I was one minute away from coming back to pay $20 for the game. Halfway through the game I wanted to pay $10. By the public bath segment in Japan, I wanted to pay $20. I thought I finish the game first. There I was, in the plane, having defeated the big bad in almost exactly the way I envisioned, and suddenly I was forced to choose one girl. I can appreciate that the harem ending is like an Easter egg ending, and I wasn't looking for that. But why the hell was it that I could not choose either to stay with the girls in England (even though I was more powerful than the big bad going up against an organization that already had its back broken, by me without powers) or at least leave by myself? Being forced to pick one when I loved at least two girls equally left a bad taste in my mouth.
I need some time to reflect. This is such a great game. Well deserving its high rating. It's almost a shame the adult content prevents all the humor, the pop culture references, the creative segments, and the trivia from being enjoyed by a bigger audience.
[I decided to pay $15 now and save $5 for Eternum. I was reminded of Mass Effect 3's ending. However controversial it was, it did not take away from the brilliance of the trilogy. I was also reminded of that pompous ass Ken Levine and his ridiculous "Would you kindly." One freedom retained by all players of all video games is to reject all choices offered and stop playing. Coming in the middle of a game, you end up not having a game. Coming at the end, though, I feel like I am making my own ending, better than the token ending Caribdis made for the individual girls. In a way, that is Caribdis' final stroke of genius.
Besides, I grew up on that song playing in the men's public bath. I never thought it could fit so well into a video game.
Best of luck on Eternum, Cribdis. Show us Once in a Lifetime isn't a once in a lifetime.]