Golden Wildfire refuses to commit to any one idea and ends up doing none of the many plot threads particularly well. Yes, there are good ideas, but Claude and the Alliance once again feel like the story's third wheel in their own route. The route feels unfocused, Claude first has to deal with the Almyrans, then the Empire, then the Almyrans again, and then the Kingdom, Church, and slithery bois all become involved for one reason or another. Even Fleche comes after Claude once you thought the conflict between the Empire and Alliance - or, Federation - had ceased.

The result is that there's a feeling that the plot lacks direction and progression feels arbitrary. Leicester isn't once, but twice forced to an immediate retreat right as they've made strides towards one of their current goals, after which the goal becomes something else entirely. For crying out loud, they had to leave Fhirdiad to take care of bandits.

Almyra's involvement in the plot lasts a measly two chapters and it doesn't prompt Claude to spill the beans about his past for the Golden Deer, repeating a mistake from Verdant Wind.

The route dips its toes in making Claude more controversial and feared, only to backpedal while making very, very sure we know the Golden Deer characters trust him. Hell, He's learns his lesson before Fleche's attack.

To make one thing very clear: I'm on board with Claude becoming more of a merciless opportunist; I'm not okay with the game dismissing his controversial plans and ideas after one map and turning the Golden Deer into his yes men.