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Hakuouki: SSL – Heisuke Todo ~ Plot & Character Analysis

October 13, 2024 novelotome

To wrap up my playthrough of Hakuoki: SSL, I saved one of my favorite characters for last! And when combined with one of my favorite story troupes, Heisuke’s route had my FAVORITE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GAME!

Out of Chizuru’s twelve bachelors, her relationship with Heisuke is my favorite! I simply adore these two as a couple and I believe they have the best chemistry!

Be prepared for unabashed gushing!

As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut! There will also be a few spoilers for Hakuouki: Kyoto Winds, Hakuouki: Edo Blossoms, Hakuouki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom and, well…essentially all other possible Hakuouki content in general.

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Hakuouki: SSL – Toshizo Hijikata ~ Plot & Character Analysis

October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 novelotome

As the one who is the “Hijikata” of their family, I have to say that historical Hijikata is not my favorite character in the Hakuouki universe (except for the final chapter of his Edo Blossoms route, where he becomes absolutely swoon-worthy!). So, honestly, I just kept delaying Hijikata’s SSL route. I wasn’t looking forward to it.

However, I am happy to say, this has become my favorite version of Hijikata! The writers took the Hijikata I adore from the last chapter of Edo Blossoms and used this version for an entire route!

PRAISE!

I don’t like the power dynamic between Hijikata and Chizuru in SSL, but I can’t deny that I did enjoy seeing a less high-strung, stressed-out Hijikata!

Historical Hijikata is intimidating, yet somehow manages to be frustrating at the same time.

21^st Century Hijikata is dreamy beyond all measure!

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Sympathy Kiss – Shuya Usui ~ Plot & Character Analysis

August 20, 2024 novelotome

Okay, so honestly, I am probably older than about 85% of all the otome heroes I’ve read about.

And, yes, I have read Pub Encounter…

So, for me, it was a real treat to read about a love interest who is still a good decade older than me!

Like, what did I do to deserve this?

Usui is swoon-worthy! I found myself giggling, blushing, and smiling my way through Usui’s route! He is so charming and smooth, yet insecure and I was damn invested in that combination!

And while I found the endings to be disappointingly rushed, I can’t deny that I thoroughly enjoyed 95% of Usui’s route!

As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!

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Bustafellows – Full Circle + Auld Lang Syne Endings Analysis

August 9, 2024 novelotome

Well, I finished Bustafellows!

And while I can’t go into too many details, because these two endings are nothing but character revelations and important plot info dumps, I do want the closure of writing down my general thoughts.

I’ll first talk about the Full Circle and the Auld Lang Syne Endings separately and then sum everything up in my “Final Thoughts” section.

This article will be short and sweet!

Character and plot analysis and light spoilers after the cut! Per the game developer’s request, I will keep this article focused on my thoughts of these endings.

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Bustafellows – Limbo Scott Fitzgerald ~ Plot & Character Analysis

August 2, 2024July 30, 2025 novelotome

Okay. Look.

I did not like this route.

Otome Writers, can we please stop castrating our driven, leadership-type heroes so they fit into contrived, poorly plotted and structured storylines in their own routes?

And maybe I feel this strongly about these types of heroes, because I recently finished Yoji Kobase’s route from Sympathy Kiss and I feel that poor Limbo suffered the same fate.

I’m so sorry, Limbo. You deserved better.

Character and plot analysis and light spoilers after the cut! Per the game developer’s request, I will keep this article focused on my thoughts of this route.

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Sympathy Kiss – Secret Route #1 ~ Plot & Character Analysis

July 23, 2024August 4, 2024 novelotome

I did not enjoy this route in a typical sense. I did not find this route romantic and I didn’t like the “secret” hero as a love interest. My interest in this route and in our hero was strictly from an analytical viewpoint.

So, even while recognizing our hero’s actions where highly problematic, I can honestly appreciate that he, and his route, were well written. And that is what I enjoyed about his route.

I really only have one complaint:

Our secret hero really needs to see a…licensed therapist.

As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!

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Bustafellows – Mozu Nile Shepherd ~ Plot & Character Analysis

July 17, 2024 novelotome

I haven’t been moved to tears in an otome game for a while.

And Mozu’s route did just that.

Ya’ll. This route made me want to go wake up my family in the middle of the night and give them a hug.

This route is bittersweet…beautiful, but bittersweet.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Character and plot analysis and light spoilers after the cut! Per the game developer’s request, I will keep this article focused on my thoughts of this route.

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Top 10 Otome Love Interests ~ Year 1

July 14, 2024 novelotome

Well, I’ve been officially blogging for a year! To commemorate my one-year anniversary, I thought it would be fun to make a Top 10 favorite Love Interest ranking with my “Final Thoughts” paragraphs for each guy! Mostly, this allowed me to go back and revisit my favorite heroes from this past year!

Every one of these Love Interests was in my “Great” ranking, of which I had exactly ten for the year! I omitted all the guys from Hakuouki; SSL. The game was so short and my love for them all was established in the games Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms, which I did not play this year.

This is all meant in good fun, and obviously just my personal favorites!

Okay! Here we go!

Character and plot spoilers after the cut!

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Sympathy Kiss – Yoji Kobase ~ Plot & Character Analysis

July 9, 2024July 14, 2024 novelotome

In Nancy Meyers’s The Holiday, Eli Wallach’s Arthur gives Kate Winslet’s Iris a much-needed pep talk.

For years, Iris had struggled through an on-and-off again romantic relationship with a co-worker. Well, the co-worker had recently announced his engagement to another woman, yet still wanted to keep in contact with Iris. Understandably, Iris had a difficult time coming to terms with what it meant to say good-bye to this selfish, entitled co-worker for good.

One evening during a lovely dinner, Arthur, a retired Hollywood screenwriter, tells Iris that in movies there are the leading ladies and there are the best friends. He tells Iris that she is a leading lady, but is behaving like the best friend.

Having an epiphany, Iris realizes that Arthur was right! You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life!

The same goes for otome games and our heroes.

A hero is supposed to be the leading man of his own route.

However, poor Yoji was relegated to the role of best friend in his route.

As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut!

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Hakuouki: SSL – Keisuke Sannan ~ Plot & Character Analysis

July 2, 2024July 14, 2024 novelotome

I love Keisuke Sannan!

Due to not being a member of the Original Six (Hijikata, Okita, Saito, Harada, Heisuke, and Kazama), Sannan never got his happily ever after with Chizuru in the original historical game. And while I don’t like the dynamic between Sannan and Chizuru in Hakuouki: SSL, I did enjoy seeing the foundation of their relationship that redeems Sannan in the historical game remakes: Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms.

I love me an intelligent, morally gray hero! And Sannan is as smart, and unpredictable, as they come!

As always, character and plot analysis and spoilers after the cut! There will also be a few spoilers for Hakuouki: Kyoto Winds and Hakuouki: Edo Blossoms and, well…essentially all other possible Hakuouki content in general.

Continue reading →