I just finished playing Glass Heart: Retold and OMG IT IS SO GOOD. Was super interested in how a bunch of the love interests had connections. The music is beautiful. I looove the sprites. The game is fully voice acted and the love interests voice actors did an incredible job. Some parts are a bit cheesy but it's fun :) It's absolutely CRIMINAL that I haven't been able to find a fandom for this game. I've only found 8 fics on AO3 and ONE OF THEM IS IN FRENCH.
In Glass Heart you play as Meira, a 21 year old woman with a rare heart condition that has kept her in the hospital for most of her life. She got a heart donor right as her heart started failing. Her transplant surgery is a month away with a 20% chance of success. Meira wants to experience life outside the hospital before her high-stakes surgery, and each of the 6 love interests will help her do that.
Glass Heart: Retold is a remake. I haven't played the original, the main difference I know of are the 2 short stories after each route in the original. I was looking at the game files and found the CGs and sprites for those stories!! also saw a file with diary entries about each guy at different affection levels. maybe they'll be added in the future?
Under the cut I'll include content warnings for the game and my thoughts on each route in the order I played them. Spoilers ahead!!
Content Warning: Certain routes include gang violence, sexual assault, drugged MC, attempted suicide, and prostitution.
Tamaki
my assassin husband <3
somehow got the darkest route on the first playthrough
thought i was going to date sweet florist man who grew fond of Meira
ends up being in charge of an assassination guild
finds out a gang called the Zhulong Syndicate is after Meira's new heart, does his best to stop them
Charlotte is so pretty, wish she was a love interest
Lily is such a cute nickname
literally went feral when Tamaki called her a good girl
looove a man in a suit
unfortunately this is the route where Meira gets sexually assaulted
PAPI CAN GO FUCK HIMSELF
the way Tamaki reacted when Meira told him about the assault was 10/10 chef's kiss, the good stuff
he's such a sweet sweet man
the good ending is peak bc yes i would love to run a small flower shop with my lover!!
a very good starting point, one of my favorite routes!!
Will
needed something more lighthearted after Tamaki so I chose Will
going to college w/ childhood bff and his besties, very chill
friendzoning a girl you like and continuing to give her mixed signals after, not so chill
Nerd Squad is so goofy, I love them
Brayson was so flirty and silly like bro i can't get distracted ill do your route later
Krystol (her roommate) was a tad cringe but she's sweet
omg Tiffanie get out of here Will doesn't want you back
aaaand the Zhulong Syndicate is still after Meira's new heart GIVE MY GIRL A BREAK
at least we get to see Tamaki again WELCOME BACK HUSBAND
Meira got drugged at a party, TOLD HER FRIENDS NOT TO BRING HER TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY LISTENED TO HER
YES IM STILL PISSED ABOUT THAT
HER HEART IS SUPER WEAK AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT DRUG WILL INTERACT WITH HER OTHER MEDICATION
BAD FRIENDS
in the bad ending Will puts himself in front of Meira as a gang member tries to stab her in the hospital and he dies
kinda ironic since his older brother died doing the same thing for Will when he was a kid
and that unlocks Bray's route
Will's route is pretty short but it's a much needed route
Meira needed that slice of life moment and this route delivered!
Brayson
my hacker boyfriend <3
WHY DOES WILL HAVE TO DIE FOR BRAY'S ROUTE
okay diva diving into the dark web to find out more about who killed Will without any way to protect your data
THEY BOTH MISS WILL SO MUCH THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHERS PAIN
Bray i love you but chibi is probably the worst nickname you could've given her
good on you Bray for trying to not get Meira involved
in order to infiltrate the gang and get more info Meira needs to pretend to be a prostitute 💀
oh yeah that plan definitely goes well and the bad guys never see it coming (sarcasm)
Bray looked pretty cute in his suit
these guys move quiiick in the good ending, right after graduation they're engaged, bought a house, AND Meira is pregnant
the bad end takes place 10 YEARS LATER
MEIRA HAS BEEN IN A COMA FOR 10 YEARS AND BRAY VISITS HER EVERYDAY
Nathan
NO GANG STUFF THIS TIME
heck yeah queen get on that adult Make A Wish program and go to Hawaii with a rich man
love using a rich man’s money
this route has a pretty basic dating rich man plot line
Nathan falls in love w Meira as the trip goes, breaks off his arranged engagement, pursues photography instead on inheriting his father’s business, and lives his life with Meira
Also Meira’s doctor travels with them to look after her heart
And he loves her and is pretty jealous of Nathan
Philip is a character that exists
Nathan's friend, super flamboyant cosmetologist, usually comes around when Meira needs to dress up and love advice
when I first saw Nathan’s fiancée I convinced myself it his sister for a second?
They just look very similar
the bad ending was Meira's funeral
TAMAKI BROUGHT HER A BOUQUET OF LILIES
Eli
fun fact: we have the same birthday! (November 2)
we love a tsundere whose idol persona is a detective and recently got diagnosed with cancer
also hell yeah dude call out Will's mixed signals
THE SINGING WAS SO GOOD
Meira was giving MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY in this route
helps idol she doesn't know write a new love song with her dad's melody
idol falls in love w her
idol begs her to be part of the song
invites her to the studio
only Eli's manager knows he has cancer so his other colleagues are expecting him to work at full capacity while he has stage 3 stomach cancer💀
producer receives the demo and is like WE NEED HER TO PERFORM YOUR NEW SONG ON TOUR
Meira can't be on stage, too much stress on her body
but Eli is like hey lets make her into a hologram so all she needs to do is sing during concerts
SO THEY PLAN TO MAKE HER LIKE MIKU IN A VOCALOID CONCERT
they sing the final recording and a music video for the song
SHE GOES INTO A COMA AND WAKES UP A DAY BEFORE THE CONCERT
after performance she goes right into heart surgery and goes into another coma
(can't believe all of this happened in a month, she really is the main character)
In good ending she lives and they become idols together <3
In bad ending Meira dies before the concert and Eli dies after the concert
Jay
it's the doctor/patient dynamic
tbh was a tiny bit concerned when Jay said his little sister died from a heart condition and Meira would've been the same age as her if she was still alive
i was like does he see Meira as a sister 'cause that kinda weiiiird
he doesn't see her as a sister and the age gap isn't awful (21 and 27)
but still why would you date someone with that many similarities w your sister??
im gonna let myself live in peace and not think about it
we spend most of his route in his house and we don't see him in comfy clothes??
absolute criminal behavior devs i'll see you in court
The Zhulong clan is back to steal Meira's heart!
we get to more of Moran (another doctor) and i love that for us
AND MORE YOLO LOVE HER
ALSO THIS ROUTE FINALLY BRINGS UP SOMETHING IVE THOUGHT ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE GAME
Jay probably shouldn't be the one doing Meira’s surgery since he's so attached to her
He's the most skilled surgeon in the hospital, but he might not be able to keep his composure if something goes wrong in surgery
Meira i know you're trying to spare your potential partner by guarding your heart BUT GET UP GIRL! THAT MAN IS CLEARLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!!
THE GOOD ENDING IS SO SWEET
I WAS SO SCARED TO SEE THE BAD ENDING
and i was right to be scared BECAUSE JAY'S VA PERFORMED LIKE THE RENT WAS DUE YESTERDAY
Interviewer: Thanks for joining us today, Brayson!
Brayson: Haha. It's my pleasure, and just call me Bray.
Interviewer: Alright. Then, Bray, why don't you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
Brayson: Talk about myself? Oh man. Are you sure you can handle this awesomeness?
[Bray gives a playful wink before leaning back in the chair.]
Brayson: Haha. I'm just kidding. Um... Hah. Well. I'm a college student. I'm studying computer science. I like gaming with my buddies, and I'm a pizza addict.
Interviewer: Wow. Sounds like you live a pretty normal life.
Brayson: Yeah. I'd say so.
[The interviewer leans forward in her chair and stares into Bray's eyes. The lips of Brayson's mouth tilt up slightly, but his eyes seem to harden slightly.]
Interviewer: I think there's more to you than that, Bray.
Brayson: Well, I mean... what's life without a good mystery?
Interviewer: It's my job to uncover mysteries, and I'd really like to uncover you.
Brayson: Oh, would you?
[Bray runs his hands through his hair.]
Brayson: Well, I guess I could tell you a few of my secrets.
[The interviewer's eyes light up when he says this.]
Interviewer: I'm all ears, Bray. What do you want to tell me?
Brayson: I only told you my day-to-day life. What I didn't mention was what happens when the sun goes down.
Interviewer: What happens then?
[Brayson smiles and leans one elbow on the chair. His hair playfully dances in front of his face as he tilts his head to the side.]
Brayson: I'm a boring college student by day. By night, I'm....
[You could hear a pin drop with how silent the entire studio is.]
[He pauses for dramatic effect.]
Brayson: ... Batman.
[As soon as he says this, Brayson sits up and shines the brightest smile.]
Interviewer: I'm sorry.... Did you just say you're Batman?
Brayson: Yep! Ah~ That feels good to get off my chest. With great power comes great-
Interviewer: That's from Spiderman!
Brayson: Haha! Hey. It's still powerful words to live by!
Interviewer: Mr. Benton, please take this interview seriously.
Brayson: Oh, so I'm "Mr. Benton" now?
Interviewer: ...
Brayson: Listen. I'm all for entertaining people, but I'm not someone who's going to be coerced into giving out info that I don't want public.
[Brayson looks towards the back of the studio room and meets your gaze.]
Brayson: I'll tell you what. I'll answer any question honestly. As long as my Chibi asks them.
Interviewer: Your Chibi?
Brayson: Yep.
[He extends his hand and beckons you closer.]
Brayson: Alright, Chibi. What questions do you got for me?
