Atelier Sophie: Getting to the heart of things

Indeedy.

Despite my claims that I would focus on Rescue Team DX, my love for Sophie clearly didn't abate, and neither did my playtime; that's how I now find myself with all Growth recipes under my belt and a good 50% of the game polished off. I reached a major narrative and alchemic milestone, and was rewarded by a lovely celebratory cutscene. This brought me a fuzzy, happy-endingy feeling of completion yet again — a feeling so satisfying that I could nearly drop the game right now. This begets the question: should I indeed quit, or should I keep playing?

The "Drop it" arguments:

— I've been playing for 25 hours already, and thus inching perilously closer to my default playing limit of 30 hours per RPG run. Granted, I still don't feel the slightest bit of gaming fatigue; yet gaming wisdom dictates that I should stop right now, while I still love the game and can come back to it later with enthusiasm and eagerness.

— As far as I'm concerned (spoilers!), giving Plachta a human body was the game's main — if not ultimate — goal. I'm just done doing that; and thus, the game is kinda over in my mind, even though the credits didn't roll yet. As a matter of fact, I couldn't help but smell a whiff of postgame when I started exploring the third batch of recipes. (end of spoilers)

The "Stick with it" arguments:

— I still love the game to pieces. Not only am I never out of things to do — and never bored thanks to the variety of those things to do — but the game also regularly brings in new gameplay features — such as giving gifts to allies, merchants and artisans. It would be a pity to stop now that I have the opportunity to give Sophie a full harem, now wouldn't it?

— I currently have a number of appetizing grindy goals to reach. Those include farming money thanks to that excellent tip, and using that money to enhance my current gear to the max. Then I can challenge that stupid giant fish at Prospector's Strand again, wipe the (sea)floor with it at long last, and get my revenge for the last two times when he annihilated my party.

— I still get that delicious frisson when I forage gold quality items and unearth new materials. Surely this is a indisputable sign that I'm not blasé yet, isn't it? Also, the best seems to be yet to come as far as combat skills are concerned.

There are valid arguments on both sides; so as usual, I'll let my faithful gaming instinct run the show. See you soon with another run report — or a half-run wrap-up post!