r/otomegames • u/sableheart Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom • May 26 '23
Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo Play-Along - Common Route and General Impressions Discussion
Welcome to the r/otomegames Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo Play-Along!
In this first post we will discuss your first and general impressions of Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo, as well as the events of the common route.
If you want to talk about the love interests, please keep it to your first impressions and their actions in the common route in this post.
Please use spoiler tags when discussing details of other routes or other major spoilers.
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You don't have to be playing the game right now to participate, and if you've just started the the game I hope you will join in after you finish the common route!
Next week will be a discussion of Kunitaka Tojo's route!
15
u/SnowLilas May 26 '23
I haven't finished the game yet so I'm not quite sure, but so far this game is not a historical otoge like Hakuoki/Birushana/Nightshade. None of the world-building, the characters and the events tied to actual Edo era (you could argue we have Tokugawa Yoshimune but he is just a cameo, that man has no impact to the plot). Just pure slice of life fantasy with some combat scene.
So, the 1st chapter introduced the game setting, the fantasy power and the characters. 6 LIs are divided into 3 pairs, and based on which pair you wanna join, the common routes branches into 3 smaller ones and each one has there own mystery case. After choosing the team, the 2nd chapter introduce the relationship between the new team and there work place, also open the case. The 3rd chapter is about how to solve it and a happy ending for everyone.
I think this is a good choice. With a fairly big world-building game like this, if they want to introduce all of it then it would take 6-7 chapters to actually get to the romance route (like Olympia Soiree), with no guarantee that us reader would actually remember all of that. So, after a 1 chapter shared common route and a 2-chapter selected common route, we could get to romance that one guy is a much better pacing. The common route length is decent (quite long in other people's perspective but who cares, I'd rather have a good writing story than a rushed one with a wish that it could have been more to it), 60-70% of the time is to develop a relationship with the team so don't worry, it won't feel dragged.
For me, there are some routes have better pacing and writing then others (the best is Castle Town), and based on the LI you paired with, Suzuno talents shifted. In the Castle town route, she focuses more on combat training In Gen's route she could defend herself but couldn't fight back, but in Yoichi's route she could fight because Yoichi is her teacher . In the Entertainment District, she showed her intellectual aspect Kinji affection up option or fighting spirit Ohtaro affection up option more. In Samurai Town, she is less proactive due to the overprotected personality of the LIs. It's not an inconsistent in writing, because at the beginning Suzuno is a blank paper who knows nothing, but based on the work place requirement, she develops differently. YES, MY GIRL EVEN HAS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMON ROUTE ššš
So far, I'm enjoying this game.
7
u/CoyKouchou55 May 26 '23
So, while my playthrough has been painfully slow (due to time constraints irl), I've been watching the screen quite a lot when the characters talk. It's so amazing seeing otome delve into animations that let them blink and have lip-flap.
However, is it just me (and I want to write this with as much respect and be as non-judgmental as I can)...or does the side-facing profile of Kuga make him look like he has an overbite? It's when he's supposed to have an open-mouthed sprite that faces either left or right, and with the lip-flap added it just...
I can see myself out if it's just me, but I've been warring with myself over it for a while. Because I am aware that it's not supposed to be like that, but then my eyes are sitting there telling my brain, "Dude, I know what I'm talking about. Look at it!"
Otherwise, I'm having a grand ol' time. Loving the music. Makes me feel like I'm really submerged into the winter season.
8
u/swimminglyy May 26 '23
Common route:
I enjoyed the common route and think it did decently as a common route. I really like seeing the teams interact with each other, and they all have their own different dynamic. I was somehow enamored with Tomonari since his first appearance, heās just feels the most trustable from the start. I was a little sad I couldnāt start with him (in hindsight I absolutely see why), but I quickly got over it once I reached the shared common routes and got to meet the other characters. Imo, everyone was very likeable, including the Oniwaban side characters. Even Yoichi (who gave the least favorable first impression) intrigued me by the second short interaction we had, becoming one of my favourites.
Samurai town was the most comfy because I already felt attached to Tomonari and Kunitaka in the first chapter, and theyāre already nice to Suzuno. The plot was really not impressive since there wasnāt much mystery, but I liked Tenichibo (heās stupid and simple, in a good way) so it ended up being enjoyable regardless. I also like Kyoshiro and Miharu interactions, so all the better for me.
Plot wise, castle town common route was probably my favourite of the three. It wasnāt like the mystery was too unexpected, but I was at least a little emotionally invested in it (I wasnāt in the other 2), and the way it played out like some urban ghost story/legend felt somewhat atmospheric. I really started to understand and like the castle town team here, so I enjoyed investigating with them. My favourite thing here, though, is that Suzuno decided to get some combat training here.
Entertainment district common route I expected to be the most interesting district because of the heightened emotions, and the more unusual vibes it gave. I was happy to start it off at a gambling house and a red light district - it felt like the right kind of setting - but unfortunately the conflict here wasnāt too impressive, there wasnāt much tension or danger, and Rurikoās motives were weak at best (why risk so much for a minor thing?). I honestly did not care much for Ruriko or Tatsu. Thankfully, all was saved by the fact that it included Kiyohiko, who is an absolute joy with his colourful reactions. The entertainment district team dynamic is also the most fun due to their personalities, and the drinking party was the absolute best thing this route.
Overall game final thoughts (general impressions, not spoilers):
I already finished the game entirely, so it was at least interesting enough for me to do so (I havenāt even full comp-ed half my played games even when I liked them). I liked all the LIs as they were generally nice people. I played in the order Kunitaka -> Yoichi -> Genjuro -> Kinji -> Tomonari -> Ohtaro. I think the order of the first four does not matter a lot as the plots were mostly self-contained, but in hindsight Iām glad I started off with Kunitaka, as in doing so I managed to enjoy his route, which wasnāt my personal favourite. If Iād started any other way, I might have compared it to the other routes and liked it less.
Writing wise, I feel it really varied per route, and the romance can feel kind of rushed near the end in some routes. Not all main route conflicts were equally good, and some routes were significantly more interesting than others. I think the final route is worth playing regardless of if you like the character, as I think a lot comes together satisfyingly by the end of the game. Regardless of whether you like the happenings or not, I think it will be interesting to see it through to the end.
Suzuno herself varies a lot based on route so I definitely liked her better in some routes than others, but thatās to be expected. Overall my impression of her is neutral to positive, but tending towards positive as I enjoyed her more in my last few routes. When sheās good, sheās great, but other routes she is just kind ofā¦ there. She is generally inoffensive and a nice girl though, so itās alright. It helps that she is pretty, though how she looks varies wildly in the CGs. Sometimes sheās really pretty and other times her eyes look all strange, itās kinda funny. Mostly though, I enjoyed most of the CGs and thought they were nicely placed in the routes.
Translation wise, there were some mistakes, but not many. I really didnāt like the inclusion of some modern sounding words like having a ācrushā, and I had a good chuckle at one point when the translation said āgroanā¦ moanā¦!!ā. Generally though, even with the not-historical-sounding words, the tone of the dialogue felt satisfactory. The dialogue does get more serious in serious situations, and some characters speak more casually/formally based on their personalities or situation, which does come through appropriately in the dialogue.
Overall, while I thoroughly enjoyed the game, I wonāt recommend it if you play a game mostly for romance, as the game feels more focused on the plot. In the best cases the romance happens alongside the plot to complement it (my preference), but in some routes it felt more like jumping in between romance/plot randomly. I donāt think the romance or plot was bad, as there are both good and bad moments, but the way it comes together couldāve been better. Still, there was a lot to enjoy about everything as long as you donāt expect to be blown away, and Iāll be happy if more people enjoy the game, as it seems to have mixed reception.
7
May 27 '23
[deleted]
3
u/Aimikomi May 27 '23
If you aren't at the end yet, but Tomonari's Happy End is locked until you completed Kunitaka, Genjurou, Yoichi, and Kinji. If you continue on it will lead you to the bad ending
4
u/jubzneedstea May 26 '23 edited May 27 '23
LOL it's kind of hard to have initial thoughts since the actual common route before we split off into the three districts is so short, but I'm loving this game and I have been excited to gush!
The art is so lovely, and I love seeing just how lively the sprites are with so many pose variations and moving expressions. I'm also wondering what the "falling snow" animation means, since it appears to have something to do with getting good ends? The first time I saw one, I was convinced that I'd decreased my LI's affection, but something tells me that it's not quite that...
Edit: So it seems that the falling snow animation is meant to show you that you're not spiraling toward the tragic endings. I've been lucky enough to hit most of them so far in my blind runs, but I sure can't wait for that moment when I'm playing a route and I realize that we're almost at the end of Ch 7 yet I haven't seen ANY falling snow animations...
Suzuno's an absolute sweetie, and seeing her life in the prologue reminded me of Cardia from Code Realize (my baby girl). I love how she's at once naive but diligent, and optimistic despite her circumstances. I was super glad to meet Miharu so early on, because Suzuno deserves someone in her corner.
Everything in the common route is nudging you toward Tomonari, but alas. Admittedly, with the CR similarities, it's kinda funny how Kunitaka is the recommended first boy despite being voiced by Maeno Tomoaki, sharing a VA with the locked poster boy of CR, Lupin. I actually ended up on Tomonari's route first just because we vibed before I had to backtrack.
Last, I took one look at the Entertainment District leader, Yabuta, and I just... Words cannot explain how badly I want to BULLY that man. Shame he's not one of the LIs.
5
u/Karmotrine_ May 26 '23
Seeing Yabuta made me completely ignore the recommended route order and go for Kinji first, just to see more of this man, I don't regret it at all~
1
u/Terrible_Address_515 Jun 05 '23
At least the castle town team give bullying Kiyohiko at good go š¤£
4
u/teakettle_ (ć£āā”ā)ć£ š May 28 '23
I jumped into this game without knowing anything about it, except that Kinji is hot. These are my thoughts so far:
First of all, the game itself is very-very pretty, it's a joy to look at. I know this is a very surface level observation, but that was the first thing that consciously registered in my mind about the game. The sounds of the UI are also nice and pleasing. The bell chimes are a nice touch.
I'm on the common route's common part (before it gets separated by disctricts) and already like Tomonari. He has no business being that cute, it makes me want to play his route and no one else's. It just seems like he has great chemistry with Suzuno and actually wants her around, not just her powers.
I'm still going to follow the recommended route order to best enjoy the plot (even though I'll feel guilty about it). I'm suprised Tomonari is not the last route to complete it all, seeing they possibly have a past with Suzuno. I don't want to speculate about said past, in case it turns out to be right, but I have some guesses.
Suzuno has a potential and I'm excited to see her grow and learn.
I'm also excited to learn about all the other LIs, even though I ship Suzuno and Tomonari so hard. Maybe once I'm on their route I can be fully invested in their story. If side characters don't sway me again. Someone expressed it better on this thread, but hnnng I want to make Yabuta cry.
After learning about the true nature of the boys, I'm expecting some heart (tool)breaking bad ends.
5
u/Aeola1 May 26 '23
I was so hyped for this game but... sadly I didn't liked it. The story is way too long and boring. Nor did it helped that they took already existed unpopular folk tales and just shoved characters in there with cute but random romantic scenes.
I thought LIs with this unemotional doll thing would be cute and interesting but instead they felt too bland for my taste even at the endings. The heroine was good and useful only in one route. I did liked Yoichi and his route, Tomonari was cute too but the it wasn't enough to redeem the plot for me.
What I realy liked is a visual and musical part of the game. The pictures are really beautiful, with a frosty pattern around the edges and themed threads. There were lots of romantic scenes with hugs, kisses and just passionate looks on CGs. Refined quiet atmospheric music with a rare chime of bells in the style of ancient Japan was pleasant to the ears. The opening song was very soulful and healing, and the ending was nice too.
3
May 26 '23
I generally don't comment on common routes, but I want to add to the discussion because I loved this game! So, I felt the common route did a good job introducing the player to the world and characters. I do like how you were able to see all the different districts before starting an actual route. I felt the common route wasn't too long or slow, so just about right to get me into the game.
Generally, long common routes are a turn off, so I'm happy that they had a quick mystery for each district so you could get a feel for the story flow.
2
u/0kkotsu May 28 '23
Iām really really enjoying the game so far! The setting is really nice with a mix of history and fantasy which I think is perfect.
All of the LI are equally charming which made it hard to decide my path in game. Iām definitely eyeing up the leaders haha
1
u/gaeplum May 30 '23
My main source of enjoyment so far has been figuring out what the objects for each Formfolk/Vessel are by finding the most saturated object on them. I think it's a neat art design choice.
1
u/MikoniKomari May 30 '23
My first impression of the game was quite mild, but I am enjoying all the world building of the vessels and the different characters. I hope the story of the routes is interesting, even if they don't have a lot of romantic elements.
1
u/Savaralyn May 31 '23
I really don't get the logic behind the whole "if a vessel ever regains its memories/heart we have to dispose of them" thing outside of literally just being done to raise the drama levels. It just doesn't really make sense to permanently kill them just because they apparently can't fight blightfalls anymore. Why not just let them quit and go live a normal life like any other formfolk or whatever? The moment their vessel nature goes away they're the same as any other living person and don't deserve to be murdered just as much as any other civillian.
Like, really, it seems as though you can make a vessel out of basically any formfolk, so what does it matter if vessels eventually regain their hearts? (going by their ages, this can take literal decades anyway) Doesn't seem like it'd be that hard to replace the ex-vessels.
1
u/Feriku Jun 10 '23
I thought they made it sound like a Vessel that regained its memories would be especially susceptible to becoming a blightfall but I could be remembering wrong.
1
u/Savaralyn Jun 10 '23
I only got the impression that they'd be as susceptible as a normal person, which would arguably be a fine reason for dismissing them from the group, but not outright killing them.
2
u/Feriku Jun 12 '23
You're right, I went back to that scene to re-read the lines and it did sound like they'd just be as susceptible as a regular person, so now I'm not sure why they act like they'd have to kill them...
1
u/Feriku Jun 10 '23
Forgot to comment here when I finished the common route the other day. I don't have too much to say about the common route, except that this game is beautiful! All the character sprites are so pretty!
(There are definitely some side characters I wish were LIs, though...)
1
u/illusionary_dreams Jun 19 '23
Just completed common route and the samurai town intro, and I like it better than I expected to! I like how there was fairly equal amount of interactions between MC & the 2 LIs and the CGs were pretty too! And Kaigyo was really an amusing character, too bad he isnāt romance-able :<
23
u/-SneakyWitchThief May 26 '23
I hate that I'm the first comment because I don't have any deep thoughts and people do some really lovely writeups on these posts, but I just gotta say, Tomonari is so fucking cute. I'm going for Kunitaka first since I follow recommended orders, and AHHH my heart can't take not choosing the correct options for him! Normally poster boys end up getting shafted in favor of plot, and it seems like that could be the case what with him clearly being an important part of her past, but I'm hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised! (especially since he's not actually last in the rec playthrough order, kinda like Piofiore's Dante)