i know this game has a reputation in the fire emblem community as a game that set back the series and turned it into a dating sim with a rancid community but hear me out: i like dating sims and play on casual and you can't stop me. the story can be weak at times but there's something so relaxing about grinding and leveling and building supports, i don't even want to guess how many hours i've logged into it over the years.

mastered in my case meaning i unlocked every support that isnt just a copy-paste depending on the parents because... well, i'm a little gamer girl who loves reading supports lol

not the BEST visual novel i've played over the years, but there are a lot of elements that are genuinely enjoyable! the first route is the most basic but also the best, at least imo. benefits from completing all routes as there's a True Route after everything else. worth noting that each route Completely changes the characters' relationships and the story itself, it isn't just "pick a boy and see the story through the lense of romancing him and being close to him". each route's story is tailor specifically to the boy you choose.

it also is surprisingly unsettling, especially the further into the routes you go as things get less grounded. PLAY THE YELLOW DIAMOND ROUTE LAST. there's triggering content in that route as well, so if thats something that worries you i suggest spoiling yourself a little bit.

soooo here's the thing. i think this game had a lot of potential! i like how hopeful it is sometimes, despite the things happening! it's kind of wondrous! i really like some of the characters and i do like the way there are multiple personalities you can have (something i liked about da2 but a little more complex here)! vetra <3

that said, this game is just lacking... something. it's hard to explain what. the gameplay is monotonous and a lot of the exploring is just... boring to me, which is such a shame since despite its flaws i thought dai did that aspect very well. it's just kind of boring. i don't know if being attached to such a popular ip helps or harms it. as a standalone it would be fine, but because it's a MASS EFFECT game it feels like a massive letdown compared to the trilogy. on the other hand, i feel like this game would've just been largely ignored if it was a standalone? it's a shame, really.

tentatively put as abandoned because i have no plans to go back to it when there are more interesting things in my backlog, but i'm not opposed to going back eventually?