OK so phew...my comment is gonna be long I know it for sure. I'll give a little bit about my experience of another side game of yours to uh provide context I guess? [Obvious spoilers!] And a TW/CW for brief sexual trauma mention (nothing graphic though)
So I'm familiar with the side game :"texting your awkward ace guy you've had a crush one since highschool" and this made me view Genzou & iggy kind of "better" than everyone else. (Because everyone was complete strangers to me and y'know everyones comforted by something they've already seen before.) To be honest, first going into the game I wasn't sure what I was expecting, like gore, definitely, but what else? I actually...either don't remember or don't know. I was just hooked on curiosity, intrigue, you're immediately set into the wonderland, (ok maybe not technically but besides the point as it doesn't take long lol) and it is like the fairytale. The grandest place for kids to be, like an amusement park.
I really didn't know what rollercoaster I strapped myself in while playing, at first it's calm, maybe a little awkward but I find myself somewhat comforted by Genzou as he familiarizes me to this new world, he's a little mean, but I don't hate characters who are a little rough around the edges. It was admittedly a little unexpected as I thought he wouldn't just swear and insult like a sailor, I mean I thought he would be awkward. ( Though looking back now it's usually only with iggy.)
You finally return back to wonderland but it's not long before you've come to find things have changed. Not too unlike another game I've played. ( Huge Alice Madness Returns fan) I knew the gore was going to happen eventually ( granted its not shown but we uh, definitely hear it.) And we also see Iggy's and Genzou's reaction to uh, the corpse. After this, things start to pick up, the rollercoaster I've gotten into starts to go faster, practically everything's out to get you, screaming danger. (OH MY GOD when I tell you I hated the first time going on the Kiddie Kruise. I never went to look whenever the collector part came up, the first time I went through this part of the ride I was like scared because of the screaming, but the more times you go on it I would just be antsy around the lighthearted tone the boat ride has like preparing for the inevitable. Just know I FRIGGIN hated when all the options switched to only being able to look. WAAAA) Then you're back to a temporary calm. You see Gidget again, she's seemingly looking and feeling her best. And then, you realize she's not safe either, the false sense of security makes your heart drop. Sure I didn't know literally anything about Gidget other than work I guess up until this point, but the twist makes me basically trust nothing.
As someone whose also asexual, Iggy's POV spoke to me. I think I'm fine with that kind of adult content until it gets physical. Until I have to actually be there, there is no disconnection of me and the sexual situation, it, yeah makes me afraid, because I feel like I lose control. I just worry over the thoughts of flashbacks coming back, so yeah the game did.. uh really connect to me emotionally. It was probably the most uncomfortable part to get through, but I knew I wanted to see more of the world regardless.
Not long after you're going, running again. And you manage to get away and to no one's surprise we are leaping into just more danger. Orlam definitely like gave me whiplash because he just acts as a complete opposite to his self outside or wonderland. And uh oof cannibalism tag makes sense now. You find his secret, and he finds you. When ya finally get out oh...sorry genzou. ( I still eat him in Orlams arc though as a combo of just well I don't wanna disappoint him and I also DO NOT want to die, so live and eat I will.) Orlam was surprisingly charming during his arc as I gained a new perspective and like Genzou a LOT less. I mean I can't believe bro really just, yup talked about bros mother after faking giving him a hug that was so wrongggg. AND HIS DAD TOO. C'mon bruh. Like dubble u tee f [w-t-f] kinds of what the hell is wrong with you. (God if Orlam was real I would friggin love him to hell, give him a hug and all the love he deserves.) OK OK enough of my simping, myself, lmao.
Iggy...iggy, iggy. Man I have screamed at him a whole bunch to just like DO something, (lowkey praying for 3rd arc iggy to come back ) but I understand that sounds like pretty out of character for him. (thus understanding why he doesn't) But like I almost want to jump in his body and do what I feel he needs to do GAAAAH. Even if that's selfish, reckless, etc.
I'm not as uh prepared as another commenter and I didn't write notes but just tried to wing this comment through pure memory. ( I just finished to the latest update and UGHHH THE ITCH TO WRITE ABOUT THIS GAME SHSHSH.) So I'll write a few more things about arc 5 and then you can free yourself from my uh remix of the dictionary.
I wasn't expecting Gidget to like...find themselves like who they truly are after they lost Cecil. ( BROS A REAL ONE BTW I LOVE HIM TOO LMAO) Uh yeah so as I said like Gidget like changed so much it's like their a different person like it kind of made me forget what happened in the previous arcs surprising. ( of course till it's brought up again) And god Orlam you were hurting so much you cut your own heart out? Like I didn't think of that in the moment of actually playing the game but it's deeply emotional storytelling. His heart full of hate spread though all of wonderland. Up until he gets a small bit of love he's craved. From a person he'd admire (maybe even still admires). If I was where Iggy was at when he asked what you hate about me I would be like. "UH, well I kinda hated you for basically cooking my friend. Granted I ate him because I didn't wanna die, besides the point. But like now I could only empathize with you bro. Like please let me love you???" Waiting for the next part definitely!! And the other side game as well cuz I NEED those a03 fanfics to read man! XD
um....end of my rambling now!