I strongly recommend finishing The House in Fata Morgana before starting this one. Although this game's main story acts as a sort of prequel, it elaborates on some aspects of the first game and enhances the experience for those familiar with these characters. Besides the main story, the side stories are also intrinsically linked to the first game. Without having played it, the side stories would make no sense and would lessen the emotional impact.

The length of this game is much shorter than the first one. I completed it in about 14 hours, with the bulk of that time spent on the main story, Requiem for Innocence, which clocks in at around 8–10 hours. Times may vary for everyone, but I can't imagine it taking more than 20 hours at the very most.

If you've played the first game and are unsure whether to play this one because you already know the main points of the story or feel it may be filler content, I would say it’s definitely worth your time. Despite knowing how the tragic story concludes, it doesn’t prepare you for the emotional gut punch you'll experience as you play through it. The main story serves as an extension of Morgana's tragic narrative and adds depth to familiar characters such as Maria and especially Jacopo, whose character benefits the most as we gain insight into his motivations and choices from the first game. Another returning character is the Lord, who was briefly mentioned in the first game but is now a proper and integral character. We're also introduced to some interesting new characters that are great additions that help expand an already familiar story.

In addition to the main story, there are side stories that vary in length from 10 to 30 minutes to over an hour. The standout among these short stories is Assento Dele, which surprisingly ended up being a very compelling and moving story, packing a lot of great emotional moments into a 2-hour narrative.

Overall, while I feel the story may not reach the heights of the first game, it serves as a valuable companion piece that provides much-needed depth to the story and characters we already know. A great story, gorgeous art, and the music an absolute masterpiece. Just like with the first game, it's a heart-wrenchingly tragic story to experience that hits harder the second time, and you will be feeling a storm of emotions once again.