I played through Books 1-3 before delving into Book 4. Personally, I think it’s the weakest book in the series.
The ending was fine (esp given the insights into the protagonist’s past and their relationship with Jun(ko) and Gensai and the reveal that Ichiro is Gensai’s son was actually pretty great, so kudos to that). The scene between the protag and Gensai is subject to your own taste. TBH, I didn’t really understand the whole cannibalism subplot in relation to the protag’s past until reading the forums. Upon reflecting, it was very well-executed. It doesn’t really excuse Sensei’s behaviour, but it’s fiction (shrug).
I think it would have been nice if the protag’s feelings for Sensei could have been explored a little more before we got to the end of Book 4 (where you yourself decide how you feel about Sensei), and also to have the CHOICE to say thank you to Sensei or not, just to make that bit more powerful. Imagine if you’ve always respected Sensei but felt guilt for his death, and then you could make your final peace with him. Or imagine if you always felt like you couldn’t live up to his expectations, but at the end you come to peace with yourself and decide it’s time to cast him aside (SPIRIT ATTUUUUUNEMEEEENT). That would have been powerful to me. Just a bit of constructive comments. The existing ending is not necessarily bad, but it could have been a lot better with some adjustments. Gensai is the strongest character throughout the series, despite being mentioned very little. Everything about him is consistent and at the end, I totally get him and his motivations.
However, the middle bit? I just couldn’t enjoy it.
TL;DR for the below: Jun(ko)'s character was inconsistent and tiresome and in some cases really creepy (extra creepy if you play a woman and Jun is a man) (YMMV). The protagonist’s behaviour towards Jun(ko) also didn’t make sense to me.
Jun(ko)'s behaviour just didn’t make a lot of sense to me, nor did the protagonist’s behaviour towards them. Once they got together (like, began travelling as a pair), it had a weirdly comedic element to it. When Jun(ko) treats you like an animal, I was appalled and surprised to find the protagonist just take it in stride. I mean, sure, you can attempt to survive it, but there’s no humiliation? No embarrassment? At all? The protagonist had been so cautious and alarmed of Jun(ko) in the previous books that letting down your guard just made me lose my suspension of disbelief. Also, the protag at this point, having travelled and developed their bonds and become a more mature character has some semblance of dignity. It was whiplash to see someone who only ever did what they wanted and felt was right… allow themselves to be subjected to such things.
Jun(ko)'s behaviour in town was also like… 50% implausible to me. I can get the surprise at civilisation, the protagonist’s reputation, so on. But sometimes I feel like the developments in town (why on earth did Jun(ko) agree to distribute armbands in the first place? Unless they always had an inkling that Ichiro was the one? That would be a pretty interesting point.) water down Jun(ko)'s key trait, which is an obsessive and single minded character hellbent on their target. I mean, I feel like that’s how Jun(ko) was established in the past (carving the protag’s stomach comes to mind, which the protag themself didn’t like or enjoy).
I can see the appeal in Jun(ko)'s character as the traumatised, twisted, obsessive, brooding childhood romance (and the accompanying resignation that the protag had from the beginning of them ending up together whether the protag liked it or not - though I’d interpreted this as being the result of Jun(ko)'s destructive obsession, rather than fate) but even when you do want to end up with them, you have to accept that you’re going to be in a humiliating relationship until the you that they want to see (Protag-chan who can wield the Jigoku) returns to them.
I played through the game twice - once to pair up with Jun(ko) and once to pair up with Toshi(e). The writing wants for you to be with Jun(ko) so bad that, if you were to consistently reject them, the protag’s behaviour comes off as incomprehensible. Also, what if you made the choice to unwillingly submit to the assault? That’s entirely possible and realistic (yes, I know this is still fiction and a game) but if you play a character that is being unwillingly subjugated by Jun(ko), it’s possible to unwillingly submit to the sex too. But maybe I’m just getting ahead of myself and this game is all about consent (given the safeword). Regardless, it’s hard to see Jun(ko)'s love as that of being someone who wants some sort of equality between partners. Rather, they demand your love and devotion in the only way they’d ever known (given your twisted past together where you had some level of dependency on Jun(ko) - again, especially true if you play a girl against his guy). If you can accept Jun(ko)'s twisted and obsessive love, then generally I don’t think you’d have an issue with Jun(ko).
BUT. I wanted to play a character who has emerged from their cocoon. Where they cast off all the shit in the past, desired to be someone who loves and is loved (despite being perverted) and who can respect as well as be respected. Unfortunately, that kind of attitude (which has been built up from the past 3 books) does not jive well in a relationship with Jun(ko). It only works literally with anyone else you’ve been romancing.
If you’re romancing Toshi(e), the scene at the masquerade doesn’t necessarily come off as strong? You build up such a powerful relationship with them where you can lie to each other and still know what the other is thinking throughout the first 3 books that, the fact that they just up and leave without looking at the distress on your face and trying to hear what you’re saying is strange? They know that Jun(ko) is bad news, regardless of whether you want to be with them or not. I hope that Toshi(e) is still quietly observing from afar like a good shinobi with sharp instincts, despite their duties.
I liked the trick with the attunement. It was extremely well-played. I’d hoped that, at some key point, you could make a vital choice to align yourself with the Jigoku or your spirit animal, and at which point you could enter the Spirit Realm and speak to Masashi/mi again.
These are first impressions. I think I may replay slowly one more time, at which point I might revise some of my opinions.
General summary:-
- The ending with the original jigoku trio was actually well-crafted storytelling
- Whether you like Gensai or not, he was a damn well-written character
- Save me from Jun(ko) bc No Thanks!!!
- Couldn’t relate to the protag who was with Jun(ko) bc some sort of metamorphosis was happening and I couldn’t understand it (and also wasn’t liking it)
- Didn’t enjoy the extreme linearity of the book, neither did I enjoy the lack of companions which sort of made me LOVE the series in the first place
- The only way to love this Book is to love Jun(ko) and man, was I not the target audience
- I did appreciate the copious amount of sex scenes (Perverted has increased) and would have liked to see it for your other love interests. Appreciate that you can choose to reject sex with a safeword bc, again, No Thanks!!!
These are just my opinions, so don’t feel like I’m attacking you if I’ve disagreed with you. I hope the next books will sort all this out, because as much as a good detour to resolve your traumatic past is well and good, I’m still in it for the high stakes adventures with companions and shenanigans.
because you help me understand manifestly about the intrinsic parts of the characters, besides my own interpretations.
