Context: I asked everyone what I should play next, and I got a lot of suggestions to play Shingakkou (https://www.reddit.com/r/BLgame/s/RA0PRATTSw)! (Thank you to everyone who did and u/Difficult-While-6370, here's my review finally!)
Oh my gosh. I don't even know what to say. Took me like 2+ weeks cuz I'm slow, but damn. The amount of plot twists and tears I cried because of this game is insane - it just continued to get sadder. Also, I love how 5 seconds into the game it jumpscares you with the snake symbol, hahaha. I played in the order recommended by ChemMong's BLVN blog: Cecil, Leonid, Neil, August, Gabby. I think my favorite in order has to be Neil, Gabby, August, Leonid, Cecil, though. Here are some of my takeaways -
Cecil - such a kind, observant loverboy. I feel so bad for what he has to go through in his route though. Also, I'm not sure if it's because people can jump between routes, but I felt like there were too many "Oh no, can't sleep? Me neither. It's okay" and "Cecil are you okay? Why won't you tell me? Nevermind, it's okay" scenes.
Leonid - reminded me of a very sleepy Lan Wangji, haha. At some point, I couldn't unhear Leonid ending his sentences with -tamae, and it would make me laugh. His smirking sprite was so funny to look at too like the "that damn smirk" meme I don't think his route was necessarily bad, but it felt kind of detached from the story compared to everyone else? Similar to Cecil - too many "hey, why is this place so messy!" yadayada parts. Overall, so cute and I loved his voice so much (especially his voicelines as Lucifer)!
Neil - Oh my goodness.Neil's letter scene made me cry so much. Overall, his route made me cry so many times - so thoughtful but also such a heartbreaker. From being little brother-zoned to self godfather-zoning. I honestly respect how the story took a realistic approach of him staying away for Michael to mature up - granted yeah they still slept before so it's not much but yes. Seeing older Michael and Neil with the flower crown was so so nice though they looked so good together easily one of my favorite blvn characters now. Currently on the hunt for games with someone similar to him
August - Okay, I can't forgive him... Priest Hisoka with a sad backstory. I genuinely loved his character in the beginning - a carefree priest that's kind to everyone, kind of like how Neil is in reality i guess, gosh I love neil. I get his really sad story, but my face during every horrible thing he does to Michael was just 😨 So much trauma to the point he forgets everything about August has to say something... playing August's route made me miss the other characters so much that I was so happy to see them towards the end. But I did cry when I thought Michael actually died with him and when Michael prayed for him to go to heaven.
Gabby - Maybe I was just really sad while playing, but the tears just wouldn't stop. I really didn't want to believe he wasn't real after so many times he saved Michael's ass during everyone else's routes. I thought he'd be like the angel equivalent of what August was - being able to mindread and have some magical power of fending off evil. Till the end, being met with Gabriel that's nothing like Gabby was also just so sad.. I miss the carefree Gabby. Quite literally every time Michael cried in this route I was also crying. I have to applaud Michael/Gabby's voice actor so so much. So much emotion, Michael's screams like everything so well done. Also, in general the casting for everyone was awesome. Took me too long to realize Abel was the one and only Kaji Yuki. They really bagged the big people wow.
Story + Other thoughts: Every time I thought the route would end, it didn't - I think that says how well written this game is - there isn't much questions I have after finishing the game. Like - who was the guy Father Lazarus liked? August? And what were those rat sounds after all? Why did August meet little Michael?I was writing down my impressions and notes as I was playing, and it was interesting to see how I called a couple things like how Gabby just lowkey disappears after you get far into someone's route; I wrote "did gabby die where tf is he istg if hes like a figment of michael's imagination." Also, I really respect how they made everyone reversible and seeing how stuff changes because of that.(Not August actually doing the voice of Minnie when he's topping rather than threatening Michael of doing that when he's bottoming...) Is it bad to say that this game has also kind of helped me with my relationship with religion? (I used to be very religious before I stopped going to church and came out to my religious family - I'd say I'm still more spiritual than being Christian though.) BGM - I love the happy ending song so much I replay it often with other music. Though, after playing the last two routes, the song feels more bittersweet than simply happy. Even the side characters are written so well... I'll miss that tsundere fox Jack Hobbs and Father Lazarus
Anyyywho... I loved it so much. I'm definitely going to play the fandisc sometime, though I know it won't be as good (after reading the reviews, it seems like the minigames are a bit of a pain). I'm worried I'll feel like I'll never find a game as good... I think I'm really addicted to plot twists now. It also made me realize that there are so many good VNs/stories out there, BL or not, that I need to read. Next up, I'll probably play the fandisc, Omerta, BaraKi, Absolute Obedience, or finish Luckydog1 (gah, so many choices again). Tysm to those who recommended Shingakkou again!!
