I supported this game on Kickstarter and even though I cannot say that I regretted my decision I find the execution lacking. I think Dreamfall tries to do too many stuff at the same time and collapses under its own weight. The result is incoherent pacing of story. Kian is one of the dullest and most uninspiring characters I've met. We know close to nothing about him, he comes as an inquisitor that had an epiphany out of the blue (in the previous episode) to drop his heritage. His transition was lazy and cheap. In this episode we follow him in a simplistic journey to "grow" which is by far the weakest part of the game. Kian's storyline feels lazy, his lines inspire boredom and in general the whole plot / conspiracy around him is a lowlight of the whole series. Overcomplicated for no reason. I could not relate to him or any of the characters around him at any time in the game. Saga is arguably the cool kid on the block and the most interesting to follow (at least for me). Even though I liked the take throughout her life, I felt that I spend a century with her and I learned *nothing* about her really apart from some family issues that are not even clear why they existed. Zoe is the most balanced character in terms of development. I can relate much more to her than the other characters around. The game introduces a bazillion of other half-developed characters that I don't feel were necessary to move the plot. I'd appreciate quality over quantity. Gameplay wise the game is an ode the worst aspects of click hunting of adventure games in a 3D world with awkward controls. The previous game's poorest quality was the stealth segments which I hoped would disappear but alas their mundane and frustrating existence is even stronger in this one crippling pace of the story. Finally, the game tries to touch mature contemporary subjects. It feels more like ticking boxes on them than actually developing them. It only offers stereotypical caricatures for aspects they want to critique and the approach I'd say is only appropriate for children. It feels more shoehorning rather than highlighting social issues.
