I would guess part of the comment issues in ol1 are the lack of a jealousy system like nobody can react or make comments because there is no jealousy at all I am hoping it is more natural in ol2 with there being 2 main lis plus an actual jealousy system even if it is optional
There is a little bit of jealousy! But it's all mainly in Step 1 and your typical kiddy jealousy😂 it's also just me splitting hairs really, but I get where you're coming from lol. It's not actually jealousy I'm looking for, honestly. I personally despise jealousy in any aspect for my own reasons, though I do get what you mean and I'm depressingly aware of how prominent jealousy is in the situation I've given😔
What I'm more looking for is upset - and I mean that in the most clinical definition of the word: to make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried; to knock (something) over. (ie. to disturbe or unbalance)
LMAO, this got long, so I'll throw it under a cut!
Basically, Sunset Bird is the place where nothing happens and everything stays the same, until Baxter comes in and upsets the norm. The game writes many times that he's disturbed the peace and many characters respond to that in various different ways - mostly positive and slightly negative on Cove's part specifically. You, as the MC, have the option to take it as positively or negatively as you choose, of course!
I have a suspicion that, if MC takes it negatively then maybe others would too but, I don't play that route personally and it isn't really the point I'm getting at either. I want to see that upset happen, even in a positive viewpoint MC. I want to see Cove upset because MC has been flirting with him for possibly several years and he has been flirting back and he and everyone understandably thought you both had something, only to see you fall for Baxter like a rock in a stream, the moment he turns your head. It's not specifically jealousy I'm looking for, it's hurt and confusion and/or a need for answers from the people that surround MC and find their expectations suddenly trampled on.
"What about us/Cove?" is a very real question that should be there yet just isn't 🤷
An example of where the game actually did do this: The protectiveness from your family, that was A+ on the game's part but there wasn't enough of it, in my opinion. There should have been more worried dialogue from at least your family, if not your friends. Cove also has one moment where he complains about how he doesn't like Baxter flirting with the both of you but, again, that's not actually touching on the subject of MC so much as it is the both of you. It's also before any dating can occure so Cove is still 'intact' as it were... So I would honestly even consider that situation void because it happened before the flag triggering can changed him.
Even in Step 4, this trend continues! [violently rips out hair] There are scenes that should have such a bigger reaction out of characters but simply just don't because the mechanic for upset is entirely lacking!! It drives me crazy yo😭there's no deep 'sit down' conversation at all in so many places and it makes the emotions that the really good parts of the story pull out of you feel so cheap in comparison!
Awaaahhhhh... This has just turned into me complaining lmaooo
My apologies😂I know there isn't anything to be done that can change it, currently, but it does just really upset me. In fact, how I'm talking about it here is exactly what I would have loved to see in the dialogue of the game!
The desperateness, the desire for answers, the deep meaningful conversations, just- [clenches fist] Yes. Everything would feel so much more grounded and real and immersive if they just let MC sit down and have a talk with these people about everything and have feelings get resolved and see bonds strengthen!!! It would be so Good!!!
Instead, I must sit here, depressed while Cove laughs off several years of character development like "ha ha okay then bro, very funny" like😭😭😭What happend to you, my sweat summer bean???
There are definitely a few Cove comments (like in charity) and Liz still has the Cove rejected your proposal joke even if you're dating Baxter (regardless of your affection with Cove though) if you text your family about where you went if you leave the restaurant at the end of step 3, but it's definitely a weird one on both sides. If you have crush on Cove, you kind of expect him to be brought up more even when dating Baxter. If you don't, there are those moments that feel really awkward.
Oh! I definitely missed the text conversation since I have such an independent MC. It's funny that it'd be there that I'd end up passing it, since I usually explore each path a little bit before going back and sticking to a response, but it was such a no brainer of me to not bother with texting the fam (character wise) that it slipped by me 😂I'll have to explore it in my next playthrough!
But, yeah, even with those little things it still just doesn't take away from the lack of feelings for me. I mean, if you had a relationship that wasn't as close, of course it would be a different story but, when the relationship is completely invested however, that sudden lack of commentary is very immersion breaking and takes away from the playing experience. At least for me.
Like, for me, it isn't so much that those comments are still there - it's the way characters react to them that's unsettling and story breaking. You can still flirt with Cove, even while dating Baxter, but his reaction to it is so blasé and "ha ha okay" instead of the typical crush responses you'd always had previously. It's like someone pressed reset on everyone's feelings, y'know?
[edit] And, sorry, forgot to add in that I can definitely see how the opposite might be true for a non-romanced Cove. I've said before that he, unlike the other two, reads heavily like a love interest no matter the situation😂so I can definitely see how those comments could be awkwards if that wasn't your intention while playing with him. Overall, it just feels really unfinished in that specific area of the game, imo.
