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alias_sqbrAnother dating sim! This time, a teenage girl from Korea who collects dolls has them come to life! I kept being out off by the premise but people keep saying it's good. Also the next game the company put out is only for mobile, and I was enjoying it right until my phone refused to play it any more, so this is a sort of substitute.
(the other option involves a girl dating human versions of her pets, which I have also heard is good but whose premise is even more off-putting, so)
My reaction posts
Right off the bat the game asks me for the name of my first doll. I decide I might end up regretting "Flower" or "Minnie Mouse", so look up gender neutral Korean names and go for "Sang".
The heroine's default name is "Eri" so I'm sticking with that.
Eri lived with her granddad until he died a year ago. To feel less lonely in the big empty house she collects expensive realistic dolls from a company called "Crobidolls" and takes photos of them for her blog.
WAIT. CROBIDOLLS ARE A REAL COMPANY. ALL THESE DOLLS REALLY EXIST???? OMG
I.
Wow.
Congratulations, Cheritz, you win at the business of making and selling boyfriends.
Uh. Anyway.
She wishes the dolls good morning etc and while aware they're just dolls is very attached to them and imagines personalities for them all etc. She talks about which has the most sex appeal etc and I find myself wondering if the game is aimed at people who are into this stuff and don't find any of this odd. I mean I don't think it's BAD, I just don't relate, and am curious to know if there'll be any conflict between the arbitrary personalities she projects onto the dolls and the actual dudes.
Oh no she has a cute androgynous female bff, Shinbi. Why do you do this to me otome. Her femme-y bff Soi seems to be 100% Shallow Popular Girl who only cares about boys if they're hot/successful/conventional but we'll see if she gains some depth.
Oooh?
(That's Mr Yujin the creepy nurse, Soi, and Shinbi)
...it was only ketchup >:( But Mr Yujin is still giving off some intense Shuu from Hatoful Boyfriend vibes.
Later Eri sees Mr Yujin flirting with a skeleton he calls Beatrice. Eri wonders if other people would find her obsession with dolls just as weird and ponders that some hobbies should be kept to yourself. Apparently Eri does a lot of errands for Mr Yujin and he can't remember her name, but has not only names but complex backstories for all the skeletons and models in his lab.
Mr Yujin: You, student, carry that guy to the prep room
Eri, internally: Ah, that's Christopher, Beatrice's half brother who Mr Yujin despises.
Eri: Uh, Mr Yujin? Having a little trouble...here...
Mr Yujin, snuggling the skeleton: Oh Beatrice, how can you keep seducing me with those sexy shoulder blades?
Eri: ...I'll just close the door behind me :/
I think the game is quite aware that some people find talking to dolls weird and is leaning into it. Carry on, game :D
Eri: Ugh, here I am carrying something way too heavy for a girl and none of these boys are helping. Good thing I have strong arm muscles from carrying 2kg dolls around all the time! I guess it's because I'm so ordinary looking. Soi would be bossing boys around like a queen and Shinbi would have girls lining up to help.
...yep definitely shipping Soi/Shinbi.
Ok the contrast between how tired and lonely Eri is having to take care of a house by herself, and then how happy she is when she gets to play with her dolls, is pretty endearing. Awww and she doesn't feel able to tell her friends about her hobby because they'll think she's weird. SUDDENLY RELATING TO ERI AFTER ALL.
Eri is woken by loud noises at 5am. She wanders down to the kitchen to find human versions of the dolls bickering over food and worrying about waking up "Master".
My initial impressions, which don't match how she imagined them:
Tei: Self assured and calm Dadfriend
Yuri: Vain and flirtatious
Red: Loudly energetic and thinks he's Defender of the Earth like his doll character
Yeonho: Boyishly innocent
Lance: Cold and concerned with propriety
Clockwise from Eri at the bottom: Tei, Yuri, Red, Yeonho, Lance.
Yeonho: Ah, to finally hold the hands that have caressed me ^_^
Eri *touches his hair*: Wow this is...WAIT WHAT THE HELL??? HOW?? WHAT??? AAHH!!!
Tei: Calm down, you're making Yeonho cry.
Yeonho: I thought Master would be happy to finally meet us ;_;
This is so completely ridiculous *keeps playing and wonders how to get onto Yeonho's path*
Tei: Look, just calm down and eat the breakfast I made.
Eri, internally: Wow I haven't eaten a proper breakfast since grandpa died, I can't be bothered cooking just for myself. And I'm not used to eating breakfast with so many...OH GOD. I AM SURROUNDED BY BOYS AND I'M NOT WEARING A BRA.
Eri, honey, I know you're a teenage girl, but I feel you should have other priorities right now. I mean for a start, they have probably seen you naked.
Red: So yeah idk we just kind of woke up human and we don't know why!
Yuri: But one thing is certain *walks up to Eri and holds her chin* Human or not, our one and only, our owner, is you.
Eri: ...hot
Yuri: What?
Eri: Nothing!
The part of me horrified by the implications of dolls being sentient but automatically in love with the owners and unable to move is at war with the part of me going "yes give the lonely teenage girl pretty obedient boys". Give that this is a mainstream Korean dating sim I am expecting it to head to a maledom direction that will shut up both but we shall see!
The original dolls are still around but are empty shells now, while their souls have taken human form.
Tei: But be careful! If our doll bodies are damaged our human ones are too.
Yuri: We know because we tested it on Red :D
They're...discussing her taste in bras...(except Yeonho, who doesn't understand, and Lance, who coughs and suggests she not walk around the house in just her underwear any more)
Haha Lance's ears are blushing, I love kuuderes (see: Saito)
Aww Yeonho and Tei cleaned the house?? I hope that even when she gets into a relationship with one of them the others can stick around, they have a cute brotherly dynamic and Eri seems the sort to enjoy a full house of helpful cute dudes (who she refers to as The Boys, except when she's talking to Tei, when she calls them The Kids)
The Boys: We'll see you off to school!
Yuri: Eh, if it's not just me what's the point, I'm having a bath.
Eri: Aw! But keep it down, my upstairs neighbour is a family friend and my school's principal. If he realises you're here it would be Very Bad.
Principal: Hi Eri! You're up early!
Eri: HI MR PRINCIPAL D:
Principal: Who are those guys behind you?
Eri: Um...........
Eri: COUSINS.
Eri: THIS IS MY COUSIN YEONHO. FROM AFRICA. ISN'T THAT RIGHT YEONHO.
Yeongho: ...yes?
Principal: And the others?
Eri: My cousin's friend! And my cousin's friend's cousin! And...uh...my cousin's friend's cousin's friend!! All here to stay with me while they study!!!
Principal:...
Eri, internally: GOD IS PUNISHING ME FOR SKIPPING CLASS THAT ONE TIME
Principal: Aw, how nice! I'll give you all a lift to school!
Eri: WAIT. CRAP. I SHOULD JUST SAY THEY'RE FRIENDS. WHO STAYED OVER. PLATONICALLY.
Eri: Actually, uh...
Yuri, wearing only a towel: My honey, is your shampoo suitable for damaged hair?
Eri: TIME FOR SCHOOL EVERYONE THANKS FOR THE LIFT GRANDPA.
But! They need details for legal guardians, and putting "The Crobidoll Company" would not end well. Eri is at school worrying about it when the new hot music teacher arrives...IT'S YURI.
How...how did he get a license and references and a CAR??
And then the other four step out in pretty uniforms and we get THE OPENING CREDITS.
Is that a mysterious sad looking white haired boy???? Secret love interest maybe???
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Right now I am leaning towards Lance and Yeonho because I am entirely predictable. It helps that they're the two shortest :D
OK SO ANYWAY.
Eri rushes to the principals office and finds the five boys waiting for her.
Eri: WHAT THE HELL YOU G-
Principal: Now now Eri.
Eri: Urk. Um. HI MR PRINCIPAL SIR.
Principal: I am disappointed in you. Why did you lie to me? :(
Eri: OH NO. Well. Uh, you see...
Principal: You should have told me Mr Yuri here was their guardian, and they got scammed out of their original house!
Yuri, leaning on the wall in a suit, smiling at her over his sunglasses: ;)
Eri: RIGHT. YES. SORRY.
Principal: I'll admit, I would normally not approve of you living with strange boys, but it's fine with Yuri there. He'll be a good role model!
Yuri: ;D
(I didn't mention it at the time, but Yuri has tried to get into bed with Eri multiple times at this point)
Congratulations, game, you have managed to make me glad a relationship became teacher/student, just because it's so funny. Making Tei the Grownup One would have been the obvious choice but this is much better.
Flashback:
Yeonho: What are we going to do? Master looked so worried :(
Lance: We'll just have to leave, or we'll be a burden.
Red: But...
Yuri, in a suit and sunglasses: GET IN THE CAR LOSERS WE'RE GOING TO SCHOOL
Eri: What? But how did you become a teacher??
Yuri: That's a secret for grownups ;) I'll tell you if you-
Eri: You know what, never mind :P
Yeonho: Wasn't it when you gave something to that lady?
Eri: Bribery??
Yuri: >.>
Has he been selling himself on the street for cash.
So it turns out Yeonho and Lance will be in Eri's freshman class (So...15? 16?) and Red and Tei will be sophmores.
Oh man I just looked up highschool in South Korea to double check the ages and it's a nightmare. No wonder she barely has time for cleaning and cooking D: But yeah she's 15-17.
And then the prologue ends and the common route begins!
A little "Status" option pops up in the menu. All I see so far is some character profiles. Yuri is from the "adult" line, and having looked up ball jointed dolls trying to find reference pics I feel like the subtext here is that his doll has a penis? Haaaa. THIS GAME.
Anyway I might as well end here, but before I do will just say: the game itself is quite well made! The writing/translation and art is pretty good, the controls and UI are nice etc. Also there's a "diary" in the menu, I've checked it out once or twice but it's been kind of bland daily life stuff so far.
Overall I'm having fun!
(oops I accidentally deleted an edit I made talking about how Eri seems kind of oblivious to QUITE how much power she has over these guys)
Next: In which I am very bad at seducing dolls
(the other option involves a girl dating human versions of her pets, which I have also heard is good but whose premise is even more off-putting, so)
My reaction posts
Right off the bat the game asks me for the name of my first doll. I decide I might end up regretting "Flower" or "Minnie Mouse", so look up gender neutral Korean names and go for "Sang".
The heroine's default name is "Eri" so I'm sticking with that.
Eri lived with her granddad until he died a year ago. To feel less lonely in the big empty house she collects expensive realistic dolls from a company called "Crobidolls" and takes photos of them for her blog.
WAIT. CROBIDOLLS ARE A REAL COMPANY. ALL THESE DOLLS REALLY EXIST???? OMG
I.
Wow.
Congratulations, Cheritz, you win at the business of making and selling boyfriends.
Uh. Anyway.
She wishes the dolls good morning etc and while aware they're just dolls is very attached to them and imagines personalities for them all etc. She talks about which has the most sex appeal etc and I find myself wondering if the game is aimed at people who are into this stuff and don't find any of this odd. I mean I don't think it's BAD, I just don't relate, and am curious to know if there'll be any conflict between the arbitrary personalities she projects onto the dolls and the actual dudes.
Oh no she has a cute androgynous female bff, Shinbi. Why do you do this to me otome. Her femme-y bff Soi seems to be 100% Shallow Popular Girl who only cares about boys if they're hot/successful/conventional but we'll see if she gains some depth.
Oooh?
(That's Mr Yujin the creepy nurse, Soi, and Shinbi)
...it was only ketchup >:( But Mr Yujin is still giving off some intense Shuu from Hatoful Boyfriend vibes.
Later Eri sees Mr Yujin flirting with a skeleton he calls Beatrice. Eri wonders if other people would find her obsession with dolls just as weird and ponders that some hobbies should be kept to yourself. Apparently Eri does a lot of errands for Mr Yujin and he can't remember her name, but has not only names but complex backstories for all the skeletons and models in his lab.
Mr Yujin: You, student, carry that guy to the prep room
Eri, internally: Ah, that's Christopher, Beatrice's half brother who Mr Yujin despises.
Eri: Uh, Mr Yujin? Having a little trouble...here...
Mr Yujin, snuggling the skeleton: Oh Beatrice, how can you keep seducing me with those sexy shoulder blades?
Eri: ...I'll just close the door behind me :/
I think the game is quite aware that some people find talking to dolls weird and is leaning into it. Carry on, game :D
Eri: Ugh, here I am carrying something way too heavy for a girl and none of these boys are helping. Good thing I have strong arm muscles from carrying 2kg dolls around all the time! I guess it's because I'm so ordinary looking. Soi would be bossing boys around like a queen and Shinbi would have girls lining up to help.
...yep definitely shipping Soi/Shinbi.
Ok the contrast between how tired and lonely Eri is having to take care of a house by herself, and then how happy she is when she gets to play with her dolls, is pretty endearing. Awww and she doesn't feel able to tell her friends about her hobby because they'll think she's weird. SUDDENLY RELATING TO ERI AFTER ALL.
Eri is woken by loud noises at 5am. She wanders down to the kitchen to find human versions of the dolls bickering over food and worrying about waking up "Master".
My initial impressions, which don't match how she imagined them:
Tei: Self assured and calm Dadfriend
Yuri: Vain and flirtatious
Red: Loudly energetic and thinks he's Defender of the Earth like his doll character
Yeonho: Boyishly innocent
Lance: Cold and concerned with propriety
Clockwise from Eri at the bottom: Tei, Yuri, Red, Yeonho, Lance.
Yeonho: Ah, to finally hold the hands that have caressed me ^_^
Eri *touches his hair*: Wow this is...WAIT WHAT THE HELL??? HOW?? WHAT??? AAHH!!!
Tei: Calm down, you're making Yeonho cry.
Yeonho: I thought Master would be happy to finally meet us ;_;
This is so completely ridiculous *keeps playing and wonders how to get onto Yeonho's path*
Tei: Look, just calm down and eat the breakfast I made.
Eri, internally: Wow I haven't eaten a proper breakfast since grandpa died, I can't be bothered cooking just for myself. And I'm not used to eating breakfast with so many...OH GOD. I AM SURROUNDED BY BOYS AND I'M NOT WEARING A BRA.
Eri, honey, I know you're a teenage girl, but I feel you should have other priorities right now. I mean for a start, they have probably seen you naked.
Red: So yeah idk we just kind of woke up human and we don't know why!
Yuri: But one thing is certain *walks up to Eri and holds her chin* Human or not, our one and only, our owner, is you.
Eri: ...hot
Yuri: What?
Eri: Nothing!
The part of me horrified by the implications of dolls being sentient but automatically in love with the owners and unable to move is at war with the part of me going "yes give the lonely teenage girl pretty obedient boys". Give that this is a mainstream Korean dating sim I am expecting it to head to a maledom direction that will shut up both but we shall see!
The original dolls are still around but are empty shells now, while their souls have taken human form.
Tei: But be careful! If our doll bodies are damaged our human ones are too.
Yuri: We know because we tested it on Red :D
They're...discussing her taste in bras...(except Yeonho, who doesn't understand, and Lance, who coughs and suggests she not walk around the house in just her underwear any more)
Haha Lance's ears are blushing, I love kuuderes (see: Saito)
Aww Yeonho and Tei cleaned the house?? I hope that even when she gets into a relationship with one of them the others can stick around, they have a cute brotherly dynamic and Eri seems the sort to enjoy a full house of helpful cute dudes (who she refers to as The Boys, except when she's talking to Tei, when she calls them The Kids)
The Boys: We'll see you off to school!
Yuri: Eh, if it's not just me what's the point, I'm having a bath.
Eri: Aw! But keep it down, my upstairs neighbour is a family friend and my school's principal. If he realises you're here it would be Very Bad.
Principal: Hi Eri! You're up early!
Eri: HI MR PRINCIPAL D:
Principal: Who are those guys behind you?
Eri: Um...........
Eri: COUSINS.
Eri: THIS IS MY COUSIN YEONHO. FROM AFRICA. ISN'T THAT RIGHT YEONHO.
Yeongho: ...yes?
Principal: And the others?
Eri: My cousin's friend! And my cousin's friend's cousin! And...uh...my cousin's friend's cousin's friend!! All here to stay with me while they study!!!
Principal:...
Eri, internally: GOD IS PUNISHING ME FOR SKIPPING CLASS THAT ONE TIME
Principal: Aw, how nice! I'll give you all a lift to school!
Eri: WAIT. CRAP. I SHOULD JUST SAY THEY'RE FRIENDS. WHO STAYED OVER. PLATONICALLY.
Eri: Actually, uh...
Yuri, wearing only a towel: My honey, is your shampoo suitable for damaged hair?
Eri: TIME FOR SCHOOL EVERYONE THANKS FOR THE LIFT GRANDPA.
But! They need details for legal guardians, and putting "The Crobidoll Company" would not end well. Eri is at school worrying about it when the new hot music teacher arrives...IT'S YURI.
How...how did he get a license and references and a CAR??
And then the other four step out in pretty uniforms and we get THE OPENING CREDITS.
Is that a mysterious sad looking white haired boy???? Secret love interest maybe???
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Right now I am leaning towards Lance and Yeonho because I am entirely predictable. It helps that they're the two shortest :D
OK SO ANYWAY.
Eri rushes to the principals office and finds the five boys waiting for her.
Eri: WHAT THE HELL YOU G-
Principal: Now now Eri.
Eri: Urk. Um. HI MR PRINCIPAL SIR.
Principal: I am disappointed in you. Why did you lie to me? :(
Eri: OH NO. Well. Uh, you see...
Principal: You should have told me Mr Yuri here was their guardian, and they got scammed out of their original house!
Yuri, leaning on the wall in a suit, smiling at her over his sunglasses: ;)
Eri: RIGHT. YES. SORRY.
Principal: I'll admit, I would normally not approve of you living with strange boys, but it's fine with Yuri there. He'll be a good role model!
Yuri: ;D
(I didn't mention it at the time, but Yuri has tried to get into bed with Eri multiple times at this point)
Congratulations, game, you have managed to make me glad a relationship became teacher/student, just because it's so funny. Making Tei the Grownup One would have been the obvious choice but this is much better.
Flashback:
Yeonho: What are we going to do? Master looked so worried :(
Lance: We'll just have to leave, or we'll be a burden.
Red: But...
Yuri, in a suit and sunglasses: GET IN THE CAR LOSERS WE'RE GOING TO SCHOOL
Eri: What? But how did you become a teacher??
Yuri: That's a secret for grownups ;) I'll tell you if you-
Eri: You know what, never mind :P
Yeonho: Wasn't it when you gave something to that lady?
Eri: Bribery??
Yuri: >.>
Has he been selling himself on the street for cash.
So it turns out Yeonho and Lance will be in Eri's freshman class (So...15? 16?) and Red and Tei will be sophmores.
Oh man I just looked up highschool in South Korea to double check the ages and it's a nightmare. No wonder she barely has time for cleaning and cooking D: But yeah she's 15-17.
And then the prologue ends and the common route begins!
A little "Status" option pops up in the menu. All I see so far is some character profiles. Yuri is from the "adult" line, and having looked up ball jointed dolls trying to find reference pics I feel like the subtext here is that his doll has a penis? Haaaa. THIS GAME.
Anyway I might as well end here, but before I do will just say: the game itself is quite well made! The writing/translation and art is pretty good, the controls and UI are nice etc. Also there's a "diary" in the menu, I've checked it out once or twice but it's been kind of bland daily life stuff so far.
Overall I'm having fun!
(oops I accidentally deleted an edit I made talking about how Eri seems kind of oblivious to QUITE how much power she has over these guys)
Next: In which I am very bad at seducing dolls
no subject
Date: 2018-11-28 08:41 am (UTC)As a BJD collector who does in fact have a Crobidoll I am sorry to inform you ... they all have penises.
*hides*
no subject
Date: 2018-11-30 09:40 pm (UTC)Haaaaa. Ok, thank you, that is useful if somewhat disconcerting information.