I’m curious about the worst route you’ve played. Feel free to answer for “worst” in terms of subjective enjoyment, but also feel free to answer for “worst” in terms of objective analysis—poorly-written, unfitting, bug-ridden, etc.
Shu’s route in Dairoku. He’s basically a child. He looks and acts like a child. He’s technically thousands of years old, but I think we all know that’s just a “clever” way to skirt laws. This trope appears all the time in harem anime and I was disappointed to see it in reverse in Dairoku. His appearance is around 12-15 and the MC is in her mid-20’s. Even if he was drawn to look like an adult, it’s super uncomfortable to date someone who’s mentally a child.
Additionally, there’s a whole mystery surrounding Shu. He appears in other routes as an aloof figure with unknown motives. When you finally play his route and uncover the mystery, it’s lame. It’s a lame mystery with a lame conclusion imo.
Oh ya, that was my issue with Yune in Steam Prison. I don’t care if you’re 1000 years old immortal person, you look like a little boy. At least there was zero spice in the route so it didn’t get awkward.
Always thought it would be interesting to have a character who looks 5 but is actually 1000 and acts their true age. Not a way to skirt laws, an honestly interesting problem where people will perceive you one way and place all these restrictions on you “for your own good” when you really don’t need most of them because of your true age and experience. (You’ll still need the child safety seat in a car though!)
Just guessing that this might show up in some vampire media.
The Gardis route on The Second Reproduction. That asshat is so possessive and not in the endearing way. His route is disgusting and the valentine scene takes the cake.
The route I actually rage quitted the game after getting halfway through it… I’m not even sure if I made it halfway… was Toyonaga Kei in Dangerous Relationship. While Dogenzaka Labs games have somwhat questionable quality, this route was too much for me. I think I spared myself from the worst of it by ragequitting.
Another route I remember somehow surviving was The Amazing Shinsengumi’s Todo Heisuke (no relation to Hakuouki). I think there was sexual assault from the love interest while being trapped in a fire. I think what was especially bad about this route was how disrespectful/mean/cruel this love interest was to the player character in this game and you actually played Heisuke’s route in Hakuouki and in the latter game he is the farthest thing from that.
The Ozmafia Robin Hood route was just gross. He drugs and sexually assaults the main character and is forever obsessed with his dead wife. It left a horrible taste in my mouth and I don’t think I’ll ever pick that game up again and finish it. The love triangle functionality where you could cheat and switch LIs also didn’t feel good to me either. I really liked Axel because I love kuuderes, but thats about the only thing I remember liking about Ozmafia. It just isn’t for me.
Totally not a fan of this route and ozmafia in general. I refused to play Robin Hood’s route because I heard this stuff about it. Then I played through the brothel route….
Demonheart:
one of the romantic interests becomes obsessed with MC- I think he’s just a meathead that literally can’t tell lust from love. Tries to kiss and rape you you no matter what you say or do. She can fight him off and kick him in the balls. And somehow you can get an “let’s be together” confession from this creature.
It’s insane.
That’s the least offensive but still bad route I’ve completed. I won’t bring up the game I’ve nicknamed “The Rapists of Yoshiwara.”