This Game is a Milestone for the Otome Industry for all the Wrong Reasons

[@RowleyFan2]

"the man is a red flag and he stays a red flag, and the heroine is just ok with it" Ngl that sounds like a lot of us thirsty otome gamers XD

[@LinLinLavender]

@@RowleyFan2 that's true! 😂 I think he will be a favourite of many!

[@angietrif]

This is giving me Code Realize, Piofiore and Olympia Soirée vibes. Kinda feels like Yomi in the underground! Thank you for this video, because I would have blindly bought it but I’ll definitely think on it more.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@angietrif absolutely! Should have mentioned the Yomi as well! Happy to be of help 🥰

[@millasgameroom]

I've skipped the review portion as I plan to play this myself next year, but you bring up a lot of interesting points Lin! Also worth adding that a lot of that excess merch is environmentally wasteful (and frankly Broccoli should have not been allowed to make stuff while the IP was untested). Hopefully Aksys are allowed to bundle the DLC into the localised version to reduce the cost, even if it means they have to charge more upfront. As for Otomate, they've been cutting back on new releases in favour of more ports, which bodes well for most of their releases being localised outside of Japan going forward. We need to see more gameplay oriented titles getting a localisation (including from Broccoli and Otomate) to broaden the perception of otome games here. JJ is a good start!

[@LinLinLavender]

@@millasgameroom thanks, Milla! That's also a good point! I also wonder how they'll go about the DLCs... I also think more gameplay otome games would boost the English market even more!

[@fuumaxkamui]

tl;dw the game focuses heavily on plot rather than romance and the pre-release marketing/merch and mishmash of other games' popular tropes makes it a cash grab

[@mbuszka5295]

Also as for what You talked about "seeing similarities in CG" - exactly same issue clever fans of HAKUOKI pointed to Crimson Flame game. We came to point, that even CGs gets multiplied. Talking about soulless. 😩💔

[@princessri5159]

Thank you for posting 💗💗 I appreciate the reviews you post! ☺️

[@LinLinLavender]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to write this! 💕

[@xXDalyladollyXx]

I love that you research and bring info besides just a review. You certainly done your homework and I love it❤

[@LinLinLavender]

@@xXDalyladollyXx thank you so much! I thought it would be interesting to see the game in context despite my negative review

[@flamym]

While you were explaining the plot all I could think of was Olympia Soiree 😭 I get your point in them being a biittt unoriginal

[@LinLinLavender]

@@flamym it also reminded me a lot of Olympia Soirée!

[@DiegoPrs]

Lol the jumpscare when I saw the revenue list I organize popping up when you talked about Love and Deepspace xD I really want to play Uchronia (even though my backlog is crazy already), I love plot-driven otomes.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@DiegoPrs thanks for the list! (And reminding me that I should add links to the resources!) Hope you'll enjoy it!

[@DiegoPrs]

​@@LinLinLavender nah, it's fine, I just gather info from other sites and arrange it in a spreadsheet hahah

[@LinLinLavender]

@@DiegoPrs it was a great help, thank you!

[@goranisacson2502]

I don't really play otome or visual novels that much, so while I'm not the audience and I don't have a lot of insight I took a chance on this and the issues you raise really remind me of the general issue of FOMO in the kind of games I play, where things are hyped to heaven and back because especially now that so much instability haunts the video game industry you need to squeeze every little cent from your audience in order to make back investments, the sooner the better, and it all just inevitably results in worse products with less heart... it rings too familiar. Simply put- thank you for the lesson of how otome games make their actual money, and I am so sorry for otome fans for the apparent rise of these moneysucking "FOM-Otome" games, you all deserve better.

[@jeannecaelum5167]

ooof that sounds really rough and not like a game i want to play. Thanks for the review!

[@LinLinLavender]

@@jeannecaelum5167 I think if you enjoy sci-fi it has some interesting ideas, but for steamy girls it's a bit cold 😅 Happy to help! 💕

[@KoKoaKate]

Sometimes I have doubts that I will never find a game that gave me the experience that Code Realize did. That game was all that I could ever wish a visual novel to be. On that note if anyone could recommend me a game that is on par with that, please tell me I beg you!

[@LinLinLavender]

@@KoKoaKate I think this one might be good? Many people also love CollarxMalice or Bustafellows

[@henriettereines6273]

Chou No Doku

[@henriettereines6273]

House in Fata Morgana

[@MekuChanAnime]

This is the first time I heard of the concept of "gameplay otome" and "visual novel otome", and I feel so dumb because all my life while I liked reading stories with charmings voices along them, I never felt that stimulated by them. With rhythm and stats raising otomes I felt like I was /working/ towards my ideal mate, giving me a sense of accomplishment that VN deliberate choice based routes never did. I guess thats why I tend to gravitate towards games with dating sim elements and end up dropping many VN even if they seem interesting at first. I wish companies just could make more of those, like, I'm not asking for AAA gameplay, even a minigame would me enough to catch my eye, just like TMGS does (and I'll always be sad for it not being localized, piss off Konami)

[@LinLinLavender]

@@MekuChanAnime that's so interesting! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I also think localising gameplay otome games would be really good for the English market!

[@kacheek9101]

I found it so interesting reading your comment because I'm basically the opposite. Like, don't get me wrong, I'll play an otome that has gameplay elements, but I strongly prefer the more pure visual novel experience.... Mainly because I like setting them to autoplay, putting the controller down, and cozying up on the couch

[@RowleyFan2]

Thank you so much for suffering through this game to share this review with us! It's a total shame, I think I'm gonna have to skip it... I hate that because I'm loving high quality sprites, and the CGs and just art in general is gorgeus. I was gonna buy it because it did have potential but it seems all that potential was wasted and overhyped by the company.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@RowleyFan2 anytime 🥰 if you like games like Code Realize I think this game will be fun for you! But I also didn't like Code Realize so 😅

[@EveRosell]

Thank you for the video! I agree with Uchronia feeling like a mishmash of many other otomes, premise is so much like Steam Prison....

[@LinLinLavender]

@@EveRosell thanks for sticking around 💕 I mean it's Steam Prison and Olympia Soirée for example have this setup, so it's kinda common I guess, maybe my expectations were a bit too high

[@Kazoku]

Admittedly, I'm one of those people who started to enjoy otome games for their plots more (even though SympathyKiss was definitely one of my favourites in a while!! The romance is so comfy there) 😭 but hearing u talk about the plot I felt SOOO sad I heard about this game last year and was extremely hyped already because RiRi again??? YES! And the plot looked very interesting, since I like dystopian plots and "sheltered princess hears about how bad her kingdom be doing" trope, plus the rebellion was speaking to my french self 😂But to hear the true route says there's an outside world NEVER explored turned me off so badly. I wanted the weird oppressive utopia being challenged for xyz reasons, or something, but apparently only one character route truly talks about it in details with maybeee amnesia boy. Maybe I'm reading too deeply into the summary but this felt like wasted potential, and I loved Sakamoto's route in Hakuoki! Or most of Olympia Soirée routes... and even Piofiore's Orlok route. As for otome games getting more recognition, I think it's partly because of COVID- and also because of the villainess mangas that have been popping up a lot. I had a lot of friends asking me if otome games are REALLY like this- I have to tell them it's in fact, not.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@Kazoku I also was super captivated by the setup! I'm sure we'll go outside in some sequel or so Yes, all characters lead to the truth a bit, but only the true route fully uncovers it and I couldn't have guessed anything of it You're not the first to point that out, thank you! That really seems like a boom I've missed

[@sherinevanbergen7783]

I'm hoping I will still enjoy this otome despite it being a cash grab. With that being said, I still intend to buy every otome that is released in the west. With otome being niche, I would like to support it where I can.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@sherinevanbergen7783 if you like sci-fi plot I'm sure you'll enjoy it! The otome community is indebted to you 💕

[@EriksBlue]

the base concept sounds like "Steam Prison -Beyond the Steam-"

[@amnal3983]

Love your in-depth reviews and analysis of the market Lin!

[@LinLinLavender]

@@amnal3983 thank you so much 💕 Are you interested in the game?

[@amnal3983]

@@LinLinLavender I mean with that cast line up, artist and writers I feel like I HAVE to play it because I love Piofiore so much. Will be keeping my expectations in check though

[@LinLinLavender]

@@amnal3983 same for me honestly! It just looks do good and always better to find out for yourself if you like it 😊 I mean it's really popular!

[@MeowMyselfandI]

I think I'm personally of the opinion that if the focus isn't the romance it doesn't really count as an otome game. Same as other games that have romance in them as an option or side thing aren't considered dating sims unless there's a big focus on the actual romantic aspect (you can date girls in Persona but no one calls it a bishoujo game, for example). I like games with good plots and play plenty of non-romantic games too but I want romance in my romance games, otherwise they're being categorized wrong I feel like. Ofc everyone has different opinions on what counts as high romance but definitely I feel like some otome these days are too much plot focused and the romance is just an afterthought. Really smart marketing of them to start pushing merch before the game is out though, definitely pushes the hype and helps the game be more successful.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@MeowMyselfandI that's actually a good though, I think! Don't call it otome if romance is the by-product Yes...I guess it's to be more appealing for a wider audience, but I also don't approve of it 😂

[@mbuszka5295]

Just after first look at game, I already seen *"if PIOFIORE married HAKUOKI"* (from which revamp they took idea of eyes and lips moving, not innovating at all, sorry), but after first minutes of Your review, I couldn't help it to morph to *"If PIOFIORE(design) married HAKUOKI(vibe), STEAM PRISON(design/plot) AND OLYMPIA SOIREE(design/plot) in harem route and got soulless baby"* , which all being highly loved by fans, so I get it, but... YES, THIS IS MY BIGGEST PROBLEM, I AGREE. Newer games seems *EXTREMLY SOULLESS.* HAKUOKI, that in 2012 debuted as West first 'switch-off-able romance', focused on plot, because YES IT IS *best soft power* - way to learn world about Your country heros and DANG IT WORKED!... got one of, if not *most* likeable, complexed and full fan of choice characters, bunched into lovely family of gover hired samurais, that we seen in slice-of-life form of interactions, even if they mostly focuse on fighting and planning new moves. They were in 2012 almost non-existing in STEAM content, but for anniversary they got their fair amound of STEAM, that helped to bring in players, that were more steam oriented...because CG of laying in bed, or drinking blood, can be as nice, as CG of Your LI horribly dying. 💛❤️ But what makes me WORRIED AF... You said, *PLOT* in UnU is ALSO LACKING. 😵‍💫😵‍💫🤨 Biggest mistake for HAKUOKI revamp was, common route is not skip-able. But they mounted choices to start romance with Your chosen route...ok. This is NOT HAKUOKI REVIEW. 😂😅 I got heaviely influenced by it, so Your opinion of comparing, I FULLY GET. If we loves something, we looks pieces of it, everywhere. BUT PLOT for me is KEY of good game. Irony is, that 'You get everything after first route, but only details including LI change a bit" conclusion, reminds me of very VERY highly selling, recently revamped and NOT REVAMPED FOR FEM ROUTE, because too much effort(bastards) Persona 3 Portable. 🤷🏻‍♀️ For me, one of biggest problem of newer games, around 2020, yes, probably will fit Japanese schedule... *Newer otome are SOULLESS.* Expectations gets elevated, as we play more, but people got their heart trapped by older otome, that we beg to get localized(still my eyes on You, CLOCK ZERO), because those characters GOT SOULS. And as much, as You said about 'quantity train' so to compensate lesser selling, than bigger mechanics games... Quantity games based on STATISTICS. And they try basically mirror things. Especially with most of team being GUYS. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So, they chose, what they think, we would like. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Innovations not always are bad, like in Even if Tempest case, where added Danganronpa trials were exciting and made for memorable game... BUT IFI, it looks... Lost eyes on HEARTS OF GAMES. As terryfing as it may sounds. Those people were IFI members. They come wanting to prove themselves. By sells. But first games, like yeah, HAKUOKI, Hiiro no Kakera and such, they got LOVEABLE GUYS. Disputable, but Steam Prison also gave me similar, unloving, vibe. Or Olympia, through here not guys themselves, but my absolute lack of interest in love interests kill it for me, with that game... 🤔 So, yeah. This is what in the end make us. Like You mentioned DeepSpace, that base on getchas, I still am happy prisoner of MLQC, so I am not checking DS. But it captures us with CHARACTERS. And cold, repetetable characters to squeeze our money... Are just not IT. ☝️

[@ViLepham]

Im still getting it. You made somes reviews on certains games that u disliked that i still like alot.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@ViLepham please by all means! I actually think it will be popular with the English speaking audience as well! It also is very popular in Japan

[@N3MO_brio]

Well done! Thank you for providing such a thorough review. 😁 I wonder, was there any backlash in Japan? 💛

[@LinLinLavender]

@@N3MO_brio Thank you 💕 The game is very popular in Japan actually! I'm so far the only one criticising some aspects 😅

[@gilliantoh4658]

There's no prominent backlash or super popular hypes from what I see, but I saw many second hands selling for cheap.

[@reflectlight1368]

gotta be honest, newer otome games dont catch me as the older ones did. now we have insanely good cgs and artworks with veery bad, often times overused storytelling. It gets especially annoying when the weird ahh world building + plot starts becoming the main focus.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@reflectlight1368 which older games do you have in mind which don't have these downsides?

[@cappu7121]

the premise kinda reminded me of steam prison! seems super interesting though edit: OH wait steam prison was mentioned

[@LinLinLavender]

@@cappu7121 have you played Steam Prison?

[@cappu7121]

@@LinLinLavender yeees it's one of my favorites! 💖

[@pokealja]

For a hot minute, at the beginning of the video, I was super confused because you called it an 'Otomo' game. 😂☠️

[@olgagachaphoenix9130]

Can you please reviewing the Mobile otome game, Obey Me! and Nightbringer? You're missing out on another popular game.

[@ichi_san]

This was a great review. It's a shame to hear that the game repeats a lot and the romance takes a backseat. But phwoar this game's marketing strategy is impeccable! Not gonna like the toxic love interest has a cool character design, guys like him sell a lot lately XD but whaaat the best guy isnt dateable... :(

[@LinLinLavender]

@@ichi_san thanks! Yeah, the plot felt a bit dragging to me at times and I only fell in love with Yobari... It is! Other games should try similar strategies! You're right, he's definitely a popular character type! I know 😱 some other reviews also complained about that 😂 so we'll just have to wait for the FD

[@ichi_san]

@@LinLinLavender thank you for replying!

[@Erdf3542]

I can relate to what you’re saying and won’t be getting it😊thanks for saving me 💸

[@kacheek9101]

So wait, the big plot heavy info dump at the end doesn't involve the characters? Like, Olympia Soirée has some crazy plot reveals in the later locked routes, but it all involves some of the main characters. I'm just so confused... what's the point if the plot doesn't involve the characters?

[@LinLinLavender]

@@kacheek9101 hm it does...but it doesn't feel important to their fate to me? It's more, that's the truth about the island, ok, bye But I know a lot of people love the plot, so maybe it's just me who felt that way

[@laura34688]

Reviews are what let me keep playing our genre...I can't play everything! There's not enough time in a day!

[@LinLinLavender]

@@laura34688 I'm also starting to feel sorry for reviewers who play all the localised games, they must be so busy now 😱

[@Nirmiti.]

The thumbnail was hot af.

[@AnastasiaMeng]

Can you recommend any good pc or phone otome game for a beginner? I m 30+ so something with smarter fl and not in a school setting ❤

[@LinLinLavender]

@@AnastasiaMeng love and deepspace? Lovebrush Chronicles?

[@AnastasiaMeng]

@@LinLinLavender thanks, I will try

[@cactusrosi1409]

Omg I think I'm gonna skip this one. Or wait for a sale. That does not sound like it's for me. 😂 I want fluffy romance lol.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@cactusrosi1409 sounds like a plan! Fluffy romance is definitely not the theme of the game (maybe of a FD some day)

[@aino-kaisav5504]

While the concept sounds interesting, it saddens me that more and more companies seem to choose the money-making over story-telling. And uh, ROMANCE! The situation's also a lot, and I mean a LOT worse in the mobile otome scene, although with some exceptions. While a well-written visual novel is likely to keep me interested even if the gameplay is non-existent, I still prefer to have at least a bit of gameplay. Hakuouki took some time to get into, even if I'm a history nerd, simply because the first playtime didn't quite grab my full attention. But once I get into the game (read as: once I finally looked up a walktrough guide), I started really enjoying it. But even then, I tend to prefer the stat-rising kinda gameplay.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@aino-kaisav5504 many others seem to love the game though! I would also appreciate if gameplay otome games got localisations...

[@leaf269]

Very interesting video, thank you for this. While i prefer plot over romance i think i will sit this one out. None of the characters interest me that much and i don't like animated sprites like the ones in this game (but at least they don't have jiggling boobies like in other animated VNs 🙃)

[@LinLinLavender]

@@leaf269 if you like plot, I think you could keep an eye on this? But if the characters are not interesting to you then it's absolutely pointless 🤣 True 😅

[@leaf269]

@@LinLinLavender I'll think about it. I downloaded the demo so maybe playing it will change my mind

[@LinLinLavender]

@@leaf269 oy yes, good idea! Hope you have some fun!

[@HolicChan]

“Rebelling against the oppression of the big tree” 😂

[@LinLinLavender]

@@HolicChan now that you say it 🤣 it's his literal name though

[@gamewrit0058]

The only part of Utakata no Uchronia that looks interesting to me is when you introduced the freedom fighter from the red light district, especially because of the voice actor. Yang and Gil are my favorite routes in Piofiore: Fated Memories, which I've watched all of on yt, and now I'm playing on Switch. I just finished all twelve (good ending) routes of Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds on my Steam Deck (Harada is bestest boi, in my opinion, but there were only 3 of the 12 that I didn't like), and loved it - even though the sugar content was much less than I initially expected - but I'm also excited to play the sequel, Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms, which looks like it will be steamier.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@gamewrit0058 he is really the greatest character in my opinion! 😍 What do you like about Hakuouki?

[@gamewrit0058]

In Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds, I enjoyed the art, voice performances, sound design, and action sequences. I admire the MC and her various skills and contributions (mostly household tasks and first aid), but I also wish she'd drawn her sword and trained in combat more often. Her age isn't clearly stated, and her disguise as a man makes her look even younger. It's heavy on plot, yet still very character driven, and I love the found family aspects. Otome labyrinth has good, bare bones walkthroughs without spoilers. Low sugar and romance content in most routes, and no kissing, but still some good, intense interpersonal moments and most routes end with vows to forever stay at your side no matter what. Glimpses at art from the sequel look steamier. In the prologue, I said, "Oh, Dante and Gil have come to rescue me?! No? Hmm, one wants to kill me and the other capture me for interrogation. Hmm." But I was only half right, based on the credits I see on Otome labyrinth walkthroughs: Hajime Saito's CV is Toriumi Kōsuke, who voiced Chōjirō in Nightshade, not Dante in Piofiore. But Souji Okita's CV is indeed Morikubo Showtarō, who played Gil in Piofiore. I also immediately recognized Tsuda Kenjirō's voice, but the volume of it wasn't mixed well into the game's audio and is sometimes hard to hear. I like the mix of historical and fantasy elements. I actually didn't know it was very loosely based on real events and people until halfway through, when I looked up a flag name online. As a reader and writer of fan fiction, I'm really impressed by the scope, depth, and organization of Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds. But I also used the force skip option to get through all 12 routes faster. I also like that it's an immersive reading experience with dialogue choices and not other game mechanics or mini games. That's what I want from Otome and visual novels in general. When I want gameplay, I'll play an action RPG like Dragon Age, or a cozy game like Stardew Valley.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@gamewrit0058 thanks for your detailed review! I finally feel like I have a good impression of what to expect from Hakuouki!!

[@gamewrit0058]

🥰👍 I like that Hakuoki Kyoto Winds has lots of emotional intimacy between various characters, even though the game focus isn't romance. Plus, when the Commander gets stern or yells, I usually giggle or LOL. I'm now playing Hakuoki Edo Blossoms and Café Enchanté, crying more for each of them than I expected - and I had to turn off the music and sound effects in Café Enchanté because some of those are jarring to hear repeatedly.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@gamewrit0058 makes sense! Café Enchantee is also quite a gem, right?

[@holyalpaca750]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="844">14:04</a> Not really? It's not an innovative or new thing Genius Inc has been doing that for ages with their mobile otomes, I remember playing one with it like way back called Twilight Crusade. Gorgeous art with live 2D. Maybe not the industry standard but it's definitely not a new thing.

[@Deren98]

I find this beeing a mixt of Olympia Soiree and Steam prison

[@LinLinLavender]

@@Deren98 that's a good comparison!

[@makaylab6276]

It looks like a beautiful game but why didn’t they go hard with the rooomaaaance 😢 I was “ 🍑 “ blocked

[@LinLinLavender]

@@makaylab6276 I knooow! I'm sure we'll get romance in a FD 😊 better than nothing I guess

[@cazimim3375]

You are beautiful

[@ojyochan]

Oh noooo hot side characters we can't date?!😡😭

[@LinLinLavender]

@@ojyochan I know! They'll have me buy the FD 🤣

[@beanqueenie_324]

Thank you for the review!!! Seems like yeah, they're saving all the sweet stuff for most likely a fandisc 🤷‍♀️ As a HUGE Nicola fan I'm honestly getting this game just because Yori seems like a Nicola 2.0?😂 I think otome games are slowly growing because of all the anime/manga/light novels with trapped in otome game themes (that's how I first even discovered what otome games were and now I'm a huge fan 🥰)

[@LinLinLavender]

@@beanqueenie_324 apparently 😅 as long as I can date that side character, I will fall for it He definitely is! Have fuuun! Oh, that's a very interesting point! Which exactly brought you into otome games?

[@beanqueenie_324]

@@LinLinLavender hahahah fair enough. Sometimes that's all you need 😂🫣 It was the anime "I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss"!! At the time, I thought it was super hilarious that she went for the romanceable character from the fan disc so she could avoid her bad end. Althought I stopped watching the anime, it had me going to look to see if we had any otome games in english, found Piofiore and the rest is history because Nicola Francesca 😂🥺💕 And I found your channel too ofc 🥰

[@LinLinLavender]

@@beanqueenie_324 that honestly sounds like a great story! And so happy it introduced you to otome games 🥰 Omg, Nicola was also one of my early otome crushes!!

[@GamerofOld]

Thanks I am skipping this game 🥱 doesn't sound worth the $60

[@LinLinLavender]

@@GamerofOld unless you like games like Code Realize, then it will probably be fun!

[@GamerofOld]

@@LinLinLavender yeah I didn't lol it wasn't deep enough for me.

[@LinLinLavender]

@@GamerofOld ok, then maybe not 😅