So to jump off of
WARNING: Mostly my personal preferences. SPOILERS AWAIT. Mostly whited out. XD
* are stories for people that I particularly liked and would read more on.
MC refers to the female protagonist (main character)
- Be My Princess 1--prince and commoner story.
- Yakov Chernenkov--short, but I thought it was cute. I actually played Be My Princess 2 first, so Yakov was a very intentional choice after Ivan.
- Glenn Casaragi--oh man the love triangle in this one, including the prince, the butler, and even the prince's cute little brother (who is literally the only one I like at the end of everything -_-) is dramatic. Satisfied my desire for some epically dramatic scenes.
- Be My Princess 2--50 years later, some of the same families
- * Ivan Chernenkov-- I really disliked how sexist his country is....and he was rather cold in the beginning, but I like how they open up to each other. His awkward honesty is makes some dramatic scenes a little less sappy and cliche. Not because there isn't drama because there is a LOT (like when he falls off a cliff and everyone thinks he's dead!) but because I think there could have been cuter/ sappier scenes such as when MC breaks off the engagement and when he realizes his mistake and chases after her. I'm still debating on whether that's a good thing or not, but with every story Ivan's kinda growing on me. There's a lot of inherent sexism that goes on with this character, but I found myself liking him as he starts to recognizes that MC-san as a strong person; he not only acknowledges her pastry chef profession but encourages her. :D
- Class Trip Crush--Meeting and developing feelings on a co-ed class trip.
- *Homare Midorikawa-- After reading the other two stories, I realized that Homare's story is a little distorted because of how lone-sheep this guy was. The 3 years later and everything are very mellow but still very cute. I like rereading bits of this story (especially the entire arc with the playboy tutor) but the more I do (and the more substories I read with him) the more I realize Homare's kinda a jerk.
- Nagisa Ichinose-- I appreciated this guy's role as a friend than a love interest; I liked him more I read Taketo's story. Nice, sweet guy.
- Taketo Kanzaki-- Oh man the drama with his twin brother also crushing on the MC was great. It was sweet and cute while it lasted, but wasn't enough to entrance into buying any sequels.
- Enchanted in the Moonlight-- Ayakashi (demons) offer to protect the MC in exchange for her power.
- Yukinojo-- He's pretty and I like the snow/ice element. I also liked the purple flower they plant together but think that MC gets a little too obsessed about it. He also almost rapes MC in the beginning, which was a definite negative point. I don't really get how they fall for each other--especially MC-san-- while they're avoiding each other, and don't really see why the lover from a hundred years ago element was necessary. Disappointing. Probably more so because I was really looking forward to the magic (the smoke animations were neat though!)
- First Love Diaries--High school couple going through all the firsts together.
- Actually I didn't really like either of these stories. They were cute, but both of them moved way to fast for me. With Nao I thought maybe it was because I chose the jock for the first time, but that wasn't the case...at all....
- Nao Fujimori--I would like to note though, that there is a very serious (and well-appreciated) message here about protection. The characters actually spend almost a full episode hunting for a condom and making sure there's mutual consent. *clap clap clap*
- Mitsuru Sanada--When I think of this story, I always jump to this first, irritatingly enough: They have sex for the first time in a toolshed on a rainy day. Literally, "There's bad weather and we're trapped here so why not." Unromantic-ness aside, that sounds like a unclean place. Point taken though, MC-chan spends almost the following two episodes panicking if she's pregnant.
- Her Love in the Force--Police academy student and teacher.
- This is my favorite overall series right now. All three paths that I've bought thus far have not disappointed and the interactions with the other characters are enough to get a good glimpse at them while providing some amusement. I love how MC-san get some great character development in each of these.
- Seiji Goto--I played Goto's route at first just because I wanted to try out the story and the other stories hadn't been released. I remember being very touched by the development of their relationship. I like how they depend on each other.
- *Hideki Ishigami-- This was one of those stories that I ranted to xForsakenx about so much as I read through it--for good reasons. I loved how the MC develops in this story--she starts off as someone who's almost looked down upon but through her own effort and some grudging help from Ishigami becomes a force to be reckoned with. At the end of the second season she still needs a little saving, but that's only after she's kicked some major ass.
- *Ayumu Shinonome--I played Shinonome's route because 1) I usually go for the genius hacker type, 2) I was looking forward to his route from when I first got the app and 3) I was pretty sure I wouldn't like another route more than Ishigami's. I'm not sure about that third point anymore though. I love the drama with Sachi, Shinonome's childhood friend and first love. It was really quite refreshing (at least for me) for the love interest to be in love with someone else for a a good half of the main story.
- In Your Arms Tonight--MC's husband is a cheating on her and she meets someone she actually loves.
- Kippei Ebihara-- Ebihara is MC's boss. I was really skeptical I would like this one, but I remember choosing him because his was the only one whose first chapter really stood out. I really liked one of the last scenes where Ebihara, who has been calmly referring to MC as "just an employee" walks up to MC's dirtbag husband and is just like "Please divorce your wife. I can make her happy, more than you have."
- Genji Higashiyama-- For an arrogant jock-type, I really liked how sweet Genji was and how the action played out. I feel like the MC and him have a really good and believable rapport, even if they need to communicate more.
- Kiss of Revenge--MC is after revenge on the hospital that killed her mother.
- *Issei Sezaki-- This story was ON POINT with the drama. There's a beautiful tension as MC works hard to get close to Issei, the son of the hospital director, for her revenge. And of course there's a beautiful internal conflict when she realizes she loves him but that he was the actual surgeon responsible for her mother's death.
Like in some of my other favorites, I liked that MC is a strong character and a respected doctor in her own right. She has her flaws, such as showing too much of her feelings on her face, but she works hard to cover for those and demonstrates her competency as a doctor and humility as a person. Also, because of her focus on her revenge, there's actually some time for a relationship to develop before she and Issei get romantically involved. The first few times Issei shows affection are a little sudden, but in no way detrimental to the story.
I could probably play another character, but I'm a little hesitant. None of the other love interests jumped out to me personally. That, and I like the relationships everyone has in Issei's route too much >,< - Kiss Me on Clover Hill-- Art school student living with male roommates.
- Soichi Kiyota-- I remember really liking the route as a story, even if I didn't quite like the characters. That is, I liked the drama with Soichi's father and how everyone tried to help (or avoid) conflict. I liked how they built the relationship and how passionate Soichi was about his dream to be an architect. I even liked the backstory with Soichi's grandfather building the house. But I guess the romance just didn't completely pull at my heartstrings and make me want to read more. I should probably try some of the other characters later.
- Kissed by the Baddest Bidder-- Hotel employee is sold in an underground auction to her boss's group of friends.
- Eisuke Ichinomiya--nah, this just pissed me off. To the very end of the main story I can't tell if I'm his convenient coffee-making gofer or his girlfriend.
- Thief X
- *Takuto Hirukawa-- Takkun was the first otome guy that I really liked....
- Tatsuro Togoshi--Forsaken thought I would like the childhood friend. He's really nice, and I really like him... platonically. (Even though it's cute that they both had/ have crushes on each other as kids)
- Riki Yanase--The drama was well received in Riki's route. Ironically, I ended up liking Takuto a little more because of the crush he develops on MC in Riki's route.
- Hiro Sarashina--I was actually really disappointed by Hiro's route because I really enjoyed the childish playfulness of his character from the other routes. But his actual route felt like just a lot of Hiro dragging MC-san around. I don't quite remember how they fall in love....
- My Forged Wedding-- Pretend to be with (and actually live with) someone you just met.
- *Yuta Kajima-- I took a long time deciding which character to read in My Forged Wedding. All of the guys all seemed to have their pros and cons and I was just really indecisive. I decided on Yuta after seeing snippets of their interactions from his view in one of the side stories.
Yuta is just a bundle of fun and even if some of the Fukumini jokes aren't actually that funny, I had a lot of fun with this route and with him. As a couple, MC and Yuta just fall into the couple mentality of living together without thinking about it too much, and how encouraging he is. I was really moved by this one, especially when Mashiro, Yuta's comedy partner, tells them to stop the fake wife act. When the same conflict comes up with MC's dad, I was just as sad for them.
The only complaint I have for this route is that Yuta basically proposes to MC 3 times: once in the beginning for the fake-wife deal, then again when he asks her to be his girlfriend officially, then again when they actually get married. It was definitely thrilling, but a little confusing. And....ok I thought the play in Paris being redone for the MC was kinda unbelievable. But they can have otome game luck simply because it makes for some great sappy scenes. Definitely one of my favorites. I may try some of the other routes too. - My Sweet Bodyguard--bodyguard and defended.
- *Hideki Ishigami--I got this route because I really liked Ishigami in Her Love in the Force. MC is an actress in this one and actually puts her skills to good use in helping Ishigami with some of the cases. At some points it seemed a little forced, but compared to how the MC reacts in other otome games, this one was definitely able to seem more composed. Ishigami's workaholic nature is almost endearing--if only it didn't take away so much time from their cute interactions.
- My Wedding and 7 Rings-- grandfather and boss wills that MC marry one of the 7 executives of the company.
- Asahi Kakyouin--Maybe I just don't like rich jerks as much as I thought I would. I was really ok with him until I played Junta and Yamato's route's and found their conversations much kinder. There are some really cute scenes with Asahi though, such as when they run into the lost kid in France or when they work together to make a company proposal. Also, this was the only route in which the guy resigning from the company makes even a little sense.
- Junta Nikaido-- Of the three, I think Junta's route was my favorite romantically. They have some cute moments together and I like the drama that unfolds with Junta's honey-trapping partner.
- Yamato Kougami--I think I liked the banter that went with Yamato the most of these three. Maybe it comes from them being old friends, but I liked these guys as friends more than a couple.
- Our Two Bedroom Story--coworkers living together
- Minato Okouchi--There was awesome drama and some unnecessary alpha-male behavior. It was a good story, but nothing that enticed me to want to know any more.
- Seduced in the Sleepless City-- journalist covering a celebrity.
- *Noel Aijima-- This was just....a really cute route. There is definitely a little drama, but MC-san is really emotionally just there for Noel and doesn't take shit from anyone. Her persistence is actually kind of incredible, second only to her luck. He was cute.
- Scandal in the Spotlight--ghostwriter and band member
- *Takashi Ninagawa-- Man, do not confess to me, let me tell you I love you as well, and then tell me we can't be together because you can't concentrate!! I waited to get this guy's route from all the others and am glad I did. Quiet but sweet, Takashi doesn't really believe in the MC until she proves herself; while I was a little miffed that he seemed to get closer to her just for that, at least the MC gets acknowledgement that way. Once past that though, I was quite charmed by how they work together and care for each other.
- True Love, Sweet Lies--freelance photographer working with a detective agency.
- Sakuya Nanahoshi--Due to some kind of happy error, I actually got this story for free and it was the first of Voltage stories that I read. After this I also got Takuto from Thief X's main story for free and that was what really got me into otome games. >< From what I remember, Sakuya's route had me constantly thinking "Rely on me more! Rely on your friends more! Stop being so proud...and then possessive...and then sitting there glued to your work without telling people what you're doing!"
