So, in a nutshell, this is a great sequel and a nice follow up to the original. Some things changed and some things are the same. Most changes I liked, but a few felt clunky...though that might just be because I'd just grown used to how it was in the original game.
First things first...the story. This time, you play a male character (I named the poor guy North Starlane, but, hey, that's better than the default name of Gary Stu) and, again, you can customise how they look (skin tone, body type, hairdo, hair colour). You're not a wildseed this time...in fact, you're a prince! But you're attending Iris Academy incognito (except for Professor Grabiner and Professor Potsdam, who know). Once you take up your royal position someday, you won't be able to leave your home territory (at all? It sounds like, but then there's a bit where it sounded like mum and dad could have come to visit, so I'm not exactly sure what the rule is). This is your chance to take a year off and explore a different culture. Weirdly, it's once again freshman year for Ellen and Virginia, etc., so presumably this is like an alternate timeline. Some of the events are also the same...and, if you'd gone for the Damien route in Horse Hall, you've basically been replaced by Ellen (she's the one Damien goes after).
You think you're going to be treated the same BUT you get a private room and a tour guide (William), which marks you as different. For the most part, people treat you like normal, however. You are concerned when you learn Pastel is at the school as you met once when you were both very young when her mother came to visit your country. Once nice bonus if you've played Horse Hall is that you find a Legacy Wand in your room. It's only +1 Smart, but it's nothing to sneeze at when you start.
There are the same magic schools and classes, as well as the mall (where you can still buy stuff, but now it's divided into two types: enhancements and basically visual only). The "Cool" and "Weird" bit is gone, which is a little sad. Smarts and Physical are still there. The interface is different -- instead of your magic/stats being constantly displayed down the left side, it's instead in an expandable bar at the top that you have to hover over to see. I actually liked it when it was static, but it's not a huge deal either way.
Oh! Another difference that I didn't actually like as I didn't expect it -- there's a question you get asked early on that seems innocuous (something about what you want to do while you're there) and depending on what you pick, you get branded as either Scheming or Flirty or a few other things. I'd just randomly picked one that I thought went with a goal of learning to be a better leader and was stuck with being "Scheming" the rest of the game. I didn't *want* to be a schemer. I'm not entirely sure what it effects, but presumably some choices or dialogue? I'll definitely pick something different the next time.
One of the biggest differences, though, again, you'd have NO idea if you didn't check a walkthrough) is in how many romanceable characters there are -- both fully romanceable and, like, side path kind of things. The main routes are (some being familiar names): Minnie, Ellen, Damien, Barbara, and William. The list of "side" routes is a LOT longer: Manuel Arias, Angela Kirsch, Laurel Aster, Pastel Rao, Luke Phifer, Logan Phifer, Raven Darkstar, Suki Sato, and Corrinna Lee. As I don't feel like I even know who a couple of those are, I think you'd definitely have to see some hints to be able to complete those routes! ...and some of them I can't even find hints on, so...
But...given what you know about Damien (either having played Horse Hall or just listening to William), WTH would you ever romance him? People with a wing fetish? Purple is your fav colour? Also, why are all the ones with wings basically horrible (Looking at you, Pastel)?
Anyway, for my first time through, I was originally trying for William, though I did go the route to get elected co-president with Minnie. But then I somehow failed with William (no idea why), but was able to make up time with Minnie and managed to get what I can assume is her good end (you kiss and also have a date at the May Day Ball at the end). I'd also wanted to try Barbara, but after an initial meeting with her I didn't figure out how to run into her again (apparently, you have to go to the dungeons instead of studying on the weekend?).
Though...how does this poor dude get any happy ending when he has to leave? He's not even going to be able to do a second year at Iris Academy. And Minnie is a crusader and will probably never give up tilting at windmills to go be with him wherever his country is. So...a sort of happy ending, I guess.
Anyway, I did really enjoy it. I weirdly actually spent more hours playing this one play through in Wolf Hall than I did doing two in Horse Hall, but I think that was due to not closing the game once and also re-doing some of the dungeon sections after I figured out what was up with them. I generally prefer to play as a female MC, but it didn't hold me back here. The MC is a decent guy, though he's often confused about American customs (hey, aren't we all).
So, am I glad I played it? Yes. Will I play it again? Definitely. Though not this week, because I've been sent the final proof copy of book 2 + they figured out from the printer they need to fill 11 (!) more pages so I need to write up some filler.
EDIT: Oh! I didn't realise until just now that this is the same company that did Confines of the Crown! Or that Wolf Hall was realised in 2020 (so very recent)!
EDIT: Okay, so I actually finished another route a couple of weeks ago but hadn't written it up (too busy on short story and crazy life) and did William's route. I actually really enjoyed this one; for the character, I feel like it actually makes the most sense and feels like the "true" route. William is a senior and graduating. Everyone else is younger. He's literally the only one of the LIs you can potentially see again in any kind of reasonable timeframe, given that the MC has to travel back to his home kingdom and won't really be able to leave again.
Rather wish I'd written this up right after because I had ALL THE THOUGHTS but now I'm preoccupied with the new project. Anyway, solid game, only complaint again is that there's NO WAY you'd figure out some things without a walkthrough. Or more time on your hands than any one person should have.
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