Hajimari no Kiseki is the perfect conclusion to the greatest saga in fiction. To describe it I would say Hajimari is much like that perfect, light, fluffy dessert following an incredibly grand meal, that warm cup of coffee accompanying a quiet and peaceful morning, that beautiful cascade of twilight colors in the afternoon sky you witness following a fulfilling day. It's that seemingly fleeting but perfect moment where you stop, take everything in and wish so sincerely, "I want this moment to last forever." Genuinely, this game takes everything that makes this series what it is and puts it together into one grand farewell that leaves you melancholic but prepared for the next stage in this wondrous story. Hajimari no Kiseki is a love letter to its fans and the series itself, living up to its title of "festival game" and sincerely celebrating this long beautiful journey in a way that is unforgettable.
Falcom continues to deliver an incredibly charming and emotional experience by taking Rean, Lloyd and C's stories and weaving together a brilliant narrative of conquering oneself and coming to terms with your past. It is the ultimate exploration of regret, acceptance and moving onward. It is the ultimate application of the infamous trope of "facing oneself" which fully brings to closure many characters stories. I would even go so far as to say the Sen saga would be incomplete without this masterfully crafted adventure. This does not even begin to touch upon the perfected game play, the incredibly fun time sink of the mini rogue-like post game Infinity Corridor and the myriad other additional game play additions that will keep you returning to this game. Every single decision between the various episodes, mini games, costumes, absolutely crazy equipment, boss rush and so much more is designed to give you a sandbox to explore as much of what was introduced within the last nine games. To say I have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours within this particular game alone would be an understatement. It is hard to think of fault for any aspect of this particular experience simply because each feature, story moment, character is crafted with so much love and adoration you can't help but go, "I love this series."
And.. I often regard Hajimari no Kiseki as my "favorite Kiseki game" and will continue to do so. This is NOT to say the previous nine games mean anything less to me. Often times, I find many assume this very notion. This is false. However, it is to say that this game embodies such a pure and simple theme, one that I believe is best represented by the credits theme, "Kiseki's Journey". This game brings to life the idea of "our journey to this point and our journey beyond". Playing this game when it released in 2020 struck me incredibly hard. My journey began almost seven years prior to Hajimari's release and through that time I watched my favorite characters laugh, cry, smile and experience, love, joy, sorrow, despair, hope, sadness, grief, death, anguish, regret, relief, pure happiness and be brought to the very depths of despair and learn to conquer their demons. And their very journey was mirrored by my own. While fictional worlds, characters and events will remain just that...fictional, I grew up alongside these characters. And I have grown attached to them in a way that I believe only those who have experienced this series much like me will understand. It has been.. a very long journey. And every event, every character arc, every OST, every moment in Hajimari no Kiseki is delivered with some form of finality that can only make me recall all those hard days, those sad days, those lonely days but also those happy days, those grateful days, those beautiful days. It really was a journey to that point in my life when I first played this game and now when I revisit Hajimari while writing this review. I can pinpoint the exact moments I went through some monumental moment in my own life's journey by relating to this franchise's release dates, my own playthroughs or even moments with the few friends I've made through this franchise. This series is fundamental to a core part of who I am today. To them, to me, to this game and this series, thank you for this journey. It has been an incredibly long one but one that I will never forget. I am incredibly grateful that the entire cast was able to come to terms with their journey's as we all look forward to their, and our own, journey beyond. This game truly brings to conclusion the greatest saga in fiction and I look ever forward to continue growing alongside this cast, world and characters I love.
To Sora no Kiseki, to Zero no Kiseki, to Ao no Kiseki, to Sen no Kiseki-
thank you.
Falcom continues to deliver an incredibly charming and emotional experience by taking Rean, Lloyd and C's stories and weaving together a brilliant narrative of conquering oneself and coming to terms with your past. It is the ultimate exploration of regret, acceptance and moving onward. It is the ultimate application of the infamous trope of "facing oneself" which fully brings to closure many characters stories. I would even go so far as to say the Sen saga would be incomplete without this masterfully crafted adventure. This does not even begin to touch upon the perfected game play, the incredibly fun time sink of the mini rogue-like post game Infinity Corridor and the myriad other additional game play additions that will keep you returning to this game. Every single decision between the various episodes, mini games, costumes, absolutely crazy equipment, boss rush and so much more is designed to give you a sandbox to explore as much of what was introduced within the last nine games. To say I have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours within this particular game alone would be an understatement. It is hard to think of fault for any aspect of this particular experience simply because each feature, story moment, character is crafted with so much love and adoration you can't help but go, "I love this series."
And.. I often regard Hajimari no Kiseki as my "favorite Kiseki game" and will continue to do so. This is NOT to say the previous nine games mean anything less to me. Often times, I find many assume this very notion. This is false. However, it is to say that this game embodies such a pure and simple theme, one that I believe is best represented by the credits theme, "Kiseki's Journey". This game brings to life the idea of "our journey to this point and our journey beyond". Playing this game when it released in 2020 struck me incredibly hard. My journey began almost seven years prior to Hajimari's release and through that time I watched my favorite characters laugh, cry, smile and experience, love, joy, sorrow, despair, hope, sadness, grief, death, anguish, regret, relief, pure happiness and be brought to the very depths of despair and learn to conquer their demons. And their very journey was mirrored by my own. While fictional worlds, characters and events will remain just that...fictional, I grew up alongside these characters. And I have grown attached to them in a way that I believe only those who have experienced this series much like me will understand. It has been.. a very long journey. And every event, every character arc, every OST, every moment in Hajimari no Kiseki is delivered with some form of finality that can only make me recall all those hard days, those sad days, those lonely days but also those happy days, those grateful days, those beautiful days. It really was a journey to that point in my life when I first played this game and now when I revisit Hajimari while writing this review. I can pinpoint the exact moments I went through some monumental moment in my own life's journey by relating to this franchise's release dates, my own playthroughs or even moments with the few friends I've made through this franchise. This series is fundamental to a core part of who I am today. To them, to me, to this game and this series, thank you for this journey. It has been an incredibly long one but one that I will never forget. I am incredibly grateful that the entire cast was able to come to terms with their journey's as we all look forward to their, and our own, journey beyond. This game truly brings to conclusion the greatest saga in fiction and I look ever forward to continue growing alongside this cast, world and characters I love.
To Sora no Kiseki, to Zero no Kiseki, to Ao no Kiseki, to Sen no Kiseki-
thank you.
radiantdoge27
9 months ago