I think I’m getting spoiled here with otome games. These last two games have been such surprisingly good times. I’m just so impressed by the level of the professional otome games. They’re silly and dumb, but that’s most of the enjoyment in these things. Just like Amnesia: Memories last week, Dandelion ~Wishes Brought to You~ is a really good time.
The story
In Dandelion you play as a college student named Heejung. She has a lot of stress and pressure in her life, her parents are divorced and her mom is downright emotionally abusive. Many of the problems that she has in the game stem from that, from anxiety over grades, to not even being able to enjoy going out to Karaoke with her friends because she thinks she should be studying.
Honestly, that’s one of the most realistic presentations of a college student in a game probably ever. One day Heejung wakes up and on the ground next to her bed is a basket filled with five cute animals, two cats and three rabbits. Like any rational human being she flips out and called the police who do nothing. So she’s stuck with five animals, at least until she can find homes for them and the game begins.
Throughout the game you have to manage your time, stress, and pressure to make sure you don’t crack under stress or pressure. All of the animals help you come out of the shell that you’ve gained due to your horrible mother and enjoy a somewhat regular life.
Of course that all changes when the animals reveal that they are not entirely animals. There is tension between the cats and the rabbits, even between some of the rabbits, as Jihae and Jieun are cool with each other but Jiwoo is standoffish and rude. Throughout the game you learn more about why the guys have been sent to Korea, about the “game” that they’re in, and also about the boy who you’re dating.
The animals
Ok so this is going to sound weird, like really weird… This game made me want to get a pet rabbit. “But Meghan,” you may be asking, “Why would a game where you date boys make you want to get a pet rabbit?” Okay you might not be asking that, you might just be reading this with a blank expression on your face, but I’m going to answer that question anyway. This game made me want to get a pet rabbit because they’re so cute and fluffy in this game.
Just look at that rabbit, try to tell me that you don’t want to cuddle with it. I think I prefer this game as Pet Simulator 2012 honestly because they animals are so cute. Yeah they’re pretty boys in their human forms, but I just want to pet them and cuddle with them as the animal forms.
I just had a brilliant idea. I’m going to start a new sub genre of visual novels. Instead of dating simulators, I’m going to make pet simulator visual novels. That way all of the lonely college students who miss their dogs like me can experience living with pets twenty four seven. That is a million dollar idea right there.
Small Gripes
So I have some small gripes this time around. This section will be nowhere near as long as it was when I was complaining my butt off about Seven Hotties All My Husbands because the complaints aren’t nearly as bad. It’s just this game could drag a bit. You have to do these things each day to bond with the boys and manage your stress and pressure. It’s not a bad system, but it feels like they added it in for padding.
Padding Isn't a problem, it makes sense for it to be put into otome games. The problem lies within the fact that there’s just too much of it. You’re not guaranteed to see the boy of your choosing each day so when you’re trying to raise your points with him it can get to be really frustrating.
Who I chose
I went with the silver rabbit, Jihae. I thought he had the cutest -- and fluffiest -- animal form out of all of the animals and her also is a handsome human, or should I say bunny man? He’s overall super gentlemanly and kind, though he really hid a sad past behind that.
The only problem with him is that he always calls you “My Lady” and all I could think about was how he needed a fedora. Well I thought that until it came true in one of his CG’s. He’s even tipping it in the CG!
Game update
Still writing the script! I should be done next week hopefully!
Coming up next
Next week I’ll be playing Mystic Destinies: Serendipity of Aeons. I have no clue what to expect from this game. I’ll be real with you right here, I just searched otome on Steam and clicked one of the first free ones that came up. Hopefully it’ll be decent, I’ve been getting spoiled here with pretty fun games.
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