Why are there so many malicious villagers in Japanese otome games?

[Yuki3548]

After playing so many otome games, I've noticed that no matter whether the heroine lives in a secluded village, on an island, or even in a whole country, there's always a group of vicious villagers attacking her, They're like a bunch of pre-programmed AI, they always come up with the weirdest excuses to go after the MC.(づ-̩̩̩-̩̩̩_-̩̩̩-̩̩̩)づ

 

[ninnikuryona]

in ogamika no himegoto, the only malicious villager is the father. unfortunately he also goes after the mc, but at least its not a group of nasty npcs!xd

 

[starryvelvetsky]

Exactly! Some of those storylines really annoy me.

 

[Yuki3548]

in ogamika no himegoto, the only malicious villager is the father. unfortunately he also goes after the mc, but at least its not a group of nasty npcs!xd

This reminds me of the heroine from Olympia. Not only is she attacked by the vicious islanders, She's also constantly being targeted by her own father(Even though she only finds out at the very end that he's her father).(﹁"﹁)

 

[ninnikuryona]

This reminds me of the heroine from Olympia. Not only is she attacked by the vicious islanders, She's also constantly being targeted by her own father(Even though she only finds out at the very end that he's her father).(﹁"﹁)

being an otome heroine is not for the weak...... this is why every otome heroine is precious................!

 

[nekoky]

After playing so many otome games, I've noticed that no matter whether the heroine lives in a secluded village, on an island, or even in a whole country, there's always a group of vicious villagers attacking her, They're like a bunch of pre-programmed AI, they always come up with the weirdest excuses to go after the MC.(づ-̩̩̩-̩̩̩_-̩̩̩-̩̩̩)づ

Actually, I think in a way, it's to create a suspension bridge effect for the hero and heroine, because they get that racing heart feeling wherever they go. That way the writers don't need to spend too much effort depicting the gradual development of their feelings. It's a lazy approach.
其實我覺得某種層面來講，是為了給男女主製造吊橋效應，因為走到哪裡都有心悸的感覺。這樣就不用太多的筆墨來刻畫他們的感情過度，是一種偷懶方法。

 

[totallyamanda]

Absolutely, it's the same feeling as my mom sold me to one direction. (－‸ლ)

It's an easy plot device instead of requiring unique plots or storylines to further relationships or progressing character growth.

But, hey, at least love interest will protect you!! ∠( ᐛ 」∠)_

 

[nyao]

Absolutely, it's the same feeling as my mom sold me to one direction. (－‸ლ)

Somehow I think I prefer ridiculous plot intros like this over the "my hometown hates me" routine (°ー°〃)

 

[Yuki3548]

In the Matsurika fd, even the gods are malicious villagers...... it made me so mad I just had to laugh

 

[甘味鎮痛剤]

I dislike when NPCs are used like that. But those kinds of scenes always seem to show up — either to move the plot forward or to make the male lead look more charming. They end up feeling like something you use and throw away. And honestly, they just make me frustrated and annoyed while I'm playing..

 

[O cha]

Matsurika no Kei did the same thing. The villagers were so harsh on her. I'm pretty sure it's a setup to put the MC through challenges and make her feel totally isolated. It feels like a way to create that classic trope where everyone is against her, just so the LIs can be the only ones to stay by her side.

 

[fr4pp3cinn]

It's a pretty funny plot device, isn't it? Haha
It's not exclusive to otome though, you see it even in romantic movies and books. It's a shortcut to make the main characters get closer quickly, since the MC doesn't have anyone else to help her (you can find it even in a children's movie like Beauty and the Beast, she's an outcast in her village!). If the MC has friends and family to run to, the plot and romance may feel too silly or exaggerated, when she decides to depend on or follow random LIs that show up out of nowhere (lol)

 

[Yuki3548]

Matsurika no Kei did the same thing. The villagers were so harsh on her. I'm pretty sure it's a setup to put the MC through challenges and make her feel totally isolated. It feels like a way to create that classic trope where everyone is against her, just so the LIs can be the only ones to stay by her side.

In the Matsurika fd, even the gods are malicious villagers...... it made me so mad I just had to laugh

Exactly, like I said earlier, in the FD even the gods are that malicious , though it's not directed at the MC .

 

[jokerblackjack]

I think they add color and excitement to the story, haha
Without characters like that, the heroine/MC probably wouldn't have to overcome any obstacles at all, and the story might end up feeling boring.

And yeah… being the heroine in an otome game definitely isn't easy ᕦ⁠(⁠ò⁠_⁠ó⁠ˇ⁠)⁠ᕤ