is horrifying and delightful at the same time. so much wow I wont spoil it for anyone, just wow wow wow dont play it late at night.
So I've gotten into to Hiro's route and I'll admit I'm a bit confused on how I feel. Now I want to start by saying that I love the idea of a trans character in a fvn. But my main issue comes with Grey sexualilty? Is he gay or bisexual as it seems like Hiro still has female bits?
What's this? A shark character in an anthro VN? That's not an animal that we see everyday. Is he dateable? Also, is this horror? If so, color me interested!
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I just finished the most recent version of Ken's route and wanted to share some thoughts on this visual novel as I can't stop thinking about it.
Before I begin I just want to note that I first downloaded this game about a year ago, tried Ken's route, got traumatized and put off by his abrasive personality, and since the game was at such an early stage I kind of left it in the dust.
For some reason the game popped into my head again recently and I saw it had received quite a few updates. I sighed, braced myself and gave it another go. And thank fuck I did.
Although I've only played Ken's route so far (as he is by far the most intriguing character to me as a new player) I am already impressed by the themes, genres, art and writing styles, and the clever use of simple techniques to make the experience more interesting. I just want to break down my thoughts here before I try any of the other characters.
1. Overall narrative and writing style
I think a lot of people gravitate to this VN because it blends horror, romance, trauma, humour and what appear to be genuine, human struggles. I am actually impressed by how well the different themes and genres mix together, even if the game leaves me traumatized and thoughtful at times.
One thing I particularly like is the pacing and the "show, not tell" philosophy. I like that the writing takes its time to not only establish characters and scenes, but also spend just the right amount of time on them - many VNs tend to either rush through their story, or linger on certain moments for no good reason.
Another thing I really like is how the story always keeps me on my toes and while some scenes and characters are distracting, others are disorienting in a very satisfying way, implying there's a greater mystery and horror to the narrative. The mystery and supernatural aspects elevate the story and I'm genuinely curious where it's gonna go.
What I don't like about the story is how side characters from Grey's past seem thrust into it - it feels jarring, even if it starts to make sense down the line. I totally understand that the story is meant to make sense after playing all routes, but taken in isolation the experience can be disorienting. For that matter I'd say the story could have been a bit more concise and some of the extra characters feel a little unnecessary or superfluous (at this stage anyway). I totally get this is a big, sprawling story across time and space, but I feel like the cast and the writing could have been a bit tighter for more impact (sorry but I mostly don't care about the New Orleans characters :( )
Nevertheless, I think this is probably one of the best furry/BL VNs I've read, ever. I'm so pleasantly surprised to see such mature and interesting narrative choices, at times I'm genuinely hooked and can't wait to see what happens next. Good job!
2. Characters and choices
As I've said I only ever played Ken's route (for now) but I think I've a good understanding of the quality of the character writing.
First of all, Grey is probably one of the most interesting VN protagonists, at times a bit too interesting perhaps. I love that he has his own baggage, his own mistakes, his own flaws, virtues and vices - I really feel like I'm "roleplaying" as a Possum with a fleshed out personality. Unfortunately at times I feel like his own backstory interrupts the flow of the romance/dating route and it feels like we are forced to interact with story content that doesn't feel very relevant, even if it becomes moreso as we play along. I think this is just a personal preference, but again: character count could be tighter.
I also like the choice of making Grey bisexual (did not expect that, I think it's cool) and allowing him to befriend his romance options. I swear, between Ken's two scenes in the last update I genuinely think the friend choice is so much sweeter and more heartfelt, and leaves the door open for romance developing in the future. It somehow feels more appropriate for Ken, even if I absolutely think Grey loves him as more than a friend.
The friend choice also deeply resonated with me as I have a similar relationship with my best friend - we are intensely intimate and trust each other, and we've even fooled around, even if he's straight. It's a very strange but ultimately pure relationship in its honesty, simplicity and intimacy. In this regard, you completely nailed how one becomes best friends with a bicurious straight guy.
The other characters are all very well-written and I like how layered they are - especially the love interests. I've already skimmed some of the other comments and am happy to see that Ken's not the only "fucked up" and multi-faceted character. I genuinely think your sense of character depth is really good, without overwhelming the player/reader in the early parts of the routes.
The last thing I want to mention is choices. VNs often run into a problem here: you want to give the player some choices, but they often feel superfluous and obvious. This isn't entirely the case with Burrows, but let's just say that while some choices were very impactful, others felt very "meh". I know writing branching storylines is very hard so this is honestly not a big issue for me, but I wanted to mention it. I play VNs primarily as linear stories, just because I know that they're often designed with "good choice vs bad/stupid choice" in mind, and if there is ever a branching path it's easy to experience both branches with a quick replay. So I'm not super bothered, but wanted to mention it.
Also a quick side note: I feel like Grey should have more dramatic reactions to technologies and lifestyles in the different routes. He's literally a time traveler (in a way) so I'd definitely emphasize his shock at seeing certaint things!
3. Art style
I love your art style. I really do. It's very dreamlike and painterly while still remaining defined and readable enough. I like the colours, I like the choice of scenes for the art, I like the variety of angles and aesthetic choices. Visual novels live and die by the art they present so this is obviously a critical point for many players - and in your case the art is just superb! I am always excited when a new CG appears, whether it's a story scene, a sex scene, or a horror piece. All work really well, though I've a particular weakness for the dream sequences.
My only criticism is I wish I had a way of "sorting" the CGs in the album, at the very least between SW and NSW, or in other categories.
4. Presentation and creative direction
What makes Burrows so memorable for me is really two things: the great UI and the small animations.
I really can't stress enough how the UI can elevate a visual novel (I'm a UI designer myself and really value people putting effort into that). It's really cool that we can see a timeline of all the events in the story (implying all routes are interconnected/important), and that we get auxiliary content in the form of notes or photographs. I like the overall aesthetic, usability and content in the UI/systems and I'm looking forward to you polishing them further.
The animations and sounds are what makes this VN such an engaging experience. I'm not gonna lie: I sometimes get bored playing VNs as sprites cycle through the same set of poses and I read individual text lines as opposed to blocks of text (which would be more comfortable as a reading experience). So forgive me if I get super excited when I see the developers taking the time to actually time text responses and animate them based on the dialogue. So. Fucking. COOL.
It's something so simple yet so effective. Make certain words/characters bounce or tremble. Make the game delay a line delivery to show a real pause in the conversation (btw at first I thought I had to click, but then I learned these are intended pauses). Pan the camera sideways or upwards on a CG, creating movement and dynamism. Fuck, add poetry and music as well while you're at it!
(also the sound effects are fire, especially in the horror scenes)
I'm genuinely delighted and entertained by all the small touches both in regular dialogue lines and special CG moments - something as small as camera movement/panning and text animation can make the experience just so much more engaging. When things on my screen are moving and conveying something my brain is instantly rewarded with a hit of dopamine and I'm instantly refocused on the content. This means I generally don't rush through any dialogues and actually enjoy the intended pace of the delivery, like a play. I love this, I wish more visual novels would do this. It's something so small, yet so impactful.
Also, how dare you guys put actually good music and even a real performance in the game?!
Final verdict:
Yeah this is good. I can't wait to play more and goddamit Ken is my baby and all the trauma and abuse I suffered through were 100% vindicated and justified. The payoff was worth it. He's my kitty and I'd do anything for him!
10/10 I can't wait to also get traumatized by the other love interests.
My god I love Gabe's route so fucking much. Please continue making this game :
love it, no notes
others have said exactly what i'm thinking, please keep this updated :3
wonderful vn. extremely bogged down by making nearly everyone a sexual/romantic interest though. I assume this is just fanservice but it really bogs down the game's themes and characters' relationships. I found the bonus stories and "flashbacks" more interesting than the main paths despite the lack of.. being a full, cohesive storyline.
Other than some minor details, boy I'm loving this VN, especially Hiro.
I don't fuckin' trust atri though.
EDIT: TO BE CONTINUED??!
This is one of the few times I actually take the time to comment on a VN, because I just couldn't not talk about this! I've read through many VNs and IFs and I've grown very fond of them but I think Burrows might be the best one I've played yet.
The writing in this is amazing, the characters are portrayed in a way that one can understand both flaws and virtues; they're multifaceted and it's so refreshing to see that. It's human. I really like how the deeper and serious issues are touched upon and how they are discussed and it shows understanding of how these issues affect people. The art is also amazing and it accompanies the narrative perfectly. ALSO the UI is so beautiful, I was genuinely surprised by it and the fragments, archives and timeline are such nice additions, it creates a complete experience. Overall, this is the only VN that I feel compelled to read it again after finishing it, the romance, the horror, the story, the side characters just tie it all together perfectly.
I think I have one point that falls a bit flat for me: In all the routes the characters admit to loving each other really quickly. I feel it's a bit odd to admit that in 2-4 days within knowing each other. In some occasions I might understand it better (See Mark's route), but in other cases like Gabe I can't understand it. Though it isn't that big of an issue to the narrative for me.
I want to also leave my thoughts and personal experience with the routes so spoilers are to be expected!
I played through all routes and secondary routes so far that are available. I have to say that ranked they are Mark, Hiro, Jessie & Colt (not a route yet, but the path so far feels really removed from Ken's), Ken, Sim/Ollie, Gabe. (Gabe being last is also due to the fact that his route is still at an earlier point).
I played them in route order but I was already drawn to Mark. His route is definitely disturbing yet very interesting. I think I played his route in one sitting, because I was hooked. I was running on adrenaline all throughout.
My opinion on Mark is mixed. He's definitely charismatic and attractive and I think he cares for Grey, but at the same time there's a lot to unpack there -brother stuff, suicidal tendencies in the car, etc.-. But I also can understand where he's coming from and feels like that kind of relationship where they swear they'll get better and you pray they actually do so (Still my favorite though, should I be concerned?) . In a sense I feel like he and Grey share a karmic relationship. Both of them have a darker past and are recovering from it, but they are the ones to have caused hurt as well. It'sgg definitely a journey of trusting another and self forgiveness, or at least it could be. Mark's route is also the most horror heavy and it's a nice reflection I think of his guilt and self pity/loathing. (I think out of all of them -so far- he's the only one who feels likes he's a bad person unable to be saved.)
But I can't help but wanting to stick to him. Also, the angst is very delicious here so it's even better. The cliffhanger at the end what with the eye and everything left me really itching for a new update.
Sim's route is fun and a bit indulgent because it's reminiscent of old times with Sim (can't wait to see the potential angst with Et in Gabe's route), but I found myself worrying over Mark during that route. I think it's the only route that diverged that I was wondering what would happen to the main "RO" (?), in Atri's too but Hiro made more appearances.
Gabe is a story that I'd love to unravel to be honest, because I think there will be a really rewarding outcome at around day 4/5, because there's a facade there ready to be broken. I feel like Gabe is too normal, which is obviously not the case, comparing to the others. I think the gang will play a big role and I want to see how Derek will be involved in the whole scheme. If he gets what he deserves as well that would be very satisfying.
Hiro's story is so beautiful, you can really see and sympathize with the struggle he is going through, the fight, the struggle to prove himself, to fit it, it's heartbreaking but also very raw and real. His sense of self preservation does push him to be manipulative towards Grey, but when confronted he, begrudgingly, understands it. I think this is also good though for Grey's growth as well, setting boundaries and what not. I really like how his character growth is also shown (him becoming more trusting).
Atri, on the other hand, reads to me as incredibly tragic. The border on schizophrenia and the intrusion of (presumably) Virgil is so sad. I love this character trope though, happy face, really troubled inside and I really want to explore this cult thing to see what it really is.
Onto Ken. I went through many feelings throughout this route. I should have known what I was getting into with the hard exterior, soft interior persona, but it was hard to get through to him when he kept pushing Grey away (which is a great thing for the narrative) it made it more rewarding when he started showing signs of trust. Jean making an appearance threw me off but I liked how the character development came along. The issues presented here made me really sick, it was well portrayed and it really shifted the perspective on Ken. The fragments here made it even more real and scary, which is a detail I appreciated a lot. Can't wait to get answers because it was a bit of a weird spot that we left off.
Jessie and Colt's route so far is simply adorable. The found family dynamics and the feel-good feeling is simply lovely. Although, I fear when the route splits there's bound to be some angst here.
After having played Mark's route, I expected things to be quite similar to other routes: red horrorscapes where you have to solve a puzzle to leave. To be honest, I was a bit relieved that it wasn't that high adrenaline, but after playing all routes I realized that the horror aspect might come later, so I'm looking forward to that a lot.
I do hope when the game is finished there will be multiple endings (maybe at least good and bad ones, depending on choices), or at least good endings.
I think I've dragged on for too long, but it was worth it and I was having a really slow day at work so. Keep on the good work!
I'd love for people to speculate on what their thoughts are on the how the routes are constructed and etc. Or anything really. (I just like seeing how people interpret things).
Its a amazing but right now The Smoke Room and Echo are on my top list. Echo mostly because it was my first visual novel and its writing and story were top notch. I will say this Burrows is realing amazing definitely in my top 5. Nikko and his team has down good work on it. It been quite the ride wish the Ken story was further along absolutely loving his story.
Omg, I forgot about Echo. That was a real wild VN. Amazing writing, I think I didn't connect that much with the characters though. Haven't played The Smoke Room yet, it was in my list but I forgot. Thanks for reminding me!!
ok... this is going to be a very long comment. And it will contain spoilers.
I got this game recommended to me by a friend, and fell in love with the prologue. The way it uses "Show don't tell" actually made me smile as a writer and artist.
The art is gorgeous, the character design (as someone whose main focus as an artist is character design.) is perfect and the dialogue writing flows naturally, it's just a delight to read.
I started with Ken's route, because my friend told me he was Brazilian. As a Brazilian myself, i love to see the representation.
I screamed in joy when the writing switched to portuguese, and blasted Brazilian memes all the time. Colt and Jessie where so sweet and Jean is just... the best character. (Also, i think he's kinda similar to a Brazilian singer called Ney Matogrosso, at least when it comes to his figurine.)
Ken's backstory broke me a lot, even if he's the funny dumb guy, i love how complex he is. His denial is very interesting and the fact he's actually pretty resourceful and has great deduction skills, really gives him a lot of layers to pierce through. (Even if it wasn't out at the time, i have to say, the friendship Jean forms with Michelle it's really great.)
Then i read Gabe's route. He was really sweet and i can't get into words how much i loved him (I thought he was ugly at first, but now he's my second favorite.) I really loved the vibe of the route in general. His friend group is great, even if it has flaws (Talia is my favorite.) and the 80's movie adventure mood was the cherry on top.
Also, the current ending (Day 3) was really nice to see. This was also the time i decided to always skip sex scenes if they weren't necessary, i think it just makes the pacing a lot better.
[Plus, i don't wanna talk about... the whole Derik thing, cause it made me feel really bad. But i have to say, a small problem i have with Gabe and Ken's route, it's the fact that some of the Fragments seem a bit... too shock value? More specifically 035 and 043. For 035, i think the shock was already there with the CG, and it was really easy to understand what happened, so the log just hammers it in and makes the shock linger for a bit too long. For 043, it's just too explicit, slaps at your face something that you already know and it's not really necessary. Specially because the fragment right after it reinforces the information in a much more nuanced way. It really bothered me and felt a bit... unecessary.]
After gabe and ken's route, i read THE PATH....
GOD... FUCKING... DAMMIT.... It broke me, really broke me. I could see the queer horror being threaded and the fact i couldn't do anything to stop it made it even worse. The song at the end closed it all with a golden key, and made me tear up all the way.
It also made me love Grey as a MC, i already liked him because he was a very positive person, he always did his best to help people and overall was a very sweet person. But the fact that he can't see the good traits of himself and only thinks he's a terrible person, it made me connect with him even more.
Grey best main character.
Even if i was fucked up from crying, i started Hiro's route and... wow... it was like being on drugs. The setting and the supernatural elements blew me away, and i love how Hiro's character is portrayed.
He clearly puts a lot of his self worth on his work, and has a lot of pride for it. It does make him seem a bit selfish and manipulative at times. But you quickly understand that he doesn't mean any harm, and when he struggles to understand other people's perspectives, it's likelly because of his neurodivergency. He's a sweet boy, and i love him.
Also, i love the entity that stamps grey's tongue (I called the stamp "Mark of communication", because i really like rain world.), i wish he had a visible design.
Plus, GODDAMN, the choice of using body horror for the Trans character's route, it's just really witty and well thought.
I Read a couple more extras... but... then i had to start Mark's route....
This was my reaction to 90% of the scenes on this MF's route...
All i can say is... god dammit, i hate this man with a passion. Sure, i can sympathize with him in some points, and i really love how he is still a really complex character and isn't just "Bad person ooga booga." But still, i can't like him, i can understand him, but never like him.
Plus, I LOVE SIMONE. I have to point out how much i'm happy that this VN has good female characters. Please continue writing great women, i love them very much.
The obligatory sex scene... i'll just say i started to tweak a bit because it made me actually boil with rage.
Overall, it was a great route, i love monster designs so i felt very well fed in it, and it was really cool to see the more on the nose supernatural stuff.
(Also, Ollie is terrible at his job, lol.)
Overall, this VN changed the way i view writing, changed my artstyle a bit and made me think a lot about how i create art. It's just so well done and captivating.
I love how NIkko understand suffering very well. He understands that for suffering in media to be bearable, you need to balance it well with hope. I guess this is why i never wanted to stop reading.
It was so good, it actually sparked my imposter syndrome a lot, and i'm still trying to deal with it. It feels really personal to me, because it seems a lot like something i would write.
It even became a bit of a meme between me and my friends, since Virgil looks a lot like me/my sona in concept and appearence. The furry characters, horror and mistery elements, the fact that this game can be played as an investigation.
It all came together to create something really special, cheers to all of the team.
Since the next part will be a bit negative, i wanna list some minor stuff i like/hope happens.
1. Please, please, please, make Virgil have a true entity form. I'd love to see him depicted as the true horror he can represent.
2. I love the way the supernatural is included in the VN, makes it seem like the characters are in a low level campaign in a low fantasy rpg.
3. IT WOULD BE METAL AS FUCK! If gabe's day 4 turned the gabe crew into a "Ghostbusters like" paranormal hunting team.
Now, even if i liked the VN... i'll have to leave a little constructive criticism to the author. This comes slightly from a place of jealousy, but also from a sincere comment.
The same friend who recommended me the VN showed me some screenshots and told me about some incidents of the creator being a bit... rude with his fans.
Plus, i've seen some examples of the same behavior on this comment section. Don't get me wrong, i'm really glad Nikko isn't a problematic person as far as i know, but it still bothers me a bit.
Dude, these people like your work, they donated their time to reading what you made and want to share their enthusiasm about it. Doesn't hurt being a bit nicer with them. (Excluding the obviously annoying and unecessary people, of course.)
I would die to have such a massive following, and to have created something so beautiful, chill a bit man, it can really be a bit of a moodbreaker. I myself sometimes feel a bit disencouraged to interact with the fandom and make fanworks for Burrows, because of this.
WELL.... i'll just end this text by apologizing if my english it's a bit hard to understand. Not really my mother language.
And if you read it all the way here, please, leave a comment and tell me your oppinion if you have one. I love to talk about the things i like.
And if Nikko reads this as some point, i hope you don't take anything personally, i still love your work and hope you have a lot of success.
Thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful review
You're welcome man, keep up the great work.
what brazilian memes are you refering to lmao, i am brazilian too
Hino do brasil estourado, o Ronaldinho gritando VASCOOOOOOOO!. Mas principalmente o video anexado que eu disse que foi a minha reação a 90% da rota do Mark.
SUPER RANDOM (SPOILER!!)
I noticed Grey reacts or in disbelief to the fact that he went back 30 years or 60 years in the future for Hiro and Gabe but like so nonchalant when he comes back 40 years into the future for Marks route and barely acknowledges of the changes in the 50s for Ken's route (hell, only time he noticed the year was off was when he went to the cemetery!!)
anyways, thats my useless rambling this fvn is PEAK actually, you go NIKKO 🗣️🔥🔥💯💯
-minor spoilers for ken's route-
I have to get this off my brain sorry but in Ken's route, when they were trying to go to Doc's basement through (what i presume to be) the cellar door, he mentions that he doesn't know how to pick locks but didn't he literally pick a lock when they went to the Red Room? Probably a different type of lock ig
Will there be more content for Gabe's route? I mean it ended in a weird note.
The VN is still under development and none of the routes are finished.
Out of all the routes ken's just hits different 💜😭
I've been following Burrows for about 2 years now and man.... this VN is smthn special. Have never been disappointed by any updates. They all bring the sauce. Especially after this new update. I gotta say Kens route is an absolute masterpiece. Very heavy yet beautiful and everything has its place. Love how deep the writers are willing to go.
Every route is 100% worth the read. Marks route has a lot of unnerving & memorable moments, Gabriels's route surprised me this past update, and Hiros route is starting to come together, and I love its setting. I enjoyed all of them and they're super different. And it all looks great too. Art reminds me of a fresh clean newly waxed car 👌 the music is memorable af too
And THE SIDE STORIES!!! Bro don't get me started. Some of those are works of art. Especially the Path. I don't cry often, and I never thought I'd cry reading a FVN but I shed a few tears reading that one.
Even more, this VN talks about some real deep shit at times and its done super well. Had to pause sometimes for 5 min to think or revaluate my perspective on smthn like: "Huh....I never considered it like that" or "That's a very real issue ppl go through and don't talk enough about". Might be reading too much into it, but it makes this VN that much more special and alive. Had me in the feels at times even after reading ngl.
Haven't been the same after reading through Burrows. If you don't mind horror this is a gem you shouldn't skip.
im a bit disappointed in Grey our MC that he was with an older woman back in his young past if i remember correctly in Ken’s route. So that old woman was a pedo or some sort if she’s with Grey .back when he was 15
You're... disappointed in him because he was groomed?
well. If i remember correctly he was also like kinda into it and doing it with another man too. So yeah that’s why i dissapointed. If i remember correctly
I don't think you understand what grooming is or how it works if you're putting the blame on the victim lmao. please improve your media literacy.
okay. After some heavy research now about what grooming is now. I now realized that i have been wrong and blamed it on our MC for no reason at all. I would like to apologize for that and will take heavy research on the things i may have not dig deep too next time
That you admitted that and learned from the experience is a net positive. Props to you.
character development spotted (good ending)
OMG KEN ROUTE AND IM LATE IVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG
I can't get the new update to work with my previous saves. A huge page full of error texts pops up and I don't know what to do. I tried launching the old version of the game and it loads the saves just fine, just not in the new version. Is there a way to fix this?
This is a normal issue with RenPy based games that are in active development, and there isn't a solution.
The error comes from a conflict between the version of RenPy used for the old save, and the new version used in the new update.
I can't get CG 6 pg 10 and CG 1 pg 11, I dunno what I'm doing wrong
I hope
Ken's update broke me, it all started with Michelle's tattoo and then the tapes, god those tapes broke me, I couldn't stop crying, poor Ken I just wanted everything to stop and just hug him, Nikko you are a genius at writing and the atmosphere of your VN is spectacular, I think this update hurt me more because I have a cousin who also suffered sexual abuse, and I felt the same when she told me, that helplessness of not being able to do anything, that anger and pain, anyway you are a genius Nikko and I love Ken.
Sorry for my englihs i use Google traductor, i'm from argentina 💜
I JUST FINISHED KENS UPDATE AND IT WAS INSANE JRIJEFEJF2IJFHEGKHERIGF
This game is incredible I've played every route so far. Ken my beloved
i dont get it in kens route we have so many odd balls and yet i relate to all of them to some degree and its the kinda stuff ive had issues putting into words hows he do that
(slight spoilers ...maybe idk)
okay soooo I played the game (currently on mark's route ATM ) but I gotta say I absolutely love it and how vastly different it is with each route.. I especially loved Gabe (I can't wait to see him possibly top the mc in the future) I like that out of all the characters in each route, Gabe seemed to be the one who understood the most about Grey's and his situation (IMO). Also loved Jessie and Colt. The horror is Veryyyyy good...... And Virgil is hot (I hope we get to do something with him even if it's a hallucination)
add a segment about making meth yo it will be the shit yo
missing fragment 39
and CG Ken route pg 22-1
hey Nikko, you know the sprites for Michelle in the saucy lingerie? yeah, she has three hands in them; the two hands connected to her arms plus a third floating in her hip
KEN UPDAAAATEEEEEEE WOOOOOO :333
WOOOOOO! YEAH! :333
I KNOOOW RIGHTTT god I love this VN
ohhhhh shoot!!!
SHARK
hi rukai!!!!!
ken my beloved :3
So real :3
KEN UPDATE KEN UPDATE RAHHHHHHHHHH
(Spoilers)
Zeppelins are mentioned in Mark's story line, which could hint @ Hiro's, & in Gabriel's a character mentions "The Empire Incident" hinting @ Mark's story line. I TRULY hope all 4 timelines reconverge at some point!!!
THAT WOULD BE SO COOL actually
really really hope that actually does happen, im gonna explode. I'm curious on how they'll connect Ken into his former life though?
Just waiting for Ken's update 😈
One of the most well written (and definitely the one with the best artwork/designs) fvn i have played! it's definitely not for everyone because of its heavy themes (only played mark/ken for now so idk about the other two)
Is there any way to see how far % each route is to be finished?
To think I kept putting off playing this game because I have a hate boner for pre computer era. WOW this game is horrifying and delightful at the same time. so much wow I wont spoil it for anyone, just wow wow wow dont play it late at night.
I can’t be the only one who wants to get down with Virgil lmao he is so prettyyyy
I'm reporting you
-Yolanda Triangle
I was ready to risk it all when I saw his fkn dick on my screen lol
I have a question about the games soundtrack. Are the songs free to use? (like for animatics or any animations)
I was thinking of using one of the songs for an animatic but i wanted to make sure that its okay with the creator first.
(I really love the soundtrack btw)
you can use the songs so long as you give credit
ok thank you :3
Spoilers!
So I've gotten into to Hiro's route and I'll admit I'm a bit confused on how I feel. Now I want to start by saying that I love the idea of a trans character in a fvn. But my main issue comes with Grey sexualilty? Is he gay or bisexual as it seems like Hiro still has female bits?
Grey is a Pansexual
Ahhhh thank you! I was foolishly thinking he was gay lol
When will we have the continuation of Ken's route added? I love he
Ken's route will be next, you can follow Nikko on twitter, bsky, and on the discord for future updates!
What's this? A shark character in an anthro VN? That's not an animal that we see everyday. Is he dateable? Also, is this horror? If so, color me interested!
Yes and yes!
Nice! Always like a mystery/horror story. And thanks for including sharks! We (or me specifically) could use more of them :3
Will mark's route be updated in the next update?
No
Oh, alright