[Cafe enchanté] Who is you favorite?

[Yuunari]

I've just finish Cafe enchanté and need to vent something, so SPOILERS AHEAD!

Spoiler: If you have played the game, read it!

Don't look at the gentle and sweet description and be fooled by that, the game is a huge trap. Once you go through the common route and enter the individual routes, you'll realize this clearly: everything is only fun in the first 1-2 chapters, after that, it's a series of tragedies and heart-wrenching moments where both the LI and MC are forced to go through shits together.

The first plus point is that all the guys are amazing, all green flags coded, and genuinely love each other. I love it when seeing all the LIs being friendly and supportive to each other. Each route is an emotional journey like a roller coaster, with cute and cozy beginning, then the writers started throwing dramatic and tragic events like crazy, a series of action-packed fight scenes like in shounen manga; concluded with a satisfying ending in some routes, and a wtf ending in others.

The downside, of course, is the rather strange pace. The tension and tragedy were escalated too quickly, causing the resolution segment to feel significantly rushed. The power of love and friendship is overused, there are huge plot holes, but what I dislike the most is the so-called happy ending in some routes; it's not happy at all, like pretending to be fine while a brutal future is hanging ahead.

Now onto the characters and their routes! I go through them by walkthrough order btw

1) Canus:
It seems many people don't like the fact that he is headless from start to finish, but personally, I find it quite okay, I'm getting used to reading emotions from the flame around his neck. Canus is a perfect husband material: calm, gentle, understanding, respectful of the elderly and loving toward children, and extremely courteous like a true knight,

Spoiler

even tho his role in his world resembles an executioner more than a knight. Canus route is quite gentle in terms of storyline, but I don't really like the way it was constructed because there is very little emotional development between him and Kotone.

I really like it whenever Canus appears in all the other routes; he feels like a true big brother to the whole team, supporting them with his gentleness and strength. Also his voice is chef-kiss.

2) Ignis:
The youngest one, closest in age to Kotone, also coming from a world where romantic feelings exist; Ignis definitely had a big crush on Kotone in the common route. In my opinion, he is also the one with the best chemistry with Kotone. His route is a bit... er, violent and bloody, I didn't expect them to go that far in creating tension for the game, but overall, Ignis's route is quite good in terms of pacing, development, and ending. While being a tsundere, Ignis still knows how to show concern for Kotone and everyone, and I really like how he behaves like a strict father toward Il.

3) Rindo:
Although the second youngest among the guys, Rindo is often teased as an old man by the other members, and to be honest, I find it a bit unfair to him. The fact that he is twice the age of Kotone is not a big deal for me because both of them are adults, and Rindo respects Kotone so much that in this route, Kotone has to take the initiative. The first half of the route is very cute, Kotone suddenly seems to have four super protective older brothers looking after her; I genuine hoped they would be happy like that forever.

Spoiler

But the second half of the route, especially the ending, left me extremely disappointed. It doesn't deserve to be called a good ending at all. The desire to be happy with Kotone as human was crushed, having to witness his best friend go mad in despair, losing both his best friend and beloved sister at the same time. Moreover, this ending also stripped away his freedom, his bright career future, and everything he had always believed in, and I despise it to the fullest.

4) Il
Because of his androgynous appearance, I initially only saw Il as a BFF; after discovering that he was also obsessed with otome games and joining a date at the otome convention, I became even more convinced that he was the best friend I wanted to have in real life. But I was wrong, his route is truly the best and most satisfying route in the entire game.

Spoiler

Il's journey of growth from an angel sheltered by the regulars, to a desperate one abandoned all his emotions; after regaining emotions back, he became so strong and powerful that dare to defeat God, protect the ones he loved, and also save his best friend who had accompanied him throughout the years. I was shocked by that incredible journey, when a gentle and naive fallen angel stood up against the whole world for the people he loved, ready to pay the price and sacrifice; to be redeemed once again and be happy with his girl.

5) Misyr
Well, the last boss of the game. Misyr is the most appealing one to me from the start, I really like his design, his voice, his jokes, his "ahaha" laugh. However,

Spoiler

HOWEVER, his route turned out to be a huge disappointment. Although the longest, his entire route is a series of tragedies piled upon tragedies, only to end with a giant tragedy. I like Noah and Asmodeus; the game has developed these two characters very well. But the relationship of Misyr and Kotone suffered a lot due to the cramming of all the events from previous routes. There is almost no progress in their romantic relationship, so the chemistry becomes forced. The happy ending was extremely wtf, and because of this ending, I think I won't play Misyr's route ever again even tho he is still my number one love interest.

In conclusion, the favorite LIs for me is: Misyr > Canus > Il > Ignis > Rindo
Route wise: Il > Ignis > Canus > Rindo > Misyr

Please share your thoughts about the game! Hope you don't mind my wall of text, I always like to write something whenever I finished games to retain something from my memory for the future, and this time I just decide to share it. English is not my first language, but I hope I write clearly enough for you to understand!

 

[satory]

I agree with you so much there is nothing left to write about I started the game with Il's route and later was surprised how short Canus and Ignis routes are. But they didn't feel rushed or abrupt, so it's ok I guess. Also, poor Kotone - she was getting so much bad things happening getting eaten alive, sacrificing, turning into god knows what etc. As for LI's - I liked Misyr so much I checked his voice actor to find where else he was working, and there were almost nothing Love the type of characters when they look easygoing and in reality are, well, like that. Canus was great as well, don't see any problems with him being headless, having eyes doesn't make a good character. I liked Ignis before authors decided he has to bite Kotone and eat her flesh, that was a bit too much Rindou was surprisingly good as well Suwabe Junichi can't be not good

One of the best things about the game was long common route, as it helped to understand and bond with everyone. I get people rushing into romance, but good story needs a good set up

 

[usagi-k]

i played cafe enchante a while back (it was one of the first console otomes i played) so i cant comment much on the story but to me misyr is a very memorable character who i will forever view in a super fond light TT he's sooo charming and his relationship with kotone throughout the common route as well as his build up as the final route was so good !!! i know his ending is controversial but at the time i played it i genuinely didnt even mind it even though it was so bittersweet solely because i just wanted them to be happy together !!!

i remember i really adored ignis too ! his route had good shock value and it was foreshadowed quite a bit which made it fun for me since i kept wondering how far they'd be willing to go ^^:; he's also the kind of tsundere i really like hehe

cafe enchante is also one of those titles for which i would really love a fd ^^:; please ,,, i need the sugar