Hi from fishbowl this isn’t a red flag but I just thought of another ick I get from otome games/vn’s that I wanted to share and ramble about!!
When the male love interests all have the same stupid washboard abs, SPECIFICALLY AND ESPECIALLY when it makes no sense for the character to be built like that. Like, I know a lot of people find abs hot, but I always lowkey hate it when I see it. Unless it makes total sense for the character to be built with a six pack I’m just like immediately no </3
Idk what it is but there’s something about abs that just… doesn’t attract me, in fact it kinda deters me lmao. It is kinda funny though since there will be times where there’s a scene where the guy’s shirtless or something with his abs all out in the open and it’s obvious that the game is trying to get you to be like “Ooh la la~” meanwhile I’m sitting there like “Oh… Mmkay……” (I have a specific game in mind when I’m saying this cause there was a game that I played a while back that I remember did this all the goddamn time and it would immediately take me out of my immersion so it’s like personal beef at this point lol)
Sorry this doesn’t really align with your question at all I just spontaneously thought of the ick and wanted to share-
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Hello again fishy !
I think what I dislike about this trope is how shallow it is.
Usually giving M Li abs when they shouldn't have is a result of unnecessary fanservice that sometimes goes directly against characterization and for me ruins the narrative experience. Also usualy since they want to have abs but not too many muscles most of the LI with abs looks like they are behond deshydrated.
I think the only game where shirtless fanservice abs worked for me was Roadkill which btw is funny because they did it right for one of the Li and totally ruined their good writing by giving them second M li also abs...
But why does Howie's fanservice work on me ? Because it make sense.
The game gives you a reason as to why he has abs: He did sports with the only goal to have a musculature that would make people stop picking on him for being a theater kid.
the game's use of fanservice is a part of the story: Roadkill is a big love letter to horror movies and the entire premise is that your life turns into a horror movie that is cliché. The fact this guy undress in the middle of a snowy road to give you his shirt ( is not only cute- ) but also understandable because HE'S THE CHARICATURE OF A HIMBO !
That a good way to impliment fanservice in my opinion. I know it's not a must, not all game needs to have perfect writing but it would be nice if it became a standard that fanservice (both for men and women ) was written in a way that makes sense to the story and dosen't feel like a pity grab of attention for horniness.
Also as an ace folk having a game that doesn't force you into fanservice is always a nice touch. LET ME CHOOSE IF I WANT TO SEE BOOBS OR NOT !
Anyway live, life, laugh, and play roadkill I swear it's a funny game.
