not just a stupid tradition is not just another jam entry, as the intriguing story and fun characters made this really memorable! :D

(SPOILERS)

i really like the story and how it escalates in suspense. the setup of a couple of teens messing up a ritual and it having horrible consequences feels very much like a classic horror movie haha, and the way the story progresses is really intriguing throughout, learning about what's happening and how this custom works (i love learning about cultures through games :>). but the plot clearly relies on the characters being entertaining, and luckily they're all really charming. chloe and izzy feel 100% like teens who think they're too old for this, which makes the setup feel realistic and the eventual supernatural stuff be even more unexpected. i felt so bad for ethan and how he kept getting bullied and scared lmao. and i really loved how caroline started out as a stern figure, then made me feel a sense of security as she explained what was happening and what was needed to fix it, and finally made me super intrigued with the secret basement, and think if i could really trust her. it was a really neat progression! (the twist gave me grunkle stan from gravity falls vibes, which is a HUGE achievement haha).

the art is really good! i like how simple everything is, if that makes sense? the designs and tileset not being too detailed and the use of solid colors give the presentation a unique sense of identity, like we're watching a halloween children's book or tv show haha. so many scenes stood out; the possession at the sea, the basement's paintings, walking through the dark forest... the face pictures were also pretty good (love how they're inside coffins XD), tho like others have said i would've liked if there were more faces, since a lot of the game is watching dialogue and it would've made it feel more dynamic. but due to the jam's time constraints and how long the game already is, it's not really something i can hold against it lol.

the code puzzle was really clever!! i got stuck there for a while but when i figured it out i felt sooo smart haha. i did think it was a bit too hard to figure out, and since this is a visual novel i feel like having a hint system would've helped, so you don't get frustrated with a puzzle you can't beat when what really matters in the game is the story. that's just my opinion tho.

overall this was a really great and intriguing time!! i really hope you keep working on this, i'm super intrigued in knowing what happens next :D