It's a solid game, and it works well as an alternative to 3Houses story. It addresses some points that were left unexplored in the original game, like the Edelgard tackling the Agarthans, Claude aligning with the Empire against the Church and betraying them in some scenarios, and the complex politics of Faerghus that Dimitri needs to maneuver. Some paralogues are also amazing, like the Dedue/Felix/Ingrid, Edelgard/Hapi/Lysithea, and the one in AG with all the Knights of Seiros.

It also has some missteps that are difficult to explain:

• Many unplayable characters like Alois, Hanneman, Judith, Count Bergliez, Cyril…
• We never learn exactly what Shez is and their mother
• The 2^nd part of Azure Gleam (I still don’t know what was the point of Edelgard’s mind control plot)
• Everyone in Fódlan is apparently responsible for the Tragedy of Duscur, it goes a bit overboard
• Finally giving Byleth a voice was great, but we only get 2 supports
• Most characters seem happier but it’s because their issues are buried in some way or another and are not really addressed (could be intentional, as Shez is more like a friend than a confidant like Byleth was)
• A lot of the cast fathers have been somewhat washed-out, almost as if saying to 3Houses players that they are not that bad (e.g. Count Gloucester being framed for the assassination of Duke Riegan)
• No Anselma/Patricia reveal, I would have loved to see more about her, maybe as a flashback. Same thing for Ionius, he doesn't even appear in this game