Haven’t played this game since I dropped my review last year but decided to go through all the new Season 2 content out of morbid curiosity. Here are some of my thoughts if anyone cares.
They should really rename this game to “Another Maya,” because the devs find a way to somehow shoehorn her into every single quest, even when its plot doesn’t pertain to her at all. She’s an okay character but good grief they are trying really hard to make me dislike her.
Meanwhile, Jo continues to starve for content, she has only one quest that pertains to her so far in S2 and all it leads to is an underwhelming, clothed fingering scene with no actual development in MC's relationship with her.
Maxine and Jacklyn are still insufferable as usual. No offense to those who like them, I just can’t bring myself to enjoy characters whose entire personality is “le random and quirky ecks dee.” I also feel like characters such as Isabelle and Flora have way more chemistry with MC, which is likely why they continue to dominate the screen-time.
Kate finally starting to get a redemption arc is a nice sight to see. Glad she’s seemingly not just going to be a route locked to people who completely simp for her at every turn.
Speaking of routes, knowing now that this game is - in all likelihood - going to force you to only choose one girl by the end, it is going to be an absolute NIGHTMARE for people planning to replay and see all the endings. The routes and variables are already convoluted as hell and lock you out of quests, just imagine when we get to Season 4 and if you didn’t give Maya her buttplug all the way back in Season 2 you are locked out of her route entirely lol. I guarantee some bullshit like that is going to happen. Even save scumming can’t fix this mess, fucking Detroit: Become Human’s branching paths were easier to navigate. You can tell they are writing this shit as they go.
This is why CYOA dating sims shouldn’t also be sandbox games. You are forced to slog through so much time-wasting bullshit just so you can see a different girl’s route play out. Who thought this style of game was ever a good idea?
Overall it seems like my original complaints are still just as prevalent, if not moreso, which is so disappointing considering the art is fantastic and the dialogue and banter between characters is *mostly* solid. What a waste.
