mysecretsoul

Yes! I'm definitely in that club. 2014, the year of the noona romance, is quickly hammering that home for me. Every time I see a guy my age or younger it makes me cringe. Case in point: Cunning Single Lady. Its second leads are annoying anyway, but oh, my gosh, the guy is like 12 on top of it. XD

Oh, so it still runs as intended outside of updates? That's good to hear. How sad would it be to put that much time into something that just disappears >< I may check out the game itself. At the moment, I'm doing as you suggested and checking the blogs, screencaps, etc. I really do adore deer~ Though that sounds funny out loud. A-dore deer, dearly deer. >.>

What other games did the group work on by the way?

Ah, so your gameplay style doesn't allow for that? I often control or Celine, since I'm all about the spells. Especially during boss battles, I'm paranoid unless I'm the one healing ->

Right? Much as I like him with his wife, I think Bowman might have been a fun romantic option too. Then again, I always like older men so my opinion is less valid. Oh, I'd forgotten about the Armory contest needing levels though. You should probably be safe getting Claude to that level; if you're worried, you could always remove Rena and run him with Ashton and Celine anyway. XD

We can have a club for that, too. "WHAT? YOU," "Dias Stalkers Anonymous," and "The Epistlettes," haha.

It absolutely drives me crazy to re-read the same lines. Many games have fast-forward options after the first time, luckily. Makes me wish all did, since it's nice to zoom past.

Oh, I absolutely love deer! The design in Endless Forest is really gorgeous too. It's interesting to see them utilize the Princess Mononoke-esque faces, you don't see that often. Though it doesn't seem like they've updated since 2009.

Haha! If we take it from Dias, Rena seems to have begun stalking him and walking on the same day. Now that you mention jealousy though, conflict scenes between characters with high relationship values could have been fun. I can just imagine the hijinks, especially between childish characters like Leon and Precis. XD

What makes Celine and Ashton great, besides the fact they can be locked out, is that they're some of the better party members. Rena, Dias, Celine, and Ashton make for a solid team really. Unfortunately with Bowman, Rena can still be locked into an FP ending with him. And that is one awkward ending, haha.

Here's to hoping your game goes well! You're making me want to play it again. Between you and my other friend, I'll be torn between Fire Emblem Awakening and Star Ocean for some time to come. XD

It would be neat to design a female genie though. Sounds like a fun challenge~

Right? Genderswapping all the Disney princesses gives one a pretty pantheon of romantic leads. I'd kill for a guy!Esmeralda, for instance. So exotic, haha.

I loved The Princess and the Frog, especially for that little twist. It just struck me as being such an adult film. The voodoo guy AND the character death? I'll never be right again after the poor firefly. And I never loved Patrick Dempsey myself. There were lots of guys that would have fit the bill just as well, if not better. Like Lee Pace. Adore Lee Pace.

I haven't seen Frozen unfortunately, but the Snow Queen story is a favorite. It would make such a nice, simple game too: the King puts his magical ice shard into the eye of the lead character's sister, who then goes on a quest to find her. She could meet the gypsy boy who wanted her to stay instead of go on, then decide what to do, etc. Ah, so many possibilities.

You know I actually think the Landing scene, while annoying, doesn't affect relationship value at all. It is best to either totally avoid or totally flunk those early PAs, so you're on the right track; as long as you banish Claude from the party as early as possible, you should be golden. If you want, you can continue to flunk them later as well for added measure, but that might just be torturing the poor guy. XD

Your plan seems very sound, though. I think it'll work, as long as you're careful with the other guys and girls too. Stalk Dias, shun the others! XD Some people even lock the other characters into their NPC endings to guarantee a full party without interference (Ashton and the sick little girl, etc).

Isn't it frustrating how late Dias is recruited though? I always wished you could just grab him up during the tournament. Rena is following him around, stuck like glue, anyway. ->

Oh! I often do, just with J-dramas. Because Korean shows (and Taiwanese, for that matter) tend to be longer both in episode and series length, they just take up too much room. That, and well, my implement for watching files from my computer to television isn't working at the moment, haha. I often exercise while watching K-drama these days, hence the need for the other screen. :)

Glad to hear it! I've been wanting a decent Lee Jun Ki film after not enjoying 2 Weeks much last year. Left a bad taste.

Ah, I noticed your lowered film intake. Though it's uncomfortable, perhaps it's a good thing. Just as with the slump, it means more will be available for later. It's nice to hear Lost Days at least has potential, though. I've heard some call it disappointing/rushed/etc.

I ended up choosing Ghost Detective. The Oh Ji Ho pull was too strong, haha. Which similar drama did you mean btw? :o

Right? Funnily enough, I knew exactly what I was getting into and chose to go on with it anyway. After being gutted by Comrades, I promised myself many comedies and romances. But that didn't last long, haha.

Ah, I think I see what you mean. The Weight is definitely an art house film. Saved by the internet, though? XD That definitely was lucky. In such situations, I usually just excuse myself from the room and get a drink. Even if I've already got one, at my age >_>

Though that "WHAT?! YOU?" reaction is absolutely what I go through. I sometimes watch with a friend, and once we actually did it at the same time, haha. It was the second female lead from Beyond the Clouds, and we tend to hate her consistently each time. XD

Epistlette! That's too cute, haha. Now that you mention it, a Swan Prince would be too perfect. Have you ever seen the Swan Princess animation trilogy from the 90's? With that "Far Longer Than Forever" love theme? I can absolutely imagine the lake transformation from it, only with a prince. The Grand Finale, though! Mixing and matching the 'Lettes and Princes could result in some cute and funny pairings. XD

Feel free to ask any question you might have. My memory is still relatively fresh on the game, so I'll do my best to answer.

Each character starts with base points for others, though as you've seen, the values differ. Dias starts with higher FP for Rena (7), but both have slightly above average RP for one another (6). Books set the value at 8, but giving his favorite foods do stack in effect :) I read again, and apparently letting him play his favorite instrument helps too. ->

Yikes! Did you still watch it together? I remember having some awkward experiences seeing certain things with my parents in the past too, haha. Game of Thrones, for instance, took some adjusting. <_<;

I think I ought to see this film for myself some day. Perhaps when The Weight fades a little from memory. No need to scar myself twice in a short amount of time. XD

Feels a little odd to complete yet another 2014 drama, haha.

That sounds wild. I saw a film recently called The Weight, which sounds as though it was similarly perverse. They used grittiness and vulgarity to address the central themes. Still can't rate it, though I find myself thinking about it again from time to time. I suppose that was the point, ne? XD

Though, wow, it was Nishijima-san? He looks completely the opposite type to play in such a movie (especially a first). I could say the same for Mitsushima Hikari, good as she is. They both have such cute/innocent images XD

I usually prefer secondary couples in games myself. There have been a couple that work for me (Squall x Rinoa comes to mind). Still need to play Lunar, though. It's always looked great.

I want to subscribe to the idea of Rena as a drama fan, though. <_<

That's my hope for the Crown Prince, too. I'd like to see him in love, of course, but not falling all over himself. Do you ever find yourself having trouble with performers who usually play evil characters? Sometimes when I see them nice, I kind of side-eye them and expect them to go bad later. "Still watching you! I remember what you did last time." XD

Right, right? I can imagine a fantasy series entitled that for sure. Though at the end, perhaps all the main characters will have wanted was a The Little Merman otome game. XD "Was it all worth it, or should we have asked for Guy Rapunzel?"

Yes! The Ell Landing, ugh. Now that I think about it, Dias sounds a little like a second lead. He all but confesses, she even chases him around, but then there's a little jerk prancing around that could ruin it all, haha.

You're probably right about the balance aspect, though. Without the landing, the Dias sequences might have overtaken those of the "lead guy." Both the Hilton and Arla scenes came before he joins the party, then it was all about Dias. As it should be. >_> I can totally see the game makers conflicted though. That seems to happen a lot in group projects like these. Or at least I've read about it happening in manga/anime production. ->

Oh gosh, Sol Hee is made of witch. I'm not usually one to criticize appearance, but her face actually frightens me sometimes. She's either just a singular looking person, or has had lots of surgery, but there's just something...off.

Ah, he grows lovesick? I hope it's not crazy moping levels. :o He's a pretty cool guy right now, very loyal to king and country.

I like that, though! We can call them The Epistles of Sandrose. XD "And so sayeth the Sandrose, 'Kim Roe Ha is the bomb.' And all was good." XD

Hehe, thanks so much! All wall-hijackers pride themselves on style when doing their work. X3

Without spoiling much, they've even got a mandatory cutscene in the second half of the game. It ships Claude/Rena to the nth degree, whether or not you've seen any of his PAs, etc. What's odd about that is that later, there's two more romantic scenes--but which character is present changes based on actual relationship values. Dias is totally the canon ending in our universe, ne? No dumb old warrior of light here XD

I actually liked Noel for Rena, too. He's super sweet and well, they match. Even their magic is the same~

Ah! That makes sense. I'm the same way, even with BXG titles if they've got enough fan service. Girls are great and all, but not for this Reise personally, haha. ->

I'm slowly taking over your wall, ne?

King's Daughter is quite enjoyable for a long sageuk. The short episode length really does the story credit, though I find some of the final scenes lack the big "oomph" full-length episodes often display. The narrative uses a lot of genre staples but spins them around in unique ways. It's odd, but I find it crazy fun until they do *anything* with Sol Hee. Then it's like getting hit in the face with a cold bucket of water. XD

The Crown Prince is delightful, though. Already fell a little in love with him. Oh! And Kim Roe Ha has a decent-sized supporting role after all. He's Knucklehead/(T)Ddoldae, which is excellent since it's a funny part. Even though I sometimes feel sad seeing my Sargeant Park again. XD

It's a little less fun, but I can and have. Though this usually occurs when a female route is also present, or the gameplay itself is super strong. For instance, Ar Tonelico or Agarest War. But somehow, partner selection is twice as hard.

But absolutely. I'm always forgetting what my last progress was. In the Tales Of series, they let you press a button and the characters will banter about what you're supposed to be doing. 90% of the time, with other games, I find myself just restarting the game from the beginning. XD

With Rena, oh my gosh, that is a problem. It makes sense from a realistic standpoint, but I always wished they wouldn't count what your player character's values were. She's also kind of wishy-washy with the whole Claude/Dias thing, as you've said. Both their endings make canonical sense, though I think there was a sequel that kind of forces the whole Claude thing.

True enough. Games like Star Ocean (lengthy, with multiple complicated mechanics) probably make guide-writing difficult. Not even the official one for the PS1 release was perfect, but then again, they rarely are.
It's neat you keep your own, though. If infrequently, I tend to do the same for otome titles or "route" games in general. "What do I need to do and when?" If I don't, I usually feel a little paranoid when it comes to choices. @_@

I love games with tons of playable characters, especially when they make it difficult not to use everyone. The Suikoden series and also Chrono Cross come to mind, as there were times you'd need at least two full parties ready. That's twice as good when there are too many likable characters to choose just four. XD

Sorry if I've asked, but do you often enjoy games where a male protagonist romances a man or woman also? ->

Love to hear it! :) Always nice to get out of the house and spend time with family~ I'm hoping for a little vacation this summer, that is, if work will release me long enough. XD

Ah, was it Love Exposure then? I've heard it's wildly controversial yet very good.