so i played this over the course of 2022 and 2023 and i have to say, trudging along through this game has been a challenge. i played without a guide for a while, but getting through that blasted forest maze was no fun whatsoever. and the complicated way weapon and armor stats change was unique, but ultimately not so riveting... still, i was determined to see this through, as my sole reason for playing this was hearing "truth" elsewhere and wanting to hear it in context. funny that the context was the ending of the game, or i may have stopped playing from fatigue.

the presentation of this game still holds up. amazing graphics, terrific writing, cutscenes that just effortlessly captivate. not to mention the timeless soundtrack that single-handedly motivated me to continue. gameplay mechanics be damned, this was a journey worth experiencing.