Are true routes / grand finale routes something you enjoy?

[usagi-k]

i feel like in recent games it's become kind of mandated thing where instead of having the lore be properly divided across routes the writing formula prefers to either dump all the exposition behind the final locked li or have a separate finale route / heroine route that focuses on the story with the mc not ending up with anyone ^^ i wanted to know everyone's opinions on the latter since people dont usually discuss these when talking about a game and i dont know if people even enjoy playing them in the first place. if youre someone who cares about the game's mystery and lore im sure you'd like them and care if theyre well written but what about the people who are only there for the romance? since most of the time the heroine doesnt really end up with anyone and it feels like this harem type situation lol

in my case while i do like these routes i wish it wasnt something that was present so often since i enjoy it a lot more when each route is equally interesting in the lore it explores ^^:; it also feels more natural that way instead of having all the heavy lifting be done by one route alone. however the nature of the routes is still for fun for me tho since we're getting close to uncovering the story we've only been fed bits and pieces of and i also really enjoy the dynamics everyone has in routes like these !! all the lis tend to not be as heavy in their pursuit for the mc but theyre still very clearly vying for her attention and more often than not personal grudges between them tend to be settled too which makes me really happy !!

 

[totallyamanda]

definitely depends on how its written, but sometimes i feel like it spurns any routes you may have played prior as nothing special or false routes as THIS is the true route. ( •̀⤙•́ )

i enjoy a 'true' route as just another route and it may tie all the finishing ends to the story but doesn't discredit or devalue the other routes.

most of the time, my favorite LI isn't the 'true' ending so it might be my bias showing here. ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

 

[ruuuiii]

I don't know, it really depends on if I'm obsessed with a specific route or not- if i like a route so much and another one is supposed to be the "true end" I'll feel a little upset and disappointed, because it'll feel like my favorite route is being treated as an au or not "canon".
Though if i don't care/care about all the lis equally, i guess it wouldn't bother me as much.
I guess I'm definitely someone who's only there for the romance,, unless the game is a literal masterpiece that does other genres well, I'm not a fan of these routes.

 

[sergylort]

I like them if they're not used as the true ending but rather as a the last piece of the story

 

[0.Shina.0]

"is my main LI the focus or does the ending tie up the sad ends like virche evermore?" YES i love it..if its just for the another LI i dont like or doent give enough heroine lore etc, then NO. it depends but usually i dont mind it unless its reverse harem becuase that just feels like the hours i spent on each route meant nothing for the grand finale

 

[nerim-w]

Not a fan. I wanna romance the LIs and actually have a relationship with them, not be stuck in this arbitrary reverse harem situation where eventually we dont get with anyone. It feels unsatisfying

Its even worse if they gatekeep critical pieces of lore which locked behind the true route which makes you feel like you HAVE to do it... but if i cant fall in love along the way i don't wanna play

 

[Marrychan]

Hmm, it depends? I mean, I don't mind whether there's a "true route" or not. Take Mistonia, for example: I actually prefer the characters' normal routes over the true one—the true ending just feels a bit too perfect for my taste. I definitely didn't like the conclusion regarding how they handled Tia—"yeah, it's fine for her to stay inside Aprose body while she recovers"—no, definitely not. Not to mention the pseudo-harem ending (?). On the other hand, in Radiant Tale, I really like Vilio route, and he effectively has the game's true route, It makes sense within the overall plot for him to be the canonical choice, and it also explains why he simply disappears in every route. I actually have plenty of patience for unlocking true endings across various types of games; I find it interesting.