Would you like to see more Lls break the fourth wall?

[osanajimimi]

I recently came across an LI who does that, and I found it really interesting. Since I don't self-insert, it caught me off guard that he was talking directly to "me." It also made me realize that everything before that point had been building up to it.

I'm not sure if this concept is common in otome games, but it was certainly interesting. Whether it's good or not depends on the implementation. Imagine you're self-inserting while playing, and then the LI talks directly to "you." It's funny to think about the different reactions people could have.

If you want to mention an example, please remember to use spoiler tags for everyone else reading the thread.

 

[orionsbestie]

Ohhh absolutely yes!!

Spoiler: Folie Fatale

I loved Haruki breaking the fourth wall... Yes baby keep talking to me HAHA honestly while he's just my second favorite (lol I'm so sorry Haruki!!) his endings were easily the best thing in the game.

I don't think I've seen this before?? Though I remember similar stuff in Mystic Messenger and Nameless... Just not at the same level as Haruki who for a moment reminded me of DDLC.

EDIT: WAIT I JUST REMEMBERED

Spoiler: Dance with Devils

When the choice pops up to select one of the two common routes, Roen's voice tells the player something along the lines of "You are the only one who can decide what happens after this. Now, it's time for you to choose".
While this is the only metareference I remember seeing in the game, and he never again does anything else that might make one think he Knows™... It's oddly on point for the character?? I mean, he is The One Who Knows pretty much 90% of things in the plot. Bro even has meta knowledge crumbs. Peak LI.

 

[Lotucias]

I admit it's still a rare occurrence, given the trend of prioritizing immersion above all else, but it's very pleasant—and surprising—when it does happen. I'm 100% in favor!

 

[satory]

I'm not a fan of being involved directly into relationship and if a character started talking to me directly and making moves I would freak out I do like it in regular games and it's very interesting in horror stories, but in romantic ones it would break all the nice and cosy feelings, so a hard "no" for this

 

[lanying]

I love games that break the fourth wall because I'm a big fan of meta-gaming.I'm absolutely obsessed with gal meta romance games.But I don't like games where LLS just talks to the players.Some Chinese otome games use similar phrases, and I really hate it.Because this stuff doesn't make any sense with the plot and was just written in for some specific purpose.That really ruins my immersion.Folie Fatale and otome legends.I don't really like it either.But they're reasonably plot, I don't hate them, it's just that the plot is so clichéd that it feels a bit childish.I'm just encouraging it - to encourage more meta otome games to come out, I'll support them.

 

[SmallEagle]

I think it would depend on the story and genre, but I LOVE the idea of it! Especially in a otome with more horror or suspense themes, it would be really cool and creepy. Or with some kind of omnipotent character.

Ohh, imagine a game where the LI falls in love with the player instead of the MC, that sounds interesting!

 

[chardonnay]

yeah, i'd like it. i'm a big fan of "breaking the fourth wall" trope in general, so it'd be interesing to see that in otome games. how that trope would be made without making it akward, weird or cringe

 

[moçoroca de abacate]

I'm not the biggest fan of it, but I'm not exactly a hater either... It gets a bit sad because the LI is almost always "suffering" from being part of a game and having to follow a pre-programmed script, meaning they can't be with us (the "real" MC on the other side of the screen). But then that same old angst kicks in, with nothing new to offer...

I don't think it's bad, but seeing the same kind of suffering play out (across different games) ends up feeling repetitive and unoriginal, unlike when the concept first appeared and seemed innovative... I think the only love interest who breaks the 4th wall that I actually like is (Nula from "To Eat A God")

 

[totallyamanda]

if the intention is humor a la zack from saved by the bell or ferris bueller, i'm kinda iffy on it? i feel like it would break the immersion as a self-inserter for just a gag or quip. ╮ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ╭

if it's a story line or actual plot device? sure, i can totally see the appeal especially when it comes to thriller or a yandere character, heavy on the yandere. (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

i'm just unsure how one could write it unless it's a secret route only after finishing all other routes. i say that because would seem, to me, to pollute other story lines if one character can speak directly to the player during normal routes as a not so subtle way of implying all routes are written solely to bolster this 'true' 4th wall breaking route. "૮₍ ˶•⤙•˶ ₎ა

the only other way i can see it playing out is with a narrator character, sorta like your guide to the game? or maybe for an isekai type of game? which i can see how those would garner interest and can have appealing romantic characters for those tropes/plot.

i think if written well, it could be a fantastic story/character with the ability to be cute and/or creepy (in a good way if you like the yandere types, (´▽`ʃƪ)♡ hehe).

 

[judahslove]

I think i never played to a game breaking the forth wall but it'll genuinely be so good if i ever happen to play one !! I love when games do that cuz it really surprises you and corporate u in the game !

 

[heishoumao]

I think it's quite cute when it's done well, but even the slightest error has the chance to make it feel heavy-handed or tropey - which i dislike.

Folie Fatale did it well, though, so I don't mind.

 

[hib]

Totally Not ! ! Biggest Meta Hater ! ! ! Rant Incoming ! !

There Are Good Ones , It's An Awesome Trope . . . . BUT ! It's A Fragile Little Trope That Can Break The Narrative If You Are Not Careful Enough , Quite Scary Huh ? ? ?

I Hated It When It Happened In Folie Fatale Which I Thought That Area Was Terribly Written , But My Rant Is Already Out There And I'm Not Repeating My Review .

I Don't Like This Trope Because Everything Needs About It Needs To Be Address Or Else You Will Have The Main Story Get Shat On By The Meta Shit ! The Story Has To Have Meta Trope Be Intertwined Into The Plot And Everything Or Else It's A Cheap Gag That Will Leave A Black Whole In The Work !

Basically Meta Is The Equivalent Of Marvel Quips Over A Serious Moment To Me . The Trope Just Happens To Be Used By A Lot Of New And / Or Insecure Writers That Try To Mask Any Attempt At Genuine Art With Meta Crap That Dilutes The Original Story To Tell .

People Who Write Meta Well Know The Medium They Work On Well And Love It , So They Know How To Bend The Rules . . . . . . . I'm Saying You Need Immense Respect , Knowledge , And Love To Deconstruct A Genre , Which Meta Is Deconstructing ! ! ! !

This Is Why EVN Get Looked Down Upon Due To A Lot Of The Big Productions Are Parody Games That Refuse To Take Themselves Seriously ! Coupled With Thousands Of Quips To Make You Never Have A Sincere Moment !
Which Sucks Because Actual Heart And Soul EVN Exist And I Love Them !

There Are Layers To Meta Garbo ; It's Either Within The Game (Addressing Route / Branches ) Or Out Of The Game ( Addressing The Player ) ! The Second One I Loathe Due To This Causing The Original MC To Get Thrown Under The Bus For The Player , Yuck ! Especially If The Meta Bull Just Stops The Story Of The LI And MC All For Player X LI , I Wanted Them Not US ! ! ! ! ! On The First , It's Fine If It Goes The Nonary Game Style Of People Remembering Routes And Actions .

I Have Read So Many Greenhorn Visual Novels That This Stupid Dumb Meta Trope Just Stinks Up Ruins Everything For Me , I Am Actually This Trope's Biggest Opp . . . . . . . Swear I Can Feel The Groan In My Bones For When The Poorly Written Meta Plots Happen ! But It's Mostly Me Feeling The Moment The Newbie Dev Cumming Cuz They Thought They Pulled Off The Craziest And Amazing Meta Twist When Reaching That Part Of The Game .

It Reaches A Point Of Playing A Game And I Stop Seeing The Characters Be Themselves And Start Being Puppet's To The Author's Pitching Their Amazing Idea To Me , That Loses The Magic And Charm . . . . . .

Rant Over ! !
If I Come Off Cruel Sorry . . . . . . I Am Just Excited . . . .
No Hate To Anyone Who Likes It Though ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

[RedLipsSourApples]

Not at all honestly, I really dislike 4th wall breaks in general. I find it corny and very immersion breaking.

 

[Pancito]

Yes, but only if it serves a purpose and fits naturally into the story. I think it can be a really fun or surprising element when it's used at the right moment. However, if it's overused, I feel like it can break the immersion instead of enhancing it.