/jp/ - Otaku Culture

I've finished Grisaia (Kajitsu). That was a good way to spend my August.

I went in a Makina-Amane-Yumiko-Michiru-Sachi order, and it worked out well. People in previous threads mentioned that Yumiko didn't work too well as a last route; I think I would have been okay finishing with her good end, but Sachi's worked just fine.

It was excellent overall, but there sure was a jarring dip in Michiru's route. She's great, and the story itself is good, but Yuuji is completely passive for no reason whatsoever. Compared to other routes (especially Makina's and Sachi's) where he actively works to build up the heroine into someone capable of overcoming her problems, he basically does nothing for Michiru as she suffers. (Though I do admit his burial plan at the climax was excellent.) Worse still is that he's never shown as developing any real feelings for her. When he asks himself at the end why he helped her, he has no idea and literally says that it might have just been a whim. That's pretty harsh.

I often found Amane irritating outside of her route, but inside her own route she is such a good woman. Her bad end is incredible.

The greatness of Makina's route is self-evident. It's a long and satisfying ride with a rich story that does a great job of developing a unique relationship between the characters.

Routes: Makina>Amane>Yumiko/Sachi>Michiru
In general: Michiru>Sachi/Yumiko>Makina>Amane

I have more thoughts, but I'd rather not make a second post. I'll just say that this is a well-written game that I enjoyed very much. Gundam references are always a plus, too.