This game is a game that I loved initially, then grew to dislike, but I'm back to loving it now.
It's not a game for everyone. At times it feels a bit overbearing in it's themes (which may or may not connect with everyone). Which is weird, because when the game wants to be subtle, it can be (to the point where many of it's ideas went over my head in my first playthrough). The villains are weak (but thematically fitting) which seems to be a common complaint. It's also chock full of symbolism (far more than most JRPGs in my opinion). At times it feels a story like this would have an easier time adapting to the VN genre, rather than remaining a JRPG.
The closest comparison I can make to this in other media is that Xenoblade 3 is an extremely ShonenJRPG styled "I Have No Mouth and Must Scream". It's a game that appears to be extremely straightforward at the surface, but there is a lot of thematic symbols strewn across that can elevate it's maturity if you're willing to dig deeper.
The DLC might change how I feel so for now it's 4/5.
It's not a game for everyone. At times it feels a bit overbearing in it's themes (which may or may not connect with everyone). Which is weird, because when the game wants to be subtle, it can be (to the point where many of it's ideas went over my head in my first playthrough). The villains are weak (but thematically fitting) which seems to be a common complaint. It's also chock full of symbolism (far more than most JRPGs in my opinion). At times it feels a story like this would have an easier time adapting to the VN genre, rather than remaining a JRPG.
The closest comparison I can make to this in other media is that Xenoblade 3 is an extremely ShonenJRPG styled "I Have No Mouth and Must Scream". It's a game that appears to be extremely straightforward at the surface, but there is a lot of thematic symbols strewn across that can elevate it's maturity if you're willing to dig deeper.
The DLC might change how I feel so for now it's 4/5.