Recent reviews by dooublevision

I could not tell you what this game is about exactly, but the experience was fantastic.
A short walking simulator with some incredibly creative art direction while going for the low-fidelity PSX graphic style.

Some parts of the game had me seriously convinced I knew what it was trying to tell, but I have to admit I just really have no idea what this was about, but its vagueness did not diminish its worth or enjoyment.

What a fantastic little game.

Building right on top of the foundation established by the original 'Milk inside of a bag of milk inside of a bag of milk' its sequel continues right after delivering the milk back home.
As established, Nikita Kryukov does not shy away from the obviously very thoroughly researched depictions of mental illness, delving even deeper with this title as it has been giving a generous hour or so of content.

The story itself confirms some theories I had about the original regarding the players' role in the story, although it does get rid of the option to name yourself, which may or may not have some narrative implications.

Spoiler from here on out:

One specific thing that stood out to me were the different endings, in particular the second one, where you find the girl locked inside a room trying to communicate with someone on the outside and afterwards showing the perspective from outside.
We see both sides, her mind that desperately trying to claw out, communicate, crying for help, and the body that tries to understand but ultimately is too scared, pleading to just be left alone, a conflict inside of the self.

The fact that one ending alone could convey so much is impressive, which doesn't even account for the game having 3 more endings and an incredible amount of choices and dialogue to go through that build further upon the girls' background and her relationship to milk,

outside of a bag of milk,

outside of a bag of milk.

A short but sweet(?) experience, helping a girl get some milk at the store for her mother.

One thing often seen in media, especially games, is the portrayal of mental illness as either antagonistic, a reason or excuse for a terrible person to exist, therefore excusing their actions somewhat or sometimes even vilifying mental illness itself, affirming that yes, people who suffer from mental illness are wrong and bad.
Other times it is used to convey some sort of meaning yet fall flat on their face when the metaphors become too literal or again see mental illness as this evil that should be shunned, leaving no nuance.

'Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk' has so much to say in so little time, showing the hardships of severe anxiety, paranoia, agoraphobia and whatever amalgamation of issues one can suffer from, where the player can either take up the role of a helping voice, cheering on the girls as she is taking steps that are obviously really challenging for her, or talk her down, affirm those thoughts, which is promptly met with a "this isn't working" towards the player, shutting down the game and your efforts.
It portrays mental illness are raw and uncomfortable and real as it can get, sometimes confusing, other times terrifying, in the span of 10 to 15 minutes.