5 Demo Impressions: Otome Edition! (Demo Impressions Part 10)

5 more demos, but all otome visual novels!

Some more demos and these are also ones I played before Steam Next Fest started. Except, this time, it’s all otome visual novels! Yep, you read that right. Instead of having a mix of genres, I decided to split them up after getting an idea of having an otome only demo impression article after noticing I already wrote impressions for four otome demos. So, here they are! If any of these happen to interest you, I definitely recommend checking them out. I wrote a lot here, and technically I could have made all of these into their own posts, but then it would take even longer to get these out, so enjoy a 5-in-1 special!

Gosh, I love this pose so much

Obscura

Recently, I found out an otome visual novel I was following on itchio was participating in a cross promotion featuring otome games in the same genre. Obscura was one of them and just looking at the screenshots interested me. Looking at the game’s synopsis and the love interests sealed it for me. Luckily, this upcoming otome VN has a demo featuring the game’s first chapter, so of course I had to play it. How could I resist?

Obscura starts with you just outside the entrance to the marketplace under the mountain. You’re not really told much about it other than the only thing that happens is buying or selling and you don’t go down there for no reason. It almost seems like the place is taboo, as people know what it means to go there, but won’t say anything about it. Nonetheless, after getting your bag checked and telling the guard what you’re entering for, you pick out a mask. In the full game it looks like the mask will reflect what you picked, but it’s not yet implemented. Everyone wears masks down in the marketplace under the mountain, to keep everyone as faceless strangers, and you can even go by a fake name. The marketplace is about what you’d expect, but our protagonist is determined to keep her eye on the price. The reason she’s here isn’t yet told (setting aside her bio), but she’s looking for lunar ichor. Something that proves to be difficult to find, expensive, and has properties that would help our lovely protagonist.

Along her stay at the marketplace below the mountain, you’ll meet various characters both without unique sprites and with. It also seems like out character really knows how to banter with others, making for some funny lines in a pretty bleak atmosphere, and has charm that helps her be in their good graces. It doesn’t take long for you to encounter the set of choices that will lead you down a particular LI’s path. This demo includes the first chapter and lets you go into all four LI routes. Each route even has a handful of endings, with Best, Neutral, and multiple Bad ending variations. Luckily, the ending guide is free to download on the itchio page, which reveals there is a hidden affection meter and the full game will let you progress into Chapter 2 with a Best or (maybe) a Neutral ending. Anyway, with a combination of just how much there is here and my tendency to not want to fully play long demos, I only went into two LI routes.

I ended up down Cirrus’ route first. He’s the priest at the Lunar God Church. He’s mysterious and a bit unsettling (his mask doesn’t help), but he does have some good chemistry with the protagonist. He even tells us why we’re here as he named an illness once thought to have vanished (and later mentions that you still have time). He offers to help and our protagonist couldn’t refuse. I honestly do really like Cirrus, especially his pose where you’re looking at him from a side view, but man do I always have the feeling to always have my walls up. Which gets reinforced with what ends up happening and how his…personality ends up being. He’s very much a character that goes mask off (metaphorically) once he knows you’re stuck with him. I got Keir next, as you can encounter him while he’s in the middle of running away after stealing something. In the midst of trying to get out of the way, you lose your balance and Keir helps you from not falling down and, well, bringing you along for the ride. Keir was certainly a welcomed change from Cirrus with his sass and almost exasperated tone, but he seems like a fun guy. Even though he ropes you into his little thieving gang and hidden encampment. Also I love how if you say yes to his question of whether you trust him he’s like “1. WTF 2. Bad choice”. Though the predicament he puts you in is another matter. For you to gain his, and the others’, trust you need to be in just as much trouble as they are in and you play lookout for them in their next heist. Which turns out to be a bit interesting.

I liked Obscura so far. I mainly liked how it was written and the art looks really nice. I also love how it has a bleak, depressing atmosphere, but you can tell how characters are trying to make the best of it here in the marketplace under the mountain. You can tell that people are guarded, but your character and others are still willing to banter. Kier’s route even shows a dynamic between people that do trust each other (or as much as you can down here) and an optional choice puts you on a branch that gives you a funny set of reactions that further gives you insight on those characters. Anyway, yeah, I’ll keep my eye on this one. I want to know what’s going to happen. Like if you’ll get to see the LI’s whole face and if they’ll see yours in the Best Ending.

Thorn for the Villain

Another otome visual novel demo and this was one I discovered from the same cross promotion I mentioned in my Obscura demo impression section. The art style caught my eye and the story synopsis absolutely got my interest. Getting isekei’d into an otome game? Yes please. Though, if it’s going to be the last one I’ve played please let it be a nice, chill one (like as much as I love Virche Evermore, I would not want to live in that universe). Thorn for the Villain starts with a gotcha moment where the scene you’re reading turns out to be an otome game the protagonist, Teresa, is playing. As she’s gushing about the game, other otomes that she’s looking forward to, and planning her game night, the bus she was one crashes. The bus driver seemed to have survived, but Teresa herself dies due to her injuries before she was able to be treated. Next thing she knew, she was being born (though she doesn’t realize it at first). We fast forward to Teresa (you can change her name btw) as a young adult where we get a quick rundown of what happened and get to get to start right in the midst of the upcoming otome shenanigans that’s going to happen.

It turns out that Teresa learned very quickly that she reincarnated in one of the otome games that she played. Though, instead of a pleasant one that was as close to her first life, she was sent to the world of the last otome she played. Yep, it was the one she was playing right before she died, which we learn was called Eternal Blessing of the Stars. She, more specifically, reincarnated as a side character that didn’t have a sprite in the game, but she was born in a noble family that allows her to have the high standing that she does. She even has a twin brother who was an important figure in the game’s world. At least she wasn’t reincarnated as a maid; although she much rather go back to the pleasures she had than to conform and be a proper lady. We even learn that she was able to become childhood friends with the game’s protagonist, Estella, and one of the LIs, Henry, and get them together early. Anyway, the plot starts with Teresa going to stop the event that happened at the start of Eternal Blessing of the Stars. That means going to the very villain group called Snare that terrorizes Estella in the game, but hey if it means everything will be averted so be it. Except, little did Teresa know that Snare’s attention will be drawn to her as two of their high members, Edel and Vicenzo, becomes interested in her in particular. Well, Teresa finally got her villain Li route.

So far, I really enjoyed Thorn for the Villain. I do like the two LIs, even though one of them kept killing me (rude much), and I love Teresa as a protagonist. I love how Vicenzo is just matching Teresa in terms of shaking up noble customaries and the dynamic they have due to this. Also, the way you can tell he loves messing with Teresa, how she’ll react, and Edel’s reactions (also I suspect he also lowkey likes punishing Edel). This demo only let you go down Vicenzo’s route, but Edel also made a good impression. Aside from the whole killing you if you chose a wrong dialogue choice (and from a couple choices ago at that), I did also enjoy Edel and the dynamic he had with Teresa. It definitely helps that your first interaction with him works really well in getting you to like him and I do wonder how his route will go. And finally, if I was isekai’d into the last otome game I played I probably would be a bit like Teresa as well. Like mourning the loss of having modern things like internet and otome games, trying to stop terrible events from happening with my knowledge, and even try to befriend the main protagonist and happily watch her fall in love with one of the LIs. I don’t think I’d be able to get her to pair with my favorite Li though, as I’d rather be with him haha. One difference we’d have is that I wouldn’t be as bold as Teresa and would try to blend in and adapt. There were so many instances where I was like “my kinda girl” as I was reading.

Other than that, I only noticed one, maybe two, sentences that had mistakes in them and I really liked the partial voice acting. This might not come off as a compliment, but I gleefully laughed whenever lines were being voiced. I was not expecting partial voice acting (seems like I skipped over that line in the features section of the itchio page) and I loved it. Also love the art style, and especially love how we get to see Teresa’s inner emotions as an extension of the character portrait (as well as her funny inner thoughts in the dialogue box). It’s a good middle ground in letting us see her reactions to things without making it seem out of place that the other characters aren’t, in turn, reacting to how Teresa is visually reacting. If that makes sense.

I can’t wait until Thorn for the Villain gets a full release. I want to see what’s going to happen next in Vicenzo’s route and I’m so curious to what Edel’s route will be.

Pearlglow Cafe

Another otome visual novel I discovered from the cross promotion! I swear this is the last one. The art style and the premise caught my attention and made me want to try out the demo. While there’s no demo on the Steam store page, there is on their itchio page (so check it out if you’re intrigued). Pearlglow Cafe puts us in the shoes of 28 year old woman named Juniper who is moving to the seaside town of Pearlcliff Bay. She has recently become a proud owner of a cafe and she’s ready to bake and bring delicious happiness to those in town (or anyone visiting the town). At first, the world seems to be just like ours and you could think it is as you forget what cross promotion event it’s participating in. The references to magic starts with what you would hear in real life, how magic happens from love and unforgettable moments; and talking to inanimate objects in hopes that it’ll do what you want it to do or when you stub your toe on it. Well, it turns out that magic does exist and Juniper here is a witch herself! Sweet talking a stuck lock may indeed increase your chances of getting it to open. Juniper’s own cookbook has its own personality due to it being a family cookbook passed down through her family. In fact, part of the reason Juniper moved here was to get inspiration and add a recipe herself.

The demo takes place over the first five days. At the start of each (work) day you’ll be able to select a recipe to be your special for the day. Though, it’s a bit more special that you think as that pastry will be imbued with magic and will bring along an effect on those that eat it. The family cookbook gives you a limited selection based on what it thinks you need. You can pick based on the pastry itself, the magical effect it has, or both, but either way the magical effect does have an effect on the story. As Juniper opens for the first day at her beautiful cafe, she luckily doesn’t have to worry about customers as they soon come flocking in. This includes the three love interests, which you meet all of them on the first day. You first meet a mysterious white hair man who comes in right at opening, but scuttles off once you go to greet him. Next is Graham the red headed farmer who does not make a great impression. Like not great at all as he rudely talks about your cafe before walking back on it once you two are face to face. Juniper does seem to easily forgive Graham though and it looks like their relationship starts on physical attraction as Juniper slobbers over his abs and pecs and Graham finds her unique and beautiful (and depending on the branch you go down, either of them will embarrass themselves over this). They do tease each other and Graham does go through lengths to redeem himself (whether he’d do that if he found Juniper attractive or not though is what I wonder though). Graham also acts as a way to get the audience to learn about witches and magic (at least in the beginning) as he does help us learn why Juniper doesn’t give everything magical effects, that Juniper has magical pastries as a selling point, there are some skepticism towards magic for those that don’t know it exists, and that there are negative side effects if you consume too much magically imbued food. And lastly, we have Briar who ends up being in the cafe the whole day after wandering in and falling asleep in the storage room. His first impression includes scaring Juniper and making her fling all of the pastries on her tray and her taking pity on him. Briar seems to dip his toes in a lot of things, but they all seem to have some connection to nature, and he doesn’t exactly have money so Juniper takes it upon herself to give him the leftovers. Plus she gets him to clean up the mess he makes with the mud caked on his shoes and body. However, Juniper gives Briar multiple magical imbued pastries and I just have to ask…why? Girl, you know the negative effects they have and you’re giving it to a man that has only eaten what he’s foraged. Plus no one can resist only eating one pastry (and it’s not recommended to eat more than one magically imbued pastry a day) and they don’t really keep for long even if he has a place to live (unless the magic alters how long it stays fresh?). Why not give him mostly normal pastries!

It seems like events will have a mix of happening at the cafe and around Pearlcliff Bay as Juniper does allow herself to have a day off. Perfect for any dates that the LIs might take her on or to wander around and refresh the mind. The Steam page does show off some of the townsfolk so I’m guessing you’ll meet them as they visit the cafe and as an event depending on where you choose to go on Juniper’s day off. Or maybe they’ll be involved with the conflict in a LI route, like I see potential in some drama involving Opaline the investor and Cranesbill the innkeeper doesn’t exactly sport a friendly expression like his descriptor says.

There are also some choices here. Aside from choosing what magical pastry will be your cafe’s special, there are choices for what you want Juniper to do or say. I’m not sure if this will have an affection system, but it seems some choices will bring you down different branches which can affect your relationships with the other characters. Like you can have a different first impression with Graham and your second day with Briar can be different. The pastries you can choose for the day also changes depending on your choices.

I really liked Pearlglow Cafe and I can’t wait to play the full game and see what’s going to happen.

Love at the Milky Way Diner

With three otome visual novels I found through a cross promotion event thing, here’s one that I found outside of that on the otome subreddit! The developer actually posted this on the subreddit and it looked pretty cute. It was only on itchio at the time and I meant to play the demo, but I got a bit busy and I was only able to play a bit of it at the time. Well, it’s now available on Steam! Better late than never and this time I’ll get this out before the Kickstarter ends (though, I doubt I’ll have any effect).

Love at the Milky Way Diner takes place over your first day and lets you meet all the love interests. After 2 weeks being in stasis, you finally arrive at the deepspace station known as Hesperides. It turns out this is the first time you’ve been out of your star system and it’s to take over your late Aunt’s diner, The Milky Way Diner. Plus, it helps that you don’t really have anyone to keep you in your star system and the company you worked for went bankrupt. You also learn that humans are a minority in this station as other species gather in Hesperides more than others due to its location (hint, LIs won’t just be humans) Also, from what I can understand, Hesperides seems to be akin to a layover station. Anyway, it doesn’t take long for you to bump into your first LI, Ka’el the cargo runner who helps you out and serves as a way for you to learn the protagonist’s backstory and about Hesperides. Like how it’s rare for anyone to stay on Hesperides and that your Aunt’s diner is a staple and very important to the community. Heck, you’re pretty much reminded throughout the game how happy people are here that you’re keeping The Milky Way Diner alive.

Ka’el leads you to get checked into the station and you meet the next LI, Officer Shiwoo where you learn some more about the station as he makes sure you aren’t carrying any weapons or illegal material. Though, you may have embarrassed yourself by passing out and you’re sent to the next two Lis, Saria the head Physician who tends to you and Vega. Saria is busy so you don’t get to interact with her much, though you do learn how kind she is, but you do get to interact with Vega more. Vega was being treated as you walk in and, well, it turns out her vessel may have exploded a bit and she was barely able to be rescued. She’s thankfully fine now and she’s going to be here for a while as she waits for her ship to be fixed. You also learn some lore about this game’s world as you talk to her and even though her species and your species has had some bad blood between them, Vega seems like a delight (and she maybe thinks the same about you). As you enter your diner and get acquainted with it, you also meet another LI, Aedar, who’s a farmer on the agricultural deck and who will bring in produce for your diner. You can even have a little taste test event as all but tomatoes are from other star systems. You even give him the honor of getting the first dish from you, as you want to cook him lunch as thanks. This is where you learn that while you don’t have experience working in the food industry, let alone handling your own establishment, you do love cooking for others and it makes you happy seeing other people enjoying what you made. And Aedur shares the same sentiment, except happy that the plants he cares for helps feed the community. As you drop by where you’ll be sleeping, you meet your neighbors, Roswell the mechanic and Setteth the researcher. You get a cute little welcome gift (love it) and even learn one of the alien customs. And finally, you meet the last LI, La’ro the owner of the bar you get invited to, as it turns into an impromptu welcome party for you. La’ro further helps you know about the various different alien foods and how important it is to take the customer’s species into account, while also becoming your friendly rival. And, well, that’s it.

There are choices here and they do range from what I can assume will give you affection points, choices for what to cook in your diner for your patrons, and choices that go down a different route giving you a scene you otherwise wouldn’t have seen. Which, in turn, also seems to lead to a choice that will gain you affection points. There also seems to be choices that will give points to either or when more than one LI are in a conversation. For the cooking sections, all you need to do is pick the cooking method and put in the needed ingredients. I’m not sure how it’ll be in future cooking sections, but in this first one you do get what ingredients go in the dish. So, it looks like it won’t be a guessing game.

I’m honestly not sure which LI is my favorite yet. I’m going to have to get to know them more, but based on first impressions, my favorites are Saria, Settath, Ka’el, and Vega.

Other than that, I did notice some mistakes while I was playing. It was mostly using the wrong word (like “common” instead of “come on” and “I had him” instead of “I hand him”) with others being mistakes (having both “Deep space station” and “Deepspace station” and having “botter” once instead of “bottle”)

I do hope Love at the Milky Way Diner will still be developed if the Kickstarter fails again. I enjoyed reading through it, the characters all seem like they’ll be a delight to interact with, and the art is cute and colorful. I also really enjoyed how it weaved together introducing you to this world, everyone’s personality, the protagonist’s backstory, and character personalities seamlessly. I didn’t even realize it until I went to write this It would be a shame if we will never be able to play the finished product. Though, it does seem like it has scaled back. If I’m understanding the recent news update, the base game will just be the Common Route, with a little date at the end for whoever you end up getting. And then the LI route will be DLCs. I’m not totally sure if these will be free only if they hit the stretch goals and paid if they don’t, or if they won’t be added in at all if it’s not reached. Either way, I hope all of the LI routes get made eventually.

Rolling for Romance

Honestly, after playing Bard Harder I’m all for another visual novel that has the characters playing DnD. I happen to come across Rolling for Romance and I downloaded the demo the second I saw that the characters will be playing a DnD campaign alongside their college courses. Extra points for this being an otome game!

Rolling for Romance puts us in the shoes of a freshman in college and you’re a bundle of nerves. Luckily, all that you feared ends up not happening. Your first class you manage to make fast friends with Jamie mainly since he sits right beside you in class. He even waits for you when class ends to continue talking to you and invite you to the club he runs with three of his other friends. As you can guess, it’s a Dungeons and Dragons club and you accept (though you don’t give a definitive answer just in case you don’t like it). The rest of your classes is uneventful other than catching glimpses at what you’ll soon find out are the other members of the club, and the love interests, once you arrive at the club meeting. This meeting is just to nail down how your character looks and Jamie gives you a tiefling (YES) and the other members turn out to be pretty friendly.

The next day, they even talk to you in class where the previous day they ignored you. Operation Get Friends Through Joining A Club is a success. It also turns out the club meets more than you think, I honestly thought it was once a week but maybe it’s because they were still making their characters, and this is where the rest of the character creation is finished. The demo ends after we get a short preview on their campaign. I found it a bit weird how it’s written in a way that they’re literally there, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the campaign goes.

I liked Rolling for Romance. I do still need more time with the LIs, but I do like their characters so far. The only negative I have is that the demo did end pretty abruptly. I guess I’m used to other games giving you a “thanks for playing the demo + other information” screen. Also why did they have to make Jamie so charismatic and charming even though he’s not romanceable? I want to date him so badly!