This game is probably the best example of stockholm syndrome I've seen in the medium, and this is coming from somebody who almost considered it one of the greatest experiences I've ever had on first playthrough. Ask any sane person if they like the story, they'll probably say "not really" because of how little progress is made until the last 10 hours (out of 90+ depending on your playstyle). Ask if they like the antagonists and you'll get a definitive "Fuck no" outside of the occasional Akechi stans who think he's well written. Side note, haven't touched Royal so if Akechi is better in there as well as whatever Maruki is like I wouldn't know! The cast has fun interactions but individually just start to blend in with one another the moment their introduction palace is over. Makoto is the worst offender, mainly because of how important she is to the penultimate palace, and having no character arc during or after it. The confidant system is very shit mechanically, turning the game from a tactical jrpg with snarky dialogue options to a dating sim where every single choice matters... except they don't actually! Certain responses will increase the bond with the corresponding person, usually at the most random times leading to wasting days to get their next event, assuming you don't use a daily guide of course. This system is half baked start to finish, and is bogged down the moment you realize how automated every. single. Confidant. is. The worst part is the fact that most of these confidants aren't even rewarding in both unlockable mechanics and the stories they present. None of the presented side stories interact or interfere with the main story at all except sojiro's (naturally the only good one), and this just makes the atmosphere feel wasted, and somehow empty. The gameplay is good, nothing of note there but I wish there was more banter in fights to drown out the annoying ass Futaba Makoto and Morgana call outs. The dungeons themselves are shallow, fitting with how boring each antag is I guess, but it just becomes weightless after a while, and I start to wonder "Do these fights even matter?" This goes for the shadows themselves and the boss fights, ESPECIALLY in Okumura's case. The daily life is fine enough as a mechanic, a little stressful for someone as impatient as me, but it adds to the game in a positive way I think. Surely I won't drop this rating any further in the future!