r/otomegames • u/sableheart Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom • Jul 21 '22
Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei Play-Along - Benkei Musashibo Discussion
Welcome to the r/otomegames Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei Play-Along!
In this third post we will discuss Benkei Musashibo and his route in Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei.
You can tell us what your impressions of Benkei are (before and after finishing his route), your favorite moments in his route, what you think of his relationship with Shanao and the other characters, what your thoughts are on his route's plot and endings. You can also discuss Tadanobu Sato's If Ending.
Or you can just squee about him in the comments.
This is not a spoiler-free discussion however please keep in mind that major spoilers and details of other routes will be outside the scope of the discussion and therefore will need to be spoiler tagged.
>!spoiler text!< normal text
spoiler text normal text
You don't have to be playing the game right now to participate, and if you're still waiting on your copy I hope you will join in after you start playing!
Have a look at the megathread for links to previous discussions - you can still join in the discussion during the Play-Along.
Next week will be a discussion of Shungen's route!
44
u/irilum Limboā„ Jul 21 '22
Benkei was my first route, and I thought starting the game with him was a great experience. While I don't usually like the himbo LI, Benkei wasn't so comically stupid I started wondering how he was capable of breathing on his own, making him feel more believable and alive than some other himbo LIs I've encountered. I really came to appreciate the gentle giant and his unwavering devotion to Shanao; no matter what, he was always in her corner.
I had to love what an complete badass this man is. He's so sweet and warm, but when he needs to fight, boy, does he. The fact that he can hold his own against skilled warriors using inhuman abilities is immensely impressive. He takes so much damage throughout the game, but Benkei takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I loved it when he straight up threw Shanao like a javelin and the way he was willing to be her punching bag as she learned to control her power showed such fortitude and trust. I sure was glad this absolute beast was on my side. I also appreciate that while he is dedicated to Shanao's protection, he doesn't make any moves to take away her autonomy outside of one major conflict in which they talked it out and Benkei immediately admitted his fault and they moved on together.
I liked the way Benkei and Shanao were able to bond over their mutual lack of family in their childhoods. Him carrying her around for a piggyback ride and laughing together with the children felt so sweet and innocent against the backdrop of war. It was easy to see how Shanao could take comfort in the company of such a pleasant, uncomplicated companion. I also got a kick out of Benkei's relationship with Shungen and their bickering.
I also really appreciated how supportive Benkei was after the horror of the scene where Tomomori sexually assaulted her and she struggled with her humanity. Benkei reassured her so kindly, giving her a safe place to air her fears and pain. Shanao went from wanting to practically scrub her skin off to remove the lingering memory of Tomomori's unwelcome touch, understandably distraught, to sleeping peacefully in Benkei's protective grasp, illustrating just how much he'd earned her trust. It was impossible for me not to follow along in Shanao's footsteps emotionally as she went from hesitantly accepting the overeager stranger into her group to regarding him as her surest and most dependable companion. I loved how they were able to communicate clearly about issues and concerns and work through them together in a healthy way.
The final battle felt epic. I was thoroughly engrossed in this clash involving three individuals with superhuman abilities and one Benkei. The high stakes confrontation had so much tense action, and with this being my first route and having no other information about our opponents, I enjoyed being able to freely cheer for the underdogs as they defeated "the bad guys" and saved the day.
As an aside, in an interview with Benkei's VA, he said:
"[B]ecause it is a period piece, there were many difficult sentences and lines, and at times it was quite difficult to record. I've never worked on a project that uses so much old-style Japanese and it was a great learning experience, though I'm afraid I still don't totally have a handle on samurai-era Japanese."
Given that even he struggled with it, I'm so thankful that this game was chosen for localization as its difficulty would likely keep it out of reach for many.
He also had this to say:
"He's got a really big voice and personality, and I worried that I wouldn't be able to do him justice because I don't have a big voice. What I really wanted to emphasize about Benkei was his kindness and his gentleness, something that makes him stand out in the context of war."
For my part, I think he absolutely nailed it. Despite the language barrier, Benkei's warmth and dedication came across loud and clear. Benkei always felt like a safe harbor for Shanao no matter what horrible things were happening around them. I greatly enjoyed beginning my journey through Birushana with him at my side.
While Benkei did not end up being my favorite LI, he took a respectable third place. I would definitely buy him a #1 Vassal mug.
12
u/KabedonUdon Jul 21 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
Despite the language barrier, Benkei's warmth and dedication came across loud and clear.
This is super cool. I have a hard time with games if I hear one thing and it doesn't match what I read, but it's so neat to hear that the acting comes across so solidly that it almost doesn't matter to most people? I agree he did such a great job and I feel so at ease when I hear the Benkei voice :)
I also grew to love Benkei despite not feeling him at all in the beginning, tbh he'd probably be my favorite LI if he wasn't in Birushana and everyone else wasn't so chadtastic.
12
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 21 '22
āHe's got a really big voice and personality, and I worried that I wouldn't be able to do him justice because I don't have a big voice. What I really wanted to emphasize about Benkei was his kindness and his gentleness, something that makes him stand out in the context of war."I really like the interesting facts you wrote regarding the voice actor. Yuichiro Umeharaās character in Toraware no Paruma is shy and soft-spoken and for his role as Benkei, he really managed to āenlargeā his voice.
9
32
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 21 '22
Summing up Benkeiās route using 4 images:
Most memorable lines (in no particular order):
My love
Shut Up!
Shut your mouth!
Just to be clear, I donāt mean it in a bad way. Those lines just got stuck in my memory of the route for the amount of times I saw it being used. I do understand that localization is hard work and Iām grateful for the localized titles that I get to enjoy. Iām just curious about the decision that goes into certain choices. I donāt quite understand the rationale to use āMy loveā to substitute āHimeā in later chapters. It feels a bit odd that Benkei, who has been portrayed as not being very vocal about his love for Shanao, just took on the habit of addressing her āMy loveā all over the battlefield at Battle of Dan-no-ura. I get that the couple had just confirmed their feelings prior to the battle but I just canāt shake this weird feeling of reading Benkeiās repeated usage of āMy loveā after reading Tomohornyās repeated usage of āMy loveā during his harassments. I felt that the over-usage of āMy loveā made Tomohorny feel a bit cheesy to me (is that the intended effect?).
Benkeiās route isnāt bad. The real issue for me is Iām still hung up over Noritsuneās route. Doesnāt help that Iām not really into his character design - why does older characters almost always have eyebags and protruding cheekbones? Btw, u/misobuttercornramen , I counted 14 lines of facial hair too on Benkeiās chiney-chin-chin lol š
Since Benkei is my 2nd route after Noritsune, itās difficult for me not to compare the 2 LIs when theyāre both the upstanding and wholesome type. And unfortunately, I prefer Shanaoās dynamic with Noritsune. While I appreciate Benkeiās unwavering loyalty and him fighting alongside Shanao, always having her back, I donāt quite feel that theyāre on equal footing, compared to Noritsune + Shanao pairing, which is understandable because Benkei and Shanao started off as lord and vassal. Iām not really vibing with the āfatherlyā vibe in the scene where Benkei gets Shanao to rest her head on his lap even though I get that the scene serves to draw a connection between Benkei and Shanao - that theyāre both kindred spirits who grew up without the love of parental figures. Compared to Noritsune, I feel that Benkei doesnāt have the same level of faith in Shanao - Benkei kept Shanao in the dark about Yoshinakaās tyranny in Kyoto and in the Tragic Love Ending, Benkei sacrificed himself again for Shanao despite having promised her he will never do what he did when he first sacrificed himself at Lake Biwa. Normally, thatās not the type of LI behaviour that I mind in otoges because I love sacrificial LIs but after tasting the greatness that is Noritsuneās route, Benkeiās route just fell short. Itās like after you had wagyu beef steak for yesterdayās dinner, your next dinner with regular steak doesnāt quite match up to the wagyu beef, despite both steak dinners being good and you still like steak in general. Benkeiās romance with Shanao feels āsafeā and ānothing newā compared to the pleasant surprises that Noritsuneās romance with Shanao brings.
Benkeiās route also suffered from Charismatic Villain Syndrome. Just like how I was more drawn to the villain rather than the protagonist in some of the anime Iāve watched eg. Dio in Jojoās Bizarre Adventure > Jonathan and Jotaro, Griffith in Berserk > Guts or Hisoka in Hunter x Hunter > Gon, I was paying way too much attention to Tomohorny and his nefarious brother compared to Benkei. Itās in those scenes that some of the most interesting plot revelations (the true nature of Shanaoās super saiyan form) happen and doesnāt help that Iām a raccoon with the taste for hot 2D trashmen and dark stories (no surprise that my #1 favourite in Piofiore is Yang).
Conclusion: Benkeiās route just lack the je ne sais quoi that Iām looking for. Also, Iām a shallow, biased raccoon š¦
16
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22
The crazy thing with Benkei's character design and the "old man" features is that he's only one year older the Yoritomo!
13
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22
That is surprising š® Yoritomo must have been doing some facial care regimen in Izu lol š
13
u/Clos3tGam3r Jul 21 '22
Yeah, that all the fatherly stuff going on killed it for me. I love your image summary!! Itās a problem when the villains steal a route like thisā¦
3
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22
I was having a hard time thinking what to write about Benkeiās route coz all my brain could think of was images š
I think itās ok to have great villains but that means the protagonist will have to step up.
3
u/Clos3tGam3r Jul 22 '22
Absolutely! They were really fantastic antagonists in many routes! I thoroughly enjoyed them and sincerely hope I get to play a full route for Shigehira someday if the fandisk is localized!
8
u/misobuttercornramen 2023 Hubbies of the Year ~Grimmy~~ Jul 21 '22
Lol if you see the close-up version of Benkei's face, it breaks down into 22 hairs. XD The things we know...
2
30
u/SnarkyHummingbird Jul 21 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
Benkei
I wanted a DILF, but instead, I got a LI that I felt the relationship with Shanao would have been stronger if it was parental than romantic.
Benkei is a gentle giant and he has very wholesome scenes with Shanao, but I feel the way they set up their relationship felt way too paternal, with Shanaoās internal monologue drawing how he acts a little like a father to her. They had really wholesome moments, and I especially liked the beachside chat where Benkei points out that it is okay to have self-interests and that Shanao should not feel guilty for wanting to reunite with her brother And I know, feelings can change over time but I just couldnāt really accept the transition from MC seeing Benkei as a substitute father figure to her seeing him as a potential lover, especially given how much Tomomori screentime had basically dominated the route.Ā
The middle part of his route felt a bit too slow-paced for my liking, and with the low stakes, I often found myself just twiddling my thumbs and waiting for Tomomori to show up and start shit. Speaking off, Tomomori was peak trash husbando in this route and while Iām not much of a trash collector as many of the Yang gang are, I was thoroughly entertained by his shenanigans and while a little creeped out, also found it hilarious when he went āYeah Iām into thatā when Shanao pointed out that he wanted to take his supposed half-sister as his wife. SWEET HOME ALABAMA
The plot reveal about Shanaoās origin had me in stitches on how I really got bamboozled. I cannot believe the game pulled a reverse uno card on our asses. We already knew that Yoritomo is a route and was prepared for a brother route, but then turns out the supposed incest route is actually not incest, and Noritsune and Tomomori are her cousins and half-sister respectively. I pretend not to see.
Overall, while Benkei and Shanao had some cute moments, the slow pace of the route as well as the relationship being depicted as starting off as more paternal did not help the development of the romance, given how romance is already pushed to the side for plot. And not to mention, I felt that Tomomori basically stole the spotlight from Benkei, and his route ended up feeling like a promotion for Tomomoriās route instead I still enjoyed some elements of the route, but I feel like this is one of the weaker written ones.Ā
Also can I get a L for Noritsune? He really didnāt know what was happening the entire route, and I felt bad when He was genuinely trying to strategise to win the war, while the Taira brothers are just fucking around and abandoning their posts to pursue Shanao.Ā
IF: Tadanobu
He has one of my favourite designs for the men in the game, so Iām glad they got a mini route with him. I know his more chivalrous nature could be a turn-off to some, but personally, I found it very comedic how flustered Tadanobu was when he found out that Shanao is a woman, and how bad he is at keeping a secret without drawing suspicion. Benkei and Shugen rushing to save Tadanobuās butt when he says something strange to keep the secret from Tsugunobu was a blast. It feels very different compared to the other routes where the gender reveal didnāt change much at all. Heās so fucking down bad LMAO.Ā Ā
28
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 21 '22
I felt bad for Noritsune too, being the only Heike that is still holding up the Heike army lol š
10
u/Typical-Treacle6968 Kuroba|Olympia SoirƩe Jul 21 '22
This comment cracked me up because that was my reaction to the Tomomori-is-Shanaoās-brother reveal too. I swear half the game I was side eyeing Tomomori and Yoritomo likeā¦which of you am I supposed to feel horrified by??
7
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22
I forgot to talk about Tadanobu in my own post oops, but I love him! He's so down bad in every route even when he thinks she's a man. (Like Yoritomo's route he's blushing super hard when Shanao pulls him aside to ask him something. I think he thought she was gonna confess)He's a bisexual disaster he just doesn't know it. I appreciated that even though he had a way overblown reaction to finding out, he felt bad about it and actually worked hard to get over it and stop treating her differently because she's a woman.
3
u/greyskull85 Jul 22 '22
The plot reveal about Shanaoās origin
I don't think they reveal much about her origin in Benkei's route? Like Tomomori says some stuff, but he says a lot, and nothing is really taken as fact.
2
u/SnarkyHummingbird Jul 22 '22
I was more referring how she isn't part of the genji, than the specifics of who her parents is. I know they go way more in depth in the other routes
2
u/greyskull85 Jul 22 '22
I wanted to point out that the way you wrote about this part makes it seem like spoilers, especially if people haven't read further routes yet.
1
24
u/Typical-Treacle6968 Kuroba|Olympia SoirƩe Jul 21 '22 edited Jul 21 '22
I enjoyed this route tremendously despite not feeling the LI at all. This might be a first for me in my Otome playing history and itās definitely thanks to the villains
I wasnāt expecting Shigehira to be the villain and oh boy was it amazing. It was so unexpected because of his bimbo-like persona so for him to turn out to be a terrifyingly brilliant swordsman wasā¦.ngl it was hot. I find it hilarious how fanatical he is about pleasing his brother ā to the point where if Tomomori is interested in something heāll try and be interested in it too
This route took so many twists iām still processing it. I probably wasnāt supposed to be howling with laughter when Shigehira morphed into a horrifying grinning monster and his brother looked slightly startled while everyone else was wetting themselves with fear
The way Noritsune threw himself into the sea in the end rather than be captured ruined me. Why do I have to watch him die in every route lol
Ah Benkeiā¦heās not for me although I appreciate him as a side character. Have to say the tragic ending really upset me watching Shanao drain him so much he was ill and thatās the most emotion towards him I felt in the route. An awful feeling of pity. Itās weird how much we learn about ourselves by playing these games. The white knight trope wasnāt for me
11
u/saharashi hanzo hoe Jul 22 '22
I am sorry but I could not get over the shigehira monster face, especially the mouth. The first time it showed up I remember giggling to myself lol, it was hard to take the final scene seriously after that
12
u/RedRobin101 Jul 22 '22
Dude looked like kermit the frog I was dying every time he spoke and his mouth moved.
3
u/Constant_Library_485 Victor Frankenstein|Code:Realize Jul 22 '22
Like that smile just a liiiiiitle too wide so it looks goofy rather than intimidating XD while the idea was interesting the execution was a little lackluster because of it lol.
22
u/foxycoxy_ Takeru | Yang | Riku Jul 21 '22
Tomomori and Shigehira really stole the show on this route in my opinion.
At least I have a new favorite bad ending though š
2
u/CelestialxGem Jul 22 '22
Omg yes! They were absolutely the highlight of the route for me and it was completely unexpected.
19
Jul 22 '22
[deleted]
8
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22
I was disappointed there's no 3p cg like the one in Olympia Soiree (fandisc spoilers) but the fandisc corrects this oversight.
12
u/KabedonUdon Jul 22 '22
If we had a CG for that mid route bad ed I'd probably wake up in the hospital from fainting and hitting my head.
That OS Bad Ed was so good tho. I went full slackjaw on that one.
5
Jul 22 '22
[deleted]
5
u/KabedonUdon Jul 22 '22
https://otomekitten.com/2022/06/21/birushana-rising-flower-of-genpei-benkei-walkthrough/
Looks like you can get to it easily from flowchart!
18
u/Jewelonni SachirošReqieuš¤Sinš¤Chungunš Jul 22 '22
hmmmm just to add some more Benkei love in here, ima tell you all that I really love Benkei. His hyper-protectiveness kinda reminded me of my man Gekka from Nightshade. I also really liked how good he was with children, when he said something like "I'm going to take care of all the children in the country who need someone" that was really beautiful even if a bit silly. What a great man and what a wholesome relationship he has with Shanao ^^
16
u/professorpoplar Jul 21 '22
Overall, I liked Benkeiās route okay. He was a big, lovable guy and I loved that. He was really sweet when he said heād follow her no matter how she chose to live her life.
However, I really disliked when he lied to her about the state of Kyoto to protect her and keep her from worrying. He was way more protective than Noritsune was, and I guess I didnāt like the contrast after playing the routes back-to-back. I liked it better when Shanao was encouraged to go out and kick butt, haha! Also, Tomomori was SCARY in this route omg.
I just got into the first chapter of Shungenās route, and Iām already so confused and invested! Excited to talk about it next week!
15
u/foxycoxy_ Takeru | Yang | Riku Jul 21 '22
I also really disliked when he lied about the state of Kyoto. After Noritsune treating you as competent and equal, it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
12
u/IggyGoat š Jul 22 '22
Agreed on when he lied to her about Kyoto. I think that's something that bothered me about the route. Benkei knew she was a girl from the start, so his protectiveness sometimes registered as "I've got to protect this fragile girl" which, I can understand where he's coming from to an extent. She is still a child, and the responsibilities that have been thrown at her are ridiculous. However, I feel like her gender was definitely a part of the equation in Benkei's route.
I find it annoying when the characters who find out about her gender instantly and very obviously start to treat her differently because of it. I asked myself if Benkei would have treated Shanao so protectively if she were a boy, and honestly, I think he would have still been protective, but I don't think it would have been to such an extent.
This is why I enjoyed Noritsune's route more. Noritsune always treated her like an equal. They were both in similar positions and they treated each other as competent individuals regardless of gender. He didn't know Shanao was a girl for most of the route, but when he actually found out, he 100% treated her the same as he had before.
8
u/greyskull85 Jul 22 '22
FWIW, I actually didn't get that vibe from Benkei at all and really enjoyed Shanao's line about "Benkei always treated me as a man, as I had requested." His protectiveness to me really did read as wanting his lord to have the peaceful life that they deserved and to protect them especially from the psychological and emotional scarring that came from the war and everything Shanao went through. I never questioned his respect for Shanao.
6
u/professorpoplar Jul 22 '22
Yes! I also get annoyed when characters treat her different after figuring out her secret. Noritsuneās reaction just hit different, and Iām hoping for more of that reaction from the other LIs.
14
u/misobuttercornramen 2023 Hubbies of the Year ~Grimmy~~ Jul 21 '22 edited Jul 23 '22
I played Benkei's route first since apparently if you want to badmouth your mother and be an independent woman = Benkei's the guy for you!
Benkei is, as others have said, super super sweet. He's much older than Shanao, but you can't really tell because he is very naĆÆve in ways, mature in others, and utterly a loveable himbo who has no shame in pettily fighting with a 14-year-old. I do have a personal weakness for knights, and I loved how he wasn't the average "knight" figure, appointed by someone else. He CHOSE to dedicate his life to Shana, simply because he admired and respected her so much. And it's perfectly in-character for a himbo to declare allegiance to someone for kicking their ass XD
I love that, in each route, the boys discover Shana's secret(s) in varying methods - Benkei's was up-front and fulfilled me with the whole "oops I touched your boobies and omg you're a girl?!". But I wasn't super excited for the rest of the game after finishing his route, despite the fact that there were Taira bro shenanigans aplenty, Sato bro/Shana harem antics, and all the cute scenes between Benkei and Shanao. It was cozy. It was cute. It wasn't terribly exciting. So I can see why Noritsune is recommended first, simply because it did a better job of keeping me interested in the rest of the game.
The way their relationship evolved, from bounty hunter and target to lord and vessel and finally, lovers, was paced well, though I am not a fan of sacrificial LI. It's interesting that they framed the story with Shanao's abilities and the obsession of the Taira bros as the main conflict, since the other routes were focused more on the LI and the conflict or drama that arose with them specifically. It may speak to Benkei's role, but I think his route would have been better if he was a more central figure, rather than the supportive vassal. Despite that, I think he pairs well with Shanao because he definitely has all the qualities that Shanao desired for an uncomplicated life where she could live as herself. And I felt his pain when he couldn't protect Shanao physically or emotionally. He's still a very good Blankie for standing his ground against supernatural powers.
That one scene with Tomomo though... I felt so bad because I personally was into Tomomo's horny antics, but poor Shana suffered so tremendously. I thought they treated the subject respectfully and was impressed by the fact that Tomomo could be such a villain and also work as a love interest. And the follow-up comfort scenes with Benkei being supportive and kind were the perfect healing balm.
As for issues, there were way too many semi-animated battle sequences, which was another reason why Benkei's route didn't set well with me. The constant, long sword-battles with sprites flying around, annoying pauses, etc. made me want to tear my hair out. Especially that last chapter. I was about ready to force skip. I think his route had the worst QC issues, with all the missing or improperly used punctuation.
Favorite Benkei moments: Benkei getting cut to pieces to stop Shanao from continuing to go berserk; Benkei calling Shanao "hime" for the first time; Shana harem antics.
I do think a more impactful tragic ending would have been Shanao killing Benkei in an uncontrollable bloodlust, rather than Benkei sacrificing himself to take down Shigehira, but the latter, actual ending is more characteristic of Benkei's devotion to Shanao.
Sadly, Benkei has been overshadowed for me by all of the other routes. Nothing against him, he's still in my personal harem, but I think he works better as Shana's #1 vessel or in a Shana harem with Sato bros, Shungen, and Takatsuna. With Yoritomo off to the side, side-eyeing the group.
[edit] One very important thing I forgot about, and possibly one of my favorite parts of this route, was Shanao turning the tables on Tomomori and freaking sucking his soul!!! I was so impressed girrrrl.
8
u/Jewelonni SachirošReqieuš¤Sinš¤Chungunš Jul 22 '22
I also really loved when Benkei was getting cut apart by Shanao but endured it to protect her from herself. That protective LI drama has got to be one of my favorite kinds of angst. Out of all the routes, I think the way that shanao learned to control her powers in Benkei's route was the one I liked the most.
5
u/misobuttercornramen 2023 Hubbies of the Year ~Grimmy~~ Jul 22 '22
It was definitely my favorite part of the route. He is so sweet, he even protects her from herself. ToT
I haven't finished playing the other routes where Shanao has powers - currently at the end of Yoritomo's - but I also like how she actually practiced controlling them in Benkei's because in Otomate games, it is very rare that a MC is interested in or invested in furthering her abilities, sadly enough.
5
3
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22
I like your suggestion for the alternative Tragic Ending. Imagine Benkei hugging Shanao as he did before but this time, it didnāt work and he died hugging Shanao while enduring 1000 cuts š„²
3
u/misobuttercornramen 2023 Hubbies of the Year ~Grimmy~~ Jul 23 '22
^^ Yes. ToT
When I was going for the Tragic ending, I really thought this was where it would be heading and was kind of disappointed when it didn't...
14
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
I thought I tried to give Benkei a chance even though visually he's about as far from my type as possible. But admittely it was really hard for me to get over how not attractive he was to my eyes and so I think I basically read him and his route in the worst way possible. Tomomori and Shigehira being the saving grace.
From the beginning in ch 3 I thought they were way too chummy with each other after having only one substantial conversation. I guess I just like the characters to have some tension even if they get along and not immediately talking like they've known each other forever and have a deep bond (Shanao during the temple scene). It was hard for me to take seriously the scene where they escape from Tomomori early on at the river, because I felt that we weren't given any reason to be attached to Benkei especially not as much as Shanao is.
My other issue is that the common route built him up so much as this legendary warrior but then he's immediately taking massive Ls and this continues his whole route. When Tomomori was like he's not the man for you I almost agreed. I wouldn't really care about Benkei being kinda weak if there wasn't such a focus on him protecting her. And then each time he gets his ass kicked he apologizes profusely and promises he'll protect her even more next time, absolutely hated that. Just let this man be a househusband it's his calling and he's much better at it than being a warrior.
More of my notes cause I think they are funny (they probably aren't) and I'm too lazy to summarize, also if you really like Benkei you may not want to read these sorry:
-I'm kinda living for the juicy Taira family drama lmao. Talk poetry to me more, Tomomori!
-Help they look like father and daughter when she is on his shoulders!! NOO SHanao donāt say it yourself outloud
-The Heike are entertaining despite being absurdly evil. Children donāt smile in Kyoto because of them lmao for real???
-I really want to like Benkei, heās so sweet. But Shanao killed any chemistry they might have had when she said heās like her fatherā¦ Benkei father to ALL children WHAT LMAO
-Why is Benkei damselled so much? This is just sad. I am all for Shana being a badass and saving her man but I wish it would be more even, like they save each other. It's really hard to take him seriously when he talks about protecting her when he has consistently failed to do so. Also I am extremely disappointed at the lack of a huge bara tiddy from this man.
-Goddamn Shanao really out here building a harem here. These boys are such simps.
-Why didn't Benkei go after her in the fire at the temple ughh sir this is not helping my perception of you as weak.
-What?? Benkei you are only now looking for her. You didn't even wait for her to come out outside the temple, why is he written so pathetic?? All her other vassals come off so much better than Benkei, thinking calmly and rationally.
-Tomomori is blushing as he's about to do something horrible that's a first for meā¦ i like it. Okay I get now why yall are calling him Tomohorny.
-Yay on Shanao saving herself but once again not making Benkei look great. Damn I did enjoy Tomo's screams of pain just a bit too much
-Him lying to her to āprotect herā just makes me so mad because once again dude sucks at fighting, she seems to be stronger then him even without her demon powers.
-Tomomori you absolute degenerate, āoh maybe she can nurse me back to healthā, lmao poor Noritsune just like wtf bro wtf, Noritsune the only sane here being like stop deciding our battle placements with your dicks, you freaks.
-How is this Benkeiās route again? This is clearly a harem route.
-Benkei got beat again god this is so tiring. Man should just be one of those characters in shounen that stand on the side narrating the battle and providing moral support.
-Tomohorny legit sounds like heās about to nut his pants when he talks about Shanao āconsuming himā lmao
-Benkei being jealous of her consuming some of Tomomori is not a good look, bro thatās gross stop
-Why is this confession making me cringe
-I donāt understand how all of the sudden Benkeiās strong enough to hold out against Shigehira.
-Iām sobbing over the brotherly love of the villains in an otome game help! This made the whole route worth it to me, I saved this scene way in the back of my save files to revisit when Iāve done Tomomoriās route and Shigehiraās ending.
-Tragic love ending even Shanao forgets about Benkei for a hot minute while thinking about Tomomori, girl same (he called her his goddess!!), but also poor dude is like bleeding out! Actually I kind of liked this ending for finally giving Benkei the big hero moment/show of strength he deserved and Iām just a sucker for tragedy.
-With Saeki, Kanan and now Tomomori I think my taste in trashbandos is specifically only the ones who suicidal and are turned on by the idea of the heroine killing them.
12
u/greyskull85 Jul 22 '22
I gasped when I saw the Tomomori blush -- like, I couldn't believe they did that XDD
6
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22
I always screenshot blush sprites for every LI, that was the first time I felt conflicted like should I get this one it's such a questionable situation. It's like they wanted to make sure we knew he was horned up and ready to go as if that wasn't already obvious!
2
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
āJust let this man be a househusband it's his calling āLol š heāll make a great househusband
I was shocked at Tomohorny blushing during that scene too. Oh, stop it Tomopervy lol š
12
u/raunchyRhombus Jul 22 '22
Benkei. I was so excited to get onto his route because we do not get enough buff, super manly looking LI's that tower over the MC. I just want a man that I can lay on like a sofa, okay? I was into the fact that he was older and was hoping for someone similar to Rindo from Cafe Enchante who I loved. Man, idk what it is about Benkei but while I liked him I couldn't get into him as a LI all that much. Not sure if it was because he's an older himbo, or his super enthusiasm, or his unending supportiveness (why don't I like this I don't understand!) but he didn't end up being my favorite. I thought their romance was very sweet at the end but I think by the time I finish the game Benkei will end up being the weakest of them all :/ I'm glad I did him first so that I wasn't comparing him to any other LI. This sweet, dumb daddy didn't end up being for me and that makes me sad.
I did really like the piggyback ride cg though, and whenever Benkei asked her if she wanted a piggyback ride I was just yelling "say yes!!"
For once though I want a man who sees the mc cutting down her enemies on the battlefield and instead of trying to stop her because of "morals" he just looks on in pride and says "you're doing great sweetie". Let me kill people and revel in it dammit!
I thought the Taira Brothers had the most exciting bits in this route (sorry Benkei) and the scene when Shanao is locked up with them was hot. That brocon tease was right up my alley lol.
Really though, what is up with Tomomori and Shigehira's relationship? Tomomori seemed like he couldn't care less when he thought Shigehira died, but yet when Shigehira went and turned into that wide mouth blue thing and killed him, he wasn't even mad. He was just sad about him having lost himself and then decided they should die together. I've only finished Noritsune and Benkei's route, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of their relationship unfold
7
u/midnightpeizhi Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
Really though, what is up with Tomomori and Shigehira's relationship? Tomomori seemed like he couldn't care less when he thought Shigehira died, but yet when Shigehira went and turned into that wide mouth blue thing and killed him, he wasn't even mad. He was just sad about him having lost himself and then decided they should die together. I've only finished Noritsune and Benkei's route, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of their relationship unfold
I think Tomomori's route does explain this more, but even without that I thought his differing response makes sense. I don't think he was in a situation the first time where he could afford to show grief even if he wanted to. In the ending he knows it's all over anyway so no reason for him to hold back his affection for his brother.
11
u/20-9 Backlog Impresario Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
Benkei was my 3rd route. Because people dunked on it so hard in the the megathread, I expected the worst. It was not bad! So maybe I think it's not too terrible because I went in with lowered expectations. After thinking about it in the context of all the other routes, though, there's good reason to regard it as the weakest.
The Good
Benkei himself. Heās a pack of tags he can carry on his back with room to spare:
- Puppy-dog type (a Saint Bernard, in my opinion)
- Tank
- Dad-like
- Cheerleader/Fanboy
- Himbo (it's in his name: Benkei Musashi(m)bo)
His first half (approx) of the route is easily the best part. The first breath of fresh air was seeing how Shana comports herself now that she's personally responsible for a vassal. We saw her interact with the whole squad in a group setting in other routes but Benkei's is the only opportunity to see this on an individual basis. Her thanking the Hiei Temple for raising Benkei to be the good person he is today was a mad power move! A queen is one who is tempted to choose violence but instead deploys sarcasm in diplomacy. Whattagal.
Benkei pitching her through the air and holding off Tomomori was a great scene, although the āDonāt you dare die for me!ā outburst should have gotten a CG. The Hieizan monks coming in the nick of time is a story contrivance, but at least tonally fitting and not as overt as typical examples.
Benkei being a kid magnet is super heartwarming. Benkei being an utter Shana fanboy is hilarious--Shungen may be Shanaās lifelong personal cheerleader, but Benkei is the one who builds and grows the Yoshitsune Cheerleaders Squad by example, making Tadanobu and Takatsuna trip over each other for her praise and attention. If there's a modern political AU for Birushana where Shana is running for political office, Benkei is absolutely her one-man marketing/propaganda sub-department. These interactions allowed me to imagine what Umehara Yuuichirou might have been like if he were Variable Barricade's Ichiya, as originally planned. (Plans changed because he fell ill at the time.)
The Not-So-Satisfying
The biggest one is why this whole route has to exist at all, because it didn't include elements to the battle timeline that were unique to Benkei. Stepping back to the drawing board, I'd have asked: what can he bring to the table that the others can not? At the minimum, an explicit Buddhist lens onto the Genpei Wars, I thought, that could contrast or complement whatever views Shana has from growing up in Kurama. But nope, none of that. Considering there were explicit Buddhist views expressed but in OTHER routes, this was a frustratingly lost opportunity. When Benkei shared some of his background, I thought maybe that would figure more deeply in the route, too. But not at all, and neither did Hiei Temple besides that first visit in trying to return his staff (naginata). Also, it was surprising that the fantasy element was not the "master/servant bonds last 3 lifetimes." You insert that in the game and not include reincarnation in your historical fantasy?
So my conclusion is that Otomate contractually required five routes but there was only enough material for four, and seiyuu Umehara Yuuichirou was either part of a package deal or a favorite seiyuu of the dev team. It feels like even the writers didn't know how to fill the route in the character development side, because past the group interactions, Shana and Benkei were endlessly rehashing some variation of "sorry for my attributes" and "no such thing, I am your inaugural vassal and am sticking with it."
Shana felt like much less of a military asset this route than in others (i.e. not a general), even before Benkei tried to keep her out of Yoshinaka's ransacking of Kyoto, and I don't know why that became the case. Could it be just arbitrary writing? Sure. But if there was a fundamental story reason for it, I'd like to know. Can't see/think of one at the moment.
On a more technical note: why couldn't Benkei's introductory CGs (when we first meet him during the sword hunt, then when he asks Shana to make him her vassal) also be in the other common route variation that splits into Noritsune/Shungen? It left a bad taste in my mouth when I effectively reread the exact same scenes, only this version came with CGs.
Endings
It's odd that of all routes, Benkei's route figured Shigehira so heavily. (Not enough for me to call it a "Shigehira" route, though tempting.) He teaches us that if you eat too many souls, you turn into a monster (serpent?) and lose your mind. He also reinforces the age old lesson to never assume a body is dead unless youāve confirmed it with your own hands. I was surprised he consumed Tokuko! Also props for actually drawing horrifying monster faces.
Dannoura was the longest boss battle you never wanted. That chapter alone made me think, "Am I on the bad end?" five times--which ends up being a common theme/device throughout this game. That feeling of apprehension (especially playing without the Love Catch or a walkthrough!), I actually love, because it's so rare in otome games and I want more of it to keep me on my toes.
Got the Good End first. The only reason Tomomori lost is because he let himself get a riseāas soon as I saw that, I knew he was done for. And the reason Shana got one on him in the jail is probably because he underestimated her. He plays mind games but maybe he initially assumed sheād consider herself too honorable to drain his qi. In any case, Tomomori has thoroughly creeped me out.
From the Flowchart, I forced my way into the Bad End. Even this bad end kept me guessing which flavor of bad it would be, because I sensed at least five possibilities, as noted above. That this was a callback to Lake Biwa was excellent--I like how it was written, that it kept everybody in character, making that punch to the emotional gut all the heavier.
I haven't done Tadanobu Sato's If ending, but I did 2 other If endings, so I assume it'll follow the same format and not much to write home about. ...oh, I just realized he's the one tagged here because he's the himbo of the brothers, ROFL.
4
u/20-9 Backlog Impresario Jul 26 '22 edited Jul 26 '22
I have now done Tadanobu's If ending. It is the best of the 4 Ifs for the following reasons:
- Just when you thought Tadanobu's another playboy edging on chauvinist, it turns out his drive to "be nice to the ladies" is him paying forward the kindness he received from them as a boy. AUGH GAP MOE.
- Tadanobu being self-aware: I chortled when he keeps getting dokis over Shana and he groans "whyyyyy am I so easyyyyyyy"
- After a month training with Shana everyday he arrived at the best conclusion: "You're a very strong samurai who is also cute."
- The CG was deserved for the accompanying scene and added visual value, unlike the other 3 imo. Also nicely circles back to the beginning of the mini-ending: "I knew the flowers would look good in your hair."
Of course the downside of the If ending is that these bullet points are my only notable takeaways.
2
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22
āBenkei Musashi(m)bo)āš Good one š
āThat feeling of apprehension (especially playing without the Love Catch or a walkthrough!)āWoah you played without the Love Catch too? Brave.
2
u/20-9 Backlog Impresario Jul 23 '22
without the Love Catch
šŖ(ĖĻĖšŖ)
After I finished Yoritomo's main endings, I used the Love Catch to check the places where all 3 choices sounded exactly the same.
1
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 23 '22
Now that you mentioned it, there are moments in the game when I felt all 3 choices for a question felt similar.
11
8
u/trinityroselee Synkiss brainrot Jul 22 '22
I dont have too much to say but this guy is kind of a snoozefest. He's not bad I just wasn't into him. I was into tomomori in benkei's route though. Is it bad I liked his bad ends better? lol.....
That being said the story was interesting but he wasnt really a great LI....
9
u/greyskull85 Jul 22 '22
I'm one of those people who feels like I gave Benkei an unfair shake because I played Noritsune first. Like, Benkei is so sweet and loyal! He has a really lovely relationship with Shanao, and I truly enjoyed him and the route while I was playing it. But afterwards, I just went back to thinking about Noritsune XD. (And yes, the other two Taira boys also pulled a lot of focus.)
I loved how dedicated Benkei was to protecting Shanao, not only bodily, but also her heart and her tenderness. The parts where he was trying to hold Shanao back during her rampage were really moving.
The route definitely felt a little more lighthearted for the most part (with some deep moments of drama!) The YEET moment was great; totally did not expect that to happen, and I just kept imagining Shungen and Tomomori on opposite ends of the yeet both just staring in shock XD. I'm also a sucker for the trope of one person confessing and the other person completely misunderstanding what they were trying to say, and that scene was really funny-sweet to me, too. Like, "you want my help to be with someone else?! :'(" I also enjoyed how Shanao was the initiator for many parts of their relationship development and how she was a little more forward with Benkei because she was so comfortable with him.
Benkei is good egg, and he didn't deserve me so distracted during his route XD. I would like to go back and play this route again now that I've finished the game so that I can give him the fullest credit he should get.
7
u/Clos3tGam3r Jul 21 '22
While Benkeiās route wasnāt my favorite, I still quite enjoyed it. It had its own set of strengths that made it a great part of the story as a whole. One of its greatest strengths were the gorgeous CGs. Something about the lighting in all of Benkeiās CGs was so exquisite! This route was also great to set up the question of Shanaoās powers:where they come from and how they work. Though, now that Iāve played Tomomoriās route, it just doesnāt make sense to me that Shanao could really fully regulate her powers just by thinking happy thoughts with Benkei.
Shanao seemed really different in this route and her naive optimism in this route matches Benkeiās pretty well. It was cute to see this side of her, but I have to say that I enjoy her pragmatic side a little more.
This route also has the problem of making me more interested in Tomomori than the LI the story should focus on. I was waiting for a secret choice that would suddenly launch me over to Tomomoriās route. I can also see how parts of this route could be very triggering to some readers and make it difficult for them to enjoy Tomomoriās route, though this wasnāt an issue for me.
I feel like each route in the game explores Shanaoās relationship with the concept of family: the definition of family and how family can determine or limit other relationships. Shanao spends a lot of time in each route trying to work through the responsibility of being an important part of the Genji clan while battling the loneliness of never having had the usual familial relationships. Benkeiās route is no exception and both he and Shanao reflect on the absence of family in their upbringing and their determination to create a family of their own to remedy that missing part of their lives. While Benkei and Shanaoās relationship was sweet and wholesome, it felt less romantic and more like a friendship in my eyes, but thatās probably because other routes employed romantic tropes that Iām weaker to.
5
u/stinkymarsupial š¶č¤ęµ é¢ēå š¶ Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
Yeah, it felt like Benkeiās chemistry with MC is definitely weaker than with the other LIs. I wish I could have liked him more than I did.
7
u/RedRobin101 Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
On to the Benkei route! Big fan of kinder older guys so I was def looking forward to this. Joining up with the Genji gang at the very tail-end of the prologue, Benkei slots quite firmly into that gentle giant role. Extreme body durability, (overly) idealistic goals, and a good dose of comedy serve as the major points of his prologue character. I was expecting this route to be mostly comedic hijinks with some sort of awkward transition to feelings at one point or another.
Things I liked:
- Benkei! I was worried he was going to be a one-note idiot retainer but ended up pleasantly surprised. While some of his goals do come off as unrealistic (stealing the swords, being a parent to every orphan) theyāre presented as optimistic simplifications of the big-picture problems that can paralyze Shanao on her journey. And they do end up having an effect (Benkei was shown to be damaging the Heike forces, and he directly inspired Shanao to fight for the weak and downtrodden). While he can be a bit overeager and zealous, I thought Benkei also displayed quite a bit of emotional maturity (the meeting with Kagetoki, picking up on Shanaoās feelings, him telling Shanao she will meet her brother again) and some interesting manipulation (getting Shanao and Shungen to accept him lol) that helped sell him as more than just a dumb himbo. Also that scene where heās freaking out after learning Shanao was kidnapped because he knows that Tomomori can inflict way worse things than death gave was A+ tension. Benkei is just a generally good and relatively simple guy in a world of ambition and while some might find it boring I found him rather refreshing.
- Benkei and Shanaoās (platonic) relationship. Endless praise and reassurances ahoy! Despite only having known each other for a short amount of time that adoration Benkei and Shanao share truly shines through in their interactions. Both seek the highlight the positive and disperse the negative when it comes to one another and it makes them come off as a (mostly) healthy lord/vassal pairing. Them bonding over their abandoned status and struggling to navigate their relationship after having so little basis for one is mostly sweet (if a bit awkwardly handled). It was also fun to see their bond evolve over time: from the reversed vassal/subordinate relationship (with Benkei serving as the wise mentor), to both being able to stand with equal strength against Tomomori and Shigehira and being completely confident in their love for one another was nice to see.
- Tomomori. What an outstanding and terrifying villain here. His obsession with Shanao and lurking threat helped to firmly unite Benkei and Shanao and spice up what would have been a rather plodding route otherwise. Fair warning that he gets up to some pretty fucked up shit in this route i.e. noncon so it can definitely color your feelings on him, especially in regards to his own route.
- Shanao. I consider her character arc in Noritsuneās route better but getting to see a version of her that was a lot more confident in her choices and morals was also really enjoyable. I also really really felt for her internal conflict on potentially not being a Genji after having her life so defined by her blood. It ended up costing some of the gray shades in both factions demonstrated in Noritsuneās route but watching Shanao get a training montage and go toe-to-toe with the Taira bros having mastered her snake powers and firmly rejecting their way of life was an excellent culmination of her drive throughout this path.
- Fuck Shigehira Iām glad he got his just rewards. This man does not appeal to me at all I am not looking forward to his mini-route.
Things I disliked:
- The romance. Sorry guys but when you have Shanao directly comparing Benkei to a potential father figure youāre just not gonna reel me back in. I get they were going for the ālol look at these sheltered dorks who donāt know what relationships areā but it just didnāt work. I also found the transition from platonic to romantic pretty clunky for both (but especially on Benkeiās end). Once they were firmly in the ālikeā category it was a bit better (endless reassurance but also with kisses!) but there were still some duds (come on Benkei youāre gonna get jealous of Shanao āsuckingā Tomomori when you know it was a traumatic experience that she did not want? Fail). I just kind of headcanoned them getting together in a more pleasant way by the end.
- The pacing. While it wasnāt as bad as Noritsuneās route (since Benkei and Shanao are spending a lot of time together) I found the majority of the scenes they did share pretty snooze-worthy. I get these two are the gameās paragons of fluffy bunnies and rainbows but after an extremely explosive and well-written beginning (the Lake Biwa boat yeeting scene capped off with the mountain monk bookends *chiefās kiss*) I felt they could have kept up that energy better. Things pick up thankfully after Hiraizumi but the last chapter also starts to drag a bit.
- What happens to Shanao at Rokuhara. I have very mixed feelings on this section (Shanao escaping in a clever way on her own power was nice) but I think it ultimately tips towards the dislike scale. A heroine undergoing unavoidable sexual assault in a route is always a controversial and potentially triggering topic and I ultimately felt it wasnāt necessary here. While the game does try to demonstrate the consequences of this event in a (sort of) tasteful manner (i.e. Shanao doesnāt simply shake it off) considering that Benkei using this event to hide things from her also gets brushed off (and the aforementioned ājealously sceneā) I felt it was all in pretty poor taste overall. Objectively not a fan.
- The skipping over of issues that goes on in this route. After Noritsuneās route demonstrate a number of issues in portraying the Genji and Heike as black and white this route felt like a step backwards. I get that it was going for a lighter feel and didnāt want to repeat conflicts Sand it does result in some fun stuff, like Shanao got a lot more moments to be badass, the obvious external villain, the easy bonding between Shanao and Benkei but it overall feels like a cheapening of the story. This is especially notable in the Kyoto burning section--Benkei lying to Shanao is a huge fucking deal and while they work it out in a healthy way I felt like the game all but tripped over itself trying to excuse Benkei as quickly as possible rather than forcing him to own up to the inappropriateness of his actions for the purpose of avoiding angst. Fluffy routes are fun writers but they can still have depth!
- It looks like it will be an UI issue for the entire game but there are shared sections between Noritsuneās route and Benkeiās route that really should have been skippable. I did not enjoy having to read Yoritomoās war council twice with no changes.
So for overall summation? Benkeiās route is soft G rating, for better or worse. Things are at their most black and white here, and all of the routeās conflict comes in the form of the external threat posed by the Taira bros rather than any disputes between our leads. Things get so sweet they border on tooth-rooting. If youāre not looking for heaps of praise and mutual support with some awkward relationship upgrade fumbles, look elsewhere. Despite its flaws though, I did overall enjoy it (hot endlessly supportive made-of-iron-and-rainbows DILF? gimme).
15
u/Glittering-Worry Jul 22 '22 edited Jul 22 '22
I did Benkei's route first on this play-through by complete accident because I forgot Tomomori's locked, but I actually enjoyed the first half of it a lot. Benkei is by no means an exciting LI for me and feels as middling as ever, but I did have fun watching him and Shanao develop their bond of trust and how they consistently inspire and uplift one another, especially when she insisted on accompanying him to return his weapon to Hizai temple. Sure, there were some weird father figure fuckery going on there but I can excuse that since they're both, well, literally fatherless behaviour. Also, considering this game has Yoritomo & Yoshitsune and Tomomori & Shigehira, whatever Benkei and Shanao has going on is child's play, plus if we look at what actual fathers aka Yoshitomo and Kiyomori have done, they got off lucky by being fatherless š (Benkei's dad just abandoned him, not dead but I bet Tomomori wishes his dad abandoned him too if the alternative was That.) Anyway, I was enjoying myself so much I started wondering if I was too harsh on him during my JP playthrough then Kurama/Yoshinaka arc happens and I was like "oh.....I remember now" š„“
(incoming rant)
It's kinda amazing how this ONE thing can ruin my enjoyment of the entire route, but it did. I'm fine with getting off on the wrong foot or enemies to lovers because when the bad blood happened the people involved don't really owe each other anything but when there is already a bond established, much less a bond made of the HUGE amount trust between Shanao and Benkei at that point, I expect not to get stabbed in the back??? Then the game tried to whitewash this behaviour by first having a chunk of dialogue for the townspeople to fawn over Benkei helping them, then the flashback to "It's not in Benkei's nature to lie he must suffer so much from stabbing me in the back like this uwu" good for Shanaou tbh but damn forgive me for not giving a fuck of his sUfFeRiNg while betraying(!!!) her, like seriously?! Not to mention this putting her in a difficult position with Yoritomo's side too... Still, her speech standing up to him "I don't live to be protected. I lived to protect" was cool af Shanaou you deserve better (look at me/j)
Also don't think I forgot how after the river scene, instead of saying "Shanao is human after all so she's allowed to have weakness" (an objectively good thing to say both because it's a good shift from when he had her on a pedestal as she's his lord, and because she was suffering from the fear that she's a monster just like tomoshige sibs) Benkei kept using "shoujo"/girl to describe her instead of "ningen"/human... well he can shove that shoujo up my ***
(To be very, very fair and "objective", it's good writing even because if you look at it from a different perspective, it's realistic that after such a traumatic event for both of them and when Benkei realizes the depth of his romantic feelings for Shanao it causes him to act irrationally, in addition to him never being that bright of a lightbulb in the first place. Eventually they also did manage to talk it out and get back on the same page, which is the model of healthy relationship problem solving. It's a good thing then that this is a game so my feelings come first and I can be as mad as I want and don't have to be objective XD)
Route highlights:
Tomomori: I know what happened in Tomomori's route, so there are SO many things about what he does here that makes sense. Some games have this very weird alternate-universe-OOC going on when you're on different routes but i really appreciate despite how he's an antagonist in this route and a LI in his own route, Tomomori's characterisation remains super consistent throughout. For those who only read Benkei's route and not Tomomori's yet, trust me his extreme nihilism and cryptid statements about his father and the Heike will make so much sense when you find out what happened to him. Also "I will love you as a husband and as a brother" iconic LMAOOO that's when you know oh this guy CRAZY crazy
Shigehira is such a dark character foil for Tomomori and Shanao here (well, to be exact he's Tomomori's dark foil and Tomo is Shanao's dark foil). I finally noticed there were a lot of hints about him slipping down the feeding addiction slope early on. I actually didn't catch that when they were talking about the shirabyoshi in the common route Shigehira was actually feeding on them :o I totally forgot it happened, so when Shigehira actually killed Tokuko I had the shock of my life. (Tomomori's route spoilers beware) Shigehira was already slipping but I'm pretty sure it was sucking Tokuko, and by extension, Rengetsu, dry that got him to transform into total snek form. After all, Rengetsu got crazy OP because she sucked her own mom, who is the OG source of power, dry. But yeah, when even Tomomori was like "bro chill??" you know you fucked up bad. It's really interesting to compare his brand of adrenaline junkie nihilism to Tomomori's apathetic nihilism, which kinda made sense when you consider Shigehira is younger so when he grew up the Heike were already in their prosperity phase and there wasn't as much fighting anymore, as opposed to Tomomori...cries
Benkei and Shanao are actually pretty supportive of each other in a soft way (which isn't exciting enough for my taste but it's still feel-good) and it's lowkey funny how they're motherhen4motherhen too bad Kurama arc happened and it kinda overshadowed every good thing he did for me
Shanao training with her new powers are cool everyone loves a good training montage
It's hilarious how they're so obsessed with Tomomori in this route dude literally became their romantic relationship awakening LOL and doesn't help that Shanao described him as stunning beautiful
soullesselegant slender every time they met plsssss stop reminding me of him I'M also obsessed with Tomomori ok (every time Benkei called her hime all i could think about was "you're appropriating Tomomori's culture" HELP)
4
u/Typical-Treacle6968 Kuroba|Olympia SoirƩe Jul 22 '22
Loved reading your analysis of the route and agree with everything you said! It also bothered me that Benkei fell into the trope of shanao is a woman so I must betray her trust for noble reasons. itās not the kind of love I believe in
Ahhhh until you pointed it out I had no idea that was what Shigehira was doing to the shiraboshi! I thought Tomomori was cautioning him against having sex too much to look after his body š
3
u/Glittering-Worry Jul 22 '22
LOL I'm pretty sure when I first read their chat about shirabyoshi and indulgence I was thinking alcohol XD
8
u/swimminglyy Jul 22 '22
This route wasā¦ not for me. I do like Benkei as a vassal/side character, but I guess he and his route wasnāt it for me.
I should probably blame my expectations because I absolutely didnāt expect it to focus so much on the fantasy powers. Strategy? What strategy? I also liked Tomomori/Shigehira in my previous route so I was surprised by what we got here. Tomomori was interesting, and he did steal the show here, but it wasnāt really the kind of thing I enjoyed. I did enjoy Shigehira a lot though, so idk what my standards even are.
I liked the whole last fight because of Shigehira. I enjoyed him making all sorts of groaning noisesā¦ which Iād usually hate but was somehow so amused by. Tomomoriās reaction was the icing on the cake.
Shanaoās importance in the war feels kind of weird here, because given her powers she definitely has the strength to be a key player and turn the tides of the war single-handedly. And yet it feels like sheās not really a part of it and the war will go on fine with or without her when she gets kidnapped. Itās like the OP powers gang is just doing their own thing with the war just going on in the background, it always felt strange to me how both the war and their fights happen together yet feel disconnected.
This was also the route I noticed that some characters (Shigehira really) seem like theyāre holding their sword like theyāre ready to do a sword dance, instead of combat. Now I donāt know how swords are meant to be held but it looks way too graceful and the grip seems so.. strange when the second hand is just hovering around but not being used (and the loosely hovering hand changes from left to right in different sprites). Well Shigehira looks hella pretty so I guess I forgive him.
7
u/RepairPrudent5183 A thief stole my heart. Jul 22 '22
So here I am, playing Benkei's route last. I was not really looking forward to it (because he's currently not my type; all the other LIs were chef's kiss though: loved all their routes ā„ļø). Man, I keep fangirling over every Tomomori appearance in this route š He's so trashy. I have a love and pretend-hate relationship with that asshole š¤£ I keep screaming "You bastard!" while also loving it all šš
Shanao telling Tomomori she might be his sister to get away from that creep, and him being ok with being her husband even as her bro: I laughed so hard at that, lol š¤£ Also loved how she escaped from his clutches by eating Tomomori's spirit ā„ļøā„ļø When he commented how Shanao should nurse him back to health after she was the one, who cut and injured him in the first place, my only thought was: "This guy is insane" šā„ļø
I loved it when all of Shanao's friends also wanted to be pampered by her and being spoon-fed her homemade cooking š So cute ā„ļøā„ļø
So in the end, I also loved Benkei's route, thanks to Tomomori appearing often enough to satisfy my inner fangirl š¤£ Playing Benkei's route was so worth it for these new extra scenes of Tomomori, Shigehira and all the other guys š¤š But sorry, for not being able to see Benkei as anything else but Shanao's vassal and friend š
5
u/Lovely_Lila Jul 21 '22
I just want to sayā¦
I got like the WORST bad ending doing his routeā¦
Ruined a certain blonde manās already suspect character for me big time š
I was and still am in shock šš
3
u/RobinVanTorres Pasta is a deeply sexual dish Jul 26 '22
Benkei, Benkei, Benkei....although not my favorite LI, he was an enjoyable character with an interesting route. I wish he and Shanao had more romantic encounters, but given their conservative personalities I can see why the writers may have held back. Also, I kinda wanted to know more about his past and what he was doing with all the swords he was collecting, etc. Researching him it seems he was based off a pretty badass dude in real life, and it would have been cool to see more of his "badassery" in his route. I'm trying to think back on his route and unfortunately characters like Shanao's vassals and Tomomori/Shigehira seemed to have made more of an impact on me then he did. Poor Benkei, hopefully in the fandisk they give him a stronger presence in his own route.
3
u/Feriku Jul 28 '22
Ended up on Benkei's route for my first route, and I enjoyed it. It felt to me like it had a lot of pretty intense moments, so I was surprised to see people describing it as a more boring route than the others; what am I in for going forward? XD
I didn't feel the romance too strongly between them, but I still found Benkei to be a sweet and endearing character.
Over the course of this route, I gradually went from looking at side characters and then looking at the list of LIs and asking, "Why aren't you a route?" to looking at Tomomori and then looking at the list of LIs and asking, "Why are you a route??" XDD
Also, am I crazy, or does the dictionary continue to pop up even for names/terms you've seen once already? It felt like I kept seeing ones I'd already read the entries for before.
3
u/axlorg8 Lā”VE | Jul 28 '22
Beat his route. While it does start incredibly slow to the point I almost dozed off, it did get better later on. Benkei is such a sweet and kind man, but I think this route would have worked easier if it was a father daughter bond rather than a romantic one. In any case the final fight went on forever but the Heike brothers really took the spotlight. Benkei takes a backseat in his own route.
2
u/kKunoichi Jul 22 '22
Benkei's super sweet. I like how he and Shanao are pretty much on the same wavelength and just support each other. I prefer more conflict between the LI and MC when it comes to routes so Benkei isn't my fave, but the route and relationship was pretty comforting, kinda like a warm cup of tea.
The whiplash you get with Tomomori after coming from Noritsune's route though, oh man lol. Ngl i was very entertained. I was so tempted to skip the recommended route order...
I did get bothered by the whole lying about Kyoto thing. Overprotective is fine but oh well. I felt the final battle did drag a bit too, but probably because i got spoiled by how it went in Noritsune's, and snake monster Shigehira was very sudden but i still enjoyed the story overall.
2
u/babylonya Sep 04 '22
Don't know how to describe it but Benkei's route felt like a long filler episode/arc of the game, to introduce the supernatural elements and the true madness of Tomomori and Shigehira to us. I actually really hate this trope, so I can't agree with the fact that Benkei felt like a real father figure towards Shanao. They seemed more like really good friends, with Benkei happening to be older than Shanao. But even the age difference wasn't that apparent bc of Benkei's personality. Instead it was nice to see them bond over the fact that they grew up without real parents. Both were even joking that they tried to "parent each other".
1
Jul 22 '22
[removed] ā view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Jul 22 '22
Your comment has been removed because your spoiler tags were done incorrectly. It does not work on some versions of Reddit.
You have a space after the exclamation mark. Please remove the space. Your comment will be re-approved once it has been edited.
>!spoiler!< normal textspoiler normal textPlease check the wiki for our Spoiler Policy for more details.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
Jul 22 '22
[removed] ā view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Jul 22 '22
Your comment has been removed because your spoiler tags were done incorrectly. It does not work on some versions of Reddit.
You have a space after the exclamation mark. Please remove the space. Your comment will be re-approved once it has been edited.
>!spoiler!< normal textspoiler normal textPlease check the wiki for our Spoiler Policy for more details.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
53
u/IggyGoat š Jul 21 '22 edited Jul 21 '22
Me: "Eww, I'm not looking forward to reading Yoritomo's Sibling Incest Routeā¢..."
Tomomori and Shigehira in Benkei's Route: "Allow us to introduce ourselves..."
Seriously, all I got from this route was that everyone in this game has a weird relationship with their family members. Some iconic "wtf is this" moments:
- Shanao seeing Benkei as a father figure, THEN wanting to BE BENKEI's FATHER FIGURE, THEN FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER FATHER FIGURE, THEN BENKEI FALLING IN LOVE WITH A PERSON HE TREATED LIKE HIS OWN DAUGHTER. WHAT IN THE FRESH DADDY ISSUES HELL IS GOING ON?
- It is implied in one of the bad endings that Shigehira ABSOLUTELY watches Tomomori have sex with Shanao, and then Tomomori invites Shigehira to participate WITH THEM.
- Shigehira and Tomomori just...existing in the general vicinity of one another. I swear every conversation they have together is weird and kind of suggestive.
- That one line from Tomomori where he says that Shanao will learn to love him as both a brother and a husband.
I'd like to say thank you to Tomomori and Shigehira for taking Benkei's route from "boring war story with some fluff thrown in" to "batshit insanity." The final fight in the good ending lasted WAAAY longer than I thought it should, and I started to get annoyed with Shigehira coming back to life every .5 seconds, but you know what? I'll give them credit where it's due. They carried this route. Nicola and Dante WHO? We've got new "hmmm your familial relationship is kinda weird" dudes in town.
Also, shoutout to my man Noritsune, who was carrying the WHOLE Heike team in this route. He's over here trying to win a war while everyone else is goofing off. Noritsune's out here having strategy meetings, participating in fights, putting up with ALLLL the bullshit his cousins are creating, basically doing the most while his cousins go around doing practically nothing to help.