The hardest fight wasn't the last boss, it was the shadow clone of the protagonist at the end of the challenge dungeon. After that it was all smooth sailing, though I admit I was down to only two more mana replenishing potions by the end of the last boss. I didn't actually have that much leeway.
My biggest complaint with the game is the core mechanic of the calendar, where time is always swiftly flowing forward whether I've completed all my quests or follower bonds or not. This is the first time any rpg game has forced me not to play its content that they paid to create and I paid to play. What a bizarre decision. I managed to get most things done in time, but not all, and those missing few pieces will forever grate on me.
My second biggest complaint with the game plays in to my first complaint -- the only way to replenish your mana in the game is to leave the dungeon and go back to base, wait a day, and then return to the dungeon. But the one thing you cannot spare in this game is calendar days, so basically there's no way to restore mana. As a result you basically have to skip all fights with non-bosses in the dungeon in order to preserve mana. Luckily there are no random encounters in the game so it is possible to skip fights you don't want to engage in. But still.
The plot, setting, character design, and gameplay were all excellent. I especially like the archetype system of growth, a very unique and customizable level up path. The music was pretty bad, a far cry from rpg standards. Even with the calendar system moving me along before I was ready the game managed to entertain me for 80 hours, so well done. I officially crown this game #34 in my video game franchise hall of fame, despite it being a single game. I kicked out Dead or Alive to make room. Dead or Alive is a decent fighter but it's more of a universe than a game. The dating sims, the movie, etc., all make Dead or Alive truly worthwhile. The game itself can be ignored.
As for Hatsuyuki Sakura, I've beaten the common route and the first girl's route -- Kanae? I think was her name. Anyway, the cafe coworker senpai. The girls in this game are very attractive, in body and soul, but the male protagonist is literally the worst protagonist I've ever played. He's this complete loser and jerk and his true identity is that of a monster intent on mass slaughter. Why on Earth do they force me to play as this guy? And why would any girl fall for this guy? I mean, it's good that they fall for me, cuz I do want to romance the various girls, but at the same time I immediately despise any girl that would be willing to fall for this scumbag. It's like, how easy can you be? Ultimately I can't endorse this visual novel despite its good points. I may play it to the end and I may not -- for now I have a lot of better things to do. There are two songs from the game that made my music hall of fame though (I threw out two Valkyrie Profile songs to make room), Hesitation Snow and Freak of Nature Start, both by fripSide, a band I've already loved for their many other contributions to many other masterpieces. I kept them at 1-star songs to preserve the symmetry of my hall of fame, but honestly they deserve better than that. But oh well, for now my highest priority is symmetry.
Metaphor is just the first in a long series of games I have lined up ready to waste the entire year on. Heaven Burns Red came out with some new content which I quickly devoured, so now it's back to the waiting game again. Fantasian NeoDimension and Tales of Graces Remastered are sitting on my shelf ready to play.
The playoffs continue this weekend, with lots of pro and college games incoming. It's the most fun time of the year.
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