I've been hanging out with Ringo and his friends for a couple weeks, trying to dig in, and it's been some experience. A delinquent teenager trying to figure out life, a player trying to figure out how to live that life, or to change it. There are definitely some parallels to be drawn here. The official trailer almost does the game a disservice because yeah, fighting is a part of the game, but it's not everything.

The 'Friends' part of TFoRI are kind of doing the same thing, as told by the fragmented story. The game practically asks it's characters, on multiple occasions, "How long can we keep living this lifestyle? What does life have to offer me once we leave school?"

You can reflect on all that while you press 'B' to light a cigarette.

For those who want a tiny bit of guidance or structure in trying to see everything this game has to offer, I got you. Everyone else, stop. These might be considered gameplay mechanic spoilers. I also made some points to be as cryptic as possible, in case you do read on. But definitely no story spoilers!

-The minimum run time, I feel, is about 32-33 in-game days. Certain events will unfold themselves at least once a week that progress the overall story (usually between Sunday through Tuesday, or if possibly some hidden triggers got...well, triggered) And once you go to a usual location at an ordinary time, that'll trigger the final end sequence. That said, I'm currently on day 60. Attend school super early like your typical Dean's list, straight A student. And make sure you visit him on the 1st floor starting the Monday after your Saturday tests in order to see how well you did. Hard work pays off. Wink, wink.

-You can go around starving. I try not to because that's just me. I can take the part time job because I'm a straight A student. Heck, after reading some books at the school library, you'll see how easier it becomes to study, even from home! Wink, wink, wink.

-The café is currently broken. You can order but you'll never finish your meal. Buy food from the convenience store or the Fast Food place. No scratch that, the fast food is not as filling. (I wonder if that's intentional?)

-Persistence is the key to a better body. You might even be able to pay a single session rate. Before then, some horizontal and parallel bars at the playground will do (wink, watch the trailer, wink).

-Of course there are other ways to learn new methods of mayhem. One of your friends may have given up his dream, but that doesn't have to stop you from picking up the gloves. Remember, persistence.

-(EDIT)There is a hole in the fence one screen right of the school entrance and through the forest path.

-Oh, and the Mechanic teaches kick moves, but you'll have to pretend you're Daniel LaRusso from the 1st Karate Kid movie. No, not the part at the end, but the part where Spider-Man has to step in. And not at school, but at the underpass.

-Throw moves are taught at school, have a look at the schedule on the ground floor. You'll have to learn the punches and kicks first. Also, you might have to 'quit' your job to pursue this. (I'm currently going to experiment by skipping Wednesdays, wish me luck).

-Once you get a TV/VCR Combo, you might want to check out a couple movies from the video store. Martial Arts flicks are great! Inspiring, even! Too bad, you'll have to slog through some boring stuff first before the dude gets them in stock.

-You can get a cat. You don't have to go far outside, but since cats are mostly nocturnal... You can also pet the cat.

-Reading books, watching movies, and owning pets are great conversation starters.

-You can only talk to Ken on Sundays, at his house, which is the only one with a speakerphone outside.

-You need to sit down to read a book, then press R to read your 'currently equipped book' (books automatically go to your bookshelf at home when bought). Sit anywhere but your desk at home/shcool. Those are for studying.

I'm going to see how far I can go with this. I've already seen a couple events I would have missed if I stopped playing once the credits roll. On that note I realized, WOW, that is one telling ending if the meaning, or should I say framing, doesn't go over your head. It might be cliché, I imagine, if I was more versed in Japanese literature.

This game is great, though it has some flaws. One, no confirmation button at the shops. Worse, the bookstore and pawn shop gives you info about the items first when you select them, and you can accidentally buy things even if you wanted to read the description again. Two, typos and grammar problems. Yeah it's a minor issue, but when your proofread ending credit actually says "Proofreaded by" well... Three, food provides no other benefit other than satisfying your hunger stat. Even when you've been beat down to a couple HP, you think "Oh, let me eat that convenience store sushi!". And then...nothing but "FULL". You'll have to sleep off your wounds.

There was something else I was thinking was wrong but I can't remember it right now. Watch this space in case I edit it in later.

This is definitely not a game for everyone. A 7 would be my user score. Great dialogue, a story that moves forward with time and involvement, freedom to do what you want with a good amount of things to do, TONS of moves to learn (which can actually put some beat-em-up move sets to shame, IMO). However, there's no direction, money is very limited unless you get lucky at the Poker machine, farm unconscious thugs all day, or do some time management and creative class-cutting. And the game can literally end before you've got a chance to do everything. This game definitely earns it's "RCR x Shenmue x Persona + time management" archetype to a T, only on a much smaller, Indie, scale.

(EDIT)My To-Do list right before I "finish" this game:

-Try drinking a lot of beer

-Try knocking someone out and take their bag to the Pawn Shop

-Finish reading all the books from the book store then see if that one girl in class has any more dialogue

-Watch all the movies from the video store.

-Find out if the gold chain belongs to anyone

-See if I can pick a fight with the special move trainers

-Pick a fight with EVERYONE

-(EDIT) Finish that Famicom game and see if it gives me anything

-(and the very last thing) Don't feed the cat...