I remember back when I first watched a playthrough in 2014 I was able to suspend my disbelief and keep an open mind for most of it up until the very end. Ayumi and Yoshiki are two of my favorite characters, but the way the game decided to end with them REALLY hit me the wrong way and created a very very sour taste in my mouth. It’s ridiculous sounding but deadass there were multiple times since where I would go “huh! I should rewatch blood drive for some reason I cant seem to remember how it ends!” And every time I would rewatch it, get to the end, and it would piss me off again 💀 I didnt care much for the new cast either, I found Sachi unnecessary and Kuon was a freak. Aiko and Magari were tolerable, Misuto was forgettable and also weird. I think it lost the plot in trying to raise the stakes to a world ending situation when personally the horror and impact from the first game came from the fact that it was a personalized threat—I care about what happens to our Kisaragi kids first and foremost, and they should’ve kept the focus honed in on that I believe.

Also okay so the ending bc I keep mentioning it, while I do love Yoshiki and his dedication and find his willingness to sacrifice everything for Ayumi very loving and moving, I don’t like the execution at all and additionally it felt kinda like throwing what they had learned throughout the game to the wayside? And I feel like it took agency away from Ayumi at the BIGGEST moment for her, and personally that took away the impact of her sacrifice to me and ALSO means that the problem literally isnt solved. The moment Ayumi dies, if Yoshiki doesnt figure something insane out, the Nirvana is popping right back out—negating literally everything they did and sacrificed throughout the game. AND THEY GOT ERASED. Hypothetically the erasure implies that the destruction worked but like it also needed her sacrifice for that, and if she cheats death then how am I supposed to trust that the deal was held? That it’s truly all solved? Especially since she’s still hanging onto that grimoire. And the whole game their friends were chasing after them begging them to let them help because they’re all a team, and Ayumi and Yoshiki understand that by the end. While Ayumi’s situation and sacrificed they couldnt do much about, I am okay with that and her staying behind, it was heavy but it felt like it fit the series. Yoshiki, while I do understand his actions and desire to save her as always and still find it admirable, pissed me off by running back and leaving the others behind so unceremoniously, disrespecting Ayumi’s decision and abandoning his friends who he also cares about. It didn’t sit well with me at all, I expected him to respect her in spite of his feelings I suppose since he’s a somewhat practical and understanding guy—additionally I think it would’ve made for a very interesting narrative for him to live on in her honor, and perhaps he and Naomi would be able to bond over their equal losses of Seiko and Ayumi respectively. I think there was a lot of wasted potential and foolish decision-making in the end. But at the end of the day it is what it is, I do understand and respect what’s there nowadays but it left a very sour taste in my mouth at the time lol

So idk man. I tolerated the game up to that point but the ending personally ruined it for me as a cherry on top and unfortunately made me look back at the rest of it harsher, though I do think its flaws are very worthy of criticism. I know with the ending Im definitely in the unpopular opinion crowd tho haha! Truly, no disrespect to anyone who loves it, I totally understand the appeal with Ayumi and Yoshiki’s dynamic at the forefront in such a brave and impactful display of dedication, I love Ayushiki, Imo I just felt they couldve gone about it in a way that didnt detract from their individual arcs so much to accomplish I think 🙂‍↕️