PAH was off to a good start, it really was; but that was before the writers took a couple of unfathomable and painfully uninspired decisions, messily soiling their own work in the process. PAH had the potential to be a true gem, one of the very best VNs out there; instead, it ends up being merely passable, and here's why. (Spoilers!)
— The ties with Black Butterfly. This is simply the single worst decision pertaining to PAH's story: not only does the link between the two stories come somewhat out of left field and feel shoehorned into the story, but it creates a milling mass of plotholes that wouldn't have existed otherwise. It's also really just cheap fan-service, when you think of it: so Kagiha, Hikage and Usagi from PBB are now stranded in PAH's world under a slightly different guise because reasons, and I'm supposed to cream my pants at the mere sight of them? Even though making Usagi an actual rabbit is possibly the worst case of dumb literal interpretation I've ever encountered? Am I also supposed to lose it when discovering the cast of PAH in school uniforms in the Girl Ending? To me, this is nothing but lame pandering to the current trend of unifying videogame series under a single narrative flag by forcing together games and stories that were conceived as separate entries. (I'm looking at you, Pokemon and your stupid parallel universes, Zelda and your ridiculous timelines.) Or, in PAH's case, should have been conceived as separate entries: using the Psychedelica concept in different and totally independent settings would have worked beautifully, and even opened the door for sequels and appetizing variations of said concept.
— Hugh. Not only is that guy's design bland and his characterization flat, but he's also the worst case of Deus ex Machina I've seen this side of the Akashic Records in Period Cube. Heck, the writers didn't even try to hide the fact that he's a narrative device on legs: he can teleport, talk to people in their dreams, modify his appearance at will, and generally do anything that's required to get the characters and the story out of a bind. Oh, and he pops up out of thin air to deliver the story's MacGuffin to Jed — because hey, why not? To add insult to injury, we're not even treated to a juicy and meaty explanation regarding his identity and the reason behind his amazing powers. It's been speculated that a third Psychedelica game was in the making and would provide answers regarding those matters; however, two years have passed since PAH's release, and it's becoming less and less likely that this fabled sequel will ever see the light of day.
— Confusing is thy name: Unlike Black Butterfly, Ashen Hawk does a really poor job at explaining the ins and outs of its story — when it actually tries to explain them. I have to admit that some plot points remain a mystery to me, and I'm not too sure that I would be able to recap the whole thing if I had to. Were the jewels removed from the Kaleido-Via in the 'real' world or in the Psychedelica? Is Jed's red eye ultimately to blame on the jewel stuck in it, or is it a trait inherited from her mother? If everybody remain stuck in the Psychedelica in all endings but the Girl Ending, as the game seems to imply, why does the Psychedelica remain unchanged in some endings yet deteriorates in others? How can there be so-called ghosts in the Psychedelica, when all its inhabitants are already disembodied spirits? Clearing a second run might shed light on those murky matters, granted; but I really shouldn't have to do that in the first place. A story that doesn't leave the reader with a clear view of what happened is just a case of bad storytelling, period.
— In for the (cheap) thrill: Some of the story's twists and turns come seriously out of left field, and undermine other genuinely good plot twists in the process. For instance, the reveal of Francesca's scheming nature was a excellent development: as the head of one of the towns' leading factions, it made perfect sense for her to be involved in some dirty machinations and to be a shrewd operator behind her kind facade. On the other hand, making her kill Aria out of sheer jealousy is a step too far and doesn't square with the calmness and sangfroid she displays throughout the story — not to mention her affection towards Jed, the very daughter of the woman she hated. Likewise, discovering that kind, responsible and collected Lavan harbours a burning hate for his father and a desperate drive to avoid becoming like him adds some welcome depth to his character; on the other hand, learning that jolly, happy-go-lucky Levi is a serial killer with an unquenchable lust for blood feels far-fetched and solely designed to upset the reader. And then we have all sorts of incoherencies and out of character behaviours, such as Olgar remaining cold to Jed after learning that she is his daughter, Jed ruthlessly manipulating Tee or Lavan behaving like a brooding, sullen douche in his dedicated ending.
— Too little, too fast: All the endings, without exception, are rushed and unfulfilling. It's really a pity and a shame to see all the game's patient exposition squandered and spoiled in unsatisfying endings that don't do justice to the characters. The 'romantic' endings are particularly nasty in that regard: after all the expertly handled steamy moments between Jed and the beaus over the course of the story, it stings to be slapped in the face with those depressing outcomes that hardly show a shred of affection between Jed and her beau du jour.
At the end of the day, PAH is a VN that started well yet ran out of steam at the worst possible moment. I was thoroughly disappointed by the endings and the big reveals that came along with them; and yet, somehow, I still love that game. The characters, the art and the whole atmophere left a huge mark on my heart; and although I would have wanted a different outcome for the whole story, I don't regret my purchase one bit and I'll certainly replay PAH someday. And this, dear fellow gamers, is the end of my 'Summer of Mystery' adventures. Will I ever get to play another localized otome game? Only time will tell! Thanks for reading, and be my guest anytime!
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