Sylus: Rosy Hues | Promise Card | Review
I need to talk about this card... I really do. I have way to much to say about this. Unpopular opinion: This card was poorly designed.
Spoiler ahead
Ever since the new Promise was released, I’ve had a weird feeling about it. For some reason, even though I was blinded by his beauty, something still felt off. It could be the perspective of his pose, perhaps how his head size doesn't quite match his upper body, or maybe I just had a "did they use AI for this?" moment.
Infold has done an amazing job with lighting, composition, and mood. Most of these cards are crafted exquisitely, but for some reason, "Rosy Hues" stands out—and not in a good way. Call me picky, but as a designer and a player of almost two years, you get used to a certain style and presentation for your favorite character. (I even noticed this design shift in Zayne’s latest card as well.)
Nevertheless, I decided not to judge a book by its cover. Since I want to invest my money wisely, I watched the card on YouTube first.
Once again, the MC is missing Sylus; I love it when she speaks about her feelings and her yearning to see him. I also love it when he surprises her with his presence after being away for so long. They go on a quick getaway to a vineyard, which is a lovely, playful situation involving wine tasting and even wine making. The MC and Sylus are back to their usual games, teasing each other about who is going to be the first to initiate a kiss. She wants to trap him in her "art of seduction," and the tension is definitely there; we all know how those two are.
Now here is the thing, Infold probably was trying to aim for a more playful and less sexual approach of two lover trying to kiss each other. That's where, from my point of view, the music selection breaks with the goal of making it a game. The music selected was from the spring mini game: Neon Wave
You might say, But come on, is it really that bad?
Okay, okay, other thing that made me almost close the tap was that we got around three different songs in the span of just 30 seconds. Seriously, I was trying to read between the lines to understand the musical choices, but I just don't get it.
Salem don't be so picky...
Alright then, let’s move further into the card. We eventually get to the moment where the MC and Sylus are flirting in the backyard. I definitely can’t complain about Sylus trying to get the MC to beg for him—pushing her to be even bolder and take what she wants: that kiss. His lines are incredible; I’ll never deny that.
And during that whole situation with the wine... the moment is hot. Very hot. MC is sitting on Sylus, watching the wine drip down his chest, and she wants him so badly.
And this whole fucking situation, where she is literally talking about it: the music doesn't change. It stays in this song here form after Night Of Secrecy (which isn't in the official album, or at least I couldn’t find it).
They could have used Shadow in the Mirror or Veiled Surge to keep the atmosphere quiet yet erotic. Instead, the MC’s desire gets watered down and reduced to almost nothing because of the poor background music selection.
Is not always about sex, Salem...
But she hasn’t seen her boyfriend for weeks. He is literally riled up because she is in charge; she is craving him. Even so, her desire which is reflected in how she handles Sylus—is only displayed as a "playful" moment? You could argue, "Hey, this game isn't about her desire," but her desire is his desire. We can literally hear Sylus breathing heavily because he is so aroused by her.
We could look back at "Shared Bliss," where desire was a huge part of the card, or even the yearning we saw in "Primordial Chaos." Especially in "Primordial Chaos," when Sylus appears in her room, it’s a direct consequence of them both needing to see each other. The desire, the yearning... it was all there.
But if they had done the same thing again, wouldn't it be boring?
Of course, navigating around existing cards and hinting at those Alternative Universes is absolutely fine. I loved the moment when Sylus bit her ring finger, leaving a mark. It’s very sweet and hot how, even in the current timeline, he will always want to be with her and marry her.
But that’s not the point of my ramble. By the end of it, I was just disappointed. I’ve read fanfics with similar setups that were executed better than what Infold did here. If you liked it, that’s absolutely fine. The story is sweet, but I got massively irritated by the sound.
In a game like Love and Deepspace, where the sensory experience (sound, visuals) is the product, if one pillar fails, the whole fantasy collapses.
I am a sucker for background music; I’ve fallen in love with many stories not only because they have a great plot but also because the sound design highlights those dramatic shifts in the characters.
When the background music fails to evolve alongside the character's emotions, the 'pillar' of immersion breaks. This card failed because it treated a high-tension, erotic reunion with the same auditory weight as a casual conversation. Without that dramatic shift in sound, the chemistry feels hollow, and again the fantasy collapses.
So Rosy Hues is going straight to the bottom of my ranking.
1 out of 5 stars. I wouldn't spend money on this.