My god (lmao) this was amazing. I couldn't help but notice all the little details I'm not sure I'm reaching for straws here but seriously, that was such a great VN!

The one thing I want to hilariously note is that the stranger is a carpenter but he has seriously great style. I would have taken him for a hairstylist or someone working in the beauty industry because he looks THAT good. But I think him being a carpenter has some ties to the religious aspect.

As someone born and raised as a Roman Catholic, I noticed interesting things about the Stranger. The first being that he is a carpenter like Jesus is. Not just that but he makes allusions of wanting to be saved through prayer, and yet his actions contradict what he wants which is common among people, religious hypocrisy. He feels entitled of wanting to be saved and thus doesn't care about the feelings of Songbird (MC) to the point that even if you input your name or change your choices, his actions and reactions don't even change as if he doesn't acknowledge the difference in which you interact with him.

I like how you used the game jam's limitation (especially the word limit of 1k) to envoke this sense of helplessness and feeling of not being in control. As a player, despite whatever situation your MC is in, you have the power/control/option to save and reload. However here, the SAVE option was scratched out forcing us to continue on. I also find it thematic in a sense that because the Stranger wants to be saved, and because it wants that therefore Songbird's desire to be saved isn't equivalent to its desire. Like the Stranger's wants are more important than that of its captive.

Another thing I like to note is again, that helplessness. Even if we input the name (like I put in the name Robin because hello, it's on bird theme) as soon as we press enter the Stranger speaks up instantly to call us Songbird, almost as if he's too deluded to accept his captive has a name of their own. Because names are powerful, they hold not just culture and historical importance that the character exists but that it's integral to their identity as a unique individual, the Stranger calling us what HE thinks of us, a songbird, erases who we are as a person and gives it the foundation to create the person the Stranger believes we are.

This loss of control is especially important to the Stranger and to us, no matter what option we pick, he continues on with his lines as if any choices yield the same answer. Your choices and actions don't matter. And as a VN player, picking choices is pretty much important to see who the character and your own MC is. By not reacting it shows that the Stranger is genuine in who he is (a delusional religious entitled person) and that MC's personality (which we already know is blank to allow self-inserts) doesn't matter, which is honestly great if you want to explain why a blank slate like MC can exist.

I also like how in the title screen, when you choose to adjust the settings the Stranger's eyes stare straight at you. I think it's neat because this is the only instance where the player has control of something, but the Stranger will always be looking at you, making sure you know your "decision" will still be monitored.

I'M NOT EVEN STARTING ON THE CANARY AND SONGBIRD SYMBOLISM!!

So canaries, especially those in cages, were used by coal mineries to ensure that if there were toxic gases it would alert or kill the bird first leading the miners to realize there were toxic gases and flee to safety. They were also pretty small to allow the miners to bring them in. Songbirds, on the other hand, come from the same family as canaries but are domesticated, but they seem to be different birds (probably due to domestication like wolves and dogs). Songbirds symbolize innocence, naivety, freedom, and joy. 

To me, we view ourselves as a Canary. A small bird (especially when compared to how tall the Stranger is) that is being kept at a cage that will eventually die because of the toxic gas that will eventually warn of danger (the Stranger). But to the Stranger, we are its Songbird, to him we are domesticated by him but just don't know it. For someone who desperately seeks to be accepted for his demons and to be saved, the symbolism of the songbirds seem to give him this comfort that someone so innocent that can accept his ugly and terrifying self seems to soothe him. Even though, in reality, the Canary will end up dying.

To Eat A Canary may have come from the saying "like the cat that ate the canary" which means extreme happiness, smugness, or satisfaction. It describes someone who is so pleased with themselves, perhaps about a success, that they are behaving in a conceited or over-confident manner. So by that point, it would be how the Stranger feels pleased that its plan of taking MC and making them his works, would be the only ending it wants. 

There are so much I want to talk about but my comment is already getting longgg. I just want to say how much I enjoyed the experience and am looking forward if there are more to come! Amazing job to everyone involved!!

I liked exploring the endings

I must have moooooore I swear the mystery is killing me

I need more of these man and some lore

The 'villain' had just... incredible vibes. He's unsettling, he's cruel while still being oddly affectionate... and the voice actor did an amazing job of bringing him to life.

(Also, the character sprite and the menu page are beautiful)

I really want to know more about this fella, as well as what happens to the player character. 

I have no idea if you have any more plans for this story, but it was a whole lot of fun and you all did a fantastic job with To Eat A Canary!

I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM I NEED HIM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Impeccable vibes, truly. All of it is just *chef's kiss*, it's so cinematic and honestly super duper iffy/uncomfortable but in the best way possible.

❤️LOVE IT SM❤️

Whoever thought it a good idea to voice him like this, I hope you dream good dreams tonight. And every other night. Yep.

Also yandere men (fictional ones, let's keep that in mind please) have a plucking CHOKEHOLD on me istg-

noah's performance was greaaaat! loved to see his range with him taking a shot at a darker character

NOOOOO I NEED MORE OF THIS!!!!  I'm a big fan of kidnapping scenarios, so this hit all of the right buttons for me.  Loved the stranger and their voice acting, the GUI was great, and the art & the movement in the game (looking around the room, the cage opening, etc) was great.  Good job!