Hey everyone,
So I did a dumb thing. I started Angel Beats 1st Beat at like 10pm thinking "I'll just check out the first hour." Next thing I know, it's 3 in the morning and I'm sitting here with puffy eyes, clutching a box of tissues like some kind of emotional wreck.
I thought I knew what I was getting into after watching the anime, but wow... the VN hits different. It's all the little moments that got me, the way Yuri's hands shake when she thinks no one's looking, or how Iwasawa's voice cracks when she talks about her past. These characters feel so real in a way the anime only hinted at.
The part that really destroyed me? (Minor spoilers) That scene where Yuri finally lets herself cry in the warehouse. I had to pause the game because suddenly I was crying too and couldn't see the screen. Why does Maeda-sensei have to write characters that crawl into your heart and then break it?
And the music! That soft piano version of the theme that plays during quiet moments? Absolute emotional warfare. I'm not ashamed to admit I sat through the entire credits just listening to it while staring at the ceiling.
Honestly, I'm kind of mad at myself for waiting so long to play this. If you're like me and put it off because "the anime was enough," do yourself a favor and give it a try. Just... maybe don't start it at night unless you want to be a sleep-deprived, emotional mess at work the next day like I am right now.
>Thought I was emotionally prepared. I was not prepared. Send help.