Rewrite & Harvest Festa

[hyperknees91]

So many things.

Spoiler for Terra:

Terra is simply overly depressing to the point where it's exhausting. Anything pleasant that happens is just used to be a depressing point later on. Kids that Kotarou gets along with? Let's murder them! War buddy that seems to have a likable personality? Let's kill him. Imamiya and Touka treating Kotarou like crap before and then when they finally decide to give him respect, he's already betraying them by that point. Also let's have Kotarou murder his best friend too. Simply put, eventually it's no longer depressing and the sensation is lost because the route seems to tries too hard to be a downer. None of the depressing points stand out because the whole route is depressing. Kotarou starts miserable, in the middle is miserable and in the end is miserable (not really the kind of character development that's pleasant to see).

Kotarou being given very shallow motivation to do anything. The fact that the author couldn't let him just want to save the world, they decided to let the reason for his actions be because he's infatuated for Kagari. I know the invisible force from moon is involved here, but cmonnn can we not give our main character a real motivation? It makes all his actions seem shallow and empty with such pitiful motivation. This is the kind of motivation you give Takumi from chaos;head to say the least.

Kotarou being a puppet on a string and being thoroughly unpleasant and unlikable throughout the whole route. The only time when he's not is when he's given the option to kill E.Kagari. This is probably the only choice given to him because M.Kagari knew he would be miserable if he decided to go down this path instead of with one of the other heroines. However once again, it makes it feel like all his actions aren't his own and therefore there's no real impact to any of them because you know he's just being forced to do whatever he is doing. Usually puppet on string plots work because the character eventually breaks away from them as part of their development, but Kotarou never does which makes it hard to get invested in such a character for me. Also why in the crap is the choice there for you to stop Kotori's parents? Normally I would think this would be there so that Kotori can have a chance of them being alive but this is not the case as nothing comes out of this choice. So why is it there at all? I thought that the choices he would be given would lead him to the good end of the Earth. Once again I feel like this is just here to depress the player and trick you into thinking Kotori can be left out of this whole mess. Not sure what the writer was thinking here but he really left me sour after this point.

Every relationship is rushed in this route. Every single one. Esaka had the most time spent on it and was the only one with potential but even that seemed rushed. E.Kagari is completely forced and underdeveloped, yet we are expected to believe Kotarou has these strong feelings for her that allow him to do the actions he does. Yes he's willing to betray Esaka for the sake of Kagari. His best friend who treats him like a person, for a girl who treats him like dirt. Now I know, this is suppose to be like Saya no Uta somewhat where Kagari is suppose to seem like this mystical being who entrances Kotarou because everything else in his life seems so dark. But it simply doesn't work when you realize that Esaka is there (Plus his situation is nowhere near as bad). From the interview with the writers I could see that he didn't want to make Kotarou a cheezy guy who wanted to just save the world just for the sake of it but still. This would only work if Kagari was an actual character who had an actual relationship with Kotarou (like you know...the other girls) rather than being a simple plot point. Plus she's written to be a dummy heroine....what is the point of this? They give her some potential to be a character and then throw it away, it feels like they just wanted to throw the readers off to what they normally expect but that's not really the best way to go about it because it just makes it hard to give a crap about E.Kagari. You never end up learning much about Kashima either which makes the build up to her that was given in moon even more unsatisfying (So yes this route actually detracted from my enjoyment of moon).

Another point that ticks me off is how Kotarou hates guardian because they were willing to kill kids. But what does Kagari want to do? She also is willing to kill a kid (because Akane found her), so how is it any different? You could say that he can reason with her, but why doesn't he just try to do the same with Guardian and Gaia rather than forcefully weakening their organizations? You could say he's on a time limit but then he could just kill Kagari as that's the only time limit he has. She's not necessary, and doesn't do anything in this route (no seriously, she does nothing). Plus he just kills her in the end anyway, which further makes me wonder why she's there at all (because they thought it would be more dramatic that way). Oh wait I forgot forced infatuation, because the main character would have no motivation to do anything without his lust for Kagari *sigh*. In Akane's route Kotarou learns that he shouldn't do awful things (like kill people and what not) just for the sake of infatuation and easing his loneliness. But in this route he doesn't learn this which just contradicts that plot. Now I get it, this route is about breaking bonds (Which if you read Lucia and Kotori's route you would realize that the game said that is not a good idea). Too many mixed messages this game is giving you I swear. See this route tries to paint the picture too heavily that Guardian is awful and Gaia is awful, even though we the readers know that there are good parts to both organizations (as seen in Akane and Chihaya's route). So why didn't Kotarou just try to get those good parts to work together anyway (Suzuki is the one with the plan anyway that eventually helps humankind). The stupid imposed time limit by Kagari is a really annoying plot point that seems to defeat a lot of the things for no reason.

The ending is rushed. Somehow the T-Rex can talk in this route but not in any other route. But it would have make the fight with it more interesting than in Akane's but they just skip past it. And everything that follows is completely rushed. Kashima is already dead, which is completely anticlimatic (because the company didn't want her out to be the final boss...>_>). Despite being on a time limit, I felt no sense of urgency at all (Part of this is because I simply just didn't care about any character but Esaka and Kotori during this route). The scene where he kills E.Kagari has absolutely no impact because once again...they didn't develop her character at all or Kotarou's relationship with her. Yet they try to write it as being this emotional scene (and show it to, with the music and imagery and what not). The solution to provide the world with good memories because of human potential (due to sharing the intel with gaia and guardian with the world) is pretty farfetched as well. Somehow the world got good memories despite all the death and destruction that went on, because apparently that's real pleasant for the earth. Somehow Kotarou becomes a powerful familiar at the end that can lead mankind into space (how this happens Idk....).

Apparently the whole point of Terra was so the 5 heroines could have a happy ending. Kotori is ok with this (despite her parents still being dead and not having Kotarou in her life now) because she didn't have to live the miserable life of a druid and could actually have friends. Obviously the author didn't read Lucia's route because if she's still called Lucia then that means she should have poison, so yeah...Obviously he didn't read Chihaya's route because she should be dead (without Sakuya existing to protect her, there was no way for her to survive). Shizuru still doesn't have the issue with her parents resolved so that's a major bummer. Akane is ok I guess (as long as the holy woman symptoms don't kick in). Seems like he only cared about the heroines he made >_>

And worst of all the 5 heroines are almost completely ignored in this plot. I know their climax was in moon but that part was completely anti-climatic so no, I don't feel like that was a good use of their characters for the final part.

Overall I feel like this route is just here to go against true routes in other games. It's here to displease the player (Which if that's what it was going for, then mission accomplished). Now if all this was intentional then I would call it postmodern art, but still it's a bit much. Going from the silly song with Yoshino to murdering children is going to throw off both players and key fans (some might just drop the game with such a jarring change).

There's probably a lot more I couldn't think of but yeah, I just couldn't enjoy it.

[Tyabann]

Wow. I don't even really know where to begin, but...

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

Spoiler for Terra:

Overall I feel like this route is just here to go against true routes in other games. It's here to displease the player (Which if that's what it was going for, then mission accomplished). Now if all this was intentional then I would call it postmodern art, but still it's a bit much. Going from the silly song with Yoshino to murdering children is going to throw off both players and key fans (some might just drop the game with such a jarring change).

That's a bit of a simplification. The tonal shift really isn't that jarring since the heroine routes are pretty dark in and of themselves, especially Akane's. Terra is just... more of that.
I actually agree with a lot of your complaints, but it's not as though the other routes don't have similar issues, and ultimately I think Terra is good enough to overlook them.
Also, Kagari is (rather obviously) my favorite character, so... I can't personally consider a route with her in a major role to be bad.
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the game though.

[hyperknees91]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

Wow. I don't even really know where to begin, but...

That's a bit of a simplification. The tonal shift really isn't that jarring since the heroine routes are pretty dark in and of themselves, especially Akane's. Terra is just... more of that.
I actually agree with a lot of your complaints, but it's not as though the other routes don't have similar issues, and ultimately I think Terra is good enough to overlook them.
Also, Kagari is (rather obviously) my favorite character, so... I can't personally consider a route with her in a major role to be bad.
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the game though.

Yeah don't get me wrong, I think that's a problem with Rewrite in general is that it has way too many of tonal shifts. Reason I like Chihaya's is because it's the only one that really fits with the common route (as it is also quite light hearted). But yeah the game tried to do too much if you ask me. Or at the very least if it wanted to do those tonal shifts, it should have been gradual rather than abrupt.

Spoiler for Akane:

I do think Akane's route is rather dark, but it does at least have a lot of pleasant things to happen to help keep it balanced. Plus I find this route to be the answer to Kotarou's general character. Basically it shows what extremes he's willing to go to ease his loneliness and if that's the right answer (which it is not). Basically you see both his worst and best side (with his fall and his redemption). So in that regard I found that since the ending was rather pleasant, it all worked out in the end. Unlike Terra where it's even darker and nothing but dark the entire route.

But yeah can't win them all, hopefully the next key work I'll like more.

[Mcfart]

I agree that the tonal shift was abrupt, but the novel presentation of Terra actually helped alleviate that for me at least. It made me think that something would be different (and it was).

[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

Or at the very least if it wanted to do those tonal shifts, it should have been gradual rather than abrupt.

It's pretty gradual though. The Common Route contains this dark undercurrent which bubbles up near the end, and both Akane and Moon set you up for Terra's overall tone.
You should never play anything with an actually abrupt shift.

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

Spoiler for Akane:

So in that regard I found that since the ending was rather pleasant, it all worked out in the end. Unlike Terra where it's even darker and nothing but dark the entire route.

Spoiler for Terra/Akane:

I'd, uh, not consider Akane's route "all working out in the end" since the majority of humanity is dead and the survivors aren't likely to persist more than a few generations, since they'll use up all the Aurora...
If anything "works out in the end", Terra, and only Terra does.

[hyperknees91]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

It's pretty gradual though. The Common Route contains this dark undercurrent which bubbles up near the end, and both Akane and Moon set you up for Terra's overall tone.
You should never play anything with an actually abrupt shift.

Spoiler for Terra/Akane:

I'd, uh, not consider Akane's route "all working out in the end" since the majority of humanity is dead and the survivors aren't likely to persist more than a few generations, since they'll use up all the Aurora...
If anything "works out in the end", Terra, and only Terra does.

Yes but this dark undercurrent is never presented as being...that dark (Like said Chihaya's route wasn't that dark which seemed appropriate). I will say Kotori's route was the most gradual about it as the change in tone shifted pretty subtly in that route.

And it's not really a deal breaker, it can just make things a bit messy. I played Muv Luv which has one of the most radical shifts ever and I still consider it my favorite VN (Alternative that is).

Spoiler for Lucia and Akane.:

How Lucia shifting from a Comedy/Slice of Life to a Mystery/Horror/ to a Political thriller with sci fi and romance elements to a Shounen at the very end was pretty insane though (as the most extreme example).

Akane's route may have not had the most pleasant end for human race (as yeah disaster happened and that's a major bummer). But at least you could see that man kind was moving on from that, Characters like Yoshino and Kotarou could act like their real selves and they are even anti the death penalty. It's a bittersweet ending somewhat but I found it very endearing when you see so many good sides to human kind embraced in it.

[Kirayuki]

@hyperknees91

I'm thinking the core story of the game is just not for you. And it was a thing that had been building up since Common route and it was even foreshadowed in the opening monologue by Kotarou.

Terra being depressing is basically the point. Kotarou is basically undergoing a journey of throwing everything he has had in order to achieve his ultimate objective, and it's not just simply an infatuation to Kagari. The connection to Kagari is basically his whole promise to her in Moon route. Just like the title of the game suggest, he is basically on the mission of rewriting the girls fates.

And I don't know if that is supposed to be called a puppet string, it's a thematic implication of him being guided by his Aurora to fulfill his promise and mission.

And yes Terra is a bit rushed, probably the only thing that can be argued and relative to each person, but the whole purpose of the route and the ending make up for it.

[hyperknees91]

Originally Posted by Kirayuki

@hyperknees91

I'm thinking the core story of the game is just not for you. And it was a thing that had been building up since Common route and it was even foreshadowed in the opening monologue by Kotarou.

Terra being depressing is basically the point. Kotarou is basically undergoing a journey of throwing everything he has had in order to achieve his ultimate objective, and it's not just simply an infatuation to Kagari. The connection to Kagari is basically his whole promise to her in Moon route. Just like the title of the game suggest, he is basically on the mission of rewriting the girls fates.

And I don't know if that is supposed to be called a puppet string, it's a thematic implication of him being guided by his Aurora to fulfill his promise and mission.

And yes Terra is a bit rushed, probably the only thing that can be argued and relative to each person, but the whole purpose of the route and the ending make up for it.

Well obviously Terra was foreshadowed, I was never arguing against that (That things didn't end pleasantly and needed to be redone in some way).

Spoiler for Terra:

I'm curious on to why you think being depressing was the point. I mean, the breaking of bonds, I understand that...somewhat, but everything else was excessive.

You're thinking of Moon Kotarou, this is not the same person. This guy is ignorant to any of that (and he's ignorant of the heroines outside of Akane and Kotori). He never realizes this mission so you can pretty much treat him as a different person who was cursed by his former self.

He is just a puppet. He's forced to kill E.Kagari at the end even though he didn't want to. He had no control over his actions in this route either. If that's not a puppet than I dunno what is.

And once again, the ending ignores too many details to be ignored.

Though you are correct the story just wasn't for me. Then again for all I know, this route could have some hidden MGS2 like meaning to it that no one has figured out yet. But until then I'll probably view it in a negative light.

So I'm curious, a lot of people didn't seem to like Kotori's route from what I hear. Any of you guys feel the same? Would love to hear what you guys have to say about it.

[Kirayuki]

Being depressing itself is just a result that comes from what the story trying to tell, and it can be relative to each person. The story in Terra basically tell Kotarou to grow up in order to change something (this include jumping into the mud and prepare to sacrifice something in order to achieve something), which was what his previous self in all routes couldn't achieve. And what do you refer as being excessive here ? The whole children killing is pretty common in a war torn country, and his comrade back then (whose I forgot his name already) is pretty much there to serve as a further development for him.

And no, even though he didn't have the memory his Aurora is basically the same as his Moon Kotarou. Aurora is the energy of life and what make up everything (including each individual), that's why you got that pre-determined choices until he met Kagari again in Terra. Also, are you aware of the comment he placed on the Theory of Life during Moon route which surprised Kagari ? That was basically what make Moon Kagari came up with a final possibility that can save mankind. It pretty much served as the basis for the conclusion in the ending. I don't know how you can think of that as being a puppet, he's merely following what he was trying to achieve back in Moon. I'm not even sure how you came up with the conclusion that Kotarou killed Kagari in the end...

Spoiler:

He fused with her in order to form the the giant Tree at the end, and manifested as a familiar which get named by Kotori as Pochi.

And mind you list out the ignored details in the ending (plot related) ?

[hyperknees91]

Spoiler for Terra:

The war torn country is just used as a plot gimmick to make Kotarou hate guardian. If this section of the game wasn't so rushed I would think differently but it is. And once again Kagari was fine with killing children too so it wasn't that different (yet he decides to aid her).
The stuff with Kotori and her parents being murdered again is excessive and does nothing for the plot (as she's not necessary). Kotarou could have saved her parents from dying and that would have resulted in her not being a druid as well so it's the same result...just the author decided to take the depressing route for some reason. Iko murdering those children is just another plot detail that's serves to make things more depressing. Like said before, take any plot detail in here and the author was finding someway to make it depressing in the end, most of it was irrelevant and could have been handled differently (There's no point in Imimaya and Touka finally gaining friendship with Kotarou at the last second either. Especially with how underdeveloped and forced this feels.).

And like said before, the T.K never realizes any of that. Yes his former spirit and what not is still apart of him, but he never realizes that. Yes they form a giant tree but he still performed an action he did not want to (I was mistaken and thought they were killed and their aurora was used to make the tree). If T.K realized any of this than no he wouldn't be a puppet.

Plus Kotarou developed in Akane's route just fine if you ask me.

Plot details being left out.


Why is Lucia still called Lucia if she has no poison?
Why is Chihaya alive if Sakuya doesn't exist?
Does the issue with the parents for Shizuru ever get resolved (if not, then her fate is still kind of sad).
And again...why did they bother killing Kotori's parents again.
Why is this the only right path? Why did no other path work? (Couldn't they have just gone outside in Akane's ending?)
Why did E.Kagari need to be alive at all?
How did Kagari and Kotarou forming together make a familiar strong enough to walk to the moon?
How are they at the moon at the end without space suits?

[Kirayuki]

Spoiler for Reply:

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

The war torn country is just used as a plot gimmick to make Kotarou hate guardian. If this section of the game wasn't so rushed I would think differently but it is. And once again Kagari was fine with killing children too so it wasn't that different (yet he decides to aid her).

I'd leave out the rushed matter since I do think some parts can be fleshed out a bit longer, however I'm not sure how plot gimmick is basically bad by itself. It serves as a purpose to let Kotarou realize that both organizations are just the same, they are not your hero of justice or anything and they have their own agendas. In order for Kotarou to really realize what needs to be done to save the world, he need to come into this realization first.

The stuff with Kotori and her parents being murdered again is excessive and does nothing for the plot (as she's not necessary). Kotarou could have saved her parents from dying and that would have resulted in her not being a druid as well so it's the same result...

The story of Kotori parents dying again is relevant because the Terra has been the same repeating events happening up until Kotarou meet Kagari again.

I'd disagree with this being excessive because it basically tells Kotarou and us readers that you can't just rewrite everything for your conveniences. Some things still need to happen in order for the desired branch to happen.

just the author decided to take the depressing route for some reason. Iko murdering those children is just another plot detail that's serves to make things more depressing. Like said before, take any plot detail in here and the author was finding someway to make it depressing in the end, most of it was irrelevant and could have been handled differently (There's no point in Imimaya and Touka finally gaining friendship with Kotarou at the last second either. Especially with how underdeveloped and forced this feels.).

I guess you should just stay away from overarching stories like this then. Rewrite is pretty pale in term of this actually. Rewrite's take on this is pretty much on the line with most other Visual Novels or Eroges.

The point of those two finally forming a true friendship with Kotarou on the final moment is basically to hit home to Kotarou into realizing the truth about what he gonna do thereafter. A final checkpoint to reconfirm his resolve.

And like said before, the T.K never realizes any of that. Yes his former spirit and what not is still apart of him, but he never realizes that.

What does that achieve aside for giving satisfaction to the reader ? Realizing or not, he will still try to achieve the same thing. It doesn't change things in the grand scheme of things.

Yes they form a giant tree but he still performed an action he did not want to (I was mistaken and thought they were killed and their aurora was used to make the tree). If T.K realized any of this than no he wouldn't be a puppet.

That is basically the story trying to say and what I mentioned in my 1st post. In order to save the girls, he basically need to sacrifice everything he had because that's what a "Price" is. You can't just hope and have a strong feeling about something and expect things will just solve itself.

Plus Kotarou developed in Akane's route just fine if you ask me.

But that doesn't serve anything in the end, the world still end. Point is, feeling alone can't have everything go in your way. And that is what basically the author want to convey in Kotarou's case.

Why is Lucia still called Lucia if she has no poison?
Why is Chihaya alive if Sakuya doesn't exist?
Does the issue with the parents for Shizuru ever get resolved (if not, then her fate is still kind of sad).
And again...why did they bother killing Kotori's parents again.
Why is this the only right path? Why did no other path work? (Couldn't they have just gone outside in Akane's ending?)
Why did E.Kagari need to be alive at all?

- No clue, but my take is she still undergone the same fate at the beginning (being picked up by Brenda and given the name Lucia) but not until she get to develop a poison enough to pollute the outside environment.
- This is probably the only other thing that might happen differently because Sakuya doesn't exist in the formula. But I guess this is one of those that can be just written out as inconsistency from Tonokawa.
- Not being told, despite her fate still being sad if this is the case I think it still definitely better than what she got in the end of her route.
- Kotori's parents --> read what I wrote in the 1st paragraph
- The world is basically dead without any energy of life called Aurora to reconstruct itself. No point in going out actually, at least until the Aurora is back (which is a miracle)
- I'm not sure what you meant by this, care to clarify in what instance or scene ?

And honestly, I don't think such minor details should be thought of too much. It doesn't change the message Author trying to convey. I'd credit this to multiple writers working on this, hence lots of inconsistencies there.

[hyperknees91]

Spoiler for Terra:

I'd leave out the rushed matter since I do think some parts can be fleshed out a bit longer, however I'm not sure how plot gimmick is basically bad by itself. It serves as a purpose to let Kotarou realize that both organizations are just the same, they are not your hero of justice or anything and they have their own agendas. In order for Kotarou to really realize what needs to be done to save the world, he need to come into this realization first.

Ok fair enough, to be honest I was being a overly nitpicky there (I was a little riled up by the end of the game for some reason). And quite honestly it's not that I didn't enjoy this war torn part...it's just that it really made no impact on me because I felt it could have been expanded on. Obviously this isn't true for everyone so I can look past it.

The story of Kotori parents dying again is relevant because the Terra has been the same repeating events happening up until Kotarou meet Kagari again.

I'd disagree with this being excessive because it basically tells Kotarou and us readers that you can't just rewrite everything for your conveniences. Some things still need to happen in order for the desired branch to happen.

Ok I would understand this if there wasn't the Chihaya and Lucia inconsistency. Now to be fair, Romeo didn't write those paths so that's probably why. It's not a huge deal like said but it is what threw me off. If that's the message that he's trying to convey than I can respect that.

I guess you should just stay away from overarching stories like this then. Rewrite is pretty pale in term of this actually. Rewrite's take on this is pretty much on the line with most other Visual Novels or Eroges.

The point of those two finally forming a true friendship with Kotarou on the final moment is basically to hit home to Kotarou into realizing the truth about what he gonna do thereafter. A final checkpoint to reconfirm his resolve.

This is true, but it was hard for me to relate to Kotarou's feelings because of how speedily done this was. Now I know that's more a personal problem, but I should at least be able to understand how he feels. I'm not sure feeling guilt towards people who pretty much always treated you like crap is something I can relate to with Kotarou's personality (though given the weight of what he's about to do I suppose I can relate, but idk this ones probably once again more of a personal problem).

What does that achieve aside for giving satisfaction to the reader ? Realizing or not, he will still try to achieve the same thing. It doesn't change things in the grand scheme of things.

Well to me it felt like he was never given a real reason is the main thing. And to me if he's doing things without a real reason of his own, then his actions felt rather empty. The whole aurora thing is a bit farfetch even with this. This Kotarou has different actions, a different personality, and overall has a different feel to him. He's for the most part he's a completely new person to the reader. So whatever goals or ideals the original moon Kotarou have are irrelevant to this Kotarou (not entirely, but in terms of his personality they are). It's the same with Fate/Stay Night. Whatever goals and ideals UBW Shiro have are different from HF Shiro and he needs to come up with his own motivation behind his actions in each route. Now like you said this is really just a personal thing and all it does is satisfy the reader but this kinda makes him seem a little one dimensional as well.

That is basically the story trying to say and what I mentioned in my 1st post. In order to save the girls, he basically need to sacrifice everything he had because that's what a "Price" is. You can't just hope and have a strong feeling about something and expect things will just solve itself.

Ok that is good and all (because quite honestly it's annoying when visual novels do that). But it still feels like ending is a bit overly convienent if that's what it was going for. Ok being nitpicky again and it's still gets the message across so I can understand.

And ok I understand that the message is what's important and I understand that there were multiple authors so that's why it got a little confusing.

After going back over Terra I don't think it's any plot point that ruined for me. I think it's just the total lack of impact that anything had on me. This is because it's a much more Plot > Character story then the rest of the game. And while the plot could be interesting, I had no investment in it and I didn't care about anything that happened in it (except for Kotori and Esaka). Now obviously, this is personal opinion but I felt not having any emotional connection to anything in it was a bad move. Because the point of Terra was to save the heroines, because the authors themselves were so emotional invested in them. But Idk obviously some people reacted differently from me.

[Kirayuki]

Spoiler for Reply:

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

Ok I would understand this if there wasn't the Chihaya and Lucia inconsistency. Now to be fair, Romeo didn't write those paths so that's probably why. It's not a huge deal like said but it is what threw me off. If that's the message that he's trying to convey than I can respect that.

Actually many can agree that Tonokawa have some inconsistencies here considering Romeo is the main writer (I personally think Lucia's pretty much detached on the 1st place and the opted out details can be neglected unlike Tonokawa's girls...). Not all surprising I guess....

This is true, but it was hard for me to relate to Kotarou's feelings because of how speedily done this was. Now I know that's more a personal problem, but I should at least be able to understand how he feels. I'm not sure feeling guilt towards people who pretty much always treated you like crap is something I can relate to with Kotarou's personality (though given the weight of what he's about to do I suppose I can relate, but idk this ones probably once again more of a personal problem).

I'd partially agree with the pace itself, considering Romeo cut some contents in Terra it shouldn't be surprising.

Actually there were some people arguing that the fast pace itself is in line with the thematic sense of "Kotarou himself not having much time left for solving the problem". I guess that's the consolation prize...

Well to me it felt like he was never given a real reason is the main thing. And to me if he's doing things without a real reason of his own, then his actions felt rather empty. The whole aurora thing is a bit farfetch even with this. This Kotarou has different actions, a different personality, and overall has a different feel to him. He's for the most part he's a completely new person to the reader. So whatever goals or ideals the original moon Kotarou have are irrelevant to this Kotarou (not entirely, but in terms of his personality they are). It's the same with Fate/Stay Night. Whatever goals and ideals UBW Shiro have are different from HF Shiro and he needs to come up with his own motivation behind his actions in each route. Now like you said this is really just a personal thing and all it does is satisfy the reader but this kinda makes him seem a little one dimensional as well.

Take a note that this is what original Kotarou should be actually. The Kotarou you saw in Moon and all of previous routes are someone who lost his memory and become a pseudo-Familiar.

And if you actually care enough for his own reason within Terra itself, I think saving the world is already a pretty good motivation for him within the route itself.

Ok that is good and all (because quite honestly it's annoying when visual novels do that). But it still feels like ending is a bit overly convienent if that's what it was going for. Ok being nitpicky again and it's still gets the message across so I can understand.

Maybe for readers, but for Kotarou he has to lose all of his previous bonds (this include before reincarnating as Terra Kotarou) with all of the girls and his comrades, also losing his memories in the process. Not even to mention he had to be the one who trash away those precious things to him (killing Esaka, etc).

I'm not sure if that can be called convenient.

And ok I understand that the message is what's important and I understand that there were multiple authors so that's why it got a little confusing.

Badly structured game, I guess....

After going back over Terra I don't think it's any plot point that ruined for me. I think it's just the total lack of impact that anything had on me. This is because it's a much more Plot > Character story then the rest of the game. And while the plot could be interesting, I had no investment in it and I didn't care about anything that happened in it (except for Kotori and Esaka). Now obviously, this is personal opinion but I felt not having any emotional connection to anything in it was a bad move. Because the point of Terra was to save the heroines, because the authors themselves were so emotional invested in them. But Idk obviously some people reacted differently from me.

Actually some have this problem too, so this is not surprising. You can chalk this as subtlety, the good thing about the way they are doing Terra is unlike previous KEY works where you need a good amount of melodrama and long buildup(Terra actually have one long buildup too if you consider his journey until Terra) to actually achieve emotional impact. No major mood whiplash here like previous KEY works.

I'm sure this kind of approach will be more accepted by people who usually hate KEY works because the way how it doesn't force people too hard to like its characters.

[Malintex_Terek]

I finished this a few nights ago. Has weighed heavily on my mind as all super-massive VNs do. It's got a lot of similarity to Muv-Luv Alternative, all things considered, although it isn't as detail laden or touching.

Spoiler:

1. Does Terra take place after Moon, or is it in a new time-line? It's clear to me that all the character routes were in parallel worlds, but from what I read in the memory bank, it seems to be that after any one cataclysm, the Earth sent its aurora to the Moon right before dying, which brought Kazamatsuri with it, and the Moon responded by creating Moon Kagari who researched a way to keep life on Earth. At the end of Moon, the Moon sent back its aura to Earth to spark evolution again? So Terra takes place millions of years after the common route and is an exact replay of what originally happened?
2. Did Moon Kagari die at the end of Moon? Or was she waiting for Koutaro to return to her?
3. I clicked the "can't read anymore" line for the trolling comments during my first playthrough, can I still access the Oppai Route?
4. How come no one recognizes Pochi as Koutaro? Why can't he remember his name? Even if he's lost all his memories, his existence was that footnote "I hope to see you again - Tennouji Koutaro". So he should have his desire to see Kagari, which he had, and should know his name.

[Kirayuki]

Spoiler for Reply:

1. Terra should take place after Moon. And it's an exact replay until Kotarou meet Earth Kagari and choose different option.
2. I'm not sure if "die" is the proper word for this, but I'm pretty sure she is the small flower you see at the ending.
3. Yes
4. Only Akane + Kotori that may actually remember him, but the thing is we are not even clear how Kotarou looks like as Pochi so it's probably that reason and those two also kind of forgot about him.

I think the footnote is already gone by the time they are back on Moon again, because Moon Kagari sent over the Aurora energy back to Earth (this may include the whole branch and the part where Theory of Life drawn).

[Malintex_Terek]

Spoiler:

The footnote was inside Terra Koutaro the whole time. Whether it's in Pochi isn't really clear, but I'd say yes because he has the red clock hand on his magic circle, which represents the red ribbons (or red string of fate) that connected him and Kagari. From his feet it looks like he's wearing the Kazamatsuri uniform like how Sakuya did.

[Tyabann]

Spoiler for Terra:

The game's CG art is weird and contradictory at times due to a lack of communication; note that in that final CG, the other girls are supposed to be wearing boots, but aren't. Chihaya really shouldn't be that uniform either, but oh well.
Personally I like to think of Pochi as looking rather more like Sakuya, or some combination of Kagari and Kotarou.

[Syed_Seinaru_Migi]

Gonna ask a question already play all routes no complain my question is in Terra rote what if kotarou pick capture or kill earth kagari instead let it go then kotarou go into coma and thus go to normal>> other girls routes so why when kotarou join guardian group go to coma for 10 year why other member from guadian like imamiya and esaka didn't recognize kotarou just ask

[Kirayuki]

They recognize him actually, if you take a look at Imamiya's reaction when he met Kotarou the first time in Common route you can see from his comment "so, you're a Highschool student now huh?"

[Balzac]

Once again I'm late to an interesting discussion, but as I feel that it has been discussed adequately, I won't put a sentiment that in some ways have been echoed by others. (regarding Terra)

But I can declare that there are many facets to the game, layers upon layers of interconnecting themes and ideas woven in. It'd require an entire dissertation to cover everything, and it is only my academic hesitation at treating a visual novel as a real piece of literature that stays my hand. Some readers may have already explored them all (it is a 2 year old game), and most of what I refer to has already been explored in the back-and-forth discussion in this very forum. Reading the thread from the date of the game's release to now is an interesting exercise in of itself. So many interpretations, so many fervent opinions...

The entire game might be flawed in some parts, but damned if I can't respect the writers for managing to package it with a lot of novel and noble sentiments and ideas.