mysecretsoul

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.

It's possible to force the points, but it can be a pain. You can use favorite foods to alter points. There are also books, as you probably know, that each character can craft. One does FP, the other RP. Each sets its respective points to a base of 8. If you distribute those, you can lower or raise points easily.

(ex: Ashton likes Rena at 10/10, Dias at 9/9. If you gave Ashton one of each, it would knock his points to 8/8, leaving Dias in the lead. But if you'd want Ashton to remain at 10, giving him books would kill two points of hard work ;A;)

There's also levelling. You can remove the problem character from party (if there's still an open slot) or switch the party as a whole. But that would take a loooot of grinding. o_o

What's more sad for the Princess, is that that ending for Celine is apparently canon. Too bad we can't give her a Kucheon merman to cheer her. Worked for Chaehwa.

Right?! That can even be frustrating with characters like Leon who, despite being unavailable in Rena's route, somehow triggers events between her and others in Claude's. So many characters are missable, just as you've said >_< Ashton, Opera, Ernest, Precis, Welch, Noel, Chisato. Some of them have such tight windows for joining, or vague requirements >_<

And yeah, unfortunately most of the guides are messy or need prior reading/sorting by the user. Another game with FAQ problems like that is Suikoden, though the first games have beautiful guides.

Sometimes I really enjoy grinding levels, but that tends to wear off quickly. It gets to the point I just want to get through the cave and see the next bit of storyline ASAP. XD ->

Ah, The Chaser! I keep meaning to come around to it, but never seem to find time. It doesn't help that watching at my computer always gets me antsy. Wish they'd have uploaded it on one of the legitimate streaming sites so it could be viewed on a television @_@ One of these days, though, I'll definitely see it. That screenwriter is too good to miss.

Oh, Lee Jun Ki? Most of his costume dramas are pretty good. How prolific is the ghost aspect, though? Is it kind of creepy, or just a necessary story element?

Yikes! From slump to crunched for time, that's no good. It's neat you finally decided on which to grab from the winter season though. I'm still torn between Lost Days and Ghost Seeing Detective for now. @_@ They're both relatively short, but it's more a matter of whether I want Oh Ji Ho or another Japanese thriller, haha.

Another issue with the game is that it's actually a pretty hardcore RPG. I might just be bad at video games, but holy moley are some events and bosses hard to pass! XD

Right? Though, I should confess. Some of the draw of The Little Merman is having him be mostly mute. Plus the self-sacrifice, of course, but The King's Daughter sparked something with Kucheon. XD

Oh! No problem. I was just asking to ensure we weren't talking about an indie title first (because I would totally need to go download it to add to my collection, muahaha).

Most endings in Star Ocean are worthy, since there are so many combinations for the other characters as well. I find Dias' Romantic ending very suitable and sweet, since it ties in beautifully with Rena's history with him. As you've said, the F/R point system can be such a pain in the butt. In the original release, I don't know how many times I had to adjust points at the end. Celine always liked my Rena too much! XD

Other endings were pretty nice, too. Ashton and Claude are always worth doing, and if you can track down the PSP release, so is Ernest. Unfortunately, his private events are very scarce in the original; they've increased them recently. ->

Our taste is similar enough that I feel I can trust your experience with Ristorante. That sort of "otherness" would probably drive me crazy, too >_> Like you, I only enjoyed it in YoJinBo since it was cutely handled. Never fun when something *tries* to be cute and clever, haha.

Ah, Second Star Evolution? I'm not sure. Might you mean Star Ocean: Second Evolution? If it's another title, likely not, but as to Star Ocean, yup. I ask since it also has otome elements, though the game is long. That makes choosing endings for multiple guys a mega pain. But I always choose Dias so....

I wonder if there might be a Little Mermaid-themed game somewhere in Japan, with Little Mermen substituted. :,) It always struck me the story would be more romantic should the male half be the one to surrender more. If we both had more time, I'd say we should just make it our pet project to create one. XD

Totally agree with you on timing. You wouldn't believe how many games and books I've bought that have sat around for a year or more before I've gotten to them. While I'm always glad to have purchased these in the end, others always think it's so odd. "You never use these!" XD I do, just waaaaay later, haha.

Cute Knight, yes! I should buy that some time, when I'm in a "Maker" mood. There's a similar title on Steam that a friend bought me, though the marriage candidates are a little less interesting (no Mermen for me, boo :,) Cannot remember the title for the life of me, though... I've got it uninstalled for now, to make room for other things. @_@

I can just imagine it now: "Did humans discover a figure among us that we, ourselves, did not know about?! Who is this mythical Kim Soo Hyun?" ...That could make an sequel. XD

Wow, I feel a little lucky now. I'd considered playing Ristorante Amore some time ago, but got really distracted with Dangan Ronpa. Much as art and playability matter, the game should immerse and entertain first. I could play a dating sim with tiny pixel art, as in the old Final Fantasy titles, if the writing was good enough. Too bad their work didn't go as well as their programming, though.

Right? That's a cute description. Actually, when my friends and I started developing that now-defunct game I mentioned to you, that was the exact feeling. "We'll make one if you won't translate those~" XD Thanks so much for being my Otome game source, though! I'm really bad at tracking stuff down, haha. ->

Ittosai! Yes, I can see it. Though unsurprisingly, whether it's actors or dating sims, I often gravitate toward a certain type/look/what-have-you. Once, while chatting with someone here for the first time, they laughed upon viewing my "favorite performers" section. "You can so tell a person's ideal type from the idols they choose!"

That's when I realized many of them possess similar facial features, haircuts, poses, etc. With otome game heroes, it was blondes. XD

From what you've shown me, I'm sold on amateur titles for good. In the past, they usually seemed shaky, but with the new tools at their disposal, it seems independent game-makers are finding their voices. Speaking of such games, have you played Prince Maker? It's not quite an otome, but has interesting mechanics nonetheless.

See, now I want aliens to discover Asian dramas. What a way to halt progress, than to addict them XD

Yes! A New Leaf :) Anything Kim Myung Min touches turns golden, though I've not had the pleasure to meet Kim Sang Joong yet. From what's been said, though, he's apparently a strong veteran actor. I'm also unsure of Park Min Young, but with such great sunbaes looking after her, she could see lots of improvement. Lots of performers do, especially with Myung Min at the helm.

Golden Cross too~ Actually had no idea that it had a business theme to it, on top of the revenge. XD

I adore fusion sageuk, from what I've seen of it. Fantasy dramas sometimes rub me the wrong way though, depending on how they're done. Wuxia is great, though.

It's good that you're in that position now though! At least you're no longer in that massive slump :)

How odd to consider archaeologists using mouses and keyboards, rather than the brush and shovel! Though, you're probably right. It might be neat to read a science fiction novel on the subject, though I wonder how certain things would be treated. "The Earth was once so diverse! They once had whole other races, like The Hobbits of New Zealand o_o. That was before, of course, Kim Kardashian became ruler." XD

It all makes one wonder how wrong we've got the current "accepted" history.

Oh! But the music in Ladyhawke? There were definitely times, to a modern viewer, where the music might get in the way. I personally enjoy sounds like that; they've got a nostalgic feeling to them. But I can't help but think what kind of incredible orchestration we might have seen in the modern day, ne?

Unfortunately, I don't believe Angelique was ever fully translated. Angelique Duet Special 2, a Playstation One title, had a bare-bones patch for menu/choices. Luckily, the game was almost fully voiced, and despite a few odd terms, I found it rather playable, haha. It seems that one of the major problems with bringing over such titles is contracting the seiyuus though ;-; Since they're real celebrities, they're often expensive.

Right? That's the primary issue with remaking Ladyhawke in any way; the young Rutger Hauer was too perfect. :,) But an otome game, I'd love it! Who would the other choices be, other than Phillipe and Etienne? Perhaps make Father Imperius much younger, and make a super special villainous ending with the Bishop XD

Whoa! The art in Halloween Otome is pretty nice for an amateur title. I like the theme, also. Automatically prefer Mr. Bandages for some reason. XD ->

About electronic books: that's probably right. They're even easier to read, providing their own light, allowing one a built-in dictionary, search functions, etc. From a purely speculative approach, though, I wonder if our societies were crumbled, if those would leave the same kind of record a paper copy might.

But if I could have a live seiyuu reading any time...that's quite tempting indeed. XD

Oh, right? There are some games that use flea markets as a game mechanic; you can go there to buy unique items that you might not get in other places. Lots of dating sims seem to have it. If I remember correctly, Angelique had a Sunday event where you can buy gifts from one of the secret bachelors. And Tokimeki has it as a date spot on certain weekends, haha.

Same here. Sometimes I wish they'd do a Ladyhawke remake, but then instantly become protective of the original. So then I figure it'd work better as an anime or manga adaptation instead, haha.

I laughed out loud when the king left in episode 12, and the queen's first reaction is to call her friends to see all her finery. But as long as nobody shrieks or wails, I can take the tearful romances. Usually in sageuks, people are touch more dignified about these things, but I've been wrong before. XD

The adult princes are interesting, though "Jinmu" confuses me a touch. I can't figure out whether his thirst for revenge was a recent thing or something he's been hiding under a carefully molded facade. The other seems dutiful, which I like a lot. Otherwise, I don't think I know him well enough yet. ->

Mm! It's strangely addictive. There's a mute character present in the first part I think you'll love; he's too adorable and sweet. And his smile, asfasgssdfd. XD If you do start, you must tell me what you think, haha.

Ah! I hope you have a fun, safe, and productive trip. :)

Right? Actually, after becoming more familiar with the shop, I'd wanted to use it in a story someday. The same usually goes for antique stores; I adore walking through those places and experiencing the people who run them. The "malls" aren't as fun, since owners are usually more administrative types than enthusiasts.

But in that shop, he keeps the more expensive hardcovers in locked glass cases. Above them, there's a sign that goes: "Please do not attempt to open without assistance. Unreasonable attack chipmunk in residence." XD

But oddly, I don't think I've seen a regular music store in a long while either. :o Makes me suddenly feel old, haha.