Could you post the error message?
After finally playing both Rebirth and this, I have to say I’m kicking myself for not giving the series a chance sooner. Back when Rebirth came out I played the demo and passed it up after not being particularly grabbed, and I have to say that was a huge mistake. The delightfully thorny questions of identity that run through everything are just an utter treat to play with, and how they can be permutated and reanalyzed through multiple playthroughs simply doesn’t get old.
In particular the way your identities pile on top of each other is masterfully executed, coming to a head at the end of Retribution when everything falls apart. I honestly can’t say I know what endstate is my favorite, which I find a rarity in interactive fiction. Every permutation plays on the main themes of the game in fascinating ways, can’t wait for it to be followed up.
The ROs are probably the best part of the game, not for the romantic content per se (although they are all quite sweet, in their own ways), but rather how utterly fucked the situations can get when you are romancing multiple people across multiple identities except you’re still the same person. Just utter chaos, in the best way. I am sad that the Puppet can never get intimate with Ortega, I think it would’ve been an utterly fascinating scene psychologically given how messy the Sidestep/Ortega relationship can be. It was especially awkward with my secretly crushing MC vicariously romancing Ortega through the Puppet, sad that situation never got to reach its “climax”, as it were. Would pay money to read the thoughts going on in such a case.
(edit: accidentally posted this halfway through writing smh, more thoughts below)
Also, gender and trauma. Both are handled excellently, with the many permutations on the Sidestep/Puppet gender situation being utterly fascinating. I think ultimately a cross gender duo is the most fascinating, and how it can reinforce or break down Sidesteps conception of their own gender. The trauma Sidestep carries with them, while tinged with a fantastical air, is uncomfortably compelling. A suicidal Sidestep is especially darkly compelling, the topic is handled with dignity without poisoning the tone of the story. Yes the MC hurts, but they can start to move past it and heal.
Or, they can lean in and indulge their worst vices, your choice.
On a plot note Ace is probably the most fascinating “addition” to the cast. Considering we are already seeing their powers resurface, I have to wonder what else might come back up, regardless of who is wearing their body.
Dunno why I wrote all this, spent too many hours playing through multiple times ig. 10/10 great game beard Ortega is best Ortega
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First off, congratulations on the release of Fallen Hero: Retribution. Everything was chef’s kiss even the cliffhanger 
Second,
Is it avoidable getting hit by truck-kun?
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My suspicion in one of the endings where the puppet wakes up is that the puppet thinks they’re the MC, when actually the MC has been imprinted in their brain throughout the ‘puppeting’, and they were finally able to wake up from the coma as has been alluded to throughout. I honestly find the idea that the MC being kicked out of their own body and something else running their body to be really weird. It was always described as the MC possessing someone, not having their mind move to a different body altogether (although the MC does colloquially phrase it that way) so if Heartbreak had taken over the MC’s body how would the MC be able to posses the puppet? Or if the MC had the psyche of Heartbreak activate in them and become a split personality, how is one possessing the puppet while the unconscious body appears to have ‘normal brain activity’ for an unconscious person, according to the doctor?
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Is there a way for there to be an Ortega > Sidestep < Herald love triangle? Or is that gonna autoplace me into polyamory? Wont try to pursue it if thats the case, not my cup of tea.
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No. You can only decide who takes the hit.
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Do you think Mortum were once a scientist on the Farm or maybe they are connected to this organization in some other way?
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Damn, guess down the path of pain we go. Thanks!
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Congrats on the release, @malinryden !!
This has been fantastic so far. I’m enjoying it so much, and there are so many more routes to go!!
That being said… Steel was such a great surprise!! I was always biased towards Ortega, but oh gosh, I truly think Chen’s route is the one my MC felt the happiest by the end.
Oh my, that ending was so sweet. The one in which he calls your MC at the end and you go to his place. There are revelations on the Hollow Ground front, it’s soft and endearing, there are spicy moments, and you even enter his mind and it’s so freaking amazing all around. Especially if he knows if you’re the villain. He might not agree with your methods, but he understands your reasons (as long as you don’t kill, I think?).
By the end, he goes on to do his Ranger thing, you go on to do your villain things, you pet Spoon, and it feels… weirdly cozy, in a way. Yeah, I know, things won’t stay like that for long. But it feels like a moment of peace It’s not too bombastic, your secrets are mostly safe (except for Steel and maybe Mortum). And he sort of accepts? As long as you don’t cross a few lines. For now, all is fine.
I loved this ending. My favorite so far! Thank you 
Excited to play the other routes now - I love all the ROs. They feel so real, as do our MC. So curious to learn more about Ace too. And so many mysteries!
I have a question though. I’ve played a few times but I never found Jake at the auction. I usually go with Argent though, is that the reason? Is there something specific I should do? I wanted to try to cut his threads and see if changes anything, like it happens if you cut Steel’s threads.
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If I remember correctly, to meet Jake, you have to steal stuff before the auction starts.
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Thank you!! Will try to do that next
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Does anyone have confirmation on how far the Steel romance can go with a nonbinary Sidestep so far?
I know that in the demo only male Sidesteps could already enter the lover stage with him, while he was in denial of feeling more than friendship for a it’s-okay-if-it’s-you nonbinary Sidestep.
Couple other ways I know of, if you go the argent route, if you choose to get out when she’s fighting shroud (will lower willpower), or if you choose to watch the fight. You can also meet him if you help argent beat Shroud, and have either speed or strength and >=70 daring, then tell argent to run (will also lower willpower)
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You can get to the “mutual attraction” stage, which is as far as you can get with a male MC, but that’s from a cursory glance at the code, I may be wrong.
Does anyone have confirmation on how far the Steel romance can go with a nonbinary Sidestep so far?
I know that in the demo only male Sidesteps could already enter the lover stage with him, while he was in denial of feeling more than friendship for a it’s-okay-if-it’s-you nonbinary Sidestep.
Nonbinary Sidesteps can get intimate with Steel.
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I’m quite surprised of Steel’s path, too. He seems like he’s the most mature of all ROs after the villain reveal.
Even when I was not romancing him(female MC, not seeking him out), he called Sidestep after the car crash(puppet) to meet with him and go inside his mind. He already knew Sidestep’s a regene but didn’t tell anyone.
I don’t like HG. Even though my Sidestep don’t like working with the rangers, I am clearly open to work with Ortega and Steel to bring HG down.
I wonder how Steel/SS/Ortega poly would go. Want to tease Ortega all the time.
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I don’t normally enjoy capestuff but both of these were great.
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This is an insanely impressive piece of work, @malinryden – the scope, the massive sprawling paths, the character developments and the impactful choices and all, the way subject matters are handled, the tears and laughter alike; everything enveloped in impressive, easy to read writing. I am in awe. Bravo indeed on this masterpiece. It is my absolute favourite piece of CYOA I have played so far, and that is not easily achieved considering some of the games on here.
Like a great novel taken to impossible heights, since we are part of the narrative. Magnificent. I can barely wait for the next chapter in this story, but wait I shall indeed. I am blown away.
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I think she’s being honest when she says she’s never worked for the Farm (she is a huge fan of self-preservation after all and I can’t see her knowingly tying herself to an institution that has the means to get rid of her and might, at any point, decide she’s a loose end) but she does get weird when you mention certain topics and her knowledge of the telepaths’ disappearance (something the Farm is 100% involved in) makes me suspicious she might’ve been involved in something shady that caused her to cross paths with them, perhaps even unbeknownst to her…
Plus the Farm’s potentially shown to be aware of her in one of the epilogues, so there’s definitely a connection there.
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Ooooh, maybe her coworker that she worked with got involved with the Farm and the Project, and that was why she cut ties?
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