Spent the last 2 weeks or so playing the game through all the paths. Thought I'd share my thoughts with some likeminded folk.
First, I'm not sure if I'm sad I found the game this late, or sad I found it too early. Discovered I could actually like VNs through Our Red String and this probably ties that for me in terms of story and characters. And goes well above it in branching and ambition.
Main criticism is that (until Zoey showed up at least) every girl with a tattoo is a whore or a stripper. It's an old cliche,but I've known way more slutty non tatted girls than tatted girls. Minor annoyance, but it is what it is.
Full DIK is easily the most fun (even without being a manwhore) but the gay gardening putdowns put me off a bit. Seems out of character even as an asshole.
Maya: She had me in my first run but all her substance was frontloaded imo. She starts great and becomes dull later on. Maybe its just Josy stealing her spotlight but shes's just lacking the spark you had in the beginning. Also, how MC didn't bring her over for a movie date on his big TV just baffled me.
Josy: She's cute and the only reason I stayed on the path after a while. Her pillow fort was one of my favorite "dates" in the game. But mostly I feel bad for her. She wants what Maya might never give. To be happy and romantic in public. I feel like a lot of her self esteem issues (yes I know its a game) dwell from living in the closet. She does nothing but hold herself back. And you can see it hurts. I also really like that she is a Neutral affinity choice.
Jill: The sweetest path for sure. Was not expecting that costume change for halloween and it had me rolling pretty good. She's sweet but pretty boring. Which makes sense, she's new to everything. Would have made a bigger impact if the concert helping was only on the romantic path though.
Bella: Darkhorse. Did hers last and it was really touching. Really slow burn but it pays off a lot. MC is the cringiest in this one, but I can let that slide. Plus, her putting those yoga skills to work was great. I'm excited for her story, love interest or not and I cant say that about most of em.
Sage: My favorite of the official MGs. She annoyed me at first but quickly won me over. You definitely have the most chemistry with her. Her route feels natural. You're both hurt and find each other. She encourages your studying and you train her and teach her guitar. It's cute, but doesnt feel forced cute. Like many I thought she would be an airhead but she's smart as hell and freaky as hell. She solidified me in that escape room on Halloween. If you know, you know.
Others: Lily is fun.Learning how smart she was definitely took me by surprise. The rolling together thing has me hopeful for some shenanigans later on. I think shes worth her own save file for sure.
Rinoa is exactly the person I would date irl if she wasnt a literal hooker. She's cute, has the OCD perk you can tease her about. Her arcade date was the best date in the game imo. Sad I couldnt steal her on Halloween for the night to prove we could just cuddle and not fool around. Having played Acting Lessons I'm scared for her for sure.
The other others didnt really leave anything worth remarking on. Nicole is cool, bout it.
Zoey: Her story is alright. It makes sense. She is trying too hard for someone who ghosted us for so long. She's a bad friend, but I get it. I like that we can give her branching personalities. But my fav is that we can be nice or mean. Ignore most texts, refuse to hang out. I love that option. IRL, It would take me a month or two to want to just chill with someone who broke me so much and then ignored me for 8 months or so.
Quinn: Saved the best for last. My first playthrough was MJ and so I rarely talked to her and thought she deserved to be in prison or shot (though, I'm sure if maya had come out and said "Hey, I'm an actual lesbo I cant do these things." Quinn probably would have listened. She's all for punishing the shy girl, but I think she'd draw that line).
Then I did what I thought was going to be a Sage playthrough and fell for Quinn instead. And having played through them all I'd consider Quinn the be the best implemented character in the game. She easily has the most variables of any girl. She can like you, tolerate you or secretly love you. Little things like downward glances or slightly changed dialogues in scenes with other girls if she likes you. Nobody else really gets as much as she does. The hidden disappointment during sages lewd at the HOTs party was great. But itsnt there if she isnt into you. I love all of that. That's stuff that doesnt need to be in the game, but I'm glad it is. My latest playthrough was full DIK, only sleeping with Quinn and I was surprised she mentioned I never actually ordered from her restaurant. She might be a bad person, but growing up a dealers kid and who knows what else. She could be much worse. Her chemistry also feels natural and gradual. Bout died when she started calling me Babe. I can fix her.
If anybody actually read this far, thanks. Look forward to discussing ep 11 with ya.
