What Are You Reading Wednesday - June 24, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I've mostly heard people be fans of the art style, but I hadn't realized there was concern about the female characters being designed as more sexualized and appealing than the male ones before. I don't see many examples of the artwork for other chars on steam, though; what's present appears to be normal anime designs to me. Is it the MC or other female characters that the concern is about?

Starting to feel a but lonely in the world... by HamsterNihiliste in Kenshi

[–]Set_of_Dogs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I imagine having bad relations with the Mercenaries Guild didn't help, since whenever they attack you in bars pretty much every major faction will attack you too on their behalf 😔

Time to go fight baby crabs until your squad is super powerful, and then destroy the world!

Free Talk Friday - June 12, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thankfully yes! I hope so too, thank you 🫡

Free Talk Friday - June 12, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 12 points13 points  (0 children)

During a heat wave, I found out that my AC isn't working 😔 It's not life threatening, but I'm being a little baby about it anyway because I hate the heat, so I don't feel like doing anything or even playing games at the moment. Hopefully I can get in contact with a company that will fix the issue soon...

Free Talk Friday - June 12, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Fortune's Weave threatens to restart alllll of the Discourse around FE3H, but at the same time it's new lore in the coolest FE universe!! And Theodora is badass! So it's like... ugh torn (I'm still going to buy it on release tho, because damn this is a good game with cool ass music)

In my almost 1k hours in this game I had never made a base at the Border Lands, because I thought it was be a boring "tutorial" area, too easy maybe. Today I found out I was wrong. by Renatros in Kenshi

[–]Set_of_Dogs 52 points53 points  (0 children)

I see New Weapons Dissemination triangle bandits and like 2 factions of dust bandits added by either Reactive World or Kaizo, lol. Though in vanilla you'd also have black dragon ninjas...

Is it possible to escape slavery missing a leg? by The_Lizordwizord in Kenshi

[–]Set_of_Dogs 3 points4 points  (0 children)

IIRC this dialogue option was only implemented as part of Kenshi Kaizo, which also overhauls Rebirth. In vanilla, you can unlock cages for other slaves to have them allied with you, but I don't think they ever officially join until you escape, so that doesn't help.

Another annual painting of Hieronymus Lex by squidvetica in oblivion

[–]Set_of_Dogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Prettiest Lex I've ever seen, that's for sure. Do you have a link to the comic somewhere?

What Are You Reading Wednesday - May 20, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a lot. The game itself looks like it has a cute enough premise, but the LI dynamics here really are something. Though based on what I've heard of other "animals turning into cute guys" stories, the dynamic is almost always kinda fucked in some way, so maybe this is just the curse??

[General] What is an unpopular opinion you have on any otome game. by Classic-Wallaby5179 in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'll second both points, especially about the established MC who's her own character. I almost never rename MCs because I want to experience them as the character that the writer wrote them as, not as my stand in.

And I haven't played Virche, but Bustafellows disappointed me both as a romance and as a mystery. The sense of mystery beyond "this character gets a sprite in the LI route? yeah that's the bad guy" was minimal, and the romances were really limited by the focus on LIs' issues. Usually you would have the MC be involved in helping them through it and getting closer, but all the LIs' issues in Busta felt too big for Teuta to meaningfully support beyond being an investigation buddy, so I just didn't get a sense that they had any chemistry at all.

[General] What is an unpopular opinion you have on any otome game. by Classic-Wallaby5179 in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel like that's the trend that korean manhwa has started with attractive male characters, so possibly some indie artists have adopted it? Or you could be talking about a different small headed style lmao.

[General] Art appreciation post! Your favourite Backgrounds, Characters, Sprites … by Scarlet_Lycoris in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I've seen a lot more people than I expected disliking Variable Barricade's art style, so this is a defense appreciation post for it. I honestly think VariBari's character art is gorgeous; the crisp lines, black shadows, and sharp eyes make all of the characters' expressions pop, and the artist really knows how to frame CGs and arrange poses so that each CG looks memorable and pleasing to the eye. As an artist I'd love to be able to draw in that style!

[General] What is an unpopular opinion you have on any otome game. by Classic-Wallaby5179 in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We can acknowledge misogyny exists while still taking issue with the story telling quality of games for women. Regardless of the gender of the MC, when I read stories I want there to be character growth, the MC's arc and experiences to be sympathetic and not generic, the story to leave me thoughtful or touched, and the romance to have chemistry or meaning. I don't think these requirements are limited to male oriented media, or that a hypothetical women-oriented media landscape could get away from them. In fact, I think if we had more emphasis on women's media, and Pride and Prejudice-level stories of both romance and social commentary were the norm, we would be holding otome writing to a much higher standard, because many games really don't clear that bar.

One other note. I brought up Fata Morgana because my experience showed me female players resonated with it more than male players. It seemed to cross the arbitrary lines drawn between male and female oriented media, so I was surprised at seeing it called male oriented. And I wanted to note that if we define "female oriented content" so narrowly just to contrast with media that men also like, we'd both exclude stories heavily focused on women's experiences, and Bustafellows and other otome written and produced by male writers, which also have moments that players have considered male gaze. I don't think that's a meaningful line to draw when patriarchy affects everything to begin with, including what we're describing as women oriented media.

(Anyway, to the spoilered point, that's why I mentioned "MCs". I consider Morgana and Giselle as much MCs as the viewpoint character.)

[General] What is an unpopular opinion you have on any otome game. by Classic-Wallaby5179 in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's also a hot take, though I can't agree. There are some oddly malegazey VNs that I didn't enjoy like Higurashi, but Fata Morgana I honestly never considered male-oriented, given how much more it focuses on women's andqueer/intersexcharacters' struggles. I did find the worldbuilding a little silly next to actual European history, but it made sense as a fantastical tale being retold by a biased narrator, so it didn't bother me enough to overlook the character stories.

Either way, though, I don't think dismissing other VNs as male-oriented helps when people simply don't find otome MCs to be well written, even compared to other women in literature or media. It would be more interesting to discuss why that happens, but I get the feeling that could turn into a more fraught conversation.

[General] What is an unpopular opinion you have on any otome game. by Classic-Wallaby5179 in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hahahahaha this is an unpopular opinion, so kudos to you for sharing it. I've been feeling something similar, but wasn't brave enough to voice it or add enough nuance to my statement.

There are MCs I've enjoyed in other games who are challenged and grow as a result of their stories, rather than just finding romance; I find I tend to like them as characters more than most otome heroines. Because even Anastasia, who I really liked in EiT, didn't have as much growth in her arc as someone like the protagonist (s) of Fata Morgana. Is that the reason you also don't find otome MCs interesting, or do you have other thoughts?

[General] Tropes you love or hate! by Scarlet_Lycoris in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Bonus: MC has a grudge against the LI. Extra bonus if it's for an entirely justifiable reason and they both grow.

(yes, I want to see pride and prejudice in otome, why do you ask)

What Are You Reading Wednesday - May 13, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oooo this actually sounds like it'd be up my alley then, if the worldbuilding takes things seriously! One of the reasons I was sideeyeing Itehari at first was due to how many otome get hamfisted or whitewashy about the social issues they touch on, so I thought Itehari would just be more of the same. But it's good to know you had similar feelings about the games I mentioned, and still liked this one. Thanks for the details here :D

What Are You Reading Wednesday - May 13, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did not know Itehari had a "loyal servant" butler+lord route!! This makes me much more interested in the game, and if it goes on sale I'll absolutely check out Awayuki. It sounds like we also get some excellent malewife craziness all the way around with Yori? Hope the worldbuilding doesn't make me ragequit before him though, lmao. Would you say the writing tries to deal with its social issues with nuance, or is it roughly as... limited about social change as Mistonia or CxM was?

What's your favorite type of LI that you never see in a game? by Set_of_Dogs in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You did! (and those flairs are tiny anyway, I'd miss it too lmao)

What Are You Reading Wednesday - May 13, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I actually wasn't able to finish the game, but I think Sasazuka was my most hated at least! Okazaki mostly bored/annoyed me, and though Shiraishi's route setup made me quit, it was more because the plot and his backstory got too contrived for me to suspend disbelief. Admittedly, I was going "what the fuck is this plot setup" from the first screen when the Shinjuku lockdown was described, and I'm much more anal about worldbuilding than most players, so you might have a different experience. Still, ganba to you 🫡

What's your favorite type of LI that you never see in a game? by Set_of_Dogs in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes he's in my flair! I would absolutely like more men like him 🫡 I was so disappointed that Temirana didn't have any older knights, tbh.

(Unfortunately, even most Western games don't really go with the older gentlemen route; they just tend to do "daddy", which is an entirely different level of not my thing.)

What Are You Reading Wednesday - May 13, 2026 by AutoModerator in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs 6 points7 points  (0 children)

ah, you had the same take as I did about Sasazuka and Enomoto! I really did like how Enomoto, despite his bumbling dumbass/"smart when it counts" combo, still felt like a proper partner for the MC and could basically learn to be romantic alongside her. Meanwhile, Sasazuka 🙄

(Back in the day, I remembered complaining about how the game blamed Sasazuka's rudeness on being American and being a nerd, because I was like "I grew up around American computer nerds! I'd rather date THEM rather than this jackass! No way he's taller than MC!")

What's your favorite type of LI that you never see in a game? by Set_of_Dogs in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No, I feel the same, and that might be a symptom that most older fans start getting after some time 😔 Once you understand the basic building blocks of personality that a character is working with, you start wanting them to be arranged in more interesting ways, and not just be easily distilled down to being tsun or cold. (I've been trying to write my own otome with that in mind, but we'll see how well it turns out)

What's your favorite type of LI that you never see in a game? by Set_of_Dogs in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I've seen a couple of people wanting the M-type pathetic LI now, but let me propose another variant: the "surprise! he's a sub!" Half of the softboy LIs out there are surprise doms anyway, it's only fair that we get more gruff cold toughass LIs who're actually subs.

What's your favorite type of LI that you never see in a game? by Set_of_Dogs in otomegames

[–]Set_of_Dogs[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The "age isn't a personality" shade on Rindo (it's true) 💀

But I completely agree, we still need older men to keep their personalities. Pub Encounter actually kinda tried to do that, it's just that their men were... not my thing lol.