64 replies to this topic

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

That was quite a description, Mara! I loved every bit of it! Though, to be honest, I think the actual game, if I played it, would both confuse and creep me out... I wonder if there are any otome games out there that I'D like, especially if they have mobile versions, since all I can use right now for internet or anything else is my cell...

[Mara=^.^=]

I will compile a list of free apps and PM it to you.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

That game sounds awesome. I want to play.

 

PS. Have you played To The Moon yet?

[Mara=^.^=]

I haven't. I planned to start it the weekend I began Nameless. You can imagine how that went

[Mara=^.^=]

Playing another Voltage game...and laughing my ass off because the tagline reads like a condom ad

 

 

I seriously cannot deal with how unintentionally funny this game is. The premise is as follows: you (the player character) are the prime minister's daughter, and some nasty terrorist has made threats against your life in an attempt to get daddy-dearest to resign. Your dad flips his shit and assembles a small army of improbably attractive bodyguards to protect you. You're like, "wow, I had no idea being hot was a prerequisite for bodyguard duty". You try to continue life as a normal college student, but it's kind of difficult seeing as your primary human meat shield follows you around everywhere. Unsurprisingly, being joined at the hip with a dude who'd take a bullet for you leads to romantic feelings on your part. Too bad protecting you is 'just a job', right?

 

It's astonishing just how much this game well and truly does not give a shit. The writers must've realized how absurd their premise was and were just like, "you know what? F*ck it. Let's just have fun with this."

 

...It worked. These scenarios are ridiculous. I cannot stop laughing.

 

He's still wearing his f*cking earbud

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[underwater]

I played that game on my phone, Mara. It was totally outlandish, but that's what made it fun! Who was your fave char? I liked Mizuki even if he was a bit spacey.

 

 

Corinne

[Mara=^.^=]

Katsuragi, definitely. I appreciate professionalism , and his love of home appliances was hilarious. 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

..................So I'm playing another Cheritz game (as you may recall, Cheritz is the Korean otome game company that produced Nameless, which I reviewed in EXCRUCIATING detail here). The title of this one is "Dandelion: Wishes Brought To You". It came out before Nameless, but the story actually takes place afterward (which is why I decided to play Dandelion second).

 

such bishie     many sparkle      wow

 

Like Nameless, Dandelion involves 1) the sudden appearance of beautiful guys, 2) supernatural shenanigans, and 3) the GODDAMN CHERITZ WIZARD f*cking with a young woman's life YET AGAIN. The resemblance ends there, however. The characters and themes diverge significantly, as does the overall atmosphere: Dandelion is significantly less creepy than Nameless, but it's also much more depressing. Basically, the plot goes like this: the main character, Heejung, is a college senior who spends her days alternating between work, university, extracurriculars, and cram school. From the moment she wakes up to the moment she collapses from exhaustion, she's just go go go. The reason for her workaholic behavior is that Heejung has an overbearing, imperious Mom-from-hell who accepts nothing less than perfection from her daughter. No, seriously. The woman is basically Momzilla, to the point where Heejung's personality and goals for the future are completely overshadowed by her mother's demands, even though the two live in separate cities. Heejung majored in business to please you-know-who and regularly attends English cram school so that she can get a prestigious government job after graduation. But, as the date looms closer, she finds herself conflicted about what she wants from life. Deep down, she knows that art is her passion, but she also knows that Momzilla will never accept such a "mediocre" career choice. What's a poor girl to do?

 

Soon enough, another issue monopolizes Heejung's attention: someone abandons a basket full of animals in her apartment. She's like "who the hell breaks into someone's house just to ditch some pets??", but since nothing seems to be missing, she decides not to call the police. She finds herself in possession of 3 rabbits and 2 cats, all of whom seem to be shockingly well-behaved and weirdly...intelligent? After hearing that shelters often euthanize animals that don't get adopted quickly, she decides to hold onto the critters until she can find them proper homes. Before long, she grows attached to her pets and realizes that she doesn't want to give them up at all. For the first time in years, she looks forward to coming home at the end of the day - after all, animals don't judge you based on your grades or looks or achievements. Her pets give her an excuse to have fun (or, as Momzilla would say, "waste time") without feeling guilty. Heejung is finally able to wriggle out from underneath her mother's thumb, at least a little.

 

 

Too bad Heejung has no idea that her pets are having conversations while she's asleep. They talk about magic and something called "The Game". Through their discussions, it becomes clear to the player that 1) they are not regular animals (duh), and 2) they're in a competition of some kind, the winner of which will be determined by Heejung. Then, several months after they first show up, POOF. The 3 bunnies and 2 cats suddenly turn into people, much to Heejung's shock and confusion. Faced with 5 dudes standing around in her living room, all dressed in otherworldly clothing, Heejung understandably wants some answers. She demands an explanation, but none of the guys can give her one, since doing so would violate "the rules". Anticipating her next question, they go on to tell her that they are also not allowed to explain what they mean by "the rules"...so really, it's better if she just doesn't ask anything at all. She takes all of this rather well, considering the situation, and sets down some ground rules for her pets now that they've become bipedal and attractive. Mostly, the rules are designed to prevent her neighbors from finding out that she's living with a bunch of guys . The boys agree, and thus begins an awkward journey of friendship, love, and mutual acceptance.
 

I won't bore you with the details of each route, since the individual love stories are rendered pointless by the overall narrative arc of the game. The story is actually about Heejung and The Wizard, who I'll get to in a minute. Basically, a couple of things happen in every route. 1) Heejung gets to know one of the guys and starts to grow attached to him. 2) The guy of choice opens up to Heejung and eventually reveals a secret about himself or his past. 3) Heejung comes clean to her mother about her desire to pursue art and/or her mother finds out that she's living with some guy. Either way, this results in Momzilla rejecting and disowning Heejung. And 4) The love interest du jour helps Heejung contextualize her mother's rejection and deal with the emotional fallout. Not surprisingly, the two of them end up falling in love throughout all of this. Hooray!

 

...Too bad it's only temporary.    1 year to the day after the animals appeared, the proverbial fertilizer hits the ventilator. All of the guys lose their memories of the past 12 months, except for the guy Heejung fell in love with - he vanishes altogether, never to be seen again. Confused and distraught, she yearns to be reunited with him again - which brings us to The Wizard, and the true nature of "The Game".

 

Those of you who read my Nameless review may recall that The Wizard is a powerful, near-omniscient magical being who sustains himself by consuming memories. He spends most of his time floating around in some weird, extra-dimensional void, where he can can observe the events of the multiverse while awaiting potential clients. The Wizard is only visible to the most desperate of souls...people who desire something so strongly that they are willing to sacrifice their identities in order to get it.

 

^In other news, I CANNOT get over his design. He looks like a poisonous tropical fish. It's gorgeous.

 

As the quote above suggests, deals struck with The Wizard have a HUGE catch: to get your wish granted, you must forfeit your reason for wanting it in the first place. For example, at one point in the game a man appears before The Wizard, desperate to save his beloved mother from a terminal illness. The Wizard agrees to heal her, but in exchange, the man will forget that his mom exists. His entire relationship with the woman who gave him life - their shared memories, their love for one another, all events connected to those things - will vanish forever. The man agrees that the sacrifice is worth it. The Wizard cures his mother, then returns the man to his normal plane of existence, where he forgets that he ever made the wish in the first place. End of story, end of mother-son relationship. It's a tragic and self-defeating setup, and The Wizard is well aware of that fact. Endless years of wish-granting have left him amoral and a bit mentally unstable - not to mention soul-crushingly lonely, since everyone he ever meets forgets about him soon afterward.

 

To cope with his isolation (and boredom), The Wizard watches the lives of the multiverse's inhabitants in much the same way that you or I would watch a TV show. And, like any fan knows, it's all too easy to become attached to fictional characters. Of course, with The Wizard, the people in the shows are real - which, from our perspective, basically makes him a supernatural voyeur. Anyway, years before the events of Dandelion, The Wizard tuned in to Channel #5676864196, AKA The Human World. There, he discovered a character that really caught his attention - Heejung. For whatever reason, as he watched her life unfold, he grew more and more obsessed with her. At first, he was fascinated by Heejung's tireless efforts to gain her mother's love and acceptance, despite Momzilla treating her daughter like shit. He wondered, "if this girl is able to love her mother, who does nothing but take away from her happiness, is it possible that she could love a being like me, too?" He eagerly awaited the day when she'd desire something so strongly that they'd be able to meet in person...except, the years go by, and that day never comes. Day in, and day out, Heejung has the same 3 things on her agenda: work hard, appease mom, feel nothing. The Wizard comes to realize that, as long as Heejung is living to please another person, she'll never be able to meet him, because her own wishes and desires will always be playing second fiddle. Angry and frustrated, The Wizard decides that he isn't just going to sit back and watch anymore. He's going to force Heejung to come to him - even if doing so means destroying her life. No, especially if it means destroying her life. After all, the strongest emotions produce the strongest wishes, right?

 

And thus, The Wizard concocts a scheme to manipulate Heejung into despair. Normally, he only deals with one client at a time and upholds a strict "currency" exchange: one set of memories buys you one wish (there are exceptions, obviously - he works pro bono for Nameless, for example, because he's bored and crazy powerful so why the f*ck not). Anyway, The Wizard decides that the best way to make Heejung despair is to make her fall in love, and then take the object of her affection away. He scours a realm known as "The Grim Continent", searching for (attractive, young, desperate) guys that might appeal to her. He gathers five of them together and, through a series of bargains, bribes, and outright lies, convinces them to compete against one another in what can only be described as a really screwed up version of The Bachelorette. The rules are simple: whoever is able to make Heejung fall in love with him, wins. The winner gets his wish granted and is returned to The Grim Continent, memories intact. The losers have their memories taken as payment, and they remain trapped in the human world forever. The Wizard turns them all into cute fuzzy animals so that Heejung will grow attached to them with her guard lowered; after all, she might turn away potential suitors if they were to approach her as guys from the get-go, but how could she turn away her former pets? It's all deliciously calculated and malicious, and I just love it

 

Of course, the guy of choice inevitably ends up falling for Heejung in return, and when it comes time to go, he tries to back out of the deal by telling The Wizard that he no longer wants his wish granted. The Wizard's like "lol too bad", and promptly sends that thing back where it came from, or so help me. Heejung is left loveless and disconsolate, which is right where our favorite string-pulling d-bag wants her to be - that was, after all, his plan from the beginning. Now that she finally has a desperate wish, she appears before The Wizard, who greets her with excitement. Baffled, she asks how he knows her, and he proceeds to tell her that he's been watching her for years and knows everything about her. Heejung is understandably skeeved out (as any girl would be if she found out that she had a supernatural stalker), but ultimately decides that she would be willing to part with her memories if only she could have the chance to bring her beloved back to the human world. The Wizard agrees, but tells her that he's going to prolong her suffering for as long as he can stand to see her in pain...because as long as she still has an unrequited wish, she'll be bound to him. The amount of time he tortures her like this varies depending on the route (sometimes years, other times months), but eventually he gives in. In a weirdly erotic sex parallel, he devours her memories, savoring each one like the lovestruck, half-unhinged omniscient motherf*cker that he is.

 

Because nothing says 'romance' quite like a forced lobotomy

 

Afterwards, as promised, The Wizard brings her boyfriend back to Earth. Of course, she no longer remembers her beau, and there's no guarantee that she'll actually get together with him again...which begs the question, did her sacrifice really mean anything? This is what makes this game so fascinating, in my opinion. It poses some real head-scratchers about the nature of relationships, like: what's the point of being together with the person you love, if you can't remember any of the reasons why you came to love them in the first place? What are relationships built on, if not shared memories and experiences? Does affection somehow transcend self-identity? How much of a role do circumstances play in the formation of relationships? If you had met the person you love under different circumstances, would you have still fallen in love? Dandelion doesn't answer any of these questions, either - we never find out if Heejung and her beau are able to rekindle their love. In one route, it's not even clear whether they ever reunite at all.

 

Then again, this could have something to do with the fact that The Wizard retcons the whole damn story at the end of of every route. After he consumes her memories the first time, he has a mini panic attack at the thought of never meeting her again. One bowl of Heejung-thoughts-and-feelings-stew is not enough, apparently, because he takes a page out of Nameless and rewinds The Game back to the beginning so that he can relive the whole experience again. He does this 5 times, ignoring his usual rules of currency exchange and squandering centuries' worth of stored power in the process. At the end of every reset, he consumes another set of her memories, but it never satiates him. The more of her he internalizes, the more he wants. As he grows weaker and weaker from over-using his abilities, he realizes that he would be willing to do anything to live in the same world as her. In a fun little twist, The Wizard's obsessive love for Heejung finally gives him what he's lacked throughout his entire existence: a desperate wish of his own. He decides to use what little remains of his power to grant his desire. To do so, he must forfeit not just his memories of Heejung, but ALL of his memories. His entire identity, all his countless years as the Wizard, gone. He isn't sure if he'll survive the process, but decides to go for it despite the risk - he's miserable anyway, so what's the difference?

 

In the last scene of the game, we see a plainly-dressed version of The Wizard waking up in a Korean park. Heejung is there beside him, and she asks, "who are you?" "...I don't know," he says. And that's all we get. He doesn't remember that he loves her, and she has no idea who he is, so it's possible that nothing comes of their encounter. Or perhaps The Wizard gets the romance he so desperately wanted. But then again, since he forfeited everything that made him who he was, doesn't that mean The Wizard essentially 'died' so that some other person (his reborn self) could have a chance with Heejung? What, then, was the point of his sacrifice? Was giving up all his godlike powers really worth it in the end, if 'he' wasn't the one who reaped the rewards? Are memories the only thing that make you who you are?

 

 

In conclusion (now that I wrote another f*cking DISSERTATION fml), Dandelion was awesome, though not quite as awesome as Nameless. The biggest problem was the gameplay itself. The stat-grinding was mind-numbingly tedious and locating characters on the map was so damn frustrating sometimes. I'm glad Cheritz did away with those aspects and went with a pure visual novel format for Nameless, instead of a stat-raising dating sim. I definitely prefer the former.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

 

I promised KumoriNinja08 and zemimsky I'd fill out this meme FIVE freakin' months ago, and I'm just getting around to it now. Since I apparently can't follow my own goddamn rules, I ended up changing the theme from “top 10 hottest otome guys” to “my favorite guy from each game”. So yeah. The following is a list of my top picks from nearly every game I’ve played...and I've played a LOT of these suckers because having a social life is overrated! Some of the titles were genuinely good, others were so bad they're good - either way, here comes the

- Red (Nameless: The One Thing You Must Recall by Cheritz): My all-time favorite otome game (I gushed about it at length here). Red is a complete and total sweetheart – supportive, selfless, and loyal – plus his color scheme reminds me of a strawberry shortcake. Deeeeelish

 

- Izumi Takasaki (Serendipity Next Door by Voltage Inc.): To be fair, I haven't played any routes other than Izumi's, but I’m SUCH a fan of this guy that I sincerely doubt any of the other characters could knock him from the #1 spot. He has a vulnerable quality that most Voltage men lack, and I have a serious weakness for dudes who love animals   One of the reasons I enjoyed Izumi’s story so much is that the romance was just so…ordinary, in the best way. Otome games have a tendency to stray into the melodramatic and the supernatural, so it was refreshing to watch a relationship form between two people who just happen to live in the same apartment building and enjoy one another’s company.

 

- Junpei Miyashita (Kiss of Revenge by Voltage Inc.): Heh heh, this game was way too much fun. The setup was something straight out of a soap opera – I mean, a female surgeon hell-bent on murdering the person responsible for covering up the malpractice that led to her mother’s death? – but it was executed so darn well that I couldn’t help but be drawn in. I almost picked Issei for the top spot, because his guilt makes the revenge plot that much more delicious, but Junpei is such a ray of sunshine that I had to opt for him instead.

 

- Ali Baba (Arabian Nights: Lamp of Destiny by OKKO): This game is waaaay better than it has any right to be, considering it’s a free app from a relatively small company. It’s actually a fairly clever take on the Arabian Nights mythology…in this version of the story, the djinni has no power of his own, but rather summons a human being to grant the wish of the person rubbing the lamp. The game features 1) an MC who isn’t a total pushover, 2) a storyline that’s reasonably consistent between routes, 3) some damn funny moments, and 4) a cast of guys who are, at their cores, decent human beings. This distinguishes it from the OTHER “Arabian Nights” app (this one by Arithmetic), which should come with a trigger warning because it’s so heinously rapey. Ugh.

 

- Takuto Hirukawa (Letter from Thief X by Voltage Inc.): This whole game just feeds my lifelong obsession for the “noble thief” archetype (the exact same obsession, incidentally, that prompted me to choose Ali Baba as my favorite character in the previous game). Thief X is unique among the titles listed here in that I actually liked the numerous spin-offs far better than the main routes. It's a fun, silly, lighthearted series that excels at ensemble comedy, even if it does occasionally fall victim to benevolent sexism and nonsensical world-building. Where LLFTX shines is in its characters, and Takuto is my fave because he is by far the single funniest char I've ever encountered in an otome game. Every word that leaves his mouth is freaking comedy gold.

 

- Darren Beville (Nicole by Winter Wolves): One of my absolute favorite OELVNs (I wrote about it here). All the routes in Nicole were well-written and pleasantly character-centric, but Darren's was my favorite. What can I say? Shy, sweet, bespectacled guys who love history are irresistible to me

 

- Lezette (The Second Reproduction by Heterodoxy): This game is bizarre. I hated Jin’s route, couldn’t get into Gardis’ route, and yet ADORED Lezette’s route so much that he and Christina are still my otome game OTP. His voice actor is a perfect, perfect human being, and his personality is both precious and heartbreaking: as the MC's personal knight and sworn servant, he'll literally do anything for her, and I just cannot handle the feels. He’s loyal, kind, and self-sacrificial, yet tinged with the same tragic air that seems to cling to all people who are eager to die for the people they love.

 

- Suzuya Tohzuki (Starry Sky in Spring by Honeybee): In terms of plot and tone, Starry Sky has nothing in common with the aforementioned Second Reproduction, yet in many ways, Suzuya reminds me of Lezette. As the designated “mom” of the group, he is gentle, loyal, and accustomed to sacrificing his own needs in order to ensure the happiness of others not saying I have a type, but…I totally have a type. Also like Lezette, his habit of repressing his desires has led him to develop a dark side that emerges if the right stressors are applied.

 

- Shohei Aiba (In Your Arms Tonight by Voltage Inc.): The whole “cheating husband” plot seems stupid as hell at first glance, but this game is actually remarkably classy and mature considering the setup. Aiba’s route is my favorite because he’s just so damn nice to everyone. He’s kind, supportive, and friendly; he takes good care of his friends, and he’s obviously talented at his job…even if he occasionally knocks over coffee cups and makes horribly awkward puns. He genuinely wants the MC to be happy, regardless of who she chooses in the end, which scores him major points in my book. None of that passive-aggressive friend zone bullshit for our friendly neighborhood Aiba-man! *strikes heroic pose*

 

- Captain Alan (Pirates in Love by Voltage Inc.): Let’s get one thing straight…Alan is NOT the guy I would choose if I were the MC, haha. I’d go for Thomas ‘cause he’s a sweetheart, but I had to give Captain Alan the #1 spot because his personality is BEYOND unique in the Voltage-verse…and by unique, I mean f*cking weird as hell. Alan is a coward and a loser who, despite being a well-meaning and loving guy, constantly says and does inappropriate and embarrassing things. His social awkwardness seems almost comical in its level of extremity, until you realize that he intentionally plays up his annoying behaviors because he expects to be rejected and wants to soften the blow. Of all the guys in PIL, Captain Alan definitely benefits the most from his relationship with the MC. Beneath all his bluster, he truly believes he is the luckiest man in the world simply because she gives him the time of day.

 

- Misato Yusuke (Sweet Scandal by OKKO): While not as good as “Arabian Nights” (I hated Amasawa’s route), this game is nonetheless a terrific addition to your free app collection. It’s entertaining, and Misato is really likeable – so yeah, props to you for not sucking, OKKO. Don’t f*ck it up

 

- Mamoru Kishi (Kissed By the Baddest Bidder by Voltage Inc.): I almost didn't play this game because the setup is SO damn problematic and several of the guys are scary as f*ck, but then I saw that there would be a thief character (Baba), and I couldn’t help myself. While playing Baba’s route, I was struck by how much Mamoru resembles an old OC of mine (they're both detectives, even! Small f*cking world), so I was like, "eh, what the hell - let's give Mamo a try". And whaddya know, I ended up loving the guy. His constant lack of energy speaks to me on a spiritual level

 

- Tadanobu Nomura (Metro PD by Voltage Inc.): I actually can’t choose between Nomura and Kirisawa, because both routes were sooooo good – IRL, I’d probably be more attracted to Kirisawa, but Nomura is the more interesting character in my opinion, so I went with him for this meme. I just love the whole obfuscating stupidity/unreadable poker face thing he’s got going on. String-pullers who appear careless and flippant on the surface are so hot.

 

- Daichi Katsuragi (My Sweet Bodyguard by Voltage Inc.): It's astonishing just how much this game well and truly does not give a shit. The writers must've realized how absurd their premise was and were just like, "you know what? f*ck it. Let's just have fun with this." Maybe that’s why the game’s tagline reads like a condom ad . Anyway, Katsuragi is my favorite because he’s supremely adorkable. The man geeks out over home appliances for Christ’s sake.

 

- Jieun (Dandelion: Wishes Brought to You by Cheritz): I reviewed this game here, so yup. I chose Jieun for the #1 spot because he’s this quiet, mild-mannered honeybun, but he’s also a frickin’ KING and is the only one of the guys who is able to outsmart the Wizard and beat him at his own game. And let’s be honest – that’s pretty badass.  

 

- Haru Shindo (Celebrity Darling for GREE by Voltage Inc.): I wasn’t a big fan of this title, but I kept playing anyway because I get into these grudge matches with games where I REFUSE to give up until I’ve completed them. Anyway, I think Haru’s relationship with the MC was the one that was the most mutually beneficial. They helped each other mature into better people and better performers.  

 

- Roberto Button (Be My Princess for GREE by Voltage Inc.): This guy is such a goofball. Silly, flirtatious, and a little bit melancholic beneath the surface…of all the princes in this game, he’s the one who I’d most like to chill out with for an afternoon. He’s just fun.

 

- Gaia (A Knight’s Devotion by Voltage Inc.): I’m personally more attracted to Lute (it’s that damn selfless, sweet, eager-to-die mentality again), but I think the MC and Gaia just go together SO unbelievably well that I had to pick him for the top spot. Their personalities complement one another perfectly, and their relationship is so subdued yet supportive that I cannot help but ship the hell out of them. They truly shine when they’re around each other

 

- Mizuki (Ninja Destiny by NTT Solmare): A friend recommended this game to me because of the “hilariously ridiculous translations”, and since it’s free, I was like “why the f*ck not”. It’s stupid, but it’s fun, so whatever – and Mizuki’s water powers and heterochromatic eyes are pretty darn cool.

 

- Yamato Kougami (My Forged Wedding by Voltage Inc.): Another game with a problematic setup…fortunately the execution makes it fairly harmless. I enjoy the witty banter between Yamato and the MC, and I also like that he’s one of the only otome guys I’ve encountered who professes a preference for chubby girls.

 

- Prince Callum (The Royal Trap by Hanako Games): My other favorite OELVN. The protagonist, Madeleine, is the best character in the game in my opinion, and I actually preferred the GxG route with Colette…but this is a guys-only meme, so I decided to go with Callum. He and Madeleine are well-matched in their ruthlessness, and even more importantly, he has blue hair! And if Strong Bad taught the internet anything, it’s that You Gotta Have Blue Hair.

 

- Ethan (Magic Sword by NTT Solmare): Hey look, another free app – and the title is a huge innuendo! Ethan starts out the game as an intensely sexist character (he falls into the “women shouldn’t fight and need to be protected!” category), but by the end of the story, he trusts the MC to have his back, and the two of them defeat the big bad together. He ultimately pledges to be her personal knight and fight by her side forever, so haha, joke’s on him.  

 

- Gavin (Blue Rose by White Cat): This OELVN is…kind of mediocre, honestly. And it has a lot of guys with white or silver hair   Anyway, Gavin’s route was my favorite, because 1) it’s the route where the MC is the most heroic, and 2) Gavin is freaking hilarious.

 

- Akiyoshi Zaizen (Our Two Bedroom Story by Voltage Inc.): The Growler! I love this man. The route is pretty lacking in romance, but Akiyoshi is just awesome. He’s the BAWSS. Who cries while watching nature documentaries

 

- Shiro Takayama (Re:Alistair++ by SakeVisual): This was the first non-parody otome game I ever played (Hatoful Boyfriend was the first overall). For a free game, it is excellent, and I highly recommend it. Shiro is shy, sweet, and he’s totally the MC’s bff online. Aww

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

P.S. I saved soooooo much money by pirating all these, lol. I would not play otome games if I had to shell out real money for them.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Woooo go Darren!

[Mara=^.^=]

Lol. Mary's like "hey, I know that guy!"

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

Did the 30-Day Otome Game Challenge on Tumblr awhile back. Figured I'd post my picks here because, hey, why the f*ck not.

 

DAY 1

 

 

DAY 2

Game: The Second Reproduction

 

 

DAY 3

Game: Thief X

The biggest tsundere who ever tsuned. He’s brilliant, he’s adorable, and he’s the single most quotable character I’ve ever come across in an otome game. Every statement that leaves his mouth is frickin comedy gold.

 

 

DAY 4

Game: The Royal Trap

 

 

DAY 5

Game: Thief X

If you thought it was impossible to have a 5-way bromance, then think again. Witty banter and playful teasing never cease when the guys from Le Renard Noir get together. They bicker, they joke, they party hardy…but above all, they trust each other, which is pretty much essential considering that the entire gang is one mistake away from a prison sentence. 

Whether you like the plot of LLFTX or not, their chemistry is undeniable. I for one would be more than happy to join The Black Foxes and spend every night laughing away my troubles at LRN. No kidnapping necessary.

 

 

DAY 6

Game: Nameless

Nameless did SO many things right, and female relationships was definitely one of them. Soi and Shinbi possess distinct, memorable personalities, and they play an important role in nearly all of the routes. Not only are they hilarious, but they’re also incredibly supportive of both Eri and each other - any girl would be lucky to have friends like them. Props to you, Cheritz.

 

 

DAY 7

Game: The Second Reproduction

I’m a little biased when it comes to these two, since Second Reproduction was one of the first (non-parody) otome games I played, but…ugh, I just love them together so much! They have such a healthy, supportive relationship based on loyalty and mutual trust. Their character development unfolds naturally, with just the right balance of angst and warmth, and I honestly teared up when Lezette pulled that stunt with the collar. I was like DON’T DIE LEZETTE YOU IDIOT    (ಥ﹏ಥ)

 

 

DAY 8

Game: Nameless

Red is such a freaking sweetheart omg

 

 

DAY 9

Game: Dandelion

This whole game was an emotional overload I picked Jisoo in particular because his ending was so bittersweet and open-ended, and for some reason, those types of endings hurt my poor fangirl heart more than downright sad ones.

 

 

DAY 10

This quote impressed me from the very first time I read it - not only is it quite perceptive, but it also perfectly captures the overall feel of the game.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

30 Day Challenge Cont'd...

 

 

DAY 11

I got honest-to-God chills the first time I played this scene. Sezaki knew damn well that she intended to kill him, and yet he asked her to come to his apartment anyway. Even when she was standing over him with a knife, he just sat there, calmly awaiting his fate. He was fully prepared to die so that she should could get her revenge…and so that he wouldn’t have to live another day with his own soul-crushing guilt.

 

 

DAY 12

Game: Thief X (Substory)

I can’t get over the fact that he hacked a freaking building to display this message. And it’s the perfect message, too - not “Merry Christmas” or “I love you” - but “thank you for everything”. It’s the most genuine and heartfelt sentiment he could’ve expressed at that moment.

 

 

DAY 13

Game: In Your Arms Tonight

I had a REALLY hard time choosing an answer for this one, because there are super happy endings in MOST of the games I’ve played (especially the Voltage ones). Finally I just settled on the first one that popped into my head when I saw the prompt: IYAT. Objectively it might not be the happiest, but I dunno, I feel like Aiba and the MC just really DESERVED the awesome resolution that they got. They worked SO damn hard, both professionally and personally, for an entire year, and it paid off in the most adorable way possible. I know life doesn’t always reward you for doing your best, but it’s nice to think that it sometimes does. （＾ｖ＾）

 

 

DAY 14

Game: Hatoful Boyfriend

You know, even though Hatoful Boyfriend is a parody, this is still the single most disturbing scene I’ve ever encountered in an otome game. It’s not the fact that Shuu cuts off the main character’s head that’s so messed up - it’s the fact that he asks her decapitated head if she loved him, and all three choices are the same:

►YES    ►YES    ►YES

This ending robs the player of any agency - basically, not only does the game behead the main character, but it goes one step further and forces her to approve of this action. That is thoroughly f*cked up.

 

 

DAY 15

Honestly, who DOESN’T love this trope? There’s just something so entertaining about characters engaged in rapid-fire repartée. Any game, movie, or book that has it automatically rises higher in my estimation. Doesn’t matter if it’s between friends, lovers, enemies, strangers… witty banter > all

 

 

DAY 16

I have a SHIT ton of favorite character types, so I just kinda grabbed 5 at random and made them into a gif.

1) Gentleman Thief: I LOVE this trope. Robin Hood was my childhood hero, and to this day I cannot get enough of characters who steal from bad people and/or steal for a cause. I love this archetype so much that I even played Baba’s route on KBTBB, despite being generally uncomfortable with the premise.

2) Childhood Friend: I’m a sucker for this kinda thing, OK? It’s precious. Bonds formed in childhood are both enduring and adorable. Can be romantic or platonic.

3) Action Girl: What can I say? I prefer active protagonists; bonus points if they’re packing heat That’s not to say I dislike girls who don’t fight. I just enjoy badass ladies is all.

4) Tsundere: I’m not sure I’d like this character type IRL, but in fiction, they’re highly entertaining. The more ridiculous, the better! Cough Takuto Cough

5) Nice Guy: No, not the Fedora-wearing “nice guy” bastard-in-sheep’s-clothing of tumblr yore. The ACTUAL nice guy - the one who genuinely wants the people he cares about to be happy, regardless of whether he’s part of the equation. Selflessness and kindness are really attractive to me, so yeah.

 

 

DAY 17

In this scene, Eri’s trying to gauge Tei’s potential interest in her friend Soi by asking him if he likes big boobs (since Soi is quite buxom). However, she asks this question out of the blue at the dinner table - prompting a round of choking/hacking and shocked stares. Obviously the boys misinterpret Eri’s remark and assume she’s asking because she herself has a crush on Tei and wants him to re-assure her that he’s OK with small boobs. Which is all pretty funny - but then it gets downright HILARIOUS when sweet little YEONHO of all people comes out with this zinger. I never in a million years expected him to say something like that, so naturally I laughed my ass off.

 

 

DAY 18

Game: Nameless

I’m a little bit more intellectual (and opinionated) than Eri, but we have a lot of other things in common. We share many of the same unfortunate self-isolating behaviors, and we both have a wry inner monologue going on at all times. Like Eri, I tend to be secretive, self-conscious, and get super enthusiastic about “weird” things…I’m more analytical than she is, though. I’m pretty much shit with feelings

 

 

DAY 19

Game: Nicole

My level of social anxiety is nowhere near Darren’s, but we have a lot of other things in common. We’re both introverts who are crazy about history, spend a lot of time online, and feel most comfortable expressing ourselves through writing. We’re also both kinda clueless/inexperienced when it comes to dating and romance. 

 

 

DAY 20

Love love LOVE this game. The plot, the characters, the art, everything. I would recommend it to everyone, even people who aren’t a fan of the genre. Excuse me while I fangirl

 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

30 Day Challenge Cont'd...

 

DAY 21

By all rights, I shouldn’t love Thief X as much as I do. Some of the plot points are just silly, and the world the game constructs doesn’t make logical sense. But you know what? It literally does not matter ONE bit, because the characters are AMAZING and HILARIOUS and SO much goddamn fun. There’s not a single one I don’t like. I would totally risk getting arrested to be a part of their gang. 100% worth it.

 

 

DAY 22

This is another one of those games where the characters take it from “OK” to “OMG LOVE”. Nicole, Darren, Ted, Jeff, and Kurt all have such depth, and I really enjoyed how the writer(s) peeled back each successive layer of their personalities and revealed unexpected qualities.

 

 

DAY 23

GAME: Two Bedroom Story

He’s not a bad character or anything (he’s actually quite interesting), but Chiaki is NOT someone I’d get along with IRL. He has trust issues, and I go apeshit when people try to control me…we’d just constantly be suspicious of each other. I can’t stand manipulative men, and with some of the crap he pulls, I think I’d be searching for ways to retaliate. Not good.

 

 

DAY 24

I wasn’t sure what to think of Nicole at first - she seemed kinda Valley-girlish? - but she quickly grew on me. I just love that she’s a freaking tumblr addict. She’s really cool…I’d totally hang out with her.

 

 

DAY 25

Game: IYAT

Kiyoto is a great character, but he toooooootally deserves to get smacked upside the head. The MC kicks his ass on a number of occasions, and I would too. Boy needs to back the f*k up

 

DAY 26

Game: Loren, Amazon Princess

Does Loren count as an otome game? Whatever. Karen’s whole wounded Amazon persona just screams “comfort me”, and I would be more than happy to oblige. Poor woman.

 

 

DAY 27

Game: Pirates in Love

Let’s be honest…is there anyone out there who DOESN’T love Fuzzy? She roams the seven seas, being a badass pirate while wearing pink and objectifying men to her heart’s content. She’d be AWESOME as both a crewmate and a best friend, no ifs ands or buts

 

 

DAY 28

He’s creepy and sadistic, but he’s also sympathetic…not to mention that his design freaking rocks. I’ve got nothing but praise for Nameless.

 

 

DAY 29

By virtue of the sheer amount of material they produce.

 

 

DAY 30

This submission was actually supposed to be “favorite seiyuu”, but I couldn’t for the life of me pick one, so I decided to do “favorite character design” instead. The winner was obvious: the Wizard from Dandelion is just gorgeous. He looks like a poisonous tropical fish.

 

 

 

Aaaaand that's the lot!

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Wooo!

 

I really liked looking through these, even though I have no frame of reference for hardly any of them. I will soon, though! (got Hatoful Boyfriend finally and shall play through it soon!!) Also, I'd be interested in playing Nameless and Dandelion. Those sound really good.

[Mara=^.^=]

OMG, you're gonna play Hatoful Boyfriend? Prepare for an EXPERIENCE

 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

Playing a new route from Thief X. Am reminded of why Takuto is my favorite character ever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

lolwhut. That's funny.

[Mara=^.^=]

omfg

I found it

 

The GREATEST OTOME GAME TITLE of all time

 

 

SEVEN HOTTIES, ALL MY HUSBANDS

 

It's the kind of name that would be picked by comedically self-aware tumblrites

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

Spent all day playing Backstage Pass...only to get the forever alone ending FML

 

Will write a review once I manage to actually complete all the routes. This could take a very, very long time.

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =