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This game is so addicting because every character has been written with a complex inner world. So every interaction feels so loaded. Every decision has consequences, and the world building feels realistic, despite the whole super villain and hero setting. This is a story about identity, the rocky road to recovery, and learning to trust others in a world that feels as scarily hostile to our own. I’m pretty burnt out of the whole superhero genre, but Ryden has shown that with a lot of complex characterization, slowly uncovering secrets (even about the character you play as), and some very grounded exploration of what it’s like when your body is up for control in a world that is constantly clawing to overcome others, then a fresh story can still be told in this genre. I don’t want to make it seem the story is hopelessly depressing. In fact, it is also filled with characters that are kind, that are genuinely trying to break down the player character’s walls, and are trying to do the right thing in a messed up world that makes this such a satisfying game to play. I sincerely hope Ryden is proud of this story, and I look forward to more!

I had very high hopes for this sequel and it did not disappoint at all! The characters are their own and feel as if they could be real people you see in everyday life. There’s a plentiful amount of choices, so you don’t feel boxed into certain reactions or forced to pick between two extremes. The characters will actually change their attitudes toward you when you change yours. It also isn’t obvious as to how your decision will affect the storyline. If I had to pick an aspect I liked least, it would be continuity only because there are moments that feel short but somehow last an entire morning or afternoon (though that honestly doesn’t bother me much). Loved every second of my first play through and now I intend to start another :)

As someone who’s been waiting for this game just about since the first one was released, I’m more than happy to say it exceeded my expectations!! The first game did a good job of setting the world up and highlighting potential conflicts, and this one followed through perfectly on everything the first promised. Some of the stats get refined, which was a nice touch up since they’re easier to navigate than the first game. The length was great, the choices actually came into play, and while I’ve only done one run so far, I believe the replay value will be pretty high just because of the branching options the story offers at several points. You also really got a chance to flesh out just what kind of hero your MC is, so that was another bonus. On top of that, all the other characters’ personalities play perfectly against everyone else’s, and by the end of the game, I felt even closer to them than I did by the finish of the first. Overall, probably the best middle installment for a series out of all the CoGs. Looking forwards to seeing how the series is wrapped up!!