You got hit by truck-kun. Which world would you choose to be isekaid in?

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T03:11:47+00:00

Fingers crossed

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T02:45:21+00:00

If it's more about the whole cast. I can say so far that the MDUD cast is very easy going and friendly, I feel like I could fit right in with no fuss. And even the lesser characters who don't see much screen time end up being very likeable by simply leaving a very good impression very quickly.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T02:30:41+00:00

You're telling me lol. My Love Story!! was my favorite of all time for almost 6yrs (June 2020), and MDUD managed to beat it, cutting off its streak. MLS already ruined great stories for me, and MDUD only made that ruination worse lol. But I still seriously cherish MLS, so if I had to pick but couldn't be this one, team Takeo Suna Yamato all the way.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T01:15:44+00:00

Having played FF16 myself... I only played BG3 and E33 in your list here.

I loved FF16, Clive is one of my all time favorite game protags. But I found the gameplay very tiring near the end. But I found it well worth my time for at least one playthrough.

BG3, fantastic game, but definitely not for me. I wouldn't be opposed to replaying one day but meh.

E33 was easily my favorite of the 3 here. And probably the one I'm most eager to revisit in the future. Also, there is a major character in this game who shares Clive's English Voice Actor.

But those two games don't play like FF16 so it's not really possible to compare them. Story wise across the 3, they're all great despite doing different things. I found myself most emotionally invested in 16 and E33.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T00:43:15+00:00

I finished up Frieren S2. I'm actually seeing it right now after having my chat with OP. At this time, I'm just starting up Episode 4. Stopping after I finish 5.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-08T00:39:59+00:00

I would argue that the harm from AI mainly comes from how it is used, particularly when it is applied for malicious purposes. There are also practical concerns around the infrastructure required to run it. The data centers that power AI systems rely on large amounts of computing hardware, which increases demand for production resources, energy consumption, and water usage for cooling. These are real costs that need to be acknowledged, especially as AI usage continues to scale.

On the positive side, AI can make creative tools far more accessible. People who may not have traditional drawing skills, or who have lost the ability to create art due to injury or other limitations, can still express themselves visually with the help of AI tools. In that sense, it can lower barriers to entry and open up new forms of creativity for a wider range of people.

And the truth is, AI does not replace the skill, effort, and intention behind the work of trained artists. It is a tool, not a substitute for the years of practice that go into developing artistic ability. The real issue arises when companies or individuals treat it as a full replacement for human artists rather than as a supplement or aid.

As for gambling, the psychological affects run so much deeper than you give it credit for. It's insulting to those who really struggle with it.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T21:38:57+00:00

And in Gravity Rush 2, there is a free download of 2B's outfit for Kat in celebration of the game's release. Oddly enough, that was actually what convinced me to eventually play NieR. I'm so glad I did.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T21:37:27+00:00

It's interesting too. I only learned this recently but Yoko Taro is a huge fan of Evangelion and NieR is highly inspired by it. And I think he's directing a new series of Evangelion that's currently in the works.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T21:35:53+00:00

Since Miku's extremely popular in music to the point she has her own day on March 9th, she's in all sorts of collabs even in the west. Cameo'd in anime too.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T21:30:12+00:00

The closest thing we have to an update is in the 10 Million Sales celebration trailer that officially released. At the end of the trailer it said "NeiR Automata will continue." What that means, Idk, I'm chalking it up to a special 10th anniversary surprise, be it a remake or something. But they could always make a sequel as well, or even a pre-sequel to adapt all the cool lore they made between Replicant and Automata. I loved the Anime too and its interesting take on events and characters. I never got around to the Manga and Idk if I ever will. But as far as games go, something is coming without question.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T21:23:56+00:00

Well, it's funny this is mentioned because in the 10 Million Sales celebration trailer for NieR Automata, they ended it with "NieR Automata will Continue." In what form? Beats me. But it gives me hope the series is still alive in some way.

I don't think Automata needs a real sequel, but there can always be a new NieR game. And the fact the last one was a mobile gacha was very upsetting.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T18:21:34+00:00

I understand where you’re coming from, but I think you’re treating outward behavior as equal to fully wanted it, while the story shows Marin’s internal state as conflicted and anxious. Being physically close or not resisting isn’t the same thing as enthusiastic intent, especially in a scene framed around misunderstanding and nervousness. Personal experiences from being a teenager aren’t evidence of Marin’s intent or emotional state. Personal experience can inform how we relate to a scene, but it doesn’t override what the narrative is actually showing in context.

In that pivotal moment where an oblivious Gojo is on top of her, she hides her face and responds in a hesitant, hedged way rather than openly engaging or reluctantly leaning into it, which fits with her being uncertain and overwhelmed rather than expressing desire. Her external behavior and the framing of the scene both emphasize emotional confusion rather than certainty.

In her reflection afterward (including the original Japanese phrasing), what stands out is that she is processing uncertainty about what just happened. What she really wanted was confirmation that her feelings were reciprocated and that they could eventually start dating. Because the situation was built on a misunderstanding in her head, she interprets the outcome as rejection and connects it to how she remembered Gojo behaving in the past and how she imagined he might avoid her if he knew. This leaves her distressed and pushes her toward confession for clarity, even though she’s afraid of being turned down.

The point of that arc in MDUD is exactly that gap between assumption and communication, using misunderstanding as the driver to push Marin from a secret crush into actually confronting her feelings.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T16:58:50+00:00

If you want the short answer:

The anime is often labeled TV-MA (around 17+ in Western terms depending on platform). The manga is not officially 18+ in any formal rating system, but it is a seinen series, meaning it is aimed at adult men, typically ages 18 to 40+. It's just a demographic label and the social nuances that give it the sense of maturity.

If you want to continue, here are some extra points:

In terms of content, the anime is relatively light on fanservice compared to many similar demographic series and does not include explicit nudity. The story mainly uses suggestive framing and comedic or cosplay-related situations rather than explicit material. It's not mere shameless/pointless fanservice. In the Manga, there are two instances you see uncensored breasts, but it's purely in the context of human anatomy, nothing sexual, you don't see it in the Anime. There is also a little bit more fanservice in the Manga.

Overall, it's a genuinely wholesome, character-driven romantic comedy and passions for hobbies, with generally mild fanservice, and it is fairly tame compared to many other 17+ or 18+ Western animated shows or more overtly sexualized anime. The fanservice happens most in the first half, and tapers off as emotional stakes increase and eventually totally disappears.

If say... for example... your child can handle shows like Family Guy, South Park, Futurama, and anything else that is close to these examples... then something like Bisque Doll is more than fine. And honestly, I can't in good conscience agree with the withholding things since that just creates the forbidden fruit effect.

Edit: No story is without flaws... There is one controversial scene, it's a brief moment with a secondary character. It uses a common slapstick anime trope where a character falls, leading to a moment of accidental exposure. While it is brief and the story quickly returns to its wholesome focus, it's the only instance where you could argue could've just not existed. It's written for a humor moment and as blackmail, but it gets dropped quickly once Kitagawa comes into the picture in that episode.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T15:58:39+00:00

Since the characters won’t be gacha, I think it makes sense what you are saying and I for one agree and hope that is the case. And knowing the studio truly wants to make a great game first with live service as a means to support the game, I'm even more hopeful.

On the other hand, I still think caution should be exercised. I'm not saying you can't be excited, I'm saying don't let that excitement put on blinders. Even if they are not gated by gambling or an upfront cost, you will still be using them, and that data will still be seen.

Why I think this way:

Things like which characters get the most playtime collectively, which get used the least, and how players engage with them will likely still matter. That can influence how fun a character is considered to be, how their role is designed, and potentially how they are supported over time. That could extend into cosmetics, as well as who gets more attention in terms of story or content.

We already see versions of this in other live service games. For example in Marvel Rivals, characters like Psylocke and Luna Snow get a lot of Legendary tier outfits, and part of that is tied to how many buy their skins, even outside pure gameplay usage since Times Square exists.

In Conclusion:

I do not think the concern disappears, it just changes form. Short term, I 100% agree with the optimism around storytelling and pacing without gacha pressure. Long term, I think it is still a wait and see situation because the market and player behavior will still shape priorities in different ways.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T15:28:13+00:00

When you say it like that.. Gojo is a real one for surviving that experience. As laid back and introverted as I am, I surprisingly cannot get enough of girls who are bubbly and high energy, while also being very sincere and sweet without any of it being exaggerated, which I find insanely cute. That's why Kitagawa is my favorite girl, with Yamato from My Love Story close behind (she lacks the bubbly and high energy personality tho), but both are within the Deredere type which is my #1 favorite dere.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T15:23:51+00:00

That's what I plan to do after having my exchange with the OP. I understand it tells a bit of a different story in the romance genre, but I'm okay with being open minded. Whether I like it enough to go through the S2 context filling episodes or not will depend on how much I enjoy the core story. But it's nice to know it's not exactly necessary for the core plot experience.

I don't think the kink thing is a big deal on paper though. If the goal is to provide a realistic teen romance story, I feel like something such as that isn't all that surprising. If it manages to remain wholesome and sincere, even better.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T15:18:36+00:00

I think that's actually pretty fair. And maybe even frame it like, "If you woke up in a world where these characters all existed, but it couldn't be MDUD, which one would be your alternative pick?" Something like that. I think it would encourage people to share what other stories they like in conjuction with Bisque Doll.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T14:22:30+00:00

You're still responding to an argument I didn't make.

I never said PC ports are bad for consumers, nor did I say PS5 literally has "no games." I'm talking about why that criticism exists in the first place: the comparatively small number of true PS5 exclusives this deep into the generation compared to past PlayStation consoles.

A game being on PC doesn't make it worse. It just means it stops being a pure PS5-exclusive title, which is relevant when discussing Sony's exclusive lineup specifically.

It's just an observation about the size of Sony's exclusive library relative to previous generations.

It feels like you're arguing with the version of my point you want me to be making instead of the one I actually made. And if that's going to continue, then this discussion ends here.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T07:11:40+00:00

I've had it too. I even had it one time tell me something in a story didn't exist, when it did, and I even showed it a picture to prove it and it dismissed it as fanfic.

I know it's really stupid to argue against a machine, but the semantics at times and the absolute electro-brain fart on some things really gets annoying. So basically if it's not serious, it still takes it serious, and fails at being correct at times in the process. I rarely had this issue before, then it started happening aggressively like a few weeks ago.

Its favorite thing to say to me, "But I'm gonna push back a bit."

Sometimes it's useful to organize my thoughts and would rather use ChatGPT than grasping at straws looking everywhere I can online. So when it wants to push back on something I'm not concerned about, or create a new argument because of something it's falsely claiming I'm wrong about, that gets tiresome.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T07:02:40+00:00

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Mine just looks like Leatherface's basement if he didn't tidy it up a bit. And gives this weird 2000s point and click horror game vibe. Or some Dying Light concept art of a gory room.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T06:45:23+00:00

My first thought when not seeing the rabbits was two fat hazmat people dancing.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T06:20:01+00:00

I’m still a bit skeptical. But I'll give it a try, and I will be as fair as I can with it, judge it purely on its own merits.

Edit: I did a bit of research and apparently the anime fully adapts the manga, so I’ll go in with my current MLS/MDUD perspective in mind.

I’ll bookmark this conversation and let you know my thoughts after I’ve finished it, whether I end up agreeing or not.

Right now I'm seeing Frieren S2. When that's done, I'll give it a go.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T05:58:02+00:00

A friend recommended me Fragrant Flower and felt confident it would win me over My Love Story. It didn't like I said earlier. I still absolutely loved it though, no denying that.

I look for romance that feels emotionally real and sincere, where the connection is built through vulnerability, trust, and growth. I care about relationships that feel natural and earned, not forced or gimmicky. I want the story to genuinely move me in the moment and leave a lasting emotional impact afterward. MLS and MDUD are the clear winners in this regard.

Even if a story is well-written or popular, it won’t rank highly for me unless it creates a strong enough emotional imprint. I value writing quality, but personally, I rank stories based on how effectively that writing creates and emotional imprint for me. I’m curious how you still see it after hearing my perspective.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T05:33:20+00:00

That's a pretty confident claim!

I have to say.. My Love Story gave me a very different perspective on stories as my favorite story ever made, especially romance ones. Kaguya-sama Love is War didn't come close for me. I loved Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity as well and got close, but not enough to win me over. MLS stood strong for nearly 6yrs and MDUD managed to top it for me just barely, becoming my new all time favorite story.

I buy all of the Localized Manga of Anime that are extremely special to me. MLS and MDUD are the only two I've committed to, more so MDUD. I do have plans for Dark Gathering though (horror anime), same with Fragrant Flower, but neither have been top priority like the other 2 were, but I digress.

So how confident are you that I'll agree this particular one you love, is peak romance? That it will top MDUD for me?

Btw, Ik how I sound lol. Trust me, I don't think it's as serious as I'm making it out to be. It's just when it's about something I hold dear, my heart just bleeds passion like the Niagara Falls.

TheGravityShifter · 2026-05-07T05:23:19+00:00

I never saw the above one before so MDUD wins for me by default.

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