unspark | Virtue's Last Reward

I!!!! finished!!! it!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA

lets see.

The true end. HMMMMMMMMMM. That's basically my reaction. I can't say I was overly mind-blown at the whole time-travel business -I think I was more confused because that diagram didn't help. I think I do get it, though, it's just that there's no conclusive end given. The whole 45-years-into-the-future-and-you're-actually-on-the-moon was kinda weird.. when I first saw the moon's surface (during the flashback at the start) I thought it looked like some different planet and was wondering why they didn't draw it better...

I really love that the Zero Escape series makes every route count and that they all add to the others and true route. I was really impressed with 999 for that. I think it had less of an impact on me this time because I was expecting it, but I still like the idea of 'jumping' through parallel worlds.

My favourite part of the ending would be the reveal of Tenmyouji being Junpei. It was hinted at when Tenmyouji used Akane's photo for the face recognition machine and Quark was like "that's his first love!" but Tenmyouji denies it, not giving an explanation about how they're really related. The fact that he was old really threw out the any Junpei theories for me, I thought he was a relative or something welp. I'M SAD THEY DIDN'T GET MORE SCREEN TIME TOGETHER, I'M CRY

Trying to figure out who was Zero was seemed less important this game. It was more "goddammit Dio," but as a player it was still on my mind. I was suspecting Tenmyouji, K and Phi to be Zero. I was also thinking Sigma at one point but ruled it off. After all, we're playing as him. Him Zero? He didn't even seem aware of his surroundings. That Zero hologram in the director's office really threw me off too. Who??? was??? he???? He was old like Tenmyouji but???
I ruled off Tenmyouji during the White Room, so there was K and Phi left. Anyway, as I said earlier, I ruled off Sigma so I was surprised when ~ta da~ he's Zero.

Characters:

Sigma:
I was complaining about how we never saw him at all, even in the shot where everyone's gathered in front of the polling results screen, but there was a good reason for that in the end. His arms look young, though? Is that because it's robotic or was he just delusional??
Him making cat puns was the best part,,,

Phi:
Still mysterious after her route. I do like her and her design is super pretty, but I really want to know more!!!!!! I want to know how they know Sigma and Phi can jump worlds?? Maybe Sigma meets Phi somewhere down the track of his research?????????/ I need answerssrrsrsrs. The third game is apparently going to be about her, though.

Dio:
HAHAHAHAH THIS FUCKING DOUCHE.
'hey, I'm going to open the AB gate before you all get here,' 'killed an old lady to join a game and prove I'm great',' 'gonna HOLD AN INNOCENT KID'S LIFE HOSTAGE so I can win!!!' 'just gonna plant these bombs that'll kill everyone if I don't win and just gonna SUICIDE OUTTA HERE,'
I thought, hey, at least he's honest. But then I went on the route where he holds the Axelavir hostage for Sigma's vote AND HE REALLY IS A SCUMBAG ARGHHH.
I'm kinda laughing that he said he was a circus ringleader at the start, he totally dresses like one, and I guess it isn't far off from what he really does.
I like how 99% of the stuff I see about Dio is that they hate him, but like his JP/ENG voice actor, haha. I'm not a big seiyuu fan so I can't say the same.

Quark:
Wow cute,,,shota,,,,,,,,
He didn't really have that big of a role compared to others, being knocked out half the time and stuff, but he's pretty cute. I thought his sprite looked kinda weird at times though?? Like REALLY SUSPICIOUS ARE U ACTUally evil???? but it also worked for some of the jokes he told, like when he said he was 20 haha.

Tenmyouji:
I thought he was a super suspicious character at first -well, he is. I liked the exchanges he had with Quark, they're really cute together!!!!
And then there was the Tenmyouji=Junpei reveal and WOW OK... He really went to search for Akane forever.......going to the moon for her...........

Alice:
HMmhMhMMMMMmMmm
She grew on me a lot. Her outfit still makes me laugh, idk. In a flashback she was in normal clothes so it's not like she's always dressed that way?? mAYBE?? though why was she in a desert dressed like that, why would you go to work dressed like that. She is a babe, though.
I heard her English voice actor via the OVA and I feel her Japanese voice fits her a lot more.
Also, does anyone really buy Alice = All Ice, Ice 9, w/e? Remember at the end of 999 and everyone was freaking out over it? I don't know what to think any more.

Clover:
I loved her in 999 but I was really questioning her appearance in VLR. She's already been in 2 nonary games ?? ;__; was it really necessary? Well, Akane's limited knowledge of who was an esper made her an easy target, I guess.
Also her design was super questionable (though adorable??) and I couldn't believe it was only a year or so after 999 took place. I know her skirt was short in 999 and she idolised Alice to the point of copying her but.....
I loved Clover's super lame jokes hehe. I also loved where she threatened to kill everyone haha oh boy.

K:
Before I started playing VLR, I knew him off the promo images and thought he was a legit robot.... and then I still had my doubts haha. After Luna confronted Sigma about being a robot, I started to think maybe K and everyone is a robot???
ANYway, K is a massive cutie. Him riding the Zero toy was super super cute. I was really hoping that he would be a bishounen under that armour hehe.
I was suspicious of him being Zero after Clover's end and everyone apparently killed themselves, but K was nowhere to be seen? (Unless I missed something??)

Luna:
I loved Luna ahhhh her smiling face is so sweet, she's so sweet
Her route's end was so sad ;______; Apparently the secret to her login password confesses she loves Sigma hmmm. She's so close to human but she isn't??? ;____;
I was kinda iffy about the way she left the voting choices to other people though, and then was like "are you sure you should have done that..." EXCUSE U!!!
Apparently in the next game the girl who Luna is modelled of is going to appear!!!!

Akane:
A section for her because why not. Old Akane, young Akane via photograph, Post-999 Akane. Like Clover, she has been related to all 3 nonary games. I really wonder what her motives are. 999 was to save her -she got that, now what? What's driving her to go the path she took?
Is she a witch?????????

Other things:

Since I could only play the EU ver, I only had the option of Japanese voices with English subs. With something this text/dialogue heavy, it didn't really flow that well, I found. Sometimes the dialogue would go on and the text would go reaallllllllly slowly, sometimes the dialogue would go on and on and the text would scroll by real quick, which made me cautious to let it on 'auto' all the time.

I still have 2 rooms I have yet to get their secret files so I'll be finishing that up. Also maybe figure out the secret to the passwords that was hinted in a secret file. Maybe revisit some scenes to get a better perspective now that I've finished. I also want to play 999 again when I get that back. I've played about 53 hours of VLR in two and a half weeks, it has been consuming me....... I need to buy another game after this but cries over money......

Looking forward to the next Zero Escape game

i'M s0 FUckED uP