Would you prefer works with very strict storyline locks?

[moonyuki]

Would you prefer works with very strict storyline locks? Mainline storyline locks for characters are quite common, but some works lock multiple characters, and others have strict rules regarding the order of character play. Although this can ensure the enjoyment of the puzzle-solving process, sometimes some character lines are really not to one's liking and can only be skipped forcibly. I can generally accept the situation where one character line is locked and can complete the game by progressing through other characters and then choosing this locked character. I don't really like the character line setting where one needs to complete all of them to enter.

 

[satory]

I also prefer having one locked route (+/- secret) and everyone else open, Cafe Enchante or UN:LOGICAL style. They have poster guys routes locked, but you don't have to clear the whole game to get to them, only one route is enough (I'm looking at you, Itehari, as I'm trying to read a story, not to solve a mathematic equasion who goes where, and when, and in which sequence ).

And I usually read a game for one or two LIs, and not much interested in every single character, so clearing everyone feels boring sometimes. Of course, there are interesting stories and unexpected new favourites, but it's not every time they happen. Just give me my guy already T_T

 

[ninnikuryona]

i think i prefer enforced playing order so that i dont accidentally spoil myself by reading routes in the "wrong" order LOL. also something like virche's system where you are forced to read bad endings before good endings is cool for me too, because sometimes i follow guides to a t and they unfortunately list bad endings right after good endings, and since i dont dare go against whats written, usually this order just makes me feel like shit ww. even if its a bad dream and happy ending is the "canonical" one, it still spoils my mood a liiiitle bit! i prefer leaving all the sugar and sweets for last:3c

i dont mind being forced to finish routes that dont interest me, because unless the game is mindnumbingly boring, im gonna finish it (and 100% if possible) either way^^

 

[藍色水珠]

I only get motivated to research and complete a game if a character's route appeals to me. I generally try to play everything.
For example, in Primula's Puss in Combat Boots(軍靴をはいた猫), published by pencil, the hidden human character has strict affinity requirements. Except for the one that unlocks at the very end, the affinity of each other character needs to be just right and evenly distributed. I tried countless times without consulting a guide, but eventually I couldn't take it anymore and had to seek one. It was a bit of a test of patience, but after completing the game, I felt it was alright.

要看該人物路線是否能吸引我,我才有動力去研究並攻略通關.基本上都會試著玩看看.
例如Primula開發、pencil發行的 Puss in Combat Boots(軍靴をはいた猫),隱藏角色(人類)就有嚴格好感度限制,除了最後開啟,其他每個角色好感度都要平均剛好,我不看攻略嘗試無數次,最後受不了,只好去尋求攻略,有點消耗耐心,但通關完畢感覺還可以.

 

[fr4pp3cinn]

I usually don't mind enforced playing order, but I feel like some games take advantage of them to mask weaker routes (by making you complete mediocre routes to unlock the true route, which has the actual good writing lol). It was actually one thing I disliked about 7scarlet ;b the first two routes you need play were pretty weak imo, and I felt like only the secret and last routes actually had spoilers. I kinda dragged on the game because of that. I actually like enforced endings more than routes though, sometimes they make more sense if you get it in a certain order!

Overall I'd prefer if more games had an official recommended route order, but not necessarily a strictly enforced one (although I'll play all of it anyway lmao)

 

[haiane]

For a completionist like me it doesn't matter much. If they enforce the playing order, it usually means that they have put some thought into it and they don't want to spoil everyone prematurely, saving the best parts for the last. I can't say that I always enjoy all routes. It's actually very rare to find a route without any pacing issues or redundant fillings which kill most of the enjoyment to me. The only think I can do is to tell myself: the longer the wait, the sweeter the reward!

 

[SmallEagle]

I tend to only do the routes I am interested in, if the route I wanted is locked, then chances are that I will drop the game. I can handle a single route locked, no more.

 

[pawyk]

Personally I'm fine with story-locked routes just because those characters usually end up being the ones I look forward to the most so it keeps me motivated in leaving them for last!! But also I think sometimes I can get really disappointed if the locked route doesn't end up being as good as the game "hypes" it out to be LOL ><

I'm a stickler for structure and having a roadmap on how I'll play the game so I personally really like when they have an official recommended route order :-))

 

[osanajimimi]

I'm the kind of person who "saves your favorite last" and sometimes in order they end up being first... I prefer one or two locked routes and not everything, I think the freedom to play without losing quality of the story is important, sometimes is just, "let's put all the good stuff on the last route" and I hate that

 

[joaoka]

I think an enforced playing order is good for games that rely heavily on a mystery that needs to be solved but also it makes the unlocked characters seem less important sometimes! Like fr4pp3cinn mentioned 7scarlet suffers a lot from it

 

[nerim-w]

Sorry but im a locked route hater. I like to romance my favourite guys first or else I'll start to lose interest in the game and not wanna play. I wish each LI was treated equally and had equally important lore bits in their routes :( it sometimes hurts when your fave isnt the poster boy and whose story isnt obviously as detailed or in-depth as the others

 

[lambdadelta]

not against it at all! but after reading some of the comments here i've also come to think i wish every route received the same treatment because it can sting a little knowing the route where the mc (or you, if you self-insert) end up with your favorite guy is also the one where nothing at all is resolved... plus i think some 'true' routes (usually the ones they make you play last) are actually so dense on plot stuff the romance becomes almost an afterthought? that also hurts the love interest and the pacing can suffer from it too ;;

ultimately i don't mind them if it's rewarding + i can see it as a choice that makes sense ^^

 

[usagi-k]

while i agree with the frustration of locked routes being a way to gatekeep important lore or the main spoilers just to make one character seem more important - i like having restrictions or specific orders since i prefer having a flow to how the overall story unveils + i dont like making choices about which guy to start lolol it's easier having the game decide it for me </3

 

[Lynettee]

As long as the other routes are well done there's no problem, UN:Logical and CxM are examples of that. An example of how much I HATE having routes blocked is Mistonia's Hope, Alfred's route was HORRIBLE, I definitely didn't want to do it and ended up skipping it to free myself from that ordeal. An example of the route not being blocked is Over RequiemZ; I forced myself not to do Dorothy's route, undoubtedly my experience would have worsened if I had started with him.

 

[6161xx]

I feel the same way. Recently, I played a game that has five characters you can pursue, but at the beginning, you could only choose three, and you have to finish all of them to unlock the routes for the other two characters. This kind of setup makes me feel a bit tired.

 

[heishoumao]

I don't mind either way, but i think some stories with storyline locks would be fine without them, and some without /need/ them - there are some otomes with really, really strict route order recommendations, and it makes you feel like it'd be better just to lock those routes.

I get that they do it to limit negative reviews, though - "I couldn't reach my love interest without going through a bunch of mediocre routes" would be a common complaint if it was practice, so I'm not surprised we don't see heavy route locking in more "mainstream" (not the word; non-indie) otome games ... Just wish they wrote around that limitation