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- I'll be honest: I wasn't a fan of Wilhelm by the time I finished Dies irae. I felt that his character, while not without potential, just didn't get enough exposure (could you even say "time under the sun"?), especially when compared to the likes of Trifa or Schreiber. Luckily, Masada-kyo thought the same, so he gave him an entire spin-off! Needless to say, the simple fact that it exists was enough to make me enjoy it, similar to how one enjoys putting the last piece of the puzzle in its rightful place. Obviously, that also means that it barely stands on its own, but it doesn't have to (unlike some other game you might have heard of).
- Overall, it's a great mix of old and new features in a tight package. It's just great to see the familiar faces of LDO after so long; Masada clearly understands their appeal and gives most of them enough time to shine (though I wish Cain and Trifa could have more). Showing them going about their daily lives is an excellent idea, as well: seeing them from Ren's point of view naturally made it seem like they're incapable of that, but we already know that they are people, too, and people go shopping and eat potatoes. Speaking of potatoes, the new characters can easily hold their ground against with the veterans: Claudia is a literal angel (as biased as I may be about Mamiko Noto), and Ludwig, while not as infuriating as Merc or Hajun, still fits all the criteria you'd expect from a Masada villain. The best thing is how threatening he is despite opposing one of the most overpowered villain teams in fiction - you can't help but wonder if they can even beat him despite knowing perfectly well that they will. His theme certainly helps that; the new tracks in general are a cut above the rest, and it really makes me look forward to the Pantheon OST.
- I feel like the single question I wanted to find an answer to is "Should you read this before or after KaKaKa?". In the end, I don't think it matters that much: both works develop Wilhelm's character from different sides, and it's the contrast between them that makes you appreciate his journey. You can follow my example and see the subtle nods to Keishirou's fate in Wilhelm's struggle to become Methuselah, or you can keep Wilhelm in mind as you follow Keishirou's road to Edo and back. Personally, I'd probably enjoy the latter more, but I know that some people think otherwise. I will tell you this, however: hearing Magatsu Kessenka in the very first scene of KaKaKa is bound to make a stronger impression on you if you read it right after IKaBey.
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