u/aplainmourning

 

Can't believe summer and my vacation are both almost over...how much time did I waste...OTL

Let's float away from all the pressures of daily life and talk Deep Sea Boutonniere from Faesu!

https://preview.redd.it/os23y3xmdujh1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=c19251ce3def9c3bc01233235297eb7ea139de5e

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

Confession: I'm terrified of the deep sea. We barely know anything about what's going on down there, and the environment is so majorly hostile to humans. Creatures get weird - just like the blobfish, the main character of this game. (We'll ignore that the blobfish looks more like a regular fish in its natural environment, this is for the sake of the narrative) So the atmosphere of the game is so deliciously eerie and I loved it. Parts of it, especially the descriptions of the physical body of the MC, reminded me a lot of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Creepy!

While the only endings include the shark, Odus, and an ending with Typus the whale has been teased by the dev, what about an ending with viperfish Vitus? 🥺👉👈 lowkey best boy

Next week we're losing ourselves in a good book with Rewritten from Weird Little Beasties. See you then!

It's hot....again....

Let's try to cool down with some spooky chills with Don't Eat the Cashier! from Miloff

https://preview.redd.it/4jxybu1xmnih1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ccc06624bcf26512f9fed50208b94314a448dde

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

Something about satire of retail just gets me more than anything else. The opening scene of the MC's orientation at a gas station cashier job had me in stitches 🤣 MC's manager might seem a little…inhuman, but is that really so far from reality…..?

In spite of the surreal setting of a gas station at midnight that attracts all manner of odd characters, it ends up feeling a little cozy? Maybe it's the focus on a single room as MC chats with various customers from behind the register.

David best boy! *cough* not just because of his CG or anything >.>

Next week we're trawling the depths with Deep Sea Boutonniere from Faesu. See you then!

The World Cup is over...time to have post-tournament depression while returning to the real world OTL

So let's talk about something fun like Esper X Guide from coffeedripstudios!

https://preview.redd.it/vm9o3onz6beh1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=c4618ab315d51c4a33ce8e5d52685f0d53b1819d

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

Gameplay. Have I talked about gameplay in otome recently? LOL. I absolutely loved the parts of Esper X Guide that I got to play (I played the jam version) because there was so much to do. And I can't even imagine how much time it took! It really gives me a hankering for more RPG/dungeon-crawling romance games. I had so much fun with the dungeon map bits I barely remember the story bits 😭

As for the story, I'm not familiar with guideverse - I just learned it was a whole subgenre a couple months ago - but the concept is really interesting, and the opening scene of your Esper MC surfacing after a mission was a great hook. I'm definitely keeping an eye on future updates!

Next week we're learning we are really not getting paid enough for this with Don't Eat the Cashier! from Miloff. See you then!

I need a vacation....

Let us use the healing power of animals in lieu of that and talk Good Boy! from lunamakeio!

https://preview.redd.it/i2jlskfvhqch1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9dd64faca76db3a308ebf9378c1ed28cf13ec03

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

It's said that pets and their owners come to resemble each other after being together for long enough. Is this the case for Good Boy's LI Milo and his trusty companion Duke? Maybe so.

While the game is pure slice of life, I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight just like the MC Aspen does - both Milo and Duke are just so stinking cute! Although the game is short, the series of incidental meet cutes that Aspen and Milo have work so well to build a solidly believable relationship. There are pronoun options for the MC, but can I count this as femdom? 👀 There's so few options for it I have to take what I can get 😂

Next week we're doing mind melding as romance with Esper X Guide from coffeedripstudios. See you then!

The World Cup is well underway and the first knockout stage has been set! Who are you supporting and who is your mortal enemy??

Aside from the sportsball talk, we're here to talk Take Two from Nekoii Studio!

https://preview.redd.it/sqx89nz7fy9h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=aae2252a148c2c4fcb694288e0e112c4a81fb34b

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

I don't know if "reverse-isekai" stories are becoming common with how prevalent isekai has become in general, but it's a fun idea! Although, I think I would die a second time if I found out my personal writings were published and being optioned for TV in my new reality like our MC does 😂The narrative does well illustrating this particular fish-out-of-water scenario, and I feel its main strength is in the cast of side characters there to help out the MC.

Since the game is episodic, I feel I haven't gotten a real grasp on any of the LIs yet, but I do like Koen 🙈 Even if he's only playing a trusted and emotionally constipated knight on TV, some of the traits and tropes are already starting to bleed through to reality in the story and I'm here for it.

Next week is all fluff with Good Boy from lunamakeio. See you then!

Happy Pride yall!

It might be getting hot out there but we can cool off with the chill of horror! Let's talk the MuZeum from Arghbulous!

https://preview.redd.it/psxzoutxzs5h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=2f706f673f50164bf786e1b0023abbe3b7bd9be6

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

It's interesting that this game plays similarly to those Telltale point-and-click games 🤔 I wonder if there was any influence. I do appreciate working in the dialogue choices in such a way that it creates consequences down the line that feels more organic rather than you just filled the wrong invisible meter. My first run I was killed within five minutes. It was GREAT 😂

I can see that the Curator is pretty popular! He's just a silly little guy, huh? Although tbh I can't say that I wouldn't turn down museum work in exchange for a safe haven during a zombie apocalypse.

Next week we're getting a second chance at life (again) with Take Two from Nekoii Studio. See you then!

If we can have Christmas in July, surely there can be other out-of-season holidays, right? That's my excuse for this week's spotlight 😤

Let's talk Sweet Valentine Chocolatier from VeryFatCat!

https://preview.redd.it/6geufmlzhl4h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=f75ec724f1d1e3665b12fdcab0c3f6c27273236c

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

It's way past Valentine's Day, but who says we can't have a little sweetness at any point in the year? This game is just that, along with some coziness - the perfect little pick-me-up. The expository scene featuring all the LIs vying for the MC's attention laid out the group dynamics really well in a short amount of time to lead to the routes. The mini games are all kinda zen…and of course I'll never shut up about my love of differing gameplay mechanics in otome 😂

But. Comrade Jordan 🫡. His anticapitalism rant was one of my favorite parts of the game.

Next week we're becoming fending off the undead and learning at the same time with the MuZeum from Arghbulous. See you then!

My posts here often cover short games because those are the ones I have time to play week-to-week in order to write about them. But I really want to dive into a lengthier indie otome soon! I'll try my best 💪

As for the bite-sized games, we're talking My Group Members Suck!! from tenshideve!

https://preview.redd.it/x0657d1xj73h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=52480754b0d7b2333d0b917e62750554952af3e7

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

My education trajectory was such that I didn't have to do many group projects. But I do understand the absolute teeth-pulling feeling of trying to get any more than three people to do the same thing at the same time (and that number is generous). It's a common complaint about socializing in adulthood, right? Though our MC Aini is long-suffering, the game is a good reminder that we don't ever really know what's going on in anyone else's lives and it's better to give some grace where you can.

Normally I love being a bit rude in otome games when given the chance, because I love mess 😂 but the meanest options here didn't quite sit right with me, so I guess I found my bar 😂 Although I love Aini and how take-charge she is. Go girl, get that project done!

Next week we're adding a little sweetness out of season with Sweet Valentine Chocolatier from VeryFatCat. See you then!

You've heard of new year's resolutions, get ready for mid year's resolutions! It"s when I make a bunch of goals I want to accomplish over the summer, often with the same rate of success as new year's 😅

Speaking of feeling like your days are slipping away from you while you do nothing, let's talk MindMindMind from Chattercap!

https://preview.redd.it/g9pmwtewbm1h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=0197b2b496801cea354a78697750ef9d74902c85

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

I don't think I've ever played a romance VN with such a clear divide between internal and external forces. Of course, when you imagine your anxiety as a literal person, it becomes easy to pit it against everything around you. Ngl, as someone with a similar situation as the MC's. I found it cathartic to oppose Geist (the sardonic englishman embodying the MC's issues) at every turn. I do see how much of a relief it could be to accept him though. His VA is top-notch to boot!

The actual human LI Kalei is super cute. The prevailing joke in the otome community is how often it feels like the MC is playing therapist for the LIs, but in this case it's almost the opposite 😂 I appreciated his patience with the MC.

Next week we're simulating the coveted experience of working on a group project with My Group Members Suck! from tenshideve. See you then! 

Since the Otome Games Celebration is almost over....anything that really caught your eye? 👀👀

As for eye-catching game jams, let's talk Cyber Obsession from Izumi Games!

https://preview.redd.it/83rzl3mds80h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=369bd6e66018582bb0ea12eb74727ef723c634a5

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

Man, I have a lot of thinky thoughts about this game that deserve a proper review, but what a story! Of course it's prescient with out current climate of generative AI seeping into everything we do, with a dark glimpse of what the eventual outcome might be. I do appreciate that there is a hopeful ending note and bright spots throughout the route.

Elijah is such a pathetic wet dog of an LI, I love him 😂 And I have to shout out all of the different visual effects used throughout the game, they really added to the atmosphere and sense of oppression and dread.

Next week we're letting the anxiety consume us with MindMindMind from Chattercap. See you then!

It's officially that time of year where I wonder if it will ever be warm again...

I'd rather get chills of the metaphorical kind, so let's talk For the Trees from Eagle!

https://preview.redd.it/dge7o99blnxg1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=c7b2b35f20f09e3d756589fdd9066ce46f4a261e

If you’re like me and forget every single thing you’ve ever done when someone asks you direct questions, here’s some prompts to get you started:

• Who is your favorite character? Was it them all along or did it change while you played?
• What aspect (story detail, UI, game element) stood out to you the most?
• Any memorable lines or scenes?

I seem to have chosen all the less bombastic spooks from last year's Spooktober to play, but I'm not complaining! For the Trees is certainly haunted albeit not by your usual spirits. The way the narrative covers being stuck, whether in the past, in the confines of your life, or the inside of your own head, is very grounded and relatable - maybe you could even say…rooted? I'll see myself out

Shoutout to the choice on Ian's route that called me out as a former emo kid, I've never been more represented in a romance VN.

Next week we're experiencing the effects of chatbot addiction with Cyber Obsession from Izumi Games. See you then!