Has the writing ever affected your enjoyment of an otome game?

[strawberryxoxo]

I don't know how the otome game development process works behind the scenes. However, I think the number of scenario writers isn't fixed, and a project can have anywhere from one solo writer to a large team, depending on the game's size, scope, and budget.

Inconsistencies and plot holes can happen in any game. For example, the heroine's personality can change from route to route, or a love interest might not know a piece of information in his own route but know it in another. Localisation can add to this too, since it's hard to tell whether something is a writing inconsistency or just meaning lost in translation.

The quality can also feel uneven. Sometimes you look forward to a love interest while playing another route, but when you finally reach his route, it isn't executed as well as the others.

Personally, these issues don't completely take away my enjoyment of a game. I may be disappointed or confused by some plot holes, and I sometimes question the team's decisions about the story direction. Still, I'd love the game overall and wouldn't consider it a bad game. For me, the heroine, love interests, and side characters matter more, since they can be really endearing.

Have you played a game where the route quality was very uneven, or one where every route was equally good?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

[yaoislop58]

I recently played tengoku struggle, where I felt like most routes were subpar compared to the final one? Although it left the game on a positive note, I also felt like I had struggled my way through the first 40 hours and thinking about it hurts me so much.

 

[eevee09]

I had this mainly with 7'sCarlet. Although it was overall a good game for me, some of the writing for certain routes was just NOT it. Especially with the secret and true end routes towards the end. I would've liked to have seen a bit more substance from that particular game!

 

[Daisy Magnus229]

I agree with 7'sCarlet. I remember enjoying it for a little bit... but most of the time the story just didn't feel right (I wonder why I feel that way lol). Other than 7'sCarlet, probably Ozmafia and Celestia: Chain of Fate. I just can't with Celestia, that game is the first time I've disliked a game purely from its common route. I didn't even get to any LI's route, because no LI could hook me enough to continue.

The crucial part is probably how the MC is written. As long as she suits my taste, I can endure a plot hole or even a boring LI route.

 

[mitsumitsu]

Honestly I don't mind inconsistencies in a game if they're not the kind that are very drastic or completely change the character or major lore points. But I do admit, I'm gonna be extra nitpicky if it's a production by a big company like Otomate haha.

My contribution to the discussion is Mistonia no Kibou since it's a more recent game. A lot of times the game would change the heroine and li's personalities and major plot points in the story (it's relatively plot heavy). In some endings it just had me going "Are you sure you're the same person in the route before that? And the one before that?". When a game makes me think this over and over, my enjoyment just turns into disappointment and I'm more likely to give it a lower score. Overall, I did enjoy Mistonia but it could've gone much better. Oh well.