Abyss Thinker (Free RPG) Introduction, Impressions, and Strategy Notes

This is an introductory article for the feature-length RPG "Absolute Realm Abyss Thinker," created using RPG Maker MV.
Initially, it was released chapter by chapter, and it was a work that I was curious about but waited for to be completed.
Now that the final chapter has been released, I was able to sit down and play it thoroughly.
This is a full-length RPG that boasts challenging combat and a highly engaging storyline.

The total playtime was approximately 42 hours (on normal difficulty): Chapter 1 took about 8 hours, Chapter 2 about 12 hours, and the final chapter about 22 hours.

Game Overview

High school students Shoka Totsuka and Narumi Asabaki are transported to an unknown, otherworldly realm along with other students on a school field trip.
The students, having been transported to a new location, must escape terrifying monsters as they make their way down to the lower levels of the labyrinth in search of water.
The story unfolds with many mysteries surrounding the nature of this world and why they were transported there.

This game is a full-length RPG that includes hack-and-slash elements.
The story progresses as you prepare at your base and explore dungeons.
Depending on how the story progresses, your party members may change.
You'll fight bosses and other enemies at key points in the dungeon, so you'll strengthen your character by fighting battles and collecting items along the way.

As the story progresses, elements such as "exploration instructions" and "farming" are added, and many features have been incorporated to keep players engaged throughout the long game.

The battles are based on a count-time system where characters with higher agility get their turn sooner.
The turn order is displayed in the upper right corner of the battle screen, and actions proceed according to this order.
Actions in combat revolve around "skills" that consume MP and "ultimate techniques" that consume TP (which is accumulated through dealing and receiving damage).

This game's combat system includes the concepts of front and back rows.
Since melee attacks are less effective against enemies in the back row, only bows, magic, etc., can deal effective damage.
Once you defeat all the enemies in the front row, the back row will automatically become the front row.

Many characters can wield two different weapons, each with unique techniques and characteristics.
The key to fighting easily is to skillfully use different tactics depending on the enemy.

In this game, you acquire skills using a skill tree system.
When you win a battle, you will receive "SP" in addition to experience points.
By consuming this SP, you will acquire new skills.

When acquiring new skills, you may need to master specific skills or obtain items such as "Beginner Skill Essence" or "Intermediate Skill Essence."
Even if you collect a large amount of SP by completing battles, be aware that you cannot learn new skills if you do not have the necessary skill materials.
It is possible to reset your skill tree progress at your base without penalty.
If you get stuck against a tough enemy, it's a good idea to reallocate your SP and rethink your strategy.

The skill tree also includes passive skills that boost your abilities simply by equipping them.
You can set passive skills up to the character's set capacity limit.
The upper limit can be increased by using specific items.

Review (spoiler-free version)

I finished this game just before 2023 was about to end, and it was one of the most engrossing games I played that year.
I believe the appeal of this game lies in its two main pillars: its story and its challenging combat.

First, the story begins with the protagonist being forced to survive in another world, a harsh situation.
The story unfolds in a thrilling, tightrope-walking fashion, focusing on how the characters will survive, and is further driven by numerous mysteries.
The interpersonal relationships and emotional shifts of each character in these extreme circumstances are also highlights of the story.
Each character didn't feel like a mere prop; both allies and enemies felt alive and speaking, creating a sense of realism.
I thought everyone was truly charming, including the words they spoke.

And perhaps reflecting that intense storyline, the combat felt rather difficult.
It's almost impossible to clear the game by brute force alone; defeating the boss will be difficult without making full use of skills, equipment, and status effects.
If you're not good at RPGs and just want to follow the story, I think it's best to choose easy mode without forcing yourself (though it's unclear if it's actually easy).
I managed to clear the game on normal difficulty, but there were times when I was wiped out multiple times against certain bosses.
It's a bit of a hassle, but if you try challenging the boss once to see how it goes, then reload and adjust your skills and other factors, you should be able to defeat it more easily.
If you get stuck, leveling up sufficiently and using plenty of healing items can be a somewhat effective strategy.

Also, I felt that a lot of effort went into the use of background music in this game.
The battle BGM is clearly differentiated for each situation, and as the game progresses, you'll start to understand, "Ah, this song is used because of this enemy."
Not only the battle music, but also the relaxing background music at the base and the background music in the dungeons fit the atmosphere perfectly, showing a meticulous attention to detail that makes them blend seamlessly (some of the background music was composed specifically for this game).

I also feel that the graphics are used quite lavishly.
Most of the main characters have different facial expressions and character portraits available.
Furthermore, the characters used in combat have cool character portraits, and these portraits even change depending on the weapon they are equipped with.
The fact that all the main characters have original artwork prevents the game from feeling cheap, which is often the case with games made using RPG Maker.

I've only mentioned the good points so far, but I'd like to point out a few things that concern me about the gameplay.

The first issue is that the MP cost of a skill is not displayed on the skill acquisition screen.
In particular, since the MP cost of support magic decreases with each level up, I wanted to see how much the cost would decrease with each level up before allocating points.
(However, you can redo your skill allocation without penalty, and you can check it by saving and loading.)

The second point is that the bosses generally have high HP.
Since you don't know the boss's remaining HP, battles tend to be long, so you need to prepare a fair amount of recovery items to prevent running out of MP.
Even if you're strong enough to withstand the boss's maximum firepower, the battle inevitably tends to turn into a prolonged struggle.
(However, in terms of dramatic effect—a life-or-death battle against an unknown enemy—it does seem to match the story.)
It might have been better if it were possible to swap out party members during battle, change equipment, and have skills grow simultaneously with different weapon types.

That's all.
However, these issues probably won't be a problem if you switch to easy mode.
I think the loss of not playing this game for this reason would be greater, so if you're interested, I hope you'll play it without hesitation.

Strategy Notes (Spoiler Warning)

This section contains general strategy notes and notes about bosses that I struggled with.
I hope this is helpful.

*From the final chapter onwardsStrategy wikiI'm looking through the boss strategy guide.

General strategy notes

In the very early stages, make sure to learn skills that consume MP and ultimate techniques that consume TP.
It's a waste if your TP is full but you don't have any skills to use it with.

Healing items are extremely important, both during boss battles and while exploring.
In particular, make sure to have plenty of area-of-effect healing items, single-target high-healing items, items to revive incapacitated characters, and items to cure incapacitating status ailments (such as confusion, sleep, and paralysis) ready for boss battles.

When it comes to defeating bosses, keeping the following points in mind will make it easier.

- Use healing items to fight.
Depending on the turn order, there may be times when characters with healing skills cannot act in time.
In such situations, it's extremely important to have healing items ready so that anyone can recover.
In particular, items that heal the entire party are useful until the very end.

- Prepare your equipment to increase your resistance and countermeasures.
It will be a little easier if you prepare countermeasures for the status ailments and elemental attacks that enemies frequently use with your equipment.
Prioritize taking countermeasures against elemental attacks on characters with particularly low HP who are easily defeated, and for other characters, prioritize countermeasures against status ailments that render them unable to act.

- Swap party members + reallocate skill points and rebuild
If you don't have skills that can exploit the enemy's weaknesses, it's a good idea to change your party members or reset your skill points and focus on a different weapon.

- Prioritize durability when customizing.
During exploration, in normal battles, prioritizing attack power to increase your ability to eliminate enemies will make battles easier.
However, since boss battles in this game tend to be long, I feel it's important to focus on increasing your defense, magic defense, and HP.
Prioritizing attack power, even if it means slightly shortening the number of turns to defeat the boss, is less important than ensuring stability by preventing the party from being wiped out by the boss's attacks.
In other words, for boss battles, prioritizing defensive skills and HP will lead to greater stability.
Agility is certainly important, but the loss of actions due to being incapacitated in battle is greater, so I think it's best to raise it after you've addressed that concern.

Chapter 1

: Aira Sasajima
They were quite a formidable opponent.
Maintaining a state of darkness with Narumi's blindness will slightly mitigate physical attacks.
If Accelerate is used, use Riito's Blessing to dispel it if you have the opportunity.

: Mystic Jelly & Magia Eye
Focus Riito's fireballs on the jelly to take it down first.
It would be a good idea to support Riito by having Narumi speed up.
I'll prepare to interrupt Magia Eye with Obstruct Edge once it's charged.
If only the Magia Eye remains, you should be able to defeat it by focusing your physical attacks on it.

: Sayumi Ishikura & Marin Dokiya
Let's concentrate our attacks on the pottery maker, whose confusion is troublesome.
After defeating the pottery shop owner, you'll reach the stone warehouse.
Since it's weak against wind, it's easier to defeat it by speeding up Reito and having him concentrate his attacks with Air Thrust.

: Underground Angel Fullska
Since she has spear resistance, when Yuzuki attacks, use blunt-type techniques.
Kazumi is a good source of damage if you keep using her powerful activation technique while continuing to attack with blunt force attacks.
However, since you'll also be responsible for healing in emergencies, use Speed Up to increase the number of actions you can take.
If the enemy uses Full Guard, quickly break it with an attack that hits multiple times, such as Reito's Air Thrust or Narumi's Double Strike.
It will likely be a long battle, but if you maintain your HP using the Great Activation Technique, you should be able to fight without any problems.

*Inside the castle town, battles will not occur unless you get close to the angels, so move around while skillfully avoiding them.
It's not impossible to defeat them, but taking on two or more at the same time is difficult at this point.

: Philant & White-Winged Soldier
Reducing the number of Whitewing soldiers will cause them to receive reinforcements periodically, but you won't be able to deal any significant damage to Philant unless you keep defeating them, so it's best to just keep taking them down.
For the White-Winged Soldiers, Riito's dark magic is effective, and for Philant, Narumi's bow attacks are effective.
Since a long battle is expected, be sure to prepare plenty of healing items before you start fighting.

: Chijo Natsuki
This was the toughest opponent I've faced so far.
If Narumi's blind ability works well, it can mitigate most of the attacks.
However, the success rate is not high, so if you're unlucky, it can be a waste of time.
In the second half, he uses Berserk and Attack Up, launching even more ferocious attacks.
Since the entire party will collapse if even one person is incapacitated, be sure to prepare as many healing items as possible before going into battle.

Chapter 2

：Tetsubujin
Natsuki's paralysis and Narumi's blindness are very effective, so you can almost completely neutralize them with these.
Since it is weak to blunt attacks, having Natsuhime and Tsutsuji attack with maces will deal damage efficiently.

: Grotta Medusa x 2
When you defeat one of them, you can revive the other with a charged attack.
The saving grace is that it doesn't fully restore your HP.
Try to either disrupt their charged attacks or chip away at both of their health simultaneously.

: Surt
Paralysis works very well, so if you keep them paralyzed, you can win easily.
Since it's weak to water-type attacks, you can deal damage efficiently by repeatedly using Azalea's Freeze Wide and Poison Water Trap.

: Aira Sasajima
Darkness and paralysis are practically ineffective, so let's fight using conventional methods.
The poison is somewhat effective, so I think Azalea's poison water trap and Narumi's evil slash will be useful.
Also, it would be a good idea to attack with Natsuhime using the very effective Dark Blow.

: H. Kudigha
Since sleep is a problem, let's have some stimulants on hand to help restore sleep.
Since bows are a weakness, it would be best to have Narumi as the attacker and have the others provide support.
The enemy's charged attack, which inflicts sleep on all enemies, is difficult to interrupt because the time between charging and activation is short.
It might be a good idea to have Natsuki prepare the charge canceller, just in case.
While Narumi's Obstructive Edge can also be used to disrupt the enemy, you don't want to give up your bow attacks, which are its weak point, so equipping a bow is recommended.

Matango x 6
Because there are so many of them, it would be quite difficult if they acted properly.
Using Natsuhime's Paralysis Spray with the mindset that paralyzing several enemies is a bonus will make things easier.
Use Narumi's speed boost and focus your attacks on one enemy to reduce their numbers.
If we can paralyze about three of them, we'll have Natsuhime join the attack.
Since MP consumption will likely increase, be sure to prepare plenty of magic potions.

: G. Dunadant
Since paralysis is effective, it's easier to maintain.
Initially, physical attacks are effective, but midway through, its physical and magical defenses reverse, and only magical attacks become effective.
If you give each unit a skill that includes magic attributes, everyone can participate in the attack.

Igo Ding
The cannon at full power is a threat, and a direct hit will almost certainly render the unit combat-ineffective.
It seems that the full power state can be deactivated with the evening moon's Baratia, but I didn't notice it myself.
Since their weakness is physical attacks, let's use Natsuhime and Tsutsuji as attackers in battle.
Yuzuki can be effectively hit with a leg sweep, which is a striking-type attack.
Once it transforms into flight mode, the cannon fire probably stops, so the battle actually becomes easier.
Status effects don't seem to work very well.

: Gurgaraud
It uses a lot of physical attacks, and occasionally darkness and poison are effective against it.
Since battles tend to be at a loss, it's a good idea to prepare plenty of healing items.

: Underground Angel Fullska
Since the sealing effect is troublesome, I'd like to equip each unit with accessories that counter the sealing effect.
Furthermore, we have confirmed that the Azalea Blizzard Roll can induce sleep, so it is possible to prepare by recovering while the monster is asleep.
Since physical attacks are very effective, let's have Natsuhime and Tsutsuji handle the offense.

: Snail Emperor
Its weaknesses are water and blunt attacks, so exploit those weaknesses.
Everyone should have the relevant skill, so let's fight while adapting to the situation and taking on the role of healer.
Since it's difficult to land effective hits once it's inside its shell, it's best to focus on healing and defense.

Underground Angel Serenaria
Since sleep and paralysis, which render you immobile, are troublesome, it's a little easier if you take precautions with accessories.
If you have the resources, it would be good to have abilities like Weakness and Water Guard.
Defeating the accompanying AXE will temporarily make things easier, but if Serenaria falls into a deep sleep midway through the fight, it will revive at that moment.
It might be okay to defeat them at the beginning.

Initially, they have no weaknesses or resistances, but through a change in their constitution, they develop one weakness (such as piercing, slashing, ranged, fire, or poison) and become resistant to all other attacks.
It's difficult to cover everything, so let's accept some limitations.
Instead, speed up characters who can exploit weaknesses to support them and keep them attacking.

: Underground Angel Clayas
Let's start by taking down the accompanying enemies.
Since Clayas resists almost all elemental damage except wind, be sure to prepare skills that ignore damage reduction.
Otherwise, we'll be forced into a very long battle.
Furthermore, it frequently uses status ailments such as confusion, paralysis, sealing, and darkness.
Since confusion and paralysis, which prevent you from moving freely, are a threat, equip as many resistance accessories as possible.
Depending on the role, it would be good to be able to handle sealing and darkness as much as possible, but I think these can be dealt with using recovery items.
Clayas is quite susceptible to darkness, so actively targeting it will soften its fierce attacks.

: L. Borg x 5
There are five of them, but some of them become immortal and cannot be damaged.
Since you can only attack individuals that are not in an immortal state, it will take time to reduce their numbers.
Its weaknesses are light-type attacks and it is very susceptible to poison.
Narumi can use her Outlaw Slash to spread poison on individuals whose immortality has been removed, while Fullska attacks with Holy Lance and Tsutsuji attacks with Starkling to deal damage efficiently.
The enemy's attacks aren't particularly fierce, so if you equip yourself with gear that provides resistance to confusion and chip away at their health, you shouldn't have too much trouble.

Underground Angels Lutas & Belchi
Lutas is weak to water, and Belchi is weak to piercing attacks; their resistances are the opposite.
Since Belchi has slightly lower HP, it's best to focus your attacks on one of them.
Since both are susceptible to poison, I want to keep both poisoned whenever I have a free moment.
When one falls, the other is strengthened.
If you have enough leeway even with two people remaining, you might as well reduce their numbers evenly.

: Underground Angel Rashlinka
This is the final formidable enemy in this chapter.
Since it has high HP, be prepared for a long battle and stock up on healing items.
As mentioned in the strategy wiki, the basic strategy is to focus on attacks using Shoka's armor-piercing and Narumi's aiming, which ignore defense, while Tsutsuji acts as a healer and Fullska as a support character.
(Since Full Scaling reduces the effectiveness of items, it's best to limit its use to status ailment treatment, reviving incapacitated characters, and using buffs.)
Rashlinka's final judgment is powerful, so use Mass Magic Barrier and passive skills that increase MHP to strengthen your party enough so that no members are defeated in one hit.
Since most of Rashlinka's attacks are light magic, equipping gear that prioritizes light resistance and magic defense will make the fight a bit easier.
Since its attack patterns don't change much, if your party can maintain its position for a while after the battle starts, you should be able to fight to the end (average party level at the time of defeat is 39).

Final Chapter

By the final chapter, your skills will be fairly well-developed, so as long as you maintain your buffs and exploit the enemy's weaknesses, you won't have too much trouble.
In addition to the above, if you aim to inflict status ailments and also prepare area-of-effect healing items and MP recovery items, you should be able to win in most cases.
Therefore,I've omitted bosses that I didn't have much trouble with.Please understand.

: Muulul
The water and magic attacks are fierce, so be sure to prepare some means of healing.
Fortunately, the enemy doesn't have any area-of-effect attacks, but we also don't have any area-of-effect healing magic, so it's important to prepare items and such.

: For Troia
Since the slashing attacks are fierce, you'll want to equip physical attack reduction accessories or slashing guards on members who are not particularly tough, and keep Shoka's Mass Barrier active.
Since piercing attacks are very effective, let's make Shoka and Furusuka our main attackers.
To neutralize the teleportation technique that he'll use in the second half, be sure to prepare Riito's Divine Protection.
Also, poison and darkness are quite effective, so attacking with Reito's sorcery or Narumi's blindness and evil slash works well.
Darkness is particularly effective because it directly mitigates attacks.
If you can strengthen your defenses to a certain extent, I think the battle will be easier.

*The second upper level is a sky-high floor with enemies that cast barriers in the passageways.
The exploration routes from one crystal (which serves as a recovery point) to the next are long, often resulting in frequent battles.
I think it's important to actively substitute players with reserve members while also having a certain amount of recovery items prepared.
I've had quite a few battles with enemies here, and I feel like my party's level has been raised overall.
As a result, I didn't have much trouble with boss battles from this point onward.

: Gurgaraud
Since it is weak to light-element attacks, it is effective to attack it primarily with Fullska's Holy Lance and Clayas's Flash Slash.
Also, since stun and poison are very effective against it, targeting them will likely make the fight easier.
Taking measures against status ailments such as incapacitation and confusion will allow you to fight relatively safely.

: Lito Lass
Since it's weak against slashing attacks, make sure to solidify your skills beforehand.
Use Mass Magic Barrier to mitigate the effects of Riito's magic, and also use Mass Barrier to reduce the damage from his companions' firearms.
Since poison is easily absorbed, let's actively inflict poison using the Outlaw Slash.
The minions will respawn periodically, but leaving them alone is troublesome, so use area-of-effect attacks to reduce their numbers.
When using single-target attacks, I think it's faster to defeat them if you focus on targeting Reito.

: E. Carnoem
Since the miasma causes confusion, prioritize giving confusion resistance to the members who will be responsible for healing.
Additionally, if you prioritize countering Dark-type attacks on members with low durability, I don't think it will be that strong.
Since it's weak to wind, let's focus our attacks on Riito's Air Thrust and Summon Lightning, and Narumi's Wind Slash.
Since the underground angels don't provide much healing from items, it's best to include three human characters if possible.

: The Three Stooges
The two in the back row are susceptible to sleep, so the idea is to put them to sleep with Kazumi's slimmer and then fight Hachiman in the front row first.
Hachiman is susceptible to paralysis, darkness, and confusion, so if you can keep him under status effects, you should be able to defeat him without much trouble.
I kept Ishikura until the end, but be aware that the number of enemy actions doesn't decrease significantly because he spawns an attack object (which cannot be selected as an attack target) every time another character dies.
Since the number of enemies is treated as three, using Natsuhime's Brawl Attack resulted in four hits on the last remaining enemy, making it a good source of damage.

: Underground Angel Philant
I had a very hard time.
The strategy wiki suggested using sleep or darkness to neutralize the enemy's companions, but status effects don't always work, and it takes up turns, so there was a risk of being completely wiped out if a few unlucky things piled up.
Therefore, I fought with a strategy of defeating all of the enemy's companions.
They are replenished even if you defeat them, but the replenishment rate is not very fast, only one at a time.
When there were companions present, I focused on area-of-effect attacks to damage Philant while simultaneously whittling down the companions.
Narumi was the only character with ranged attacks, which are Philant's weakness, and it was actually more efficient to have a member who could perform dark-attribute attacks, which are necessary to eliminate his minions.
If a situation escalates into a firestorm, it becomes difficult to recover when you need it most, so it's safer to prioritize taking measures to prevent the fire from escalating.

: Underground Angel Rashlinka
Since its attacks are mainly light-elemental, I think it will be easy to fight if you take countermeasures with your equipment.
When you summon the magic circle, using a multi-hit skill that can be used when the number of enemies exceeds a certain amount will target only Rashlinka, allowing you to inflict significant damage.

: Elna
Soul Embers is very powerful, so characters with low HP or magic defense will be defeated in one hit.
It might be better to have plenty of ways to revive yourself and not rely too much on buffs that reset upon death.
Since curses and wind-based attacks are the main threats, countermeasures are difficult, but you'll want to try to reduce the damage as much as possible with equipment that reduces magic damage or with magic power reduction debuffs.

In the second half of the battle, prioritize defeating the accompanying enemies as you go.
It gets pretty tough when Elna and her minions attack one after another, so in emergencies, I want to make good use of Narumi's skills to change the turn order.
Since the powerful Apocalypse Fury attack removes our buffs, it's best to focus on debuffing the enemy rather than buffing your allies.
By the way, the final party consisted of Narumi, Natsuki, Kazumi, and Riito.

(The hidden dungeon has not yet been cleared.)

Thoughts and screenshots included (spoiler alert)

I generally write these after finishing each chapter.
Please be aware that the comments may contain spoilers up to the end of that chapter.
(In other words, if you want to watch the part about Chapter 2, you should watch it after you have finished Chapter 2, otherwise there is a risk of spoilers.)

After finishing the game, I read through other people's reviews and was surprised to find that a lot of the screenshots and favorite scenes were the same as mine.
In that sense, I felt that the dramatic scenes in this film possess a universal dramatic quality that resonates with many people.

Chapter 1

The story abruptly shifts from the everyday scenes at the beginning to an exploration scene without any explanation of what happened in between.
It piques the player's interest, making them wonder what happened.
Were these armor and staffs created using magic by the camp members?

Currently, the reason why this happened remains a complete mystery, and the feeling that someone's will is at play is unsettling.

Shoka looks adorable when her eyes are spinning and she's panicking.
I've grown attached to him because he essentially holds a protagonist-like position in the early part of Chapter 1.

For one reason or another, Riito's true identity remains a mystery.
If they were also summoned from their original world, they might be from a brutal country, such as one in a war zone.
They seem to be hiding something, so they might hold the key to the story.

There's a terrifying aspect to them, as they use wicked magic while grinning foolishly.
In the latter half, he reluctantly cooperates, so for better or worse, he seems to be the type who is very self-serving and driven by self-interest.

This is an unexpected turn of events.
It gives me the same feeling of despair as when Mami was defeated in Madoka Magica.
This work can be said to be the moment when it is clearly shown that even the main characters will die.

Does this mean that the potter's magic isn't actually mental magic, but something he's simply unaware of?
Perhaps the person who was subjected to the spell could understand what it was all about.

Although he was trying to brush it off, he might have been quite startled inside.

The line "I went too far" is reminiscent of a line spoken by Savage, the boss in the original Armored Core (a very niche reference).
The fact that they couldn't conveniently hold back against a formidable enemy who was attacking them with full force made me feel that the story wasn't based on mere plot conveniences.

The Ishikura group seemed to know something.
What they know, and why they know it, is a mystery that drives the early stages of the story.

It's a one-on-one battle between Narumi and Sue.
Killing someone with whom I had a grudge gave me some satisfaction, but it probably doesn't feel good to kill a person instead of a monster.
Because the mystery remains, the feeling of dissatisfaction outweighed any sense of relief.

What exactly is the meaning behind the name Elna that Narumi keeps mentioning?
While speaking from the protagonist's perspective, the narrator possesses information unknown to the player, making them somewhat unreliable.
There may still be many plot twists waiting.

It's funny how they say it with such a sense of despair, as if someone important to them has died.
However, injuring your back in this situation could indeed be life-threatening, so it might not be such a laughing matter after all.

The way they disappear when defeated looks somewhat like a programmed animation, so perhaps my theory isn't far off the mark.

Here's yet another new creature that has appeared: the Gnome.
They seem to be natural enemies of the angels, and are easily defeated.
If we take the word literally, "gnome" seems to mean an earth spirit (the same as a gnome), but is there any origin to the name?

If his own life is in danger, Akizawa will reluctantly cooperate, even if it means taking a risk.
In fact, the magic is quite powerful, allowing you to fight even stronger opponents like Philant.

This is a short conversation that evokes a sense of the everyday life that has become so distant.
It's sad to think that udon, which isn't anything special to us, feels like a symbol of the original world.

I never imagined that the Berserker spell would be used in this way.
There's a sense of impending doom, as if things have gone as far as they can go.

Yet another new word appears: the name Rashlinka.
Judging by the atmosphere, he seems to be someone like a superior to Philant and the others.

While Chijo is committing heinous acts, Yuu tries to provide support from an unseen position, but her presence is sensed and she is defeated.

The nickname "Senjo, the one rushing to his death" seems like a hastily given nickname, and it has stuck in my mind.
In the exchange with Chijo, what was striking was that when Narumi said, "You're stubborn!", he simply replied, "Hmph," without really saying anything back.
Whether he was aware of his desperation or simply realized there was no point in arguing back, it was an unexpected outcome given Chijo's usual calm demeanor.

A traumatic scene.
In Chapter 1, Yuzuki worked hard as an attacker from the beginning, but it was sad to see her end up becoming a shield for the other two.

I think Kazumi is easily influenced by others, but that's precisely why she's been able to manage somehow when Shoka and Yuzuki are around.
However, there was nothing Narumi could do to help her when she was heartbroken after those two were gone.

The ending was shocking; I never expected it to be a time loop story.
I wondered what would happen with so many main characters gone, but it was a satisfying conclusion.

Chapter 2

If it's a time leap, then it's strange that possessions and strength are carried over.
Since it's mentioned in the story, it doesn't seem to be a game-related issue, so it might be an important point to consider when thinking about the mechanism behind the phenomenon.

From a player's perspective, it's exciting because it looks like things will unfold very differently than before.
It's exciting to be able to team up with Natsuki and the others, who were portrayed as powerful characters in Chapter 1.

As a side note, I thought Tsutsuji's battle graphics looked a bit plump (which I prefer).
The angle of the face and the fact that the contours of the face are obscured by hair or fingers may be the cause.
It's a nice touch that each character has their own unique weapon graphic (although magic users don't have variations).

It feels a little strange to be acting separately from my comrades from the previous chapter.
Tsuyukusa seems to have a good balance of strength, so I'm relieved even if Narumi leaves.

These are lines spoken by a mysterious character that are frequently inserted into the story.
The way he emphatically states, "I can't go back now," suggests he knows something.
The phrase "Me too" is a little concerning.

In the previous chapter, there was a part where the three characters, who were mainly portrayed as enemies, reluctantly cooperated with the protagonist.
In other episodes, it's often exciting to see characters who were enemies in one episode team up, but at this point, there are still many doubts about Ishikura and the others, so their cooperation is precarious and they can't let their guard down.

A similar situation occurred in the previous chapter, but this time Narumi is part of Natsuki's party, so there's a sense of contrast, and the difficulty level has increased.

It's strange that Reito, whom they met in the previous chapter, didn't join them.
Is it the case that Reito won't appear unless certain conditions are met, and that these conditions haven't been met this time?

This is yet another line from a mysterious character.
The character mentions magic, and their "ehehe" laugh gives them a childlike impression.

With Riito absent, we can't proceed along the route where gas is escaping, and there are some minor changes.
I could sense the game's design choices to minimize overlap between the first and second playthroughs in terms of exploration locations.

This pottery maker is obviously lying (but he's cute).
Well, the fact that Narumi knows about it is kind of like cheating, so it's understandable that he'd be flustered when she saw right through him.

These little episodes about the characters' interactions are great.
Unlike Natsuki, who can quickly come to terms with things, Tsutsuji was initially confused when Narumi joined, but it seems she's become much more comfortable with the group.

It's frustrating when you have to start over and the best route to get there might have involved actions that weren't necessarily optimal.
When the conditions are something unexpectedly small, it's easy to overlook them.

Gaki-san (Shinjiro Aragaki from Persona 3Sasajima looked like that, but when she was in her normal school uniform, she had a surprisingly cute face.

Narumi casually calls Natsuki "Nacky."
It seems like he's settled in quite well with the new team.

The Ishikura Group's motives remain a mystery.
The target of "We won't fight" is probably the underground angels, but the details of how they know about them and why they want to steer the conversation in that direction are unclear.

An enemy whose writing you can't understand at all is pretty creepy, isn't it?
(Free game "Sky and Earth(Since I had just played "[Game Title]", it looked like the enemy "Gokuou" that appeared in that game.)

It seems that Fura has some reason to hold a grudge against him.
They may have done something inhumane.

It's a remark that instantly lightens the mood.
This scene is quite rare in this film, which otherwise features very few puns.

I thought it was amazing how this single line perfectly conveyed that Natsuki is technologically challenged.
His extremely serious expression is what makes it so funny.

Yuzuki is a good girl who observes people well, and her intuition is usually accurate.
In these circumstances, I'm grateful that they're acting somewhat neutrally and mediating interpersonal relationships.

We had been making good progress, but the attack resulted in heavy casualties, leaving a sense of despair.
This story reminded me once again of its harsh nature, as even characters with character portraits die without mercy.

Natsuki says that even if she were to sacrifice herself, it wouldn't matter as long as someone else could be saved.
I believe that the reason she possesses "heroic qualities" rather than "berserker qualities" stems from this noble spirit.
In Chapter 1, he met a berserker-like end, but I feel that this duality is also common in "heroes."
I think whether or not the azaleas are still alive is the trigger (condition) that determines whether or not Natsuhime can remain sane.

The phenomenon of bodies disappearing and not disappearing is frequently depicted.
It's still a mystery, but what are the differences?

"Not being eaten" probably means that the body remains intact.
The fact that the underground angels recognize this distinction suggests they may have a certain understanding of this world.

Following on from the previous chapter, Yuzuki once again puts herself in danger to protect others.
I didn't want them to die, but they became a victim.

Narumi has repeatedly experienced the pain of losing a loved one, something that most people would find unbearable.
Even so, Narumi's mentality, which keeps trying again and again in search of a successful outcome, might be considered insane in a way (perhaps it's better to say she's broken or numb).

In a completely unexpected turn of events, Fullska joins the party.
From the previous chapter, I had a feeling that this character would be someone I could communicate with to some extent, but this is an exciting development.

I laughed at Narumi's introduction, which sounded like she was introducing a transfer student.
The way they said, "I'll be everyone's friend," sounded so childish, like something a child under elementary school age would say, and I found it amusing.

Fullska has a childish appearance, but her battle graphics show her with a dignified and composed expression.
Angels look good with both bows and spears, don't they?

The underground angel refers to herself by her own name, which I find rather cute.

Unlike before, this isn't a phenomenon where something is dying, but rather a gradual erosion.
It seems even the underground angels don't have the answer to this phenomenon, so it's unlikely to be explained anytime soon.
However, it seems that those whose bodies have disappeared share a common thread: "We were together at that time."

Of all the information Fullsuka was able to obtain at that time, this might be the one that would cause Natsuki to despair.
However, it's unclear if that alone would have led him to commit such a heinous act.
The fact that the azaleas have been lost may also be a contributing factor.

A familiar landscape that appears somehow disjointed is more unsettling than a completely unfamiliar landscape.
Perhaps it's because the intention to imitate feels unsettling.

It's not simply a meta-reason that having only female characters makes the story more visually appealing; since it's mentioned within the story, there seems to be some reason for it.

The names of the weapons, as well as the skill names, are quite playful and interesting.
There are probably many pieces of equipment that have original sources that people haven't noticed.

It's probably a cultural difference, but we still find it strange.
However, the underground angels probably feel something is off about these similar figures.

The game preemptively presents answers that the player might predict, and then refutes them.
If it's not a virtual space, then perhaps there are very distant pasts and futures.

Shika, a weapon designed to counter Philant, will come to your aid.
It's impressive that you managed to defeat Saiha completely.

Rashlinka always has a way of speaking that makes me feel uneasy.
Either way, it seems there won't be any room for negotiation unless we demonstrate a certain level of power.

Looking ahead to the next lap, Narumi confirms the conditions for forming an alliance.
This is important information.

Herein lies the name of the mastermind behind it all, which is finally revealed.

This is new information that has recently come to light.
It seems the reason the boys are the only ones missing isn't because they weren't summoned, but because Elna had killed them.

The shocking revelation is that Narumi's magic is not time travel, but restoration magic.
In that case, it makes sense that your items and strength from before the restart are carried over.
At the end of Chapter 2, it feels like we've finally seen the enemy we need to defeat.

Final Chapter, Part 1

Because Furusuka is a little simple-minded, Narumi's words were genuine praise, but normally, the other person would probably get angry.
However, I couldn't help but laugh at how casually Furusuka accepted those words.

We've managed to establish a cooperative relationship, and it looks like we can expect a different development than in the previous chapters.

However, it seems that Rashlinka is not particularly interested in returning to her original world.
Right now, we have a common enemy, which is good, but I have a feeling that a relationship beyond temporary cooperation will be difficult.

This is a newly unlocked feature.
These kinds of additions, which come frequently, add a sense of freshness, so they're very welcome in feature-length works.
It's thoughtful of them to say, "This also applies to members who aren't members."
Without this, you might think you'll lose out if you don't exchange it after everyone has joined.

Reito, who was completely absent in Chapter 2, makes a reappearance.
It is finally revealed that it was apparently Fura.

The comedic banter between Clayas and Furska is a welcome and heartwarming element in this otherwise bleak work.

The title's meaning has finally been revealed.
That said, it's not a crucial keyword, but rather a memorable word that represents Narumi and the others (and by extension, this game).
"Zekkai" (絶界) is a play on words with "Zekkai" (絶海), meaning a world isolated from others, while "abyss sinker" likely refers to someone sinking to the deep bottom.

The activation rate is low, but I love this kind of system because it gives a sense of everyone fighting together.
It's too unpredictable to incorporate into a strategy, but if it does activate, it's a lucky bonus and a little bit of a pleasant surprise.
I think it would have been more helpful if there were more support skills for healing and assistance rather than attack skills.

The third instance refers to the first chapter, and the mystery of his actions has finally been revealed.

While not necessarily condoning the influence, Clayas objectively analyzes the situation and acknowledges that there are aspects that resonate with him, giving the impression that he is a reasonable person to talk to.
The reason Rashlinka had Clayas accompany the humans might be because she anticipated that it would ultimately be incompatible with Rashlinka's objectives.
If Philant had accompanied the humans, he might have been influenced and sided with them, so I think this personnel arrangement was a brilliant move by Rashlinka.

The ability to communicate with underground angels through telepathy is understandable as a supernatural power, but it seems that the Exe-Il side possesses such technology.

Narumi's point is valid.
It seemed to be a point that hit a nerve for Fol, as he couldn't refute the criticism and could only glare at Reito for teaching him something he shouldn't have.
No matter how much the Exe-Il side tries to justify their actions, they cannot justify their attempt to pit humans against underground angels for their own benefit.
(Narumi has stated that she doesn't believe "only" that side of the story, and is trying to look at the situation from an unbiased perspective.)

They're just regular enemies, but these boss-sized regular enemies are quite memorable, aren't they?
It looks like the Kraken from Mother 2.

Clayas, who cares about Narumi, gives her helpful advice.
At this point, Clayas seems to have become a much more trustworthy person.

In Chapters 1 and 2, Sasajima became a symbol of conflict between people, but I feel like he has now been able to atone for that.
He has a calm expression, but it's sad that he doesn't have any further significant roles after this.

Narumi, thinking to herself, "I shouldn't get Kazumi's hopes up too much...", replies as follows.
Being serious is good, but the fact that you can't say "I'm sure everything will be alright" reveals a lack of social skills.
It could be said that taking on responsibility for things that someone else should be doing is a disadvantageous trait (though the protagonist certainly has the potential).

As we enter the final chapter, yet another new force is revealed.
The unidentified entity we've been fighting so far appears to be called a Seeral.

The mystery of Ishikura and his group's suspicious behavior is finally solved.
The fact that they were acting that way from Chapter 1 suggests that they made contact with Exe Il quite early on.

It feels like Narumi clearly pointed out the unpleasant feelings I had towards Ishikura and the others.
I think what's unpleasant is that he's been harboring resentment about what happened in his original world for so long, and that's what drives his actions.
The fact that they prioritize harassing Narumi over even the lives of others makes me feel like they're completely out of touch with reality.
However, the fact that he's fairly experienced in battle is what makes him so annoying.

These lines from Yuzuki carry weight precisely because she dies every time in Chapters 1 and 2.
However, I didn't use them as combat members in the final chapter.
Please understand my kindness in not wanting you to die.

I think the conflict with Ishikura and the others was unavoidable in the process of starting all over again.
Even if Ishikura and his group hadn't come into contact with Exe-Il, I think some form of conflict would have been unavoidable.
"No matter how many times I try again, I can't save you all" was Narumi's heartfelt cry, and it was probably the truth as well.

Natsuki's persistent cough leaves a lingering sense of unease in the players' minds.
This scene is repeated so often, when you least expect it, that it feels like a message from the author saying, "Don't forget this plot point."

Finally, a being that seems capable of communication has appeared on the Gnome side.

It seems that the coolness factor of humanoid weapons is important in the culture of any country.

It said that instant death would work, so I tried using the skill on Narumi and was able to defeat her easily, which made me feel like I'd gotten a good deal.
Many of the boss characters we fight again are quite important, but this one is a minor character, so I think it's unusual.
Even though he's a lieutenant general and quite high-ranking, he's fighting on the front lines, so perhaps EXILE is a fairly meritocratic organization.
(It seemed unusual that even General Reito would go so far as to infiltrate the base.)

Clayas's older sister persona suddenly emerges.
He was probably used to Philant's personality since he was his younger brother.

This time, the topic is Mother 2.

Elna's "breaking off the friendship" is just as terrifying as Tomodachi's in "20th Century Boys."
But if we're being nitpicky, Elna's later actions and words show that breaking off a friendship isn't synonymous with killing someone, but in 20th Century Boys, breaking off a friendship equals killing (eliminating) someone, so maybe it's still better (delusional).

It's rare and memorable to see Rashlinka, who usually gives off such a strong, powerful vibe, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The shocking truth is finally revealed.
I was surprised to learn that it was science fiction, not fantasy.

In the end, I never got to see Philant's affectionate side...

What kind of manga did Serenaria read?
Even if I did read it, it seems quite old.

Alma is forward-thinking and believes that cooperation cannot be established until all necessary tasks have been properly completed.
It seems less like being bound by organizational ties and more like a rationalization that the cost of fighting back is lower than the cost of trying to persuade others.
Or perhaps they simply want to fight against Narumi and the others.

It has become clear that the Gnomes are creatures that were originally on this planet, making them distinct from other living beings.

The most reasonable conclusion to reach at the end of Chapter 2 is that Rashlinka deceived humans and then disposed of them all at once.
Considering that, I think Narumi managed to escape the teleportation circle by the skin of her teeth.

I love the villainous move of someone who senses Rashlinka's intentions but still follows along for their own desires.
I think the way he pauses before laughing in response to Claias's question is a brilliant piece of directing.
(Without the "...", it comes across as being too perceptive.)

Deer... I believed I could use you guys as playable characters...
The sense of loss was so great precisely because there was no going back.

Final Chapter, Part 2

Alma, with her youthful appearance and cold, ruthless expression, is undeniably cool.
However, the first battle I fought after unlocking this tank was against a tank that was a bad match for it, so I had a very hard time.

Based on what had happened so far, I thought Shoka had died, but somehow she managed to survive.

Poor Holono, who was grieving the sudden death of Elk Hata, suddenly finds everyone teleported to her all at once.
They were apparently childhood friends, and it seems like there are many unrevealed details about Exe-Il.

At first glance, the scene might give the impression that something shady is happening, but it's actually a perfectly wholesome scene. (Ear cleaning)

Why did I do it at that time? It might have just been a whim of Yuzuki's.
Tsutsuji is also exasperated by the unpredictability of her actions.

Vice Admiral Brosgo (the old man), who seemed like a character who would somehow survive, was unexpectedly eliminated here.
The phrase "I can't believe this is happening here" might be a reflection of the players' feelings.
(It's hardly relevant to the main story, so many people might not be paying attention to it.)

As mentioned earlier, I think Laszlinka kept him close along with Serenaria precisely because Philant had a dangerous tendency to lean towards the human side.
To put it another way, I feel that separating him from Clayas also prevented him from being influenced by humans and white wings.

The phrase "showing the underside of the wings" sounds like an idiom in the world of underground angels, which I found quite amusing.

Rashlinka's words sound plausible, but it's not fair that he anticipates there will be dissenting underground angels, takes away their options, and deceives them to his advantage.
It seems that imposing one's own values on others is also considered unpleasant in the culture of the underground angels.

Ultimately, it seems that in this work, those who clung to the constraints of their original world were the ones who were least likely to survive.
This applies to Ishikura and his group who confronted Narumi in their original world, as well as to Rashlinka, who is reluctant to return to Urgos; although their motivations are reversed, I feel they are similar in that respect.
In that sense, I think the positive outcome was due to the fact that Furska was an eccentric among the underground angels and therefore less prejudiced, and that Clayas had an understanding attitude towards different cultures.

It's working, it's working

This is a sudden and unexpected breakthrough.
The pacing feels a little fast, but I'm taking it positively since it's understandable that the tempo would slow down towards the end of the game.

The King of Sheelal had been kept alive by his subjects, but now that they are gone, he has begun to question the meaning of his country's continued existence.
Ultimately, he entrusts Narumi and the others with the task of defeating Elna, and tries to engrave Sheeral's existence into people's memories by showing them the king's fighting spirit.
Although it wasn't discussed in great detail, even the few anecdotes that were available were deeply moving.

It's so noisy...
It seems Elna is losing a lot of her composure, as her emotional (and perhaps in line with her appearance) remarks have become more noticeable.

Alma's taunts throughout the story are all incredibly sharp and satisfying.

The "a little" in "It's a little fun" reveals a desperate attempt to appear confident, and it feels like I've finally managed to strike back.

Looking back now, I think that if Elna hadn't existed, we might have been able to understand the Underground Angels, Exe Il, and Seeral.
In that sense, there was no one at the faction level who could be clearly identified as an enemy (although there were some at the individual level).
However, I felt that Elna's words clearly indicated that she is an enemy no matter what.

He's the type of villain who leaves a curse on the victors at the moment of his death; he gives the impression of being inherently evil.
Because of these aspects, I never really felt much sympathy for Elna until the very end, and I think that was for the best.

Fullska trying to hold back tears is so cute.

No way, Nakky...
The frequent coughing scenes that served as foreshadowing were resolved in this way.
Is it a consequence of his heroic nature that he ends up dying in every chapter?
Whether as an antagonist or a reliable ally, this character had a significant presence in both roles.

It's a heartwarming scene where you can feel Clayas's genuine cry.
However, it seems that he respects and relies on Fullska quite a bit, so it was good to see that they acknowledge each other as comrades in arms.

Shoka's cough foreshadows what will happen next.
However, even in our original world, sudden partings can happen.
I want to believe that by preparing myself in advance for the fact that we don't know when their lifespan will end, I will be able to bear the sadness.

Character-specific impressions after clearing the game (contains spoilers)

I haven't written about all the characters, but I've focused on those who left a strong impression on me and shared my thoughts.
Some parts of this review overlap with the screenshot comments in the previous section.
Please be aware that what I'm writing is just one person's opinion (and fantasy) (this doesn't mean you shouldn't disagree).
This contains spoilers, so I recommend reading it after you've finished the final chapter.

: Narumi Asaba

I thought he was the main character because he was on the title screen, but he didn't appear for a while, so I started to wonder if he wasn't.
He was calm and rational about the parts he knew from redoing the process, but in the parts he didn't know, he showed some emotional tendencies, which I thought was typical of someone his age.
However, while fundamentally serious and responsible, they tend to be poor communicators, so I think they're likely to be misunderstood unless you become close to them to a certain extent.

In combat, her high agility and speed-boosting magic were very useful as basic buffs when fighting bosses.
I mainly used a bow, but if you're focusing on offense in the early stages, the dagger skill (poison) will be useful.
By the time you master the sparrow-dropping technique with a bow, I think you'll be strong in both ways.

: Shoka Totsuka

It was interesting how they made you think the character was the protagonist, but then it turned out they weren't.
On the contrary, the fact that even key characters die made me feel that this work was something special.
He's a kind-hearted tank who takes on the role of shield because he's afraid of dying, but even more afraid of seeing others die in front of him.
She was one of the few motherly characters who could act as a brake on Narumi, who tended to get out of control.

In terms of combat, I often used rapiers because of their additional effects.
Mass Barrier is useful in many boss battles, but I often left it out of my party unless the boss had a weakness I could exploit.

: Kazumi Kuchiki

She can manage to fight when Shoka and Yuzuki are around, but when they're all gone, she becomes completely helpless. She comes across as a kind and ordinary girl, for better or for worse.
Therefore, he tends to have overly optimistic outlooks, and there are occasional instances where Narumi puts him in his place.
Her gentle nature is certainly a source of comfort in the work, and personally, she was a character I really liked.

In combat, its strength lies in its ability to function not only as a healer but also as a melee attacker.
I almost always equipped a mace, especially since blunt weapon techniques are useful for inflicting debuffs.
Many of the abilities were very useful, such as Shell Splitter, which lowers defense; Temple Blow, which lowers magic power; and Clearance, which cures all status ailments.

: Mikami Yuzuki

From the very beginning, this character has remained a constant ally as a member of Tsuyukusa.
For some reason, apart from his death scene, he leaves little impression and is rather unremarkable.
Aside from their strategic importance in the game, I feel like their presence or absence has little impact on the story (sorry!).
However, I believe that together with Kazumi, she was definitely creating the "usual scenery" of Team Tsuyukusa.
The fact that Yuzuki is defeated at the end of Chapter 1 strongly conveyed the feeling that the ordinary within the extraordinary had crumbled.

In terms of combat, they were a reliable presence in Chapters 1 and 2, as they increased the number of combat personnel.
However, if there was room for member selection in the final chapter, their abilities made them difficult to choose.
While you can't equip two types of weapons, you can use two different elemental attacks depending on your skills. However, the lack of magic-based attacks makes it feel somewhat underwhelming.
In the final chapter, he never actually participated in any combat.

: Lito Lass

When she first appeared, she was shrouded in mystery, but she proved to be a reliable asset as a magic attacker.
I suspected there was something more to it, but I remember feeling relieved that it wasn't someone who was a mastermind.
After being captured, they were subjected to a kind of brainwashing by magic and became unable to lie, which I found truly pitiful.

In combat, he was a very reliable attacker and remained a main member of the team until the very end.
The skills were all useful, including the easily usable area-of-effect spell Whirlwind, the high-power Disturb with a magic defense-reducing buff, Raging Thunder which deals multi-hit damage to a single target, Curses which inflict multiple status ailments, and Urdio's Cremation which deals the highest damage.

: Chijo Natsuki

Natsuki, who was portrayed as a powerful character from the beginning, played a key role in the story.
She is even more determined than Narumi, and she is a convincing "hero" who is willing to sacrifice her own life from a broader perspective.
It's incredibly sad that they inevitably die in every story, but I found it interesting how the meaning and impact of their deaths differed so greatly in each one (being defeated as the final boss of a chapter, the loss of a combat character, Tsutsuji's mental growth, a death that prompts everyone to make a firm resolve).

As a combat member, he played a key role until the very end.
I mainly used blunt weapons, beating my opponents like a barbarian, aiming to lower their agility and confuse them.
The fact that it has elemental attacks makes it surprisingly easy to use.
Furthermore, Berserk, which has a permanent effect, was useful even in the version that only targeted itself, as it boosted its attack power.

: Inose Tsutsuji

In Chapter 1, I only saw him as Nakky's partner, but in Chapter 2, I truly realized the strength of their bond.
Considering the progression of events, Nakky's transformation in Chapter 1 seems quite natural.
Their seamless teamwork was a welcome respite in this world full of petty squabbles.
The fact that he's a gamer who likes "Civilization" was an interesting contrast.

In terms of combat, he was a semi-regular character, and we relied on him mainly for regular battles.
Although it can perform both area-of-effect healing and area-of-effect attacks, its offensive capabilities are somewhat weak, so it seemed to lose to the combination of Riito and Kazumi.
The relatively limited number of usable special moves and the tendency to have excess TP made it difficult to use in boss battles.
I liked the battle graphics the most because they were cute (my second favorite was Nakky with her rapier, and my third favorite was Fullska).

: Underground Angel Fullska

In the first chapter, he was a mysterious and unusual presence, but by the final chapter, he had become someone I could completely trust as a friend. I'm surprised at how much my impression of him changed within a single work.
I personally believe that one of the themes of this work is "contact with and understanding different cultures," and I think that Fullska and the other underground angels played a very important role in that.
Being able to cooperate with previously hostile forces became a ray of hope in a desperate situation.
By the way, was the fact that Fullska revealed to Natsuki in Chapter 1 that even if you go all the way to the lowest level, it's a dead end anyway?

In terms of combat, her dignified facial graphic is beautiful, a stark contrast to her goofy personality.
While it has some unique mechanics, such as not being able to carry over TP and having low item effects, the damage reduction effect of its dedicated equipment is significant, so I feel it's tougher than its stats suggest.
Furthermore, Mass Magic Barrier and Reflect Field are quite useful for dealing with bosses, so using them would be very helpful (although I didn't use Reflect Field much myself).
Towards the end of the game, there were many situations where I wanted to heal with an item as quickly as possible, so it was difficult to include the Underground Angel in the party (although it didn't affect things like reviving incapacitated characters).

: Underground Angel Clayas

I initially thought it was a male character.
However, the description that Elna killed all the men led me to the paradoxical conclusion that Clayas must be a woman.
It seems that they had some doubts about Rashlinka, so it could be said that cooperating with humans only hastened their defection.
However, the change in my impression of him after his appearance was significant, just like with Fullska, and I was happy that Clayas seemed to understand me.

I used it as my main weapon in battles for a while, but I stopped using it for the same reasons as with Full Squad.
While Fullska has highly useful support skills, Clayas had the drawback of having a relatively weak ultimate attack, and many of his support skills could be substituted with items.
He was incredibly useful as a healer along the way!

Alma Figa

Since we couldn't communicate, I initially thought they were some kind of native inhabitants, but it turned out they were on the same side as Reito.
I thought everyone looked down on her because of her youthful appearance, but in reality, she seemed to have quite a bit of influence within Exe Il.
In fact, she gives the impression of having an even stronger resolve than Natsuki.

However, in actual combat situations, there were few skill points available, so there weren't many opportunities to acquire new skills.
Furthermore, its offensive capabilities weren't particularly outstanding, so there were hardly any opportunities to use it.
Since speed seems to be its main selling point, I might have used it if its agility stat had been exceptionally high, but unfortunately, it wasn't very high in reality.

: Lashlinka

They gave the impression of being a formidable antagonist in the story, refusing to reveal their true intentions until the very end.
In Urgos, there was talk that even the Colorful Wings were just expendable pawns, so perhaps she was fed up with that (meaning that unless she was at the top, she herself could become an expendable pawn).

However, that doesn't mean that accepting the other world is anything more than escaping from Urgos.
Rashlinka claims she's simply adapting to her new world, but if that's the case, she shouldn't have brought the constraints of her original world (such as discrimination against white-winged creatures) with her.
The contradiction of disliking the rules of one's original world while simultaneously using those rules in another world may have been something that was eventually resolved.
In this work, characters who cling to the constraints of their original world inevitably meet their end.
It could be said that Rashlinka was no exception to this trend.

The fact that he brought Clayas along could be interpreted as him keeping him away from them to prevent them from discovering his plan, or it could even be interpreted as him foreseeing that the earnest Clayas would eventually become an enemy.
Perhaps they thought that if they were going to be enemies anyway, it would be more satisfying to put them together with the person they intended to betray.
Since the character's emotions were difficult to discern until the very end, I was happy when they finally became apparent, as it seemed like it might provide a clue to understanding them.
I wasn't aware of it before, but it seems I quite like Rashlinka as a character.

: Philant

Philant seemed to be quite proud among the underground angels, but there was room for acceptance of other races.
In fact, after Narumi and the others took the lead in clearing the way for the formidable enemy, they are trying to keep their promise to be the first to charge in (perhaps due to their pride).

If they had been acting together with Narumi and the others, along with Clayas, the outcome might have been different.
In this story, there are always antagonists and allies, no matter what, but I feel that she could have been an ally depending on the circumstances.
Isn't she a tragic figure who died even though she could have had a better future without having to die?

: Serenaria

It seems that Serenaria, who sees battle itself as the goal, ultimately could not coexist with Narumi and the others, who fight as a means to survive.
It seems that Rashlinka wouldn't have fought unnecessarily if she could have been at the top, but Serenaria desires the fight itself, and that's a clear difference.
I sense a similar temperament in Elna's decision to stay on the planet and prioritize playfulness, even though she could have escaped if she endured the pain.
Reading comics at the campsite was simply a way to pass the time, and it wasn't enough to warrant changing the purpose of the trip.
Contrary to her laid-back appearance, she could be described as a truly nasty character, on par with Elna.

: Elna

It's safe to assume that Elna's mentality is that of a child, just as she appears.
From the very beginning, Elna consistently used her power to force others to be her friends.
And even when advised against it, they deny it, and if it doesn't work out, they simply discard it—a cycle that repeats itself.
I'm constantly engaging in behavior that's the complete opposite of the importance of mutual understanding that's depicted in this work (or so I believe).
In the end, he dies without ever truly understanding Narumi and the others.

Initially, they couldn't communicate with the underground angels, Exe Il, Seeral, and even the gnomes, but they were able to find a possibility of mutual understanding. However, they were never able to communicate with Elna, who could speak their language, until the very end.
I find it terrifying when two people can communicate using the same language, yet are completely unable to have a meaningful conversation.

In real life, even minor misunderstandings or a lack of communication can lead to arguments and conflicts.
I want to live my life without letting Elna reside in my heart.

Keiko Kono

She's a character packed with attributes: a small, strong-willed woman who speaks like a motherly figure and wields a greatsword.
I thought that if Natsuhime and Tsutsuji were available, then maybe I'd be able to use them eventually, but that day never came.
He was a kind and easygoing person who could lighten everyone's mood whenever a conversation was about to get complicated.
Although she's not playable, the sense of fighting alongside her from Chapter 1 is strong, and it made me feel like the exploration team wasn't just limited to Tsuyukusa.

: Yuu Sakai

He didn't have a particularly strong presence, but he gave the impression of being helpful at crucial moments.
The support he provides during the final battle against Chijo in Chapter 1 was particularly exciting due to the circumstances, but I can't deny that it felt like that was the peak of the story.
Because she's visually cute, I can't help but pay attention to her even when she only makes a brief appearance.

: Dokiya Marin

Even in the official popularity pollWhy?The pottery shop was among the top-ranked.
I couldn't help but laugh and agree with the comment in the voting that said, "This one seems more like a dark woman."
In the story, his careless misuse of the dangerous magic of Irritation and his general disregard for others gave him a truly evil impression.
I felt a little sorry for her when she said she wanted to die in her own room at the end, but I'll never forget that she was the one who caused Shoka's death in Chapter 1...

Whether it's Yawata or Dokiya, I briefly felt that there's something in common with Philant in the sense that a different future might have been possible if Ishikura hadn't been there. Just for a moment.