My thoughts so far on HS2 LI routes
Andy/Loy: uhhh yeah..... These 2 are by far the worst obviously. Absolutely terrible to kill them off and then let Vicky just forget about them? No. It's why it took me so long to try the other routes in HS2, I couldn't get over how Alisa killed off Andy in my first playthrough.
Dino: I think most of his route makes sense. His character is the most consistent with HS1, although he appears weaker at times. But this can be forgiven because of the whole situation. At the start he's obviously super conflicted, he tries to take care of Vicky and his relationship has a nice build-up. The family time, while awkward obviously with Fencio, makes sense. The suicide scene makes sense with how he reacts to Vicky stabbing herself. The wedding is obviously something he's been working towards in his head for ages and it fits their relationship.
Lucifer: honestly..... I hate to say this but HS2 made me hate Luci? To me he was second-best in HS1, so to now suddenly hate him is a big step. He lays it on too thick in the beginning with Plague, but he does come around eventually. The family time is weird but still not completely bizarre. The time in hell was super weird. This is where his character as I understood it was completely assassinated. The suicide scene is fine. The wedding came out of nowhere to be honest, and it felt super forced how lovey-dovey he was suddenly being.
Malbonte: I think the beginning was very rough. But at some point he suddenly goes from 0 to 60, and it's left me with whiplash. Vicky makes ZERO SENSE in his route. Like why has she never figured out that after wanting to kill one god, he'll obviously also want to kill the other?? After 10 years sleeping together and waking up together? Like wtffff. The family time can go die in a fire, it was that terrible and weird. I hate Rebecca on Malbonte's route even more than I already do! The suicide scene makes ZERO sense, again.... Why the fuck is Malbonte suddenly powerless? It was like the suicide scene had to happen so everyone was forced into it whether they fit or not. How did he think it was going to work out to have all of them die and.... Not defeat Shephamalum? I mean who would be left to do it? So bizarre. I don't even want to acknowledge the build-up to the wedding, like wtf?? Suddenly Malbonte is some lovey-dovey doting husband and partner? Whattttt? I just don't even think they're the same character anymore! The wedding however made up for it, that was pretty good.
Astaroth: was he one of the added LIs? Holy retcon.... Still it was an enjoyable route and with proper fleshed out scenes it could have been amazing. Wasted on this book tbh. The family time was pretty sweet with Christopher there but Rebecca is insufferable... The suicide scene was nice and angsty. The wedding was lovely, and I loved that the wedding speech was given by Christopher and we didn't have to listen to that witch again.
Hunger: actually such a wholesome route... If Malbonte hadn't improved so drastically, I would be tempted to choose him as my favourite. The family time was absolutely horrendous like wtf, but at least it made some sense... The suicide scene made some sense too, since Hunger was apparently not aware of what was going to happen. The wedding was weird AF but loved Hunger's reaction to everything.
War: sorry I despise his cardboard character and his sprite is super ugly to me so.... Won't be playing his route. 😬
Mimi: I actually despise what HS2 did with her. What happened to my sassy strong snarky Mimi?? 😢