Dawn Chorus

I wanted to see new Klaus sprites (still waiting for day 3) so I loaded the scene before him purring and for some reason he was naked. I don't mind, but I'm sure his underwear is in wrong place

Wtf why is everyone so buff suddenly(I love it)

I really want to see the end of the Devon route. He's a great teacher and their relationship is so warm and pure.

Although the new art is nice, it just doesn't hit the same way that the old art style did. It would be nice to have a toggle in order to switch between the two! I don't hate it, I just miss the scratchy more raw feeling of the old sprites. It felt like it suited the game much more. There's also something about lake's new sprite that just feels so off, maybe it's an angle thing or their fur but I just can't like it

i wanna know when the next Klause update is ;-;

Hello everyone. I would like to share my opinion on the game.

Maybe nothing that mind-blowing is happening in this story, it is a rare example of a realistic novel in the nische of furry visual novels. 

What makes me enjoy Dawn Chorus is the cast of plausible characters with absolutely understandable thoughts, motives, fears and expectations. 

I also found pretty interesting that at least some characters are making crucial decisions about themselves and their relationships with other students without Arvo's interruptions. And this is a grounding and refreshing message: we are not the centre of the universe and life will go on, regardless of our desires.

Visuals of Dawn Chorus is also solid part of the game. Backgrounds has this mood of clean and colourful PS2 titles and, at the same time, remains somewhat realistic. This resembles me phenomenon of liminal spaces, surreal places of my dreams. And, as for me, surroundings are depicting this whole feeling of coziness of a Scandinavian village. All in all, backrounds of this game certainly have a unique charm.

Speaking of characters' sprites, I think in general they are better after changes and more suiting to the other parts of game's aesthetics. Pastel colors and more detailed features feels more authentic in a story of wholesome relationships and appreciation between antropomorphic (fluffy :3 ) students. 

Audio is good as well. Soundtracks are doing great job at representing calmness of the North. They are soothing and giving a sense of an otherworldly serenity. 

However, I have one issue with this game. It is replayabillity. Yes, every character has unique scenes, but in every route you have to pretty much skip the same whole segments of the game again and again to reach this unique content.  This can be annoying, but all in all, I understand why is that so. Dawn Chorus is also a dating game, rewriting whole story for every guy would be a nightmare for developers.  So, it's rather my problem, it seems. Couldn't forget about this, anyway.

And, as I said before, the plot itself is not that breath-taking. Probably, it doesn't need some crazy events happening around, considering it's "cozy student trip" narrative. But, I think, it is a continuation of the previous problem. Could become pretty boring during 3-4th reading. 

To sum up, I rate this game 7,5/10. It is a mature and well-written story about people growing up, making decisions and sharing refreshing thoughts. However, game has some problems with replayabillity.

P.S. Lake is the best. Finnish. :3

Y'all... I just realized that Arvo is just a socially awkward, slightly introverted stud muffin... Everybody and their freaking mother, even people like Bjørn who had never PREVIOUSLY considered dating a guy, are hopelessly in love with our little Cinnamon roll.

And, Arvo is just completely unaware of how tight a grip he has on the boys around him. xD

Torulf spoiler alert:

After doing all three endings, I can see how a red-flag Tordork is and fascinated by how he can subtly control both Arvo and Lake without trying much.

It's a bit sad to see how he always chases to that "highest" point in every aspect of his life (jobs, places, emotions,...), always talks about traveling to places to feel better than everyone else, and he will run away when things get hard, serious or just bored.

These things also affect Arvo and Lake, like they feel they aren't good enough for him. Playing as Arvo just feel like a teenage boy in the community finally being loved by someone, especially someone older but not worked out.  (I relate sm, but I'm glad that I'm over that phase now, lol).

Long story short, if I really think about it, Tordork is maybe about 50% of a bad person (lol), but actions have been made, so he's still a jerk anyways.

I hoped Arvo and Lake team up to start a revenge arc against Tordork. And I think the best outcome after D5 is just him being guilty and apologizing, but let's wait and see.

u got rid of 32 bit version id realy apreceate if you could add it back in unless it an error on my side

i absolutely love this game, best vn i have ever played with. also i really like lake, theyre really cute :3

Can we choose to top or bottom

I swear to god.. the mikko route where you don't tag along with him for a walk on day 2.. damn. That actually made me so upset like why did we just leave again? What now? What do the charcaters think? PLEASE i need some kind of answer like why did we just go back home?? what about the trip and the university?? that was actually so emotional i don't know how to react 😭😭

PS.: I also found a minor spelling issue while doing this route, there it is

I again want to make an honest comment on the new sprites:


While I do like the more detailed and updated looks on many of the characters (especially the more expressive take on the characters), the change of some character’s sprites has had a great and rather suboptimal effect on them. It completely changed their personality and how they are generally perceived, when compared to their sprites before.

The ones suffering from this are (in my view):
-Devon
-Rune

I don’t really mind the new Devon too much because even though I now perceive him differently, he still gives off coach energy, but just slightly younger and a little more approachable than before. I could play Devon‘s route again and still connect with him the same way I did before.

When it comes to Rune though, his character completely changed. Not in a way like Devon where he still gives off the same energy. Rune simply doesn’t read as Rune anymore. He no longer gives off the athletic, hard-working, down-to-earth and loveable vibes, but now only gives off: „I am a jock and like sports.“. Many parts off his personality just seem ripped away.


Don’t get me wrong I am fine and even satisfied (torulf omg) with many of the new sprites, especially after now playing with the new updated sprites myself, but for Rune it just completely changed him and he is my favorite character. It feels like Rune was removed and now replaced with this new character.



More personal note:
I‘ve read that you also are unable to make the old sprites an available option for future updates, as it takes additional work, which I completely understand.

I just can’t see myself continuing the route of Rune in the future, because I don’t see the same character that I fell in love with.

The new sprite models have so much personality to them and it's great to see them with more expressions. 

Okay so Mikko is really good at keeping a straight face but dude is hurting as well, Arvo can't catch a break at all, first he apologised for the separation, explained he had a crush and that he loved Mikko but saying that he has feelings for Mikko still is difficult because they just reconnected and he needs to process his feelings and emotions just as much as he needed to be truthful with Mikko. It sucks that Arvo and Mikko are acting "Normal" when things are far from it.

Overall I love how the new sprites look in game, I think it's an amazing change! I'm a big fan of the updated art for the polaroid pictures too! I do have a few minor things to point out with this update though. I feel like Mikko's older pose in the polaroid photo with the snowball held up dramatically was more fun. Personally, I'm not a big fan of how off to the side Rune faces, I feel that it doesn't match his personality as much as the old pose did. The sprites work in some scenes but in the more personal scenes it feels a bit off to me, Rune seems a bit more distant and him only facing front with the flirty face adds to that off feeling. I also find that Lake's snout does look a bit too bulbous. Actual technical issues I've found are that in Runes frightened pose with his jacket on, his shirt is visible where his hand is. in the same pose with his jacket off, something isn't lining up right and his arms are too large for the shirt. I also find that the outlines of some characters do look a bit weird on some backgrounds. I've attached images of the 2 issues with Rune's sprite

i like the new sprites in some ways, but i have a major complaint and two minor ones.

RUNE - what did they do to him? it like comepletly changed his whole vibe, he looks... meaner?

minor complaints:

also,  the outlines are a bit too thin on the sprites, making things blend in a weird way, unlike the thicker outlines where it  was clear where things were and where they end.

and the angle of Travis's head is weird...

and the shading, the shading makes them not fit as well against every background, because of how... warm? it is, and it's not even consistant, the white on on Jorgan and Lake are shaded completly diffrently from each other, like they have two different lights on them

i think a lot of the expressions are a lot better on these sprites, though.

*overall* it's an upgrade but i'd like to see them edited a bit.

Will we get a cookbook with all the recipes Lake finds poggers?

spoiler here

I'm honestly not gonna lie, that update was REALLY short. I think the purpose of the update was to show the new sprites that, I really really like, and an update on Mikko's route and what's going on. And Jorgen in that clothing, god, I got no words. Other than the only complaint of being short, it was really guud.

no no read the rest if no no wanna 

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But I also have a few pros and cons with the new sprites: (con, or not?) Torulf looks like a gawdam dinosaur, (con) Mikko looks really slouched, (pro) Bjorn is still him (in a gud way), (con? actually nah pro) Devon got a cute little baby face UwU, (rune) Rune kinda doesn't look like Rune, (pro) Lake, he still fucking cute as hell, (con) Travis, I like his old design better honestly, (big pro) the bat got SUCH a good design and is stillllllllll fucking cute. that's it I think now I go go sleep cause its late now choaaaa 

yesss the new version is here, thanks owo

why the preferences don't save? i put the nsfw content on but still won't work when i start a new game it's still keep nsfw off even if i clicked no when i get ask if i want play in sfw mode or not why? and when i go to main menu and preferences the nsfw is off even if i put on on...

oh。。。。。。

no no no

don‘t addicted to drug

ik im late, but i just randomly realized how greatly "dawn chorus" by thom yorke transitions into "magic number" by patricia taxxon (that one track from the last rune update, which u can download by going to one recent-ish public post in patreon btw)

HOLY FCKING SHIT???

(Some spoiler down there, beware)

ALL these characters are so well written and they all felt so real..  I had so much fun spending time with each and every one of them and everytime i finished their routes i was in TEARS because its just a story and i know its not real but god fcking damn it im so attatched to them and it hurts😭. Its so bittersweet and such an amazingly well written visual novel! I also love the fact that even when you choose a route you get to hang out with the other characters too! Instead of hyperfocusing on the chosen character. I dont know how to explain it but it felt so balanced being able to have personal time with the chosen characters but also have other characters interactions with the chosen character!

I played devons route first and my god.. i was not the same person i was before. All these emotions just came out of NOWHERE! I stayed up ALL night just playing his route! The writing was so good that my heart felt so warm everytime i was with him!

I've always read visual novels as a coping mechanism and wow.. it really REALLY! Helped me so much.

(Spoiler)

Runes route just BROKE me and every single cell in my body wanted to give him the biggest hug i can give :(

And also Devon! I think he has the best character writing in my opinion! Hes so thoughtful and caring and just always so genuine about wanting to help his students! It broke my heart when i heard about him considering going back to his ex because i wanted him to stay but i know its not my choice and hearing about their story just made me feel like i could potentially steal Devon's happiness if i forced him to stay.. Devon even said being with his ex was the happiest he'd ever been so i didnt want to force him but at the same time i also want him to stay and ARRHHHHHHHGVHSHGHDJDHG!!! I AM SO ATTATCHED TO THIS FICTIONAL MAN BUT I'D FEEL SO BAD TO CONVINCE HIM TO STAY BUT I WANT HIM IN MY LIFE   NOW

Dawn Chorus, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

It was a blast reading this visual novel and i really mean it when i say this visual novel has helped me so much through my difficult times.. so thank you.

I think most of us, if not all of us, will wait patiently and look forward to future updates so please dont rush yourself. I hope youre doing well and i wish you nothing but the best and good health<3

I re-replayed Mikko's route again, the route that broke me, and it really hurts :'(

LAKE IS THE CUTEST LITTLE LION EVER >w<

I was so invested in Jørgen, then it just ended. im so distraught xD