Tag: Idea Factory

Hakuouki: SSL – Heisuke Todo ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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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.

Continue reading “Hakuouki: SSL – Heisuke Todo ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Toshizo Hijikata ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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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.

21st Century Hijikata is dreamy beyond all measure!

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.

Continue reading “Hakuouki: SSL – Toshizo Hijikata ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Keisuke Sannan ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Keisuke Sannan ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Chikage Kazama ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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Well, I was wrong.

I was sure that the most cringey and problematic routes in Hakuouki: SSL were going to be Hijikata, Harada, Nagakura, and Sannan’s routes. You know…the teacher routes.

I stand corrected.

Somehow Kazama managed to make me cringe and shake my head more than any other character in SSL. And, honestly, I should have known better considering Kazama’s main goal from the historical game, Kyoto Winds.

Kyoto Winds Kazama is…well… Kyoto Winds Kazama. And in the case of SSL, it is definitely for the worse.

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Chikage Kazama ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Hajime Saito ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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My favorite Hakuouki characters are the members of the baka trio! And in comparison, to the baka trio, Saito is commandingly capable, but he’s also hard to communicate with. So, I went into SSL with indifferent expectations towards Saito.

And let me say, I was pleasantly surprised!

Everything I found exasperating about Saito from the historical games, was tweaked by the writers for this more contemporary setting!

And I get it now.

SSL Saito is the perfect, if-you’re-looking-for-the-shy-introverted-type, guy!

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Hajime Saito ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Shinpachi Nagakura ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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I love Shinpachi Nagakura! In fact, along with the rest of the baka trio: Harada and Heisuke, these three are my favorite characters from Hakuouki. I simply adore them!

While an important side character in the original historical game, Shinpachi was not a member of the Original Six (Hijikata, Saito, Okita, Harada, Heisuke, and Kazuma). So, of course, I am really grateful the writers decided to give Shinpachi his own route in the Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms remake! And while, I didn’t love his route or his relationship development with Chizuru, I did think the writers took Shinpachi’s character development to some interesting places.

Now, SSL doesn’t go anywhere as deep as Edo Blossoms, but you can see the foundation for Shinpachi and Chizuru’s relationship in this game.

And you can decide…if that’s for better or for worse!

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Shinpachi Nagakura ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Susumu Yamazaki ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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When I first played Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms, Yamazaki wasn’t even on my radar. And that’s probably because while he is a character in the original historical game, he’s not a member of the Original Six (Hijikata, Saito, Okita, Harada, Heisuke, and Kazuma) that were given routes. And because of this, in general, he is less popular and less well-known than the Original Six.

Well, the writers remedied this in Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms and Chizuru was given a chance to fall in love with Yamazaki. And while I thoroughly enjoyed Yamazaki as a character, I was left feeling like: “is that it?” Because I really felt Yamazaki was the least fleshed out of the new six routes added to the remake. In short, I kind of felt the writers did him dirty with how little new content he got in Kyoto Winds compared to the other new characters (also, was it just me, or was his route in Edo Blossoms shorter than the rest as well…hmmm?).

It wasn’t until I found the SSL walkthroughs created by the people who made the patch, that I realized Yamazaki even had a “route” in SSL. Talk about a pleasant surprise! And while I had a hunch, that once again, he wouldn’t be as fleshed out as the Original Six, I still finished the route thinking: “is that it?”

I am stating this now: Yamazaki needs more content! He’s one of the good ones!

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Susumu Yamazaki ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Sanosuke Harada ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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At the time of this article, I have played approximately 152 otome routes. This means I have read stories of 125 different heroes. And out of these 125 men, Sanosuke Harada is my all-time favorite! Ever since I played his route, a couple of years ago now, he has been at the top of my favorites list, with no end of his reign in sight.

And now with my 153th route completed, I am simply reminded of why I love Harada so much! This route isn’t flawless by any means, and I really dislike the power dynamic (that is not present in the historical games) that the writers created between Harada and Chizuru in SSL.

BUT EVEN SO.  

Harada simply remains the best…to me anyway!   

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Sanosuke Harada ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Shinobi Koi Utsutsu – Garaiya ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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If ever an otome route demonstrates the importance of kindness and acceptance, it is Garaiya’s route in Shinobi Koi Utsutsu.

I would classify Shinobi Koi Utsutsu as a romantic comedy, adventure story. This game is lighthearted and will make you smile, laugh, and blush! But underlying the fun and sheer silliness of the set up and plot is a story of a lonely young man who desperately wants a place to belong. There is a gravity to this story and it’s the universal desire for genuine acceptance. At the center of this route is Garaiya and Kaede and the strength of their friendship and the power of unconditional acceptance.

The message of this route is outstanding, and I really loved it!

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

Continue reading “Shinobi Koi Utsutsu – Garaiya ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Hakuouki: SSL – Souji Okita ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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I love the Hakuouki franchise!

And now that I have my Vita (thank you, wonderful husband!), I was excited to play Hakuouki: SSL!

This game is about enjoying the characters that you have come to love and letting them be happy! No war. No death. No furies. No tuberculosis. No real plot or character development.

And that is fine.

This game is for the fans of the Hakuouki franchise.  We can just sit back and relax while the characters we love enjoy their sweet school life!

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 “Hakuouki: SSL – Souji Okita ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →