My issue is that it seems like it's actually a plot point that the tadpole isn't truly a timed constraint. Part of the mystery of the story is that we aren't changing the way we should. The game wants us to explore and take our time, but the tadpole as presented now is implicitly encouraging us to hurry through. But if you hurry through-and I guarantee you that plenty of first time players will, at least at first (I know I did) then you're just losing out on the story. The game tries to have it both ways and it's unsatisfying as a result. The tadpole is a central part of the game, but the big point of tension-how long until we change-is left to just peter out. That's why I think it's a failure. Even the systems ofthe game undermine the urgency of the tadpole, but we as the audience are never given a cathartic moment where the tension truly breaks.
