Editing this as I complete routes.
[1.8.2021]
Well, first route (mostly) done as of last night. I got the best end, so I have the good and bad ones left. I'm going to do those (and the game overs) tonight to really finish up his route before moving on to the next one.
I'm hoping that the other routes go a little more in depth with the plot because this one was definitely lacking. 90% of it was the heroine saying "thank you" and wanting to talk to/see Nicola. It was pretty much an insta-love scenario, and that unfortunately got way more attention than any of the actual Mafia-related activities and main conflict. Yes, I'm down for the romance and that's a huge part of these VNs, but I do want some actual plot... I just felt like every small issue, and the main conflict, were all resolved in a very short amount of time.
The music is great, and really suits the setting. Lots of jazzy mobster tunes. The CGs are reeeeally beautiful, and the backgrounds and character designs are great.
I like all of the major characters...except Nicola, haha. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. I do really hope that the overall plot for each route isn't the same even though everyone was present in this one. The lack of any real major events and how short the route ended up being is my only real complaint here.
[1.8.21 - 1.9.21]
Wrapped up Nicola's endings and started Yang's route.
[1.9.21]
Finished Yang's route and other endings; started Dante's.
-Yang's route is pretty good. He's definitely the worst human of them all, but a very interesting character. I had a few complaints about the story for this route, as the reason for everyone hating the Lao Shu (one of the reasons, anyway) wasn't actually their fault. However, there are a number of great characters that you barely see in other routes, and the plot has much more depth than Nicola's. Lot of problematic scenes, honestly, as pretty much any of the "wrong" choices lead to Liliana (the heroine) just "closing her eyes and accepting" whatever Yang does to her. He's not forceful like that when you make the "proper" choices. TW: allusions to rape, forced drug use, human trafficking
[1.10.21]
Finished Dante's best route and played through most of the good ending before bed.
-Dante is best boi so far. You also finally learn a lot more about Liliana's role and why everyone wants to protect/capture her. Still some of the dragging slow points that were present in Nicola's route, but definitely a lot more happening overall, or at least more information. I'm not sure why this isn't the "true route," but there is a "finale" route after Gilbert's, so we'll see...
[1.11.21]
Wrapped up Dante's stuff and started on Orlok's.
[1.12.21 -- 1.13.21]
Orlok's route.
I dunno, man. I was looking forward to this one, and to getting more information, but, even with Orlok's close ties to the Church, there was less information about Lili than in Dante's route. Howwwww. Pretty disappointed in this one, honestly.
The bad ending was...really bad. Like, Dante's-a-sick-fuck-in-this-route kind of bad.
[1.14.21]
Started Gilbert's route. Unlocked by completing the other four. Why is Gilbert the one being unlocked?? I don't understand why it's not Dante?? Gil's had a regular presence in the game so far, but nothing has indicated his is a more major role than even Dante's.
