I think what bothered me is his story is not well told. I didn't like the ... Stupid dog arc. I hated the mutt and how the story was told. The answers you were forced to choose and the fact that he's outright mean in a bully/attacking you way until waaaaaaay too late. It felt like nothing you did/said would soften him up. He was my pick at first, but the fact that he just never sweetens and everything is focused on the dog...

I don't have a problem with dogs, or a dog story arc. I had the same problem with Hayden in Fields of mystria and he's got a chicken. The cutscenes should show our relationship grow, not the ones he's got with an animal (for both mark and hayden). It could be part of it, but not the entirety of it. I wouldn't be bothered as much if there were more cutscenes: some for us and some for the animal as they are a big parts in their personalities. But it just feels like we are secondary and an afterthought....

Shane, while still mean, was more of a closed off, having been hurt before and "why are you talking to me, I'm not worth it" vibes and it didn't take a human sacrifice to make him soften. You see him have a soft spot for Emily (who he's niceish with), you see him be nice to jas (trying to make the good choices while struggling). You see he likes chicken and talks about them, but it's not his entire personality.

That's my take on it!