PQube – Otomes as Novels

Genso Manege – Crier Route ~ Plot & Character Analysis

May 23, 2025May 26, 2025 novelotome

I started this route in late February and I never finished it.

A big part of this was that playing Crier’s route on my switch was the last thing I did before my body finally succumbed to the Norovirus (Stomach Flu) that, to that point, had already been in my home for two weeks.

So, honestly, picking up my switch and playing this route was just inviting reliving some bad memories. But as time passed, I realized I had no interest in picking the route up again. And this feeling had nothing to do with terrible memories.

See…even before my body gave up and I threw up eight times in five hours, I wasn’t really enjoying the route. And the distance of these past three months, hadn’t changed this feeling.

There are many narrative related reasons, why this route did not resonate with me. And rather than force myself to complete a route that I obviously have no interest in, I just decided to write up my thoughts and leave it at that.

So, full disclosure, I did not finish Crier’s route.

And here is why.

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

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Genso Manege – Hugo Route ~ Plot & Character Analysis

February 13, 2025 novelotome

Well, I was smitten right off the bat!

I hadn’t played a “fairytale-esque” otome game in quite some time and, as I played through Hugo’s route, it lowkey surprised me (though honestly it shouldn’t have) how much I had been craving an otome game of this type!

Now.

If you are looking for a game with an eight-chapter common route that establishes superb, air-tight world-building and has believable answers to every question you have about this fictional world, you might find this game lacking.

Also, for me, Hugo’s route suffered from the popular otome construct of “canon & finale” routes. There were multiple instances of information being withheld, which I assume will be reveals in other routes.

But, as someone who is not a fan of long, laborious common routes, I thought the fun, sweeping, romantic tone of the game was well done!

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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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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Bustafellows – Scarecrow ~ Plot & Character Analysis

June 1, 2024July 14, 2024 novelotome

There are just some otome love interests that I enjoy as secondary characters. And, for me, Scarecrow is one of these love interests. He’s not a bad character, he really is sweet and endearing, but we just didn’t click in his route.

And that’s okay.

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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Bustafellows – Helvetica Orsted ~ Plot & Character Analysis

April 17, 2024July 14, 2024 novelotome

This route was…something.

And by something, I mean this route was…a lot.

And by a lot, I mean this route was…too much.

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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Bustafellows – Shu Lyn O’Keefe ~ Plot & Character Analysis

March 21, 2024July 14, 2024 novelotome

Okay, so after avoiding this game because I’d heard it was comparable to Collar X Malice, which is my most ~~hated~~ (*cough*) strongly disliked otome game of all time, I finally caved when Bustafellows was available on the Nintendo e-shop for $10. I mean, even I can take a risk for $10.

And I’m so happy I did! I absolutely LOVED Shu! And to my absolute surprise, he and his route sky-rocketed to the top 5 of my favorite otome heroes and routes of all time!

In my opinion, this game is nothing like Collar X Malice, which works in Bustafellows favor in every 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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