Finished this game. I’d estimate my actual playtime without idling was about 80 hours, so it is a really long one.
I may be writing this from a honeymoon perspective but man what a once in a lifetime ride this game was. I paused every other game I was playing just to keep playing this. An easy 10/10 if I’ve ever seen one. That’s not to say I didn’t have 0 problems with it, but this game’s high points are so incredible that the 10 stays.
The negatives I’d say are that the game is still slow to start despite continuing directly from Mask of Deception (there is not nearly the same amount of slice-of-life/filler scenes though), and that the “true villain” was not that great (and their lackeys were just outright annoying in a negative way).
Once the plot gets going though… It doesn’t stop. You basically get 50 non-stop hours of just awesome setpieces, plot twists, character development. Characters I didn’t really like in Mask of Deception, like Anju, shine a lot better here.
I’ve mentioned before about the gameplay just being “there” in these games, but here, the gameplay itself does actually get more engaging towards the end. You do start actually feeling like “oh shit, I can actually lose if I don’t pay attention here” lol. The final setpiece/boss fight is a very long endurance test, talking like 2 hours here (and is one of the best final boss setpieces I’ve seen, I think, epic way to end the trilogy.)
I’ve mentioned that I do think there are some flaws with the writing but this game really does know how to make you emotional, tons of scenes that stuck with me, especially the ending. Top notch characters as well. Haku has definitely cemented himself into one of my all time favorite protagonists (his voice actor, Keiji Fujiwara, passed away in 2020. This game would not have been the same without his performance)
If I had to compare this game to another, I think I’d say this game gets very Xenogears-y, in MANY ways. I’ll have to keep thinking about it past the honeymoon period, but it may well join Xenogears and Trails in the Sky SC as one of my all time favorites. Again, a solid 10/10.
I’ve written my thoughts on the other two games in the trilogy on here already, but to shortly recap:
Prelude to the Fallen - 7.5/10, good game, shows it’s age of being written as a standalone game in 2002. Good pacing between slice-of life events and setpieces. Characters are okay, some plot points get outright dropped, antagonist is the most forgettable character in the whole series. Has many strong story moments and a great protagonist and is overall good at introducing you into the world
Mask of Deception - 8/10. Better narrative than Prelude. Better characters, but much slower pace, a bit too much slice of life events and “calm”. Starts to pick up near towards the end, goes non-stop for a little while and basically gives you a taste of what Mask of Truth is going to serve you.
Anyway, this might be be for the next little while 
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