Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

Do you prefer long common route -> shorter character route OR short common route -> longer character route

in my opinion, the common route needs to be the shortest and you serve to set the story and tell the player basically who they are and how they came in contact with the LIs and introduces them. I think it should also be a bridge between LIs routes in certain cases.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
Honestly, I'm a big fan of short common routes. A long one is totally fine if it's well-paced or does a good job building the world. But yeah, some games definitely pad them out with unnecessary stuff, like endless food scenes or the same flashbacks over and over. Could easily cut that down.
As for character routes, it really depends on how long the common route was. It's all about finding that balance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
depends on the story
but i definitely don't like when there's almost no common route... i mean, how am i suppose to choose???
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
I don't mind a long common route if it's necessary to establish the setting (Shingakkou definitely needed it, for example). But if there's no need for elaborate setup, longer character routes are the way to go!
The LIs and their associated drama are what I'm playing the game for :desire:
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
At first I was a fan of short common route/long character route, but now I think both are just fine.
If you like the game long common route gives you more time to spend with guys, immerse in the story. But sometimes it can drastically increase your playtime. When I played VariBari the common route took me around 14 hours, but it wasn't bad.
Now I don't care about the ratio common route/character route and choose the games based on their overall length and my current mood
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
Depending on the game's script, some historically-grounded stories require extensive description and buildup to recreate the atmosphere; some fantasy narratives need to explain the worldbuilding in the common route; and there are also cases where the male protagonists share common goals and bonds, so their relationships must first be established. This tests the writer's skill—whether they can achieve in short chapters what long chapters bring to the reader in terms of information, or use long chapters to clearly convey the essential information the game requires. I can accept either approach, as long as it's a good, logically coherent script that moves me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lambdadelta, AkinaSR27 and Somniari
I prefer short common routes, but I expect them to provide all the information needed to move into the character routes. If a common route is long but only gives filler moments that aren't enjoyable, that's a total miss for me
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
I prefer a good balance between the two, with 40% common route for a solid narrative setup and 60% character route for good romantic development.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
Short common route, especially for replays, but a long character route (as long as they don't become repetitive)
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
I prefer a short common route followed by longer character routes.
When there are multiple romanceable characters, a long common route tends to get boring and exhausting quickly.
I also feel like longer character routes help me understand the characters better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
I prefer the short common route and long route with the LIs because obviously I want to spend more time getting to know the guys lol. I remember when I played Virche and CupiPara I was internally freaking out because it seemed like the common route in those games would never end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
My criteria for a good common route is not too long (boring especially when it comes to replaying), but long enough to get an accurate grasp of LI personalities so I know what to expect. The LI routes should be longer than the common route itself otherwise I feel like it's not good value for money
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
I'm absolutely terrified of games with long common routes where you have to replay everything just to get into a different route, and there's no "skip read text" function... I still remember the trauma of playing Ken ga Kimi—I was almost done fast-forwarding through the common route for the umpteenth time when it crashed and I hadn't saved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
Short common, long character one. But I do like long common route, if there's some changes to it (Jack Jeanne with its additional scenes and lines, for example. And, if i remember correctly, common route in Hakuouki also changes slightly depending on choices.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
Common route sorter. It feels very lacking when the character route is shorter. Like wym it's ended I want to know more about them! 😭
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
The common route is so long that it makes me sleepy 🥱. For example, with Ken ga Kimi, I tried to play it many times, but the common route was so long that I almost gave up!:akazukin_sorry:
 
  • Like
Reactions: AkinaSR27
short common route to longer character route because I get bored if the common route is too long.
 
I guess I prefer medium length common routes? For longer common routes, it reminds me of Code:Realize's common route, which I thought was waaaaay too long, it took like forever for me to skip through it with the skip function just to play other routes lol. But I also want the common route to be a little longer, so you can interact with everyone before being put into their routes. I much prefer medium to longer character routes, though. With short ones, either it seems like the romance happened too quickly/came out of nowhere, or there's barely romance at all. But at the same time, if a character route is too long, and isn't interesting enough to me, it becomes a slog.

But if I had to choose out of the options, I would say short common route, and long character route.
 
I prefer the common route to be shorter than the character routes, but I don't mind if it's the same length in mystery or fantasy settings.

I like to see the different ways the story can go in the routes, so if they're too short compared to the common route the game feels repetitive :(

I wouldn't say short though, the game can feel a little rushed if it's too short. Long common routes are not a problem when the game has a fast skip, but most don't lol
 
if there is a unique world with interesting lore then i'd like to see longer common route. but if the game take place in our default world, then common route can be short and simple
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back