So now that the current content of Gabe is done, I have some mixed feelings. On the one hand, I like the lore it brings to the table, and it does kind of fit into what I was thinking about before starting it. On the other hand, it sidelines Gabe a lot, and it is clear that he had done something fucked up in the past; it wants to keep it more hidden. It makes it feel like Gabe's route is more for the lore over the love interest, but I also feel like Mark had a better balance.
I'm not sure if I like there being a part of Virgil acting independently from him, and I think the whole thing would be better if it were a weakened version of Virgil himself. His origin point or something. It breaks out all the same anyway, so I'm not really sure what it adds outside of speculating how much he might be interfering with Virgil's current plans.
Another thing I don't really like is that it doesn't have Talia and Felix kill Derek and instead have him die from the ooze because it cheats them out of the character moment and still gets what they want without getting their hands dirty. Even if it is a fake-out or they find out they can't do it, the important thing is to let the reader know they could without cold feet. I expect Talia would if she could.
I picked Gabe on the route split, but it feels like this choice wouldn't matter as much yet. I might try Etienne, but there is less motive to because with Mark I was more interested in how it would play out without picking him and maybe seeing him from another angle. Currently it is hard to see what would really change with Gabe.
The whole magic thing feels like kind of an ass pull, not that the game was grounded in reality, but it is kind of strange that Grey would know things would work the way he wanted them to. It isn't answered what is possessing Grey, but this route gives a possibility of who it might be since the voice is excited about Ollie and wants to be close to him. Doesn't really explain the magic, and I'm speculating from an incomplete picture.
It makes sense that the last route in the timeline would try to connect all the others that Grey popped up in the other places with the other choices and tried to help them. To the point that he was considered an anomaly and studied himself. Still not sure how timelines work, but viewing it as one big one seems to be how it is intended to be viewed, even if it really is a split based on the choice.
I like how the D&D came back even if the scene itself wasn't that good. It makes it feel like it has a point instead of just pure filler and give Virgil a idea for something new.
I liked it overall, but I still like Mark's as a package better. I might try the other path and head on to the side story before going to Ken. This also, unfortunately, might make it so Hiro's route might have something interesting and worth skimming over. Not really sure since I would mostly be doing it for the overarching lore over Hiro.
I have read part of Ken's route and didn't like it, so it might be the first where I gladly ditch Ken to go with the other path. I'm hoping he gets something a little more likable to him as I get into his route.