The game is, honestly, incredible. I love almost everything about this... but in some of the routes (I'm only in my third at the moment and the trend continues with some and not others, I think?) but the MC defending a character who is borderline abus*ve (and hinted at being worse sometimes?) to her, regardless of him being family, is a punch in the guts.

In some routes I think it's not a problem at all, but the way it's written in others... Jesus.

Yeah I frankly agree. A lot of the times Spencer's shitty behavior is completely overlooked and excused by the MC because 'they are family' and/or because of the things that happened to him too (without spoiling). It's just honestly frustrating and it is said that the MC can't stay mad at anyone but it feels like a slight cop out? Especially with how bad his behavior gets in some routes.
I've loved everything else about the routes I've played so far too! This is just like the one thing I have been unhappy with.

Sorry you aren't happy with this part of the story. Honestly, I can't stay mad at people either. It's just not my personality, and I think that just comes through in my MCs (both Nora, and the MC of Gilded Shadows - both of whom are accused of being too forgiving. )

It'll probably always be a trait my MCs have. I don't really try to model them after myself but my way of "logic-ing" through situations does tend to be reflected in my writing. And Nora being able to move on and work things out with Spencer is one reflection of that. I'd totally forgive my brother in this situation.

I guess I also view it as the fact that his sister is never Spencer's actual target through the entire game. Not even once. His real target is the intruder who took her place. And he wholeheartedly believes that is not the girl he sees in front of him through most of the game (the evidence he's seen with his own eyes suggests otherwise and it's compounded by the fact that his old memories are filtering through.

He just doesn't have all the information.

Anyway, forgiving MCs will probably always exist in my work. I doubt my ability to actually write them any other way because this is just how the world makes the most sense to me. (I really think I'm just too lazy to hold grudges). 🤣🤣

~Esh