So now that we're a bit further in, what's everyone's thoughts on Kasumi now? I'm gonna be up front, and I might get some hate but...meh.
I love the twist with her character, and her becoming Sumire. That's a great way to take her character, and I applaud it. I also really love WHERE they placed her awakening. Right before Okumura's death, so they couldn't just go in and tackle that palace.
But aside from that...meh.
As much as I love the twist with Sumire, I hate that they eventually make it so she goes back to her original look. To me, that hurts that development. Just because, "I like it more" is a bit lazy to me.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Morgana say to Kasumi after her awakening that she can't join them because, "it's too dangerous"? Like...what? We saw she's more than capable of fighting, why is it too dangerous for her but not everyone else? It's bad writing to make her just barely be there, and speaking of...I really didn't like how she was so heavily marketed, but she's barely in the base story.
I was hoping for a legitimate reason why she's gone so much, but there isn't. It's bad that Haru got more screentime than Kasumi. That's...not good.
In terms of the canon romance stuff, it's...fine I guess, but nothing special and Atlus to me tried way too hard to force that. When it gets down to it, she barely spends time with him, and Ren barely spends time with her. Why does she fall for him exactly? Literally I can give a better explanation as to why Kawakami or Ohya fall for him more than Kasumi, and the fact that they tried to make her a canon partner like Marie just doesn't work for me.
In general, I don't really hate Kasumi or anything, I think she's fine, but I think Atlus played it way too safe. Her being sort of written out in the ending doesn't help either. She's definitely better than Marie, but to me, that's because Kasumi has the most one note, boring personality you can get. It's just, "I'm nice" and that's it.
I do think she's solid overall, but I don't think she needed to be here.