Thoughts on Otome Games MCs

[witty*]

I just finished playing TAISHO x ALICE and really liked Yurika, she's a funny and strong-willed MC! Just right after I started Sympathy Kiss, but i couldn't really like the game because the MC doesn't have dialogue or traits of their own and it was really boring for me even if I liked the LIs...
This made me wonder if you guys prefer MCs that have an character of their own (Name, appearance and personality) or nameless MCs who makes it easier to self insert (Mystic Messenger, Sympathy Kiss..)

 

[Eril $akurai]

I'm not a self inserter so I want the MC to have a distinct personality.
A good written MC makes a game a hundred times better.

 

[Beannie]

I also do not self-insert, so I prefer MC that's interesting somehow; from having hobbies to showcase strengths and weaknesses. Whilst I like some MC from otome games, I would love to see characters as Mao Mao (Aphocracy diaries) or Yoshino (Yakuza's fiancée) more in joseimuke VNs :3.

 

[Artina]

I don't like self insert, i prefer MC with face, personality and even default name. Unless the story of the game delivers, maybe i can force myself to try it like Mystic Messenger. My ideal type of MC is the one who can tame/fix the troublesome LI.

 

[Sahsame]

I like self-insert because i like to picture myself on those adventure in a otome game. If the MC has a face and more already done, im happy when at least it lets me change the name.

 

[Mutsumihelp]

I prefer when the MC are beautiful and well-developed, with personality. I dont like "eyeless", boring MC created for self-insert, I like to watch the plot, rather than identify with the MC, I even sometimes read otome just for the sake of the MC

 

[blackflag]

Im not a self inserter either. I like funny, confident MCS who are sometimes a bit stupid, in fact, sometimes, the stupider the confident woman, the better for plot. Im not a big fan of passive or quiet mcs.

 

[Shanice]

It's important to me that the protagonist has their own well-defined personality and backstory. I don't feel the need to identify with them to enjoy the game. I don't really like when the MC has no sprite and appears in CGs only as a hand or a random limb

 

[lambdadelta]

to me mcs are sooo important... sometimes i might even like her more than the guys. nothing against those who have a more vague personality to let the player self insert (even if i'd rather know more about her..) the only thing i'm really not a fan of are eyeless/faceless cgs

 

[ishibashi]

I like stories where the MC has personal stakes in the plot and a reason to go do things to move the plot along, rather than just react to things that happen to/around them. Which necessitates a certain amount of MC characterization.

TBH if the MC isn't interesting to me to some level, I find it hard to enjoy the game. I'm not too fussy about what kind of personality she has, though, as long as it's not helpless wilting flower.

Also throwing out an interesting case: Felicita from Arcana Famiglia is a case where they kind of tried to have their cake and eat it too with an MC who has 0 lines but feel characterized due to constant visual reactions, to some success. It only made me wish she had lines but I can't say she feels blank lol.

 

[ninnikuryona]

i love my mcs, regardless of how much of a blank state they are! strong and smart? cool! a little naive? great? a little dumb even? AMAZING!!!!!! i also love it when mc has her own little portrait in the bottom left corner of the screen. i love seeing her emotions and reactions to the world around her. it also creates some funny situations

i also kinda wish we had more menhera/mentally ill mcs in otome. kinda like hidari from mekutoki, but since its a succulent title, its very.. questionable haha;; but yeah, i would love to see an unstable, hysterical, maybe suicidal to a point mc, like yuuna from love angel syndrome (yuri vn) or ame from needy girl overdose! but long story short, mc is just as important to me as the romanceable guys, if not more:)<3

 

[Arisara]

I'm not self-insert. I like when MC have her own personality,voice,portrait. And i never change name.

 

[ameki]

I really enjoy it when the MC is voiced! Teuta in Bustafellows was so fun to listen to, and the banter/chemistry between her and the love interests felt so much lively because of her voice acting!

If you have any recommendations for other great voiced MCs, please recommend!

 

[heartimpact]

Not a self inserter, so I do prefer a more fleshed out protagonist. Appearance-wise, I heavily prefer MCs with a face and default name since some games do have the LIs say the default name out loud in their dialogue, but it's not a huge deal breaker as long as a body's present. Personality-wise, I'm not very picky, though I would like to see more MCs that hit this fine middle ground where they aren't full on girlbosses but also not too much of an utter girlfailure that I just don't happen to see too often. Not that I hate either side of the spectrum, but I do want to see more unexplored trait types and combinations not just with the MC, but with the LIs too.

 

[alicent]

really enjoyed mcs with their own backstories and personalities, a lot of the time. the enjoyment is putting myself in someone else's shoes and exciting situations! (or not so exciting situations) self inserts aren't as interesting but i'd still play the game if the mc is set up that way

 

[Artina]

i love my mcs, regardless of how much of a blank state they are! strong and smart? cool! a little naive? great? a little dumb even? AMAZING!!!!!! i also love it when mc has her own little portrait in the bottom left corner of the screen. i love seeing her emotions and reactions to the world around her. it also creates some funny situations View attachment 87802

i also kinda wish we had more menhera/mentally ill mcs in otome. kinda like hidari from mekutoki, but since its a succulent title, its very.. questionable haha;; but yeah, i would love to see an unstable, hysterical, maybe suicidal to a point mc, like yuuna from love angel syndrome (yuri vn) or ame from needy girl overdose! but long story short, mc is just as important to me as the romanceable guys, if not more:)<3

try TAKUYO title. I heard Getsuei no Kusari, Distorted code and Shinigami to Shoujo having a menhera MC. I haven't playing the rest except Shinigami to Shoujo and can vouch it that MC from shinigami to shoujo is on the mentally unstable side. Try them if you're interested.

 

[qixianxiaomiao]

I won't substitute, I like MCS with personality, so I like the MCS of Karin game, they are cute and clever

 

[ninnikuryona]

try TAKUYO title. I heard Getsuei no Kusari, Distorted code and Shinigami to Shoujo having a menhera MC. I haven't playing the rest except Shinigami to Shoujo and can vouch it that MC from shinigami to shoujo is on the mentally unstable side. Try them if you're interested.

oh lovely! thank you very much for the recommendation^^

 

[otomegirly388]

I like MCs with a name and face. I love looking at CGs of characters together. I really like MCs who are strong, smart, goal driven and action girl types (like Ekatarina from The winter tower.) I admire those type of MCs.

 

[lambdadelta]

I like MCs with a name and face. I love looking at CGs of characters together. I really like MCs who are strong, smart, goal driven and action girl types (like Ekatarina from The winter tower.) I admire those type of MCs.

i think your description fits fay from the retrospection of tomorrow perfectly! not sure if it's your type of game but check it out sometime if you want

 

[Suitanartist]

I personally prefer to play a game with an established MC rather than self-insert. At least the games I've played so far I consider it an important part of the plot and I love to discover their stories, personalities and motivations (plus points if the character has a portrait and/or voice actors like Teuta from Bustafellows, Kisa from Jack Jeanne or Rin from Ayakashi Gohan; plus plus points when the LIs called them for their name )

 

[tf_charge]

IMO MCs should always be their own person and have something interesting about them, no matter what genre or type of game it is. For otomes, the MC should have a portrait at minimum and ideally voiced too. Of course there is always a risk that a MC that's too out there would alienate players so there's a balance to keep in mind, but still I much prefer to lean much into the developed MC side.

And yeah, one feature I really do like in a lot of otome games is that you can see the MC and her expression beside each of their dialogues. I think it helps to better convey their emotion and how the line is meant to be delivered. I wish more galges would do something like this too.

 

[AkinaSR27]

I prefer well defined otome games MC! Having their default names voiced are great because I never change them. Having the MC voiced and/or having a portrait is an amazing bonus as well. This is why I love Norn9 and a lot of games by KARIN entertainment as their MCs are voiced. If they have a nameless and easier to self insert MC I can only see them as my OC, I don't prefer self inserting.

As for personality I'm okay with a lot of types, even the "damsel-in-distress" types. I try to look at the setting and the situation of why they're written the way they are and if it fits into what the story wanna tell me.
I also have a lot of appreciation to MCs who are less conventionally heroic? if that makes sense? like having a character flaw that moves the story. Even if these types of MC might alienate some players I have a soft spot for them.

 

[otomegirly388]

i think your description fits fay from the retrospection of tomorrow perfectly! not sure if it's your type of game but check it out sometime if you want

Thank you so much for the recommendation.

 

[Scone]

Great question I'm in the middle to be honest. I love smart, capable and intelligent MC's. I hate when stupidity is used to move the plot along or for the sake of a bad ending/game over. I also self-insert to some degree, but not fully if an established MC feels relatable to me personally. Because I'm so picky, I tend to dislike a fair amount of MC's sadly.

Anything is better than Ms.No Eye's from MysMe though..