It's fine that you didn't see my reply as soon as you wish you would have, we all have our own lives to attend to :D
All I have to say about most of your reply is "neat"!
Wilma died to Haast when confronting her alongside Morgan in my playthrough. So she could be saved, that's great)
That's some really interesting trivia/inspiration about Haast! And yes, I think you've made the right decision too ;)
If there is any dictionary with the word "anime", then this game can be put as the definition :D
There's mockery of cliches, everything is shonen to the max and so the narrative is appropriately very dynamic, it's a very wild ride.
Gameplay:
I think that the idea of exploring locations by sections in the form of arrows is interesting, but not quite necessary if it won't stay purely for the sake of aesthetics, because instead of arrows, there could've simply been a few buttons or illuminated objects, or something else akin. I think I'll count this as a stylistic choice, which I have no problem with.
Improving the relationship between characters by constantly communicating with them is cute, but way too straightforward, and yet I feel that there is really significance in this, I love when small actions affect the overall picture. There are subtle branching paths as well, which is really neat and always welcome (I wonder if I could have just smashed that door open? Well, whatever, I finished the puzzle by pure instinct before I even interacted with the door, which made me feel both bummed and proud the moment I saw the "break down" option :D)
The battle system is incredible, I like how you (successfully) tried to make each fight unique and therefore introduced different mechanics in every confrontation, which is really creative, plus there are moderate to high levels of challenge, this made me feel a lot of tension and different feels, as if I actually experienced a shonen in videogame format :)
Due to reasons stated in the paragraph above ^ I feel like combat is the best part of this game ;)
Everything else related to gameplay that I haven't mentioned doesn't need mention, 'cause those are very basic things that are a part of nearly every RPG ever (I hope that didn't sound offensive, Starline my dude)
Story:
I like your worldbuilding, you do not take the players for fools and organically present different setting elements one after another, which are revealed in a timely manner (Highlighting important words/phrases hits just right in this, I'd even say it's visually pleasant. Though just in case I'll warn you to not spoil anything in the future with this move, but you know that)
The narrative, as I mentioned before, is very dynamic, always intriguing, keeps the player hooked, in some ways it's unpredictable and bizarre.
Graphics/visuals:
The visuals are simple and at the same time very pleasant. Colors, pictures, characters, everything conveys an energetically relaxed atmosphere that I loved (minimalistic battle icons, female characters' looks and overall feel of the aesthetics just screams SMT/Persona to me, haha. I immediately noted how oddly similar looking Morgan is to Nanashi from SMT4A. There's nothing bad about this, although I sincerely hope you'll manage to develop your own style that takes SMT/Persona's and make something even better out of it :D)
Music:
It. Slaps. Hard. Even if there are not a lot of tracks, the ones that are used are very powerful, always appropriate (in a weird way), drive-filling. I like the emphasis on techno-rock, it's charming :)
Characters (SPOILERS!):
Morgan:
He's your pure, typical go-lucky happy guy that is ichi go (did you rike it?) years old, he's very simple, but it works because characters like him are starting to become rare in nowadays stories as this character archetype is kind of a classic, and so he stands out among the cast, his very being is ingrained in every aspect of the game, tying everything together (in other words: you did it Starline!)
Maju:
She's waifu-bait, the average tsundere that's a self proclaimed commander (I hate people like her IRL) with a golden heart. Her part in the story isn't big, but she served great as exposition and goal in certain story moments, plus I actually felt that comradery between her and Morgan. Despite everything I loathe about this character, I liked her (though she needs good development in the future to stay relevant for people like me, but I know you'll manage :D)
Lachlan:
A glamorous melancholic mercenary with powerful charisma, unknown abilities and an aura of mystery. Those are tropes upon tropes, but the unusual combination of character traits and design seal the deal for me by creating this really interesting fellow that makes you want to keep your eye on him. Also, I applaud you for avoiding pointless conflict during his and Morgan's first meeting by introducing Lachlan's c. trait of being observant, quite clever)
Bubz: your regular weird but enjoyable merchant.
Garl: that one serious, pragmatic mister that's being taught new things about life in a positive way.
Wilma: a walking example of how excessive dependence on another person shatters an individual utterly and completely, leading them to an early grave. She's a good lesson for some people playing this, but not me, I already had my share of eye-opening experiences.
NPCs: I liked 'em all, especially the old man and that humming guy.
And now, the moment I've been waiting for! It's time for the highlight of this review, the character that I LOVED, my pick for best girl of The Compass Star - Haaaaasssst! (even her name is just sounds snakes make)
Haast:
She has a masterful, fascinating, wildly attractive design. Her piercing eyes, cutting smile, gray strands of hair that show her true age - everything is just mmm, what a woman.
At first, she quickly charmed me, leaving me intrigued, aroused and wondering who this "auntie" was in the grand scheme of things and whether I could trust her or not, I wanted to know more and more about her, and she was able to inspire trust by allegedly helping Maju.
The moment with Wilma at the infirmary's doorstep showed her as a selfish sociopath who does not want to act outside of her own interests, so I was a little upset and became somewhat colder in regards to her.
When the village chief was killed, I didn't want to believe she's to blame for that, for I considered such an option too obvious, hoping for an extra twist, but no, she ended up the antagonist...
When I checked different places in the ifirmary, the lore didn't disappoint me at all, I was a bit surprised but not impressed either, because she got revealed as your average mad scientist that seeks immortality.
During the encounter in the basement I lost all sympathy for her as a person, but not as a character, because she showed stunning charisma, practical meanness, an interesting fighting style (I read all the text in battles, it's very neat) and demonstrated a powerful determination, purposefulness on the way to her goal.
When she was dying and told Morgan about her true intentions I felt sorry, and weighed the truth of her words about her path being the most promising for humanity, and as it turned out, the big snake was not under her control, it only protected it's home, hated the pests of nature.
And you know, I agree with Haast from a certain point of view because she planned to make everyone as immortal, eternally beautiful and with an ideal metabolism as herself, but that excessive cruelty, sadism, apathy for everything except the "great work" makes one abandon the idea of such a slippery snakey road.
On the other hand if she achieved her goals, then humanity wouldn't lose anything, only gain. If it weren't for her careless attitude in regards to everything else, then I would have considered her path to be "right", that final destination is too good.
But she does not pay attention to the consequences of her actions at all, does not see any other ways to make people's lives better, devotes time only to the physiological side of things. If she tried to be better as a person, without isolating herself from everything and everything, she would in some ways be a hero, an anti-hero at worst, but someone who can still lead humanity into a brighter future.
And yet, no, she is evil, alas.
If the in-universe events during the game were not so extreme, then one could slowly but surely teach her sanity.
And the funny thing is that if I met her, I would be completely charmed and eventually used for experiments because of my prying, not for scientific and practical reasons :D
A bit of introspective about me:
I'm attracted to sociopathic women with good end goals because on the inside they are good people who clearly lost their way. Personally, I see myself in them as I'am a not particularly empathetic, selfish man, you could say I'm a black sheep of human society. I may act either quite unusually or extremely ordinary in an attempt to keep the facade of being "normal" to properly fit in the big picture.
I have a very, very good moral compass, great principles and ideas for humanity, but I, myself, am very flawed, it's rare that I properly realise my own views on life.
People like Haast is what I could've become, which is why I feel like I understand her.
Welp, this ended up turning into a deep thirstpost, sorry :D
5/5, would shoot railguns at kaiju snakes and simp for Haast again :)
I'll be waiting for your next games!
