LOVE BLOOMS

Generally speaking, Rigbarth’s inhabitants – such as the obsessively competitive Lucy or innkeeper and werebeast-witha-heart-of-gold Murakumo – are a charming bunch. Though you’d expect as much, since you’re encouraged to befriend and flirt with them, with the prospect of wedding bells in the post-game. While a patch update was only implemented late last year for the Japanese version, western players have the option to romance characters of either gender from the start, as denoted by the heart icon next to each relevant character in the Friendship level tab. Eligible bachelors and bachelorettes are given a short animated introduction that is designed to make your heart flutter. You can even declare your love for them right away – just prepare for rejection until you’ve put a bit of work in.