Really good analysis, definitely agree about it feeling like late alpha/early beta, the dream character being super interesting, and commiserate with the bulette smashing your party. That thing must be a secret demon, I used the ogres to kill it and 3/4 of my party were still downed.
I'm quite curious about how you managed to romance Gale, and the specifics of the interaction? Gale seemed completely in love with his goddess and turned me down in two playthroughs so thought he just wasn't romanceable. Shadowheart I did manage to romance, but she just has a deep conversation and a kiss, it's really quite cute.
