Otome Questionnaire: The Arcana
Next up: my favorite OELVN! I normally don’t enjoy OELVN because a) the stories often lack depth, b) they’re usually pay-to-play mobage which drive me crazy, and c) if they have English voice acting I’m literally out.
BUT. This game was one of my first VNs, and I still can’t get enough. The queerness! The plots! The steaminess! I’ve re-played this one...a lot. So...
Game: The Arcana
Platform you played it on: Mobile ofc Rating of game (1= I hated it, 5=It’s my favorite): Like...4.5 (only loses points bc of the issues with the devs not acknowledging the fucked of price structure. But controversy aside...the plot and characters are all A+ for me.) Favorite aspect of game (the LIs, the plot, the MC, etc): The ~queerness~ Least favorite aspect of game (the plot, the format, the endings, etc): The devs bein shady. The price structure. The pay-to-play. All of it drives me crazy. (But then I think about how much I payed for CxM and CxM Unlimited for the Switch and I’m like...at least I’ve spent less than that on this one. So.) Rating of MC (1=not for me, 5=my hero!): 5. Literally my favorite. I LOVE that this game allows you to fully self-insert and you can design your own MC, of whatever gender, sexuality, race, appearance, etc that you want. Aside from that, the apprentice is always strong, always stands up for themselves, is always the one to save the LI. I’m about it. Your #1 LI (who you ship with...yourself): Asra...and Julian. My ideal world would be a triad with them both tbh. I assumed Julian would be my guy but, after finally unlocking most of Asra’s paid scenes, I was swayed. I truly cannot choose. Is your #1 LI your usual type? Yes...and no. Asra is my regular type in the real world, but not in otoge. Julian is more my regular type in otoge...except he’s nice to me. This game doesn’t have a true tsundere (cause it’s an OELVN lol), but some mixture of the sexy deprecating bottom and the emoji-using sparkly possessive nonbinary switch is definitely it for me. Best LI for the MC (who you ship with MC, if it’s not a total self-insert): Definitely Asra. Having played all the routes, I can’t help but see Asra and the apprentice’s love story as the greatest one of all. I know that’s kinda controversial and that some fans despise Asra for his obsession and manipulation and the way he sacrifices everything for the apprentice... but I’m about it. Most attractive LI: Sexiest? Julian (hands down). Most ~attractive?~ Portia. The Devoraks are beautiful I just... Best route for plot: Hmm. Asra’s route feels like the ~True Plot~ to me, but again, I’ve unlocked the most paid choices in that one, so maybe that’s why. Muriel’s plot is probably the most dramatic and victorious imo. Nadia’s plot made me feel ~warm.~ Idk if I really answered that question. I genuinely love the plot of every route except Portia’s (more on that later). LI you wish was your friend: Everyone but Lucio ahaha. If I had to pick ONE friend it’d definitely be Portia. I think we’d really vibe. Favorite non-LI character: Obviously Mazelinka. I mean. She’s a straight-up badass Jewish grandmother. As a Jewish otome player that’s like...not something I see every day? LI/route you didn’t enjoy: Portia. But ok. Hear me out. I ADORE Portia. I was so so looking forward to her route, and I expected it to be one of my favorites. I really lusted after her while playing the other routes tbh. And her route just fell flat to me. No shade to the writers, but I thought her route (so far) didn’t make a lot of sense, seriously lacked romance and sexual tension, and was generally all over the place. I was disappointed! I had just high hopes. LI who surprised you (you thought you wouldn’t like them but you did or vice versa): Again, Portia. I wanted to like her route so much more. Also, on the flip side, Lucio. I dreaded his route and ended up really enjoying it (still not attracted to HIM tho). LIs you ship with each other: Julian and Asra OBVIOUSLY. The subject of all my fantasies. And, of course, Portia and Nadia, who I truly believe are endgame. Best romantic moment: Oh oh ahh. Asra’s paid scene where you dance in the palace ballroom and he tells you about your past. And how he always loved you. Oh man. Saddest/most heartbreaking moment: So many but Asra sobbing at the Lazereth as he tells you how you died has gotta be #1 for me Sexiest moment: The Julian paid scene in the Hanged Man’s realm where he gets all tied up in the vines ohhhhh. It’s all about a tall imposing submissive redhead for me man Favorite ending (can be a good OR a bad end!): Wellllll obviously only 1/2 of the routes are actually done at this point so. Gonna have to go with Asra’s sweet sweet good end, waking up after sleeping under the stars on your travels with him~ Least favorite ending (can also be a good OR a bad end): Well hmm. Nadia’s bad end is ~hot~. Julian’s bad end is just Howl’s Moving Castle. I guess I have to go with Asra’s bad end cause it stresses me the fuck out. A scene/moment you want to see (ex. something you didn’t get to see fleshed-out but wish you could): MORE ROMANCE WITH PORTIA. I haven’t played a lot of her paid scenes cause her route disappointed me so much SOMEONE TELL ME IF THEY’RE GOOD AND IF THEY MAKE IT BETTER. T_T