LogFAQs > #962080837

Awakening is good, and most of the characters are interesting enough once you get far enough into their support chains to get past their gimmicks. The first two arcs are good and great, but Validar, Aversa, and Grima are just such a flat, flavorless villains that they drag down the 3rd act hard.

But I must give it props for the scene where you meet with Tiki as she wakes up. She sees Lucina and mutters, "Mar-mar?" - which was the childish nickname she gave Marth, who has been dead for about a millennia at this point. She then brushes it off, but it's a great little piece of writing that illustrates the tragedy of living as long as a manakete does. It's also a nice touch that Walhart specifically charges out as soon as you step into range, unlike most bosses, as it dovetails nicely with his characterization. And it's a nice subversion that he knows all about Excellus' scheming with Aversa and forces him into the vanguard with naked intimidation. They do a legit great job of establishing Walhart as a terrifying smart bad ass monster.

It's definitely way less of a mess than Fates. Not that Fates is all bad, mind, but Revelation makes even the dumbest, most contrived aspects of Awakening seem brilliant by comparison. Neither Birthright nor Conquest are winners in the writing department either.