Tag: Steam

Nightshade – Gekkamaru ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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Well, after nearly two and a half years, I have finally finished Nightshade.

I saved Gekkamaru for last, knowing that he was a character I would likely enjoy, and that hunch proved correct! I did love Gekkamaru as a character and as a love interest for Enju.

But his route?

I just don’t know.

This is NOT a bad route! I have very few problems with the narrative, pacing, or character development and arcs. I thought the progression between Gekkamaru and Enju’s changing relationship dynamics was natural and well done, and I thought the final climax fit the narrative well.

But, like Shungen’s route from Birushana, by the time I finished this route, I just felt tired. Gekkamaru’s route is heavy, y’all, and I know this had an impact on my overall enjoyment.

So, I’m going to focus on what I consider one of the main themes of the route.

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

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Nightshade – Hanzo ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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To me, Hanzo and Enju’s story is not a romance.

And I’ll be upfront. I didn’t start enjoying Hanzo and Enju’s relationship until I realized it was essentially a mentor/mentee type of story.

You know the trope:

Yoda & Luke Skywalker

Mr. Miyagi & Daniel

Mickey Goldmill & Rocky

Herb Brooks & the entire 1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team

Philoctetes & Hercules

Hanzo & Enju

You get the picture.

And once I realized this, I was actually invested in this story…until Chapter 11.

Damn you, Chapter 11.

That is when the narrative and Enju’s character arc fell apart.

And why, do you ask?

Let’s discuss!

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

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Top 5 Otome Love Interests ~ Year 2

novelotome

Well, my blog made it another year! To commemorate my two-year anniversary, I thought it would be fun to make a Top 5 favorite Love Interest ranking with all 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 either a “Great” or “Good” ranking! I omitted the two 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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Genso Manege – Crier Route ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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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!

Continue reading “Genso Manege – Crier Route ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Genso Manege – Hugo Route ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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

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

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

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.

Continue reading “Bustafellows – Mozu Nile Shepherd ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →

Bustafellows – Scarecrow ~ Plot & Character Analysis

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

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.

Continue reading “Bustafellows – Helvetica Orsted ~ Plot & Character Analysis” →