Tragic or Happy Ends in Otome—Which Team Are You On?

[sophiamolin]

I prefer happy endings, especially in games with a dark theme.
I have been playing Danzai no Maria - The Exorcism of Maria recently. The original version did not have a good ending, but the remastered version added imperfect happy endings for all characters, which makes me wonder if there is a more sad future behind this happy ending.

I also used translation, hoping that my meaning can be expressed accurately.

When I searched for the game you mentioned, the moment I saw the publisher Karin, it clicked immediately—Karin is my favorite visual-novel company. Their two main writers' early style is exactly that dark-gothic, cruel and unforgiving tone, which is one of my all-time favorite flavors. I can't recommend enough アニマムンディ 終わりなき闇の舞踏; it's by the same writer, and it was actually the first BL game I ever played. It has a ton of endings, PC only, and it absolutely shattered my tiny heart back then~ I'm not sure if there's an English version, but if language isn't a barrier for you, definitely check it out! ❥(^_-)

哈哈，看到熟悉的汉字果断点进来了，道家的经典欸，姐妹的观点也是另一种感受！别有一番见解～

你的ID太明显了吧，哈哈哈，这个平台非常有趣，不过因为语言壁垒国人不太多

 

[Yuki3548]

我觉得很神奇，无论我们来自哪里，说什么，我们的想法竟然如此相似！当我的母语论坛上讨论到同样的话题时，很多女生都分享了无数的喜好٩(๑>◡<๑)——包括对"主角黑化"和"囚禁游戏"结局的喜爱。
既然你喜欢《丘比特寄生虫》，感知关注一下吉村りりか（Ririka Yoshimura）的其他得分。我的经验是：如果一款游戏的舞蹈与我非常契合，那么它的编剧风格很可能就是我需要的。关注主笔编剧的作品可以省去很多试错的麻烦，也让我的游戏库里始终充满符合我喜好的游戏。

那我也直接用中文说了()，确实如此，所以现在我们这些趣味相同的人才能聚到一处。(*＾∀＾)人(＾∀＾*)
我在关注吉村哈哈，还玩了茉莉花之炯，不过没有丘比特让我那么喜欢，茉莉花真的让我大受震撼，不知道她经历了什么才能写出这样的剧情()

 

[Suitanartist]

I enjoy both happy and tragic endings, and I see both of them quite enjoyable. The happy ones bc they let you with the heart warm at the end of the journey; and the tragic ones bc I am weak for the yearning, the angst and the bittersweet feeling that makes you cry on the bed and want them to be happy (and you want to make them happy in other media like fanarts and fanfics---) (?)

 

[橘子猫猫]

When I searched for the game you mentioned, the moment I saw the publisher Karin, it clicked immediately—Karin is my favorite visual-novel company. Their two main writers' early style is exactly that dark-gothic, cruel and unforgiving tone, which is one of my all-time favorite flavors. I can't recommend enough アニマムンディ 終わりなき闇の舞踏; it's by the same writer, and it was actually the first BL game I ever played. It has a ton of endings, PC only, and it absolutely shattered my tiny heart back then~ I'm not sure if there's an English version, but if language isn't a barrier for you, definitely check it out! ❥(^_-)


你的ID太明显了吧，哈哈哈，这个平台非常有趣，不过因为语言壁垒国人不太多

哈哈哈

 

[qixianxiaomiao]

When I searched for the game you mentioned, the moment I saw the publisher Karin, it clicked immediately—Karin is my favorite visual-novel company. Their two main writers' early style is exactly that dark-gothic, cruel and unforgiving tone, which is one of my all-time favorite flavors. I can't recommend enough アニマムンディ 終わりなき闇の舞踏; it's by the same writer, and it was actually the first BL game I ever played. It has a ton of endings, PC only, and it absolutely shattered my tiny heart back then~ I'm not sure if there's an English version, but if language isn't a barrier for you, definitely check it out! ❥(^_-)


你的ID太明显了吧，哈哈哈，这个平台非常有趣，不过因为语言壁垒国人不太多

 

[sophiamolin]

那我也直接用中文说了()，确实如此，所以现在我们这些趣味相同的人才能聚到一处。(*＾∀＾)人(＾∀＾*)
我在关注吉村哈哈，还玩了茉莉花之炯，不过没有丘比特让我那么喜欢，茉莉花真的让我大受震撼，不知道她经历了什么才能写出这样的剧情()

丘比特的风评算是她作品里风评最好的，蛇香一般般，茉莉花就好坏参半了，属于爱屋及乌，恨乌及乌了，还有一部恶役大小姐的switch游戏也是她主笔的，那部也挺可，没有什么太大问题，姐妹可以去耍一耍。用母语太轻松了，要翻译的话我必须正规用语，很多词汇不能用，才能保证翻译软件能准确翻译

 

[Yuki3548]

丘比特的风评评她作品里风评最好的，蛇香一般，茉莉花就好坏参半了，属于爱屋及乌，恨乌及乌了，还有一部恶役大小姐的转游戏也是她主笔的，那部也挺可，没有什么重大问题，姐妹们可以去耍一耍。用母语太轻松了，要翻译的话我必须正规用语，很多词汇不能用，才能保证翻译软件能准确翻译

是说猴王吗哈，这部我比较喜欢看动漫，游戏有点玩不下去()我刚去搜了她主笔的作品，有一部画风劝退的跟一部新发售的赛博三国没玩过没说过，发现玻璃公主心本篇居然也是她写的（原来早就这么发烧了），还有我发现发烧的工作会更容易起起来，讨论程度更高（大家的精神状态都很好呢），太正经的跟太平淡的玩起来会有点无聊(゜-゜)
确实，每次我回复大家的帖子的时候都会来来回回修改好几遍，顺通了才敢发出来hhh(*´︶´*)

对了，不知道姐妹有没有玩月华辉映之刻，没有玩的话我超级推荐这个！我觉得是目前我玩过的画风剧情最好的国产单机乙游了，玩了后劲还挺大的，有很多be结局，甚至隐藏角色的结局只有一个be跟一个开放性结局<(ToT)>

 

[Shanice]

As for me personally: I used to love only happy endings, but after playing Virche Evermore and other more or less dark games, I feel like I'm ready for anything - or 'almost anything.' No matter how much I like happy finales, in some stories or character routes, there simply can't be any outcome other than a bad or bittersweet one. Plus, over time, I've grown a bit tired of purely sweet 'vanilla' content; now I care more about the plot, regardless of the setting

 

[Fishish]

I love both! Depending on the context of what I'm playing sometimes a more bittersweet or tragic ending makes sense and other times a happy ending is expected. I love darker stories so a lot of the visual novels I read tend to go in the neutral to bad endings direction but in games with romance in it a lot of games usually find a way to add in a happier ending regardless (at least for the main character and the person they are romancing at least, usually side characters get fucked over) if I had to pick a favourite type of narrative I would say I like tragic stories that end on a positive note! I usually like some form of payoff or for there to of been a point narratively for the pain!

 

[Scone]

Not completely opposed to bad/sad endings, but the preference is definitely happy ones. Real life news tends to make me sad enough as is, especially nowadays. So lately I find myself playing more cozy games in general, and otomes with endings that leave me warm and fuzzy. If it means I don't complete the game 100%, that's okay with me.

 

[Kyouri]

The only thing I really hate is when the bad ends are just quick cut "game over" types. I can appreciate a good bad end that has a lot of depth lol BUT I find it unfair when a character doesn't seem to have *any* happy end TT (especially if the other characters do...)

 

[sophiamolin]

是说猴王吗哈，这部我比较喜欢看动漫，游戏有点玩不下去()我刚去搜了她主笔的作品，有一部画风劝退的跟一部新发售的赛博三国没玩过没说过，发现玻璃公主心本篇居然也是她写的（原来早就这么发烧了），还有我发现发烧的工作会更容易起起来，讨论程度更高（大家的精神状态都很好呢），太正经的跟太平淡的玩起来会有点无聊(゜-゜)
确实，每次我回复大家的帖子的时候都会来来回回修改好几遍，顺通了才敢发出来hhh(*´︶´*)

对了，不知道姐妹有没有玩月华辉映之刻，没有玩的话我超级推荐这个！我觉得是目前我玩过的画风剧情最好的国产单机乙游了，玩了后劲还挺大的，有很多be结局，甚至隐藏角色的结局只有一个be跟一个开放性结局<(ToT)>

月华我买了正版，社畜零碎的时间太少，要玩的游戏太多。听你这么说我下一个游戏就开盘这个，月华需要攻略吗，还是不需要攻略就能爽玩的那种？我们可以私聊，今天版主提醒对话只能发英文o(╥﹏╥)o

 

[sophiamolin]

As for me personally: I used to love only happy endings, but after playing Virche Evermore and other more or less dark games, I feel like I'm ready for anything - or 'almost anything.' No matter how much I like happy finales, in some stories or character routes, there simply can't be any outcome other than a bad or bittersweet one. Plus, over time, I've grown a bit tired of purely sweet 'vanilla' content; now I care more about the plot, regardless of the setting

That's the charm of tragic endings, sister—congratulations on stepping into this realm! And from our conversation, I've learned two new adjectives: "bittersweet" and "vanilla." They're quite fresh to me as a non-native English speaker!

I love both! Depending on the context of what I'm playing sometimes a more bittersweet or tragic ending makes sense and other times a happy ending is expected. I love darker stories so a lot of the visual novels I read tend to go in the neutral to bad endings direction but in games with romance in it a lot of games usually find a way to add in a happier ending regardless (at least for the main character and the person they are romancing at least, usually side characters get fucked over) if I had to pick a favourite type of narrative I would say I like tragic stories that end on a positive note! I usually like some form of payoff or for there to of been a point narratively for the pain!

So, even if the ending is tragic or unfortunate, the story's logic remains sound. Hope and turning points may not be directly shown in the finale, but are implied through character psychology or environmental descriptions to suggest a good beginning ahead—is that the right understanding? The phrase "positive note" is so intriguing; I used two translation apps to grasp your message, and it reminded me of the ending of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.

Not completely opposed to bad/sad endings, but the preference is definitely happy ones. Real life news tends to make me sad enough as is, especially nowadays. So lately I find myself playing more cozy games in general, and otomes with endings that leave me warm and fuzzy. If it means I don't complete the game 100%, that's okay with me.

Around me, many players choose to skip tragic endings altogether. There's a saying: "A speck of dust from the era, when it falls on an individual's head, becomes a mountain." Since that's the case, simply immersing oneself in heartwarming endings is also a valid choice~

 

[Pastels]

Unfortunately, I'm not emotionally mature enough to handle bad endings . I love happy endings, and it's especially rewarding when the characters suffer tragically throughout the story but were able to make it through and finally get their happily ever after! Don't get me wrong I love reading angst stories where the protagonist has to face many challenges, whether emotionally or physically, but real life is hard enough. I don't need to be reminded of it when I'm trying to enjoy my hobbies. I do have some exceptions though, but it usually depends on if I think the story is better off with a bad end.

 

[Arielle]

I absolutely love happy endings.
I also adore bad endings as alternate worlds, assuming there's a purely happy ending to begin with.
I feel bad endings are even better when they reveal a character's true nature.
Stories with painful developments midway through a happy ending are agonizing...

 

[TastySweet]

I like happy endings the most and I enjoy them more if there was struggles before the happy endings . I like good endings too . I like some dark bad endings but bad endings with no hope for the lovers to be together again in the future just leave me empty inside . I am here to ship the couple not to see them sink and never find the wreckage .

 

[Yara010]

I'm more into HE but REALLY like bad endings where MC dies and LI cries after this. With voice acting it hits hard

 

[motyu]

I love happy endings. I truly feel how deeply the moment of happiness that finally arrives after hitting rock bottom in a bad ending can be a salvation. It's precisely because it's a happy ending reached after countless choices that it fills my heart to the brim.

 

[Thaella]

I personally prefer happy endings but If there are several routes in game with one love interest or every love interest have like 2 or 3 routes then I'm doing bad ends etc. first then happy ending as the last one. Mostly bc I'm too empathetic even for pixels and when they suffer too much without any happiness in the end, it makes me sad :x

 

[Fishish]

So, even if the ending is tragic or unfortunate, the story's logic remains sound. Hope and turning points may not be directly shown in the finale, but are implied through character psychology or environmental descriptions to suggest a good beginning ahead—is that the right understanding? The phrase "positive note" is so intriguing; I used two translation apps to grasp your message, and it reminded me of the ending of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.

Yes that is definitely the correct understanding of my preferences! Stories of pain and hardships where the characters chose to grow rather than let the bitterness of their story permeate their character! A lot of games that have elements of historical, horror or dystopian themes tend to engage in the realities of those settings such as wars, famine, arranged relationships or betrayals and the subsequent events proceeding those tragedies! To me the payoff of a story is more satisfying if there is an outcome that allows for the overcoming of those circumstances even if the journey to get there was a tragic one.

 

[甘味鎮痛剤]

I enjoy sad stories, but it really depends on how well they're written. If a story feels sad or dark just for the sake of being sad or dark, it leaves me feeling disappointed. Even so, I still hope the characters in these stories can find happiness after going through their hardships.

 

[6161xx]

I usually like games with happy endings, but I have also played games where the true ending is a bad ending. I have to admit that when the story's depiction is deeply moving, a bad ending can bring me immense shock and emotion.

 

[coopaler2206]

I think bad endings can be quite charming, as long as they aren't so depressing that they make the player feel miserable. On the other hand, I really can't stand 'forced' happy endings that feel lazy or rushed just to wrap things up!

 

[sophiamolin]

Yes that is definitely the correct understanding of my preferences! Stories of pain and hardships where the characters chose to grow rather than let the bitterness of their story permeate their character! A lot of games that have elements of historical, horror or dystopian themes tend to engage in the realities of those settings such as wars, famine, arranged relationships or betrayals and the subsequent events proceeding those tragedies! To me the payoff of a story is more satisfying if there is an outcome that allows for the overcoming of those circumstances even if the journey to get there was a tragic one.

I couldn't agree with you more! Every character who overcomes hardships and grows shines brightly in my eyes! Those souls tempered by refusing to yield to suffering are the greatest charm of the story.

 

[sdmjssvkfd]

i think both happy and tragic endings can be great, but i tend to play otomes as an escape so recently as real life has been more intense i've been gravitating more towards fluffier otomes with happier endings.