First Run in Otome Games: With or Without a Walkthrough?

[lst]

When you start a new otome game, do you use a walkthrough right away?
Personally, I've always liked playing without a walkthrough on my first run. That way, the story feels more intriguing to me. Then I try to get as many endings as I can on my own, and then I use a walkthrough.

 

[AkinaSR27]

I look up if the route order is important first and if it's not then I play blind! If it is I will use a guide

And when I get into the character's routes I play blind and see if I get good or bad end first

 

[Arisara]

Usually i don't use walkthrough. The only exception if my favorite LI might die. I can't stand this T.T Also I don't follow the route order. The first route is important to me.Its hard to play route i dislike .

 

[ninnikuryona]

im a bit of an idiot and im very scared of failure (even in games yes), so i just cant read without a walkthrough....;; i know jumping in blind is way more fun, but i cant read the room and i suck at picking correct answers most of the time, so if my favourite 2d boy says he hates me, im gonna get... depressed......!!!!!

 

[Kyouri]

When you start a new otome game, do you use a walkthrough right away?
Personally, I've always liked playing without a walkthrough on my first run. That way, the story feels more intriguing to me. Then I try to get as many endings as I can on my own, and then I use a walkthrough.

generally I like to get at least a couple of routes done myself, then I get the walkthroughs to save some time lol

 

[Fishish]

Ill usually never use a walkthrough until the first ending! Im a completionist regardless so ill want every ending there is, good or bad! I'll use a walkthrough if im for some reason having trouble getting some endings but since visual novels are usually linear they generaly aren't needed for me! Ill occasionly look up route order if its a factor that I think will make a difference in relaying the story but most games seem to account for that and make "true" or secret routes that divulge the final missing peices obtanable as the last ending and not something you can get as a first playthough. In games where you can get the "true" ending right from the get go (like in games like 999 or hundred line) ill sometimes see how to get that ending and then avoid it until last XD. A reverse walkthrough so I dont spoil the story too early by accident and then become unmotivated to play the rest of the game!

 

[dark.moon]

im a bit of an idiot and im very scared of failure (even in games yes), so i just cant read without a walkthrough....;; i know jumping in blind is way more fun, but i cant read the room and i suck at picking correct answers most of the time, so if my favourite 2d boy says he hates me, im gonna get... depressed......!!!!!

same here i love the idea of playing blind too, but i`m scared of ruining everything. one bad choice and i`m already looking at a walkthrough.

 

[ichigomilk]

I don't use a walkthrough. I only use one when when I get stuck or need to know how to get a particular ending. I like the surprise of not knowing what ending I'll get based on the choices I've made, it's more fun that way for me. I do this for every route. Also, some games have a love catch/affection bar you can check so you kind of have an idea of what ending you'll get. I do look up route order though because I like to have a good flow of the story and for stuff to be revealed from least spoilers to most spoilers. I'd hate being spoiled heavily for my first route.

 

[Marrychan]

I always plan my route completely blindly first; I like to feel that my first run reflects how I would react or handle a given situation. I always follow this rule in every game I play, I always find it fun, and I affectionately call it the "route of the heart."

 

[nemaiaish]

When you start a new otome game, do you use a walkthrough right away?
Personally, I've always liked playing without a walkthrough on my first run. That way, the story feels more intriguing to me. Then I try to get as many endings as I can on my own, and then I use a walkthrough.

It's depending how I am excited on playing the game , for example when I was pre ordering Olympia soiree I was so excited I didn't even looked for guide and just played everything blindly but with Cupid parasite of course guide lolol

 

[Beannie]

After getting burned myself in brother conflict (stat raiser), I go always with the guide. I feel like I want to optimize my time to get % run for minimal time

 

[plumtree]

Usually i don't use walkthrough. The only exception if my favorite LI might die. I can't stand this T.T Also I don't follow the route order. The first route is important to me.Its hard to play route i dislike .

I'm the same with not following route order, I want my first route to be a LI I like even if the route has spoilers for other routes. But I play with walkthroughs because I'm a completionist and it's more efficient that way Plus it makes me feel better when I make "bad" choices on purpose, less scary that way.

 

[Beannie]

I'm the same with not following route order, I want my first route to be a LI I like even if the route has spoilers for other routes. But I play with walkthroughs because I'm a completionist and it's more efficient that way Plus it makes me feel better when I make "bad" choices on purpose, less scary that way.

Bad choices in question:
Pick donut instead of croissant

 

[usagi-k]

i owe otome walkthroughs (blogs or steam guides) my life !! i care a lot about story progression and how things build up so i always follow the route order and aim for the good ending first try for each li and only go for bad endings later if they have collectibles or lore :D

most games have love catches but even then there are some choices that make me go ??? as to how on earth was i supposed to know whether that's right or wrong T_T also i think i just have a lot of trauma from kaguya's fifty million bad endings in taiali lmao

 

[plumtree]

Bad choices in question:
Pick donut instead of croissant

CupiPara Ryuki Route (The choice: Order bubble tea OR crepes OR acai bowl)

 

[alicent]

walkthroughs all the way! i'm too anxious to have the realization that i just hit a bad end haha. i don't think i've ever played one without walkthroughs, unless it's games like our life!

 

[vivonne]

I go in completely blind but it really sucks when one wrong option choice gets me in major trouble

 

[sophiamolin]

I'll roughly go through the walkthrough first, then play without referring to it. The impressions left in my mind will blend with my own decisions, and I'll make sure to save at the necessary points—this approach saves quite a bit of time.

 

[xxzxc]

I always use a walkthrough from beginning to end when I play a game, because it saves time and lets me play more games.
However, this might make the gaming experience feel more shallow.

 

[junjonn]

the only information i'll look for when starting an otome is the recommended route order. i don't want to start with the heavy lore route and only understand it once i've played another LIs route. also because i feel like the tumbling around and making bad choices is a part of the experience, if i were to use guides it would probably cut my playtime by half lol. (also some bad end cgs just dont feel like bad ends you feel me?)

 

[Mutsumihelp]

First ending reading without a walkthrough, i used walkthroughs for other routes and endings, so it's more interesting

 

[aquari]

I try not to look up walkthroughs for first runs. Even if I don't get what I want, it is still more interesting for me than to follow guides. I want to see the story happen according to my choices first.
I think the exceptions are stat-raising games. I need to look up which stats to raise for a certain LI's route and how much points do I need. Because a lot of times, the stats that match the guys aren't obvious, and it feels like the developers arbitrarily decide a stat and a number to check for the routes. Stat games are tedious to replay too so I rather avoid messing up.

 

[1chi]

I only use walkthroughs if the otome has choices that I find completely meaningless, like "I like roses" and "I like violets" (I don't understand why this should affect the relationship with the LI at all, it seems really stupid to me)

 

[lambdadelta]

i always tell myself i'm gonna play blind but the moment i make a wrong choice it's like no way... what have i done...!!! but it's fun to see where your own choices lead, if you're not like me lol

 

[miku1412]

It depends but most of the time I play with walkthrough, I only play completely blind when the plot is mystery and afraid of getting spoiled by the choices ex. Virche and CxM