I’m surprised many didn’t like the beginning of this arc, after the other two. It felt like after the same game engine for five games, it was nice to transition to a more modern 3rd person view with enhanced gameplay mechanics and dungeons. I liked the cast and the world of Erebonia a lot too and the bits in each chapter where the characters have to learn to trust each other and solve their personal issues, something I think the crossbell arc lacked with its characters besides the main four, but even then some of them don’t fully develop until Azure like Randy for example. The games pacing is alright since it’s the first game in the arc. Just like FC, the plot really kicks in until the very end and encourages you to play the next game to see what happens and I jumped straight to cold steel II right after. Rean is a cool character and is distant about his own feelings, but man my only issue is his awful hair style, guy needs a haircut.