HAKUOKIIII
2020-07-02 14:01![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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otome_gamesHakuoki is the game of the month and also my favourite otome!
When I started playing I wasn't expecting to like it at all, since I had never really cared much for historical RPF or samurai, and I started making a reaction post poking fun at it...which turned into a documentation of my INCREASING OBSESSION and now I am 100% HERE FOR ALL OF IT.
Especially the sexy vampires, an aspect I had not osmosed. Takes a while to get there, though, be ready for a lot of kinda dry historical exposition about the politics of 19th century Japan, I initially found this boring but now I'll ramble at anyone who'll listen about how FASCINATING it all is. Especially when you add vampires, which are a METAPHOR for COLONIALISM and TOXIC MASCULINITY and also VERY HOT.
And asides from all that the story is engaging, the boys are cute and lovable and varied, and the romances are really sweet. The historical background is tragic and there's always some element of bittersweet regret, but the good ends are still heartwarming and optimistic.
If you're interested here's all my reaction posts, plus a character list with pictures.
The Kyoto Winds/Edo Blossoms bundle (you want both, it's basically one game) is currently 70% off on Steam for $12 Australian, so like $8 US.
When I started playing I wasn't expecting to like it at all, since I had never really cared much for historical RPF or samurai, and I started making a reaction post poking fun at it...which turned into a documentation of my INCREASING OBSESSION and now I am 100% HERE FOR ALL OF IT.
Especially the sexy vampires, an aspect I had not osmosed. Takes a while to get there, though, be ready for a lot of kinda dry historical exposition about the politics of 19th century Japan, I initially found this boring but now I'll ramble at anyone who'll listen about how FASCINATING it all is. Especially when you add vampires, which are a METAPHOR for COLONIALISM and TOXIC MASCULINITY and also VERY HOT.
And asides from all that the story is engaging, the boys are cute and lovable and varied, and the romances are really sweet. The historical background is tragic and there's always some element of bittersweet regret, but the good ends are still heartwarming and optimistic.
If you're interested here's all my reaction posts, plus a character list with pictures.
The Kyoto Winds/Edo Blossoms bundle (you want both, it's basically one game) is currently 70% off on Steam for $12 Australian, so like $8 US.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-10 13:01 (UTC)These are still early impressions, though!! I can't remember what chapter I'm up to but I'm riiight at the point of a very Important incident with Sanan, for those who've played it haha!
Oh one fun fact: my main fandom before Ensemble Stars! was actually Hamilton! (Yes, I watched the film, and yes I loved it <3) Or rather, though I loved the musical, I didn't really get into the modern AU musical-based stuff. No, I used it as a launching pad for all that historical RPF goodness out there, eating up with a spoon moody Valley Forge fics in which John Laurens pines over Francis Kinloch. One of my favourite fics went knee-deep into all of the nitty-gritty details - they could spend 10,000 words on a single week illustrating the comings and goings of aides de camp in the run-up to a battle that barely didn't go ahead. So, when I heard that Hakuouki was as much dry historical fiction as it was romance, my interest was piqued. But that alone did not prepare me for the sheer wave of nostalgia that overcame me the first time the game narrated to me about a battle that left a main character permanently injured less than an hour into the story. None of this is particularly helpful as a review as this is a very personal experience, but wow - Hakuouki seriously brought me back to that time and captured so many of the things I really loved from back then! There's just something humbling about experiencing this story and knowing it's something that could have happened ...or, well, NOT, given the vampires and all. But it's all occuring around real events and with real people, and each detail is a launching point into further research and more complex details and more names than you could remember in a lifetime. Not to mention the political disagreements in which everyone is taking a position that seems so very specific and arbitrary to modern audiences, illustrating shades of nuance you could never have anticipated and making clear just how arbitrarily defined our own modern day politics are! IDK man - I just really, really dig it, and I'm enjoying the hell out of this atmosphere!!
*
I’ve started reading Hakuouki! I was always kinda wary about playing it because for some reason I thought the guys were all super mean to Chizuru, but that hasn’t been the case so far so I’m enjoying it!
I really like historical fiction and worldbuilding type stuff, and I’m interested in samurai in particular right now, so the fact that it lingers a lot on those historical details doesn’t bother me at all – honestly it’s really intriguing and immersive! And I like the dynamic the cast has so far – it’s a great setting for getting a bunch of guys with differing personalities together, playing off each other. And I’ve kind of always had a thing for these manly situations where everyone’s concerned with strength and honour even if I think all that’s silly IRL haha. (Personally I tend to favour more lawful good types than Ragtag Bunches of Misfits though – and we’ll get to that ;) ) My only irritation is that it bugs me how many otome games feel the need to begin with the heroine fearing for her life… but it doesn’t go on too long this time and it’s reasonably well justified and only one was being a real dick about it so I can look past it.
Time for super early character impressions!
Hijikata: More positive than I expected. I like his design. I don’t find the dominant stuff hot but seeing him slowly become more open and warm sounds like it would be satisfying (assuming it happens ofc). I like that he doesn’t seem actually cruel so far – he’s blunt, but very focused on his goals, and willing to listen to Chizuru when she has things to say.
Okita: I don’t like him so far. Characters who deliberately make other people upset/scared just for fun make me mad. However he shares a voice with Impey (and Enstars Makoto!) so I weirdly enjoy listening to him. Even if my mood sometimes instantly changes when I read the actual words lol.
Saito: I like him! Sad reserved types are Good and I like that he actually does seem concerned about like, morality? And not killing unnecessarily? I feel like I know what his route will be like and it'll hit the classic notes but it'll be really effective at hitting the heartstrings!!
Heisuke: I like him a lot!!! He’s one of the most balanced Younger Love Interests I’ve ever seen in otome games? He’s clearly energetic and more childish than the others but he’s also very capable. He’s friendly and a bit hot tempered but he cares about doing things right and enjoys having fun! I’ve noticed a lot of people praise his chemistry with Chizuru and that’s definitely there – honestly, that more mutual and equal kind of relationship is an underrated benefit of these character types for me in general, but Heisuke seems even better than most. I’m heading for his route first!
Harada: I can’t really get much of a read on him so far? Like I’m not super sure what his personality actually is. He just seems kinda chill and normal. I’m curious about the failed seppuku thing though. And spears are cool. Edit: A lil further on, I guess he is just kind of relaxed and understanding? I don't mind that! He's nice to Chizuru. That is always good :)
Shinpachi: I like him!! He seems like a good brash straightforward type of guy. Haven’t seen TOO much of him so far but I’m looking forward to seeing more. Also, his abs are very pretty. I don’t really care that much about muscles in general but idk the big burly types always look kinda cute to me lol.
Sanan: lmao SO I initially expected that I just wouldn't like him much because he's clearly a particular Type that I'm not really into but I've found his story really interesting so far! I felt really sorry for him during the common route... Obviously I'm up to a part when things are Happening though so who knows how I'll feel after lmao
Yamazaki: He’s had like three lines so far so IDK. His design is intriguing though?
Souma: Okay SO. SO!!!!! I said I’m interested in samurai at the moment and tbh I’ve always enjoyed the idea of samurai/knights/whatever as like, dutiful protectors with lofty ideals regarding chivalry and self-sacrifice etc.? But I’m especially interested in samurai at the moment because of my hyperfocus character from Ensemble Stars, a certain samurai-themed Kanzaki Souma. SO. Part of what got me interested in Hakuouki right NOW was the idea of learning about his namesake historical figure, who I just assumed didn’t really have anything specially in common with him. (Kanzaki Souma’s the youngest member of Akatsuki, Souma Kazue was the final leader of the Shinsengumi – that’s enough of a connection, right?!) BUT when I read the wiki he seemed to have a maybe similar personality and then the other day someone reviewed his route and said it was great and NGFL all this was making me eye emoji enough to finally boot the game up??? AND. I have met Souma Kazue for all of one chapter and I’m already in love with him :’’’’’’) Do I just have a thing for guys named Souma maybe??? WHO KNOWS, but he seems to be fitting SMACK BANG into that ‘idealistic and probably naive samurai upholding order’ type I’ve always loved so much… <333 Seeing him already have his views of the Shinsengumi challenged was rly fun even happening over such a short period of time, and then he and Chizuru were so cute together for a moment?? And this dumbass definitely doesn’t get that she’s a girl either!!! He’s just a bit too serious and sincere and reminds me of Kanzaki Souma already lmaooo but either way I like him a lot :’’’) I still wanna do another route first from the original cast so I have a bit more of a normal reading order but I reaaaally wanna do Souma second ahhhhhh!!!
Iba: Like the MINUTE he opened his mouth I was scrabbling to open VNDB because I KNEW I recognised his voice and I know shit all about voice actors so I had no idea who lol. Turns out his actor has done a LOT of things (including Light Yagami?) but there was exactly one that I could not unhear: Taichi from Chihayafuru. Which: I have some kinda mixed feelings towards Taichi, tbph...?? (I'm an Arata fan all the way! :P) but oh goshhhh Iba doesn't just sound like Taichi, he sounds like the most painfully earnest version of Taichi imaginable, and it just so happens that 'earnest' is my number 1 adjective I look for in a love interest, so practically from hearing his voice alone I was hooked lmaoo;;; But as with Souma mmm there's just something about that lawful, neat, even refined kind of character that I really really love...? He's obviously a contrast as he already respects the Shinsengumi but somehow seeing him interact with everyone put a big smile on my face! Also it took a good two minutes for me to start mentally writing out my Iba/Hijikata fanfiction lmao, please tell me that's an actual ship I'll be able to find later on! ANYWAY, obviously it's clear but I like him a lot!!!
gjiojiow ANYWAY I’ve gushed too much about two characters I’ve just met already lmaoo. Actually I do have a couple more negative things to bring up so far. Firstly, the controls are ridiculous. The keyboard mapping seems completely arbitrary and there is nothing in game to indicate what they are – I had do look it up myself and download a PDF with my weakling baby mobile data. I also barely played for two minutes before encountering an obvious text error, and then another one not long after. And while I don’t mind Hijikata’s swearing overall – I think it’s probably not an inaccurate cultural translation of his way of speaking - ‘losing their shit’ just sounds wayyyy too modern for me and just looks dumb.
Aaaand here I wrote a whole long piece about Chizuru but in /r/otomegames this ended up being literally the only thing anyone replied about and I realised that I actually am not interested in hearing people talk about how they dislike how Chizuru's written! I like standard plucky uncertain and non-actiony otome heroines, and I like Chizuru! And I'd like to continue liking her, regardless of whether or not she ever becomes a badass action girl! So, my reaction to her here is 'Chizuru is good!' :)
So that's how I feel so far! Obviously I'm enjoying it A LOT, so I'll keep playing and will try to write up some more thoughts and feelings later on! <3
no subject
Date: 2020-07-10 13:38 (UTC)This is so interesting to read! Especially since as it happens my husband just watched Hamilton for the first time the other day and fell MADLY in love and we had a fun conversation about historical RPF comparing the approaches of Hakuoki, Hamilton etc. I haven't actually watched Hamilton myself yet but it does sound like they hit some similar buttons. And in my case there's also the fact that I'm not from the US or Japan so there's a lot of assumed cultural context going over my head.
ANYWAY back to Hakuoki. I'm really glad you're enjoying it! It's great hearing what you think of the characters, and you've made me realise I don't think I ever wrote up my own opinions of them in a succinct way.
But just commenting on what you said: -Hijikata does warm up, though it's a slow burn.
-Okita is such an asshole to start with, and I HATED him, but he grew on me. YMMV, but he doesn't stay that awful the whole way through.
-Heisuke and Saito: <3 <3 <3 I love these two SO MUCH
-Harada is chivalrous and charming, and his route feels the most like a conventional romance narrative. He ended up treating Chizuru too much like a Girl for my tastes but YMMV.
-Yamazaki is pretty cool once you get to know him, a little like Saito.
-Souma: I didn't love the writing on his path myself but he's a great character and has an interesting arc.
-Iba: He's a great guy but due to [SPOILERY PLOT REASONS] his path hit rape triggers for me, in case that's also an issue for you (if not, enjoy!)
Also you don't seem to have met Sakamoto yet, idk if you like flirty idealistic rogues but he's really interesting if only for the contrast to the others, since he's very opposed to the Shinsengumi and his route gives insights into aspects of the war you don't usually see.
And yeah, I love Chizuru.
Man, you're making me want to go finish the parts of the game I didn't get to, but they're all bad ends that'll make me cry...