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alias_sqbrReactions masterlist and character guide, also you can see all the characters on the website.
Ozmafia is a silly, fluffy Japanese dating sim about an amnesiac heroine waking up in a vaguely early 20th century Italian town run by fairytale themed mafiosa (it's best not to over-think the worldbuilding, because at least so far the game has zero interest in explaining ANY of it)
There's a few things I didn't like, but overall I really enjoyed the route I played. There's no clear line between the common route and love interest path, so this is the full playthrough for the good end for my first chosen love interest: the rules oriented, tsundere, glasses wearing Axel. Who was exactly my type :D
There's also a little of me failing to woo the tsundere catgirl warrior Pashet. This is a het only game but I had to try ;_; She does have a platonic route, apparently, so I'll be looking up a walkthrough for that next.
Content Notes: fatphobia, relatively mild romantic violence (for a Japanese dating sim), discussion of potential rapeyness of plotlines
So I have read the summary for this game then forgotten it again, as I recall it's like...the mafia but fairytale/Wizard of Oz? Which sounds very silly but I have a fair tolerance for silly.
I am not going to address the ethical issues inherent to a fluffy depiction of THE MAFIA, but, yeah. THAT'S A THING.
Just getting the game was an ordeal. I decided to buy it from the English distributor MangaGamer's site instead of through Steam, since it's cheaper that way and doesn't support Steam's monopoly etc etc, but it became very clear that our network and MangaGamer's network were Never Going To Be Friends. But their support staff were lovely and gave me a Steam key without charging me the price difference so no real harm done.
The vast majority of MangaGamer games are porn aimed at dudes but afaict this game is aimed at women and not porny at all. BUT WE SHALL SEE.
First line: "He's going to kill me". Nice :D
Then we get a summary of the Wizard of Oz, ending with "They had proven they could shape their future with their own desires. From black and white to a technicolour splendour."
Which answers the "Is this going to be based on the books or the movie?" question. Luckily I am not super familiar with the books anyway.
"The girl" wakes up, not knowing who or where she is (ooh, third person!). A silver haired man shows up and says she's his prey and that he's going to destroy her, so she runs through the unfamiliar streets of a town, and bumps into dudes called Kyrie and...Caramia, lol. "Ojosan" is translated as "Signorina" so I guess we're in Italy!
Silver haired dude shows up again, and is apparently Caesar from the Wolf Gang (I was like 90% of the way through the game before I realised this is a pun). They scare him off with a bunch of soldiers. When they ask the girl who she is, just trying to remember makes her pass out...
Opening Credits!
Lots of bullets and cute boys, two things I am very much a fan of. Some of these names are amazing. MANBOY.
The girl wakes on a couch, and a quietly sensible dark haired man in glasses (HELLO) goes to get the others. His name is Axel.
They know she's not a villager because she "doesn't have a mark"??
Kyrie explains that the village has various famiglia. They're from the Oz famiglia, with Don/leader Caramia.
Kyrie is number two, and when MC guesses that Axel is number three he is VERY RUDE ABOUT IT, maybe he won't be my fave after all. Though he DOES seem super into rules and order, which is my jam...
The girl is really cute, she has this determined expression that makes me want to pinch her cheeks. I vaguely recall that she's Dorothy (even though she...looks nothing like her)
Caramia asks what name she wants, but when I say I don't know he picks "Fuka", how very Italian lol. She's taken to meet the other famiglia.
Apparently Scarlett is a love interest? He's cute but seems kinda young. Then again I don't know how old Fuka is. Also wow I looked up the list of love interests and there's TEN?! Including Manboy lol
Kyrie is showing signs of being a slimy flirt and I am not into it. Caramia seems to be the Nice Confident Leader, which is not something I tend to be into but is inoffensive enough considering he's probably going to be fairly central.
wait what
(Noone ever explains why Melisus is THIRTY CENTIMETRES HIGH, or even really brings it up)
Oh no there's a hot grumpy looking cat lady. Her name is Pashet and she's from famiglia Boots. Not present is Heidi from famiglia Adelheid.
...oh no Heidi showed up and is very fat and very clearly voiced by a man D: *turns off Heidi's voice in the settings, glosses over further fatphobia in my reactions*
The voices are grouped by famiglia, which will be useful if I forget!
...I was not expecting Gretel to be so loudly mean, based on her sprite. Scarlet seems a lot more sensible and calm.
So since Fuka "doesn't have a famiglia crest" (DO THEY BRAND PEOPLE??) the Oz famiglia is claiming her until she chooses her own. Everyone in the town needs to belong to one.
Caramia: A famiglia is a family so you can't leave easily. Choose carefully.
Fuka: Aw, a family!
Me: Lol
Robin Hood is...a doctor??? In a sort of plague mask thing?? In a mafia AU?
SURE. FINE.
Despite his scary appearance he has a gentle, youthful voice. I hope he at least treats poor patients for free or something. (I don't know why this character in particular is bugging me so much. But I just...it's ROBIN HOOD and MAFIA and you made him a DOCTOR?)
Did Kyrie just refer to Caramia as a lion? INTERESTING. I'm guessing they all have extra of their gift: Caramia is the brave lion, Axel the clever scarecrow, and so I guess Kyrie is the hearty tin man.
Apparently Sunday is the only day it's safe to walk the streets because there's a truce between the famiglia called the Sunday Compromise.
I get to go on a date! My choices are Axel, Caramia, Kyrie, Scarlet, Robin Hood, and ...Pashet!!
SO OBVIOUSLY I AM PICKING THE GRUMPY CATGIRL
I know she's not romanceable but I'm going to live my best life as well as I am able.
Haa she says Fuka is odd to live in a house of men (because apparently there are NO other women in the Oz mansion. *side eyes their hiring practices*) Apparently "Miss Kitty"'s home is all women.
And then Fuka bumps into an earnest young man called Soh, who the voice groupings suggests is in Caesar's Wolf Gang.
In the centre of town is a mysterious tower reaching up into the clouds. Legend says that the king of the world lives at the top, and if you meet him he will grant your wish. But there's no doors, just named slots for each of the famiglia.
...I can't believe it took me this long to consider that this might all be a dream.
A red brick road leads from the tower back to Oz Mansion. And sure enough if I look at the voice groupings, Oz is red. And yellow is...Heidi/Adelheid. Huh.
Wait, Fuka has a voice setting? But she never talks?? In general not all of the dialogue is voiced, but enough is to give a feel for the characters, and the voice acting is pretty good.
Haa Scarlet showed up and he's like A FOOT SHORTER than Caramia and Axel. He's a bit cold, but Axel says Hansel and Gretel are the cruel ones, then tells Fuka she has nothing to worry about in Oz territory.
Caramia: So you're saying you'll take care of her? ;)
Axel: NGH. I'M GOING BACK TO WORK.
I'm not sure we're supposed to read Axel being stiff around Fuka and Caramia trying to draw him out as Caramia realising Axel has a thing for Fuka and trying to help, but I shall read it that way anyway.
BUT TIME FOR MORE PASHET
Fuka watches as the Boots famiglia's female soldiers do drills.
Pashet: Why are you here? Answer quickly!
Fuku: I just...wandered over...
Pashet: Hmm. I'll overlook your presence in deference to the foolish look on your face.
Pashet is clearly invested in her soldiers well being. Also Fuka seems to be growing on her :D
Compulsory date with Kyrie. Ok, his dubconny flirtation is kind of hot, fine. "I can't help but tease girls I like...and even ones I don't. This was just a taste, prepare yourself."
"This is Oscar Wilde Street. It's an unaffiliated area". WAIT IS THIS THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT. And I suddenly remember a friend warning me "don't mess with the people at the brothel, it's a weird bad end and kind of rapey". HMM.
And oh look it's Manboy! He describes himself as the concierge of "The Oscar Wilde Salon", but seems to disapprove of Kyrie bringing her, and looks embarrassed when Kyrie says it's "too early" to bring her inside but that she may become a customer later.
*bumps Kyrie up the "predicted rapeyness" scale a few notches*
Manboy himself seems nice enough, but I think I'll avoid him until I can get more details on avoiding that bad end.
Axel: I've come to take the houseguest home.
Kyrie: Excuse me, Ms Fuka, I have some work to attend to in the salon.
Axel: *muttering* Liar.
And he takes her along an EMERALD brick road? As in literal emeralds or just green? o.O
Gretel glares at Axel from behind Hansel and calls him "robot". OH. AXE-L. TIN MAN = ROBOT. *will be thinking of him as a robot from now on*
Gretel: Are you here for a fight D:<
Hansel: They'd have brought more people. It must be a date!
Axel: N-no
Gretel: AN AMBUSH THEN. BRING IT.
Scarlet: *tired sigh*
There is a tense scene as Axel secretly prompts Fuka to buy THE RIGHT BAG OF COOKIES from Hansel and Gretel's store.
...I'm not sure I'd have translated Hansel calling her "Fuka-chan" as "Fuka, baby" (afaict everyone else is going for -san, -kun, or nothing)
Fuka's dogged (and kinda dumb) optimistic friendliness in the face of all these assholes is endearing to me but I can see why some players find it off-putting. She doesn't have a lot of personality so far, but I don't mind Generic Otome Girl.
Hee Axel gets flustered when Fuka describes him as nice. And it turns out he wanted those cookies because...that's his favourite flavour.
OH NO CAESAR ATTACKS. Axel tries to shoot some of his minions but apparently has terrible aim (?!) and tells Fuka to run while he holds them off. She finds Kyrie and Caramia...and they say Axel will be fine, and anyway as long as Fuka's ok he can be sacrificed???
They send scouts, who say Axel is gone, probably taken to the Wolf Gang's forest hideout, or the slums, home to those who refuse the famiglia's rule and "a breeding ground for criminals".
*quietly hopes for an anti-establishment Soh path*
(I mean you'd think ROBIN HOOD would be that but it's not looking that way so far)
Aww. So Kyrie and Caramia cheerfully discuss dinner and tell Fuka that Axel is a famiglia problem she shouldn't worry about, but she's too distressed to eat, and doesn't like that they're so much colder to Axel than they are to her. It's not often you see an otome heroine think something like that, normally being everyone's first priority is presented an unquestioned good.
omg is she going to go on a one woman rescue mission?? That's suicidally dumb (she has ZERO combat skills) but very sweet.
Huh it just occurred to me that this game being in third person gives it a sort of fairytale vibe.
She is IMMEDIATELY caught and says she's come to offer herself up so Axel goes free? Ohhh honey that is not how hostage negotiations work. One of the thugs is QUITE GROSS but the one in charge tells him to stick to the whores in the slums unless he wants Caesar to kill him.
Meanwhile, back at Oz Mansion, Kyrie gets a report from a soldato and tells Caramia that everything is going according to plan??
Fuka is tied back to back with Axel. "I can't say your actions were remotely worthwhile but...I appreciate the sentiment" aw.
He says it's the rules that he serves the famiglia body and soul, and Kyrie and Caramia were right to abandon him ;_;
And then...
Caramia: Hello. I hear one of my subordinates and my dear guest are joining you by the fire. For both our sakes, why don't you just hand them over without a fuss? ^_^
When they refuse, ALL the other famiglia show up: the Sunday Compromise truce applies to everyone, and the punishment for breaking it is severe.
Wait, what, an unfamiliar woman called "Peter" briefly showed up in the protagonist slot??? I think she's with Heidi? ...ah ok I think anyone without a full sprite shows up there.
WAIT WHAT
(He's apparently the Anderson famiglia's intelligence operative?? THIS IS NEVER ADDRESSED)
When they're freed, Axel covers Fuka's face with his jacket so she won't see the dead bodies, and leads her to safety. But she can still hear and smell the death going on around her.
Oh no I think Axel is going to get punished for firing his gun on a Sunday. It was self defence!
Axel kneels calmly in front of Kyrie, who coldly draws his gun.
THEY IMPLIED HE GOT SHOT BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT
The next morning...
Fuku: MR AXEL YOU'RE NOT DEAD :D :D
Axel: S-STOP HUGGING ME
Kyrie just shot the ground, to express his annoyance at having to negotiate ways for the Oz famiglia to make up for Axel's transgression to all the other famiglias.
Caramia: Also no sweets for a week.
Axel: Is that part of my punishment for breaking the compromise?
Caramia: No, for making us worry ;)
haaa. Fluffy mafia it is then.
(I mean I'm not TOTALLY surprised, but I was semi-convinced the story was as dark as it was briefly pretending to be)
Awww she asks to help Axel with his cleaning punishment and he says that won't be necessary, then haltingly asks if it would be alright for them to drop formal language around each other. HE GETS ALL BLUSHY WHEN SHE CALLS HIM JUST "AXEL".
Kyrie: All this sugar is making me nauseous. It's not too late to just shoot him.
Fuka: How long were you guys there?!
Caramia: From "You're my sunshine, I love you"
Axel: I SAID NO SUCH THING
Am I somehow on the Axel path despite going on zero dates with him? I guess I did aim for pro-Axel dialogue options when it came up. MAYBE THERE'S A SECRET AXEL/FUKA/PASHET PATH AND I'M ON THAT.
...or not. As much as I love Pashet she's very clearly not connected to the main plot, and if I'm going to be on the Axel path I'd rather do it properly. Time to go back and actually date him!
First date:
Fuka encounters Axel sleeping on a couch and watches him for a moment then goes to cover him with his jacket in case he gets cold.
But he grabs her and pins her to the couch
o.O
*bumps Axel up the "predicted rapeyness" scale a few notches*
Then he says he doesn't like that Famiglia Oz is protecting her, and leaves. I forgot how mean he was at first haha.
Next date!
Axel: Ugh, I've been ordered to chaperone you when you leave the mansion.
Fuka: I'm sorry! Should we go back?
Axel: It's my duty. Forget I'm here and do what you want.
And now I'm back to where I was!
Kyrie buys a bag of sweets for everyone but Axel, who has one day left of his sugar ban, because Kyrie is an asshole. Fuka doesn't want to join in, but Axel says she should enjoy them on his behalf.
Kyrie: Miss Fuka, I have a business proposition: I'd like to borrow your body.
Axel: D:
Kyrie: For a beauty pageant!
Me: D:
Kyrie frames it as her paying them back for their care of her, so she says yes. Later Pashet expresses her disapproval of the whole concept, bless. And Scarlet makes sure Fuka's not being coerced.
AND THEN FUKA ASKS WHAT SCARLET'S WEARING. BECAUSE SHE THINKS HE'S A CUTE GIRL.
He is embarrassed and annoyed but takes it with pretty good grace.
Oooh I have the option to go on a date with Caesar! NO THANK YOU.
Fuka tells Axel that he's really handsome but would have better luck with women if he smiled more haa. (He says he has no interest in romance, like a liar)
The day of the pageant! Axel is endearingly flustered by Fuka's appearance, and says he'll defend her in case of violence: it's not Sunday and anything could happen. Caesar is about to attack but offends Heidi by being aggressively fatphobic and has to defend himself from Peter's knife. Fuka worries about Caesar, much to Axel's bemusement. "But I think he's a good person deep down" BASED ON WHAT.
And we finally find out that Soh is part of the Wolf Gang! Fuka doesn't want to believe it.
Fuka wins the pageant! BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER WOMEN GOT DISQUALIFIED FOR FIGHTING :D :D
...hahaha ok, except for famiglia Anderson's entrant, who is a DUCK.
Axel says he didn't vote because it wasn't part of his job? He ends up blushy and implies he's not used to being around girls but will get used to it.
PHYSICAL DAY! Fuka is told to wait in her room unless she wants to see all the dudes half naked. So she does and there is no fanservice at all? FINE THEN.
Manboy and Caesar have vanished from the date map, I guess you have to pursue them right away or their plots don't work or something.
Axel points a gun at her head then says he was just kidding? Then he secretively tells her he's doing target practice. She compliments his work ethic and at first he's dubious "because Kyrie often compliments him just to knock him down", but is happy when he realises she's sincere, aw.
Kyrie: Miss Fuka, I worry you have the wrong idea about me: do you consider me a cruel man without a heart?
Fuka: Um...only a little? I'm sure you're nice deep down.
Kyrie: Then you do have the wrong idea! I'm a cruel man devoid of kindness. I could dispose of you with no regrets. It seems like something you should know ^_^
A funeral procession passes by, everyone is dressed in black and tinkles with hidden bells. She notices a man dressed like Manboy, apparently that's the uniform of the estate that manages various public services, including funerals and the "salon", even for inhabitants of the slums.
This game is fun but I'm wondering if there's ever going to be an actual plot.
Axel takes Fuka to Doctor Hood to see if there's any way to get her memories back. There isn't, but Fuka is charmed that he tried, and that he actively invited her somewhere. Dr Hood quietly ships it.
I like that so far there's been zero jealousy in this game from anyone of any gender. And there's multiple female characters who are neither supportive bffs OR love rivals?? Or even villains? I mean they're all kinda silly and thinly drawn, but they EXIST.
Afaict Fuka never cooks or does any real work asides from watering plants (EDIT: She eventually does laundry sometimes). Meanwhile Caramia cooks regularly, and Fuka and Axel love it while Kyrie is mean.
Hansel and Gretel make a surprise attack on the mansion and are driven back! Axel is injured. Caramia talks about how Axel is a terrible shot who treats his guns "like an axe". Maybe he should use a sword?
Scarlet and Fuka disapprove of Kyrie reserving some of famiglia Grimm's reparation funds for himself. Kyrie distracts them by pointing out that Fuka is slightly taller than Scarlet, much to Scarlet's horror. He vows to grow taller than her one day.
*bumps Scarlet up the "predicted shota-ness" scale a few notches*
Axel returns from treatment, and is QUITE UPSET when he finds out Fuka knows he's a bad shot, though she just cheerfully encourages him to keep trying his best.
A day out with Caramia, Kyrie and Axel. I'm still getting choices between the three of them but almost none involving everyone else, which makes me wonder how fleshed out the other paths will be.
Axel is entranced by a cute cat and it's ADORABLE. He whispers for her to keep it a secret, so she does.
They encounter a fight: Hansel and Gretel vs Ande. Caramia says they should walk away, but Fuka sees a small girl in danger and rushes in to save her. Gretel grabs Fuka as a human shield and has to be stopped by an angry Scarlet.
Axel: Don't put yourself in danger D:
Kyrie: Ah, I love watching people suffer :D
Fuka: AXEL IS SUFFERING? IS HE SICK?
Kyrie: In a sense. And you're giving him the best medicine ;)
(She is. SO DUMB)
Later, Scarlet forces Gretel to visit and say "I'm sorry I used you as a meatshield when you wandered into the fray like an idiot."
Axel angsts about not being as good of a shot as Scarlet, so Fuka says "But I think you're amazing! You're so adept at missing, perhaps you're actually some kind of genius!"
Aw, Axel has a midnight sugar craving so Fuka bakes him cupcakes. He is honest about how terrible they are but appreciates the thought.
Soh comes to visit! He calls Caramia "Cara-cara" and Axel "Ax-Ax" (pronounced "Ack-ack"). But just calls Kyrie by his name haha. When Soh refers to "Cara-cara" as the most important person in famiglia Oz, Kyrie brings out a huge "chronicle of famiglia Oz's history" which would prove Kyrie's contribution to it's "very foundations"...if he was allowed to show them it.
Hw long has the famiglia existed, then? How old is the town? Do any of them even have parents...
Ha I get to choose who Fuka thinks is most important so of course choose Axel even though this is blatantly untrue.
Fuka: I guess you're just the most important to me ^_^
Axel: o.O
When Caramia arrives, Soh cheerfully passes on a threatening challenge from Caesar, saying they'll attack next week. Then he privately tells Fuka he's glad to see how happy she is and to try not to let Caesar catch her. He's clearly very loyal to Caesar, though, and says he doesn't like to go out too much because it leaves Caesar alone. GET BETTER FRIENDS, SOH.
Famiglia Oz is hosting a festival! Caramaia asks Fuka's opinion as a woman (THIS IS WHY YOU NEED MORE DIVERSE HIRING POLICIES, CARAMIA) Axel shyly suggests a chocolate river, and Fuka is enthusiastic, but Kyrie says no. Caramia says he'll buy them a chocolate fondue set, like an indulgent dad.
Caesar: I'll be coming to get you next week, prey!
Fuka: Haa...
Caesar, pouting: Fear me!
Fuka: I am a little afraid...
I quickly skimmed an Axel walkthrough without reading past where I'm up to, to get a sense of the length, and I seem to be approaching the end of the game. I guess there just...isn't a plot...
Axel wonders how Fuka can cheerfully interact with someone as awful as Kyrie and is unconvinced by her argument that he's nice deep down. Me either, Axel.
It's the festival! Caesar says if they accept his duel and he loses, he'll withdraw. So Axel accepts! That's sweet, but kinda dumb, Axel. I guess you and Fuka are made for each other.
(EDIT: And then the duel happens off screen or something? This game glosses over a lot of what little plot it has)
I have another "who to meet" choice but with Axel as the only option.
Caramia bugs Axel to stop using his gun as a bludgeon. Fuka asks if he could use a different weapon, and apparently Axel is way better with an axe but Kyrie forbids it? LET THE TIN MAN USE AN AXE.
There's a big town-wide festival coming up called "The Meteor Shower Gathering", where it's said a wish made on one of the many shooting stars will come true.
Axel: I can't protect you if you don't stay close to me, got it?
Fuka: Ok. But you should have fun too, we can have fun together!
Axel: Understood.
Fuka: You make it sound like I gave you an order!
Axel: I prefer thinking of it that way.
Me: *waggles eyebrows*
Fuka, not wanting to be burden: I wished you'd be released from having to protect me ^_^
Axel: Do you hate me that much?
Fuka: ...hate?!
Axel: Dealing with people is annoying, but you're different...you're warm, and just looking at you makes me happy. I think I have feelings for you. I feel glad that I've been entrusted with protecting you from the bottom of my heart. But maybe my feelings are just bothersome to you...
Fuka: They're not a bother at all. Because I love you ^_^
...ok I was expecting slightly more leadup on her end, but are super cute together. They tell Caramia and Kyrie, who tease Axel a little but are supportive.
*blink* Kyrie refers to "back when he was a scarecrow". WHAT IS THE WORLDBUILDING SITUATION HERE. Alas Fuka expresses zero curiosity.
Axel seems to be avoiding Fuka.
Fuka: If there's something about me you don't like I'll do my best to change it.
Axel: There's nothing about you I don't like. But...things I want to say and do crash over me like waves. What can I say to make you happy? What words will make you sad?
Fuka: I like that you're thinking of me, but you don't have to think so hard! I like you just the way you are.
Awwww.
Just as I'm wondering if they'll ever kiss they had the cutest scene where Axel shyly asks to hold her hand.
She visits his room and says it would look nicer with some stuffed animals, I get the feeling Axel would actually like that but he says people would think he was weird.
Caramia implies interest in Fuka, but tries to give helpful advice when Axel is avoiding her again. Unfortunately Axel sees her and Caramia in what looks like a compromising position. He pins Fuka against the wall in a mildly violent way, shouts a little, then runs away when Caramia confronts him.
Hmm. I mean on the plus side the game clearly sees this as bad, but...
Fuka spends the whole next day searching for Axel in vain. Caramia says that maybe he is the worst, just like Axel said...then declares his own love for Fuka, and says he would never worry her the way Axel does. BAD CARAMIA.
But then he offers to help her keep searching, and says he can keep his feelings separate.
They find Axel in a bar, surrounded by broken bottles and sadly slurring his love for Fuka. As Caramia carries Fuka back to the estate Caramia expresses his interest again and asks Fuka to give a clear answer.
My options are "..." and "I can't choose"??? WTF KIND OF ANSWERS ARE THOSE
I mean I'd be up for a threesome but I am QUITE SURE that is not an option.
I checked a walkthrough because seriously, and the answer is "..."
Caramia: You remind me of him, always silent. Which is fine in a subordinate, but then all those repressed feelings explode. It's not safe for you.
Axel wakes in his bed, with Fuka watching over him.
Axel: I was going to run away...when I'm with you my senses become weird and I can't control my strength. I'll only end up hurting you. I'm afraid to touch you. Please, be with the boss instead.
Aw. Ok, I forgive you for being violent, Axel. (Look, he's an otome love interest, I have to keep my standards low)
And of course Fuka wasn't bothered in the first place, because she is an otome heroine. She kisses him.
Fuka: Don't be selfish. If you truly want the best for me, don't let me go.
Axel: I'm so clumsy, I'm sure to keep causing you trouble. Do you still choose me despite that?
Fuka: Of course. I love you.
She goes to talk to Caramia but he says "You don't have to say it. Good luck with Axel."
Fuka decides to join famiglia Oz! Unfortunately Axel is busy the day of her pledge, but they're both happy that he will be able to tell her more about his work now.
omg it is a brand and noone made this clear to Fuka until she gets it. This is such a dystopia under the fluffiness.
She wakes up the next morning...next to Axel. When he wakes up he gets very flustered and says he wanted to talk to her but she was asleep, and he ended up falling asleep next to her. She hugs him and tells him he's adorable, and he gets even more flustered.
Fuka: I'll have to stay in your bedroom next time ^_^
Axel: Aasfghfdhg...uh. Yes. Eventually >.>
...does she know what sex is? Why is that a question I keep having to ask about otome heroines...
Haha Fuka keeps calling Axel "Boss" and "sir", since he outranks her, but he doesn't like it. He takes her on patrol and explains the job.
Fuka: This reminds me of when you used to be my bodyguard.
Axel: But then I was protecting you. Now we're protecting this area together.
AWWW
Axel goes out to buy Fuka a hair ornament...and then someone HITS HIM ON THE HEAD.
Dorian Grey(?!) and Manboy come to tell famiglia Oz that they found the injured Axel and took him to Dr Hood. Soh helped carry him, and calls Manboy "boy-boy-chan" lol.
And then Axel wakes up, shoves Fuka out of the way roughly, and tries to murder Soh?!
IS HE LITERALLY A ROBOT
Now Axel follows Caramia's orders but treats Fuka with cold disinterest.
Kyrie explains that he, Axel and Caramia weren't originally human, and that Axel got a "heart core" at the end of a long journey, that he wears around his neck. But it seems to be broken now and Kyrie doesn't know how it can be fixed. (Now that I look, I see that all three of them have little metal pendants)
Fuka keeps trying to be a good girlfriend but it's hard and she feels very lonely.
Fuka: I found this in your jacket.
Axel: That's a gift I bought for you earlier. There's no point me keeping it, take it and leave.
Fuka: You talk to me like we're not lovers :(
Axel: You're so insistent on this relationship. But I don't know what you want from me. *He pins her to the ground* Is this better? Not quite? What do you want me to do? Tell me, Fuka.
Fuka: Uh... ;_;
Axel: Why are you crying? Are you sad? I shouldn't understand sadness. That's why I went on that journey...
Fuka: Axel :(
Axel: It is time for the meeting. I must go.
Evidence point to the Wolf Gang being responsible for Axel's injury, and Soh may end up killed in retaliation. Fuka runs to warn him, and he says he'll only leave if she does too. He leads her to the slums, where they are confronted by Axel, who is all ready to kill Fuka for defending Soh D:
And then this guy I've never seen before called Hamelin shows up, and says he's the one who injured Axel. There's a fight, and Axel wins.
But instead of killing Hamelin, Axel arrests him. And then he apologises to Soh, since his gang was innocent, and apologises to Fuka for being cruel.
Fuka: You feel bad for hurting my feelings?
Axel: Yes
Fuka: YAY :D
Axel: I don't see why that's something to celebrate.
Fuka: It means you have a heart! At this rate you'll feel all sorts of emotions!
Axel: If that's what you wish, I will obey. I am your lover after all :)
...that's great but I have no idea why it happened? Let's say it was THE POWER OF LOVE.
Closing Credits: a rather dull screen of blue floating petals and a generic love song.
Fuku is trying to teach Axel empathy.
Fuku: What am I thinking about?
Axel: ...chocolate?
Fuku: No, you ^_^
Axel: Oh, I had no idea. Can you tell me these things in words while I get the hang of it? I swear, if you tell me to do anything, I'll do it.
Fuku: Um. Will you hold my hand?
Axel: Understood.
Fuku: And...come closer?
Axel, leaning over Fuku on the bed: What's your next order?
Fuku, blushing: UH
Axel: I get this nice feeling in my chest when I follow your orders. Is this emotion "fun"?
Fuku: Yes, that must be it!
Axel: Then I want to have more fun. Please give me more orders. Because you are my precious love.
THE END
So I don't think that made a whole lot of sense but I am here for it anyway.
I was expecting more to get explained but they seem to fit all their plot into the endings and there are apparently twenty, so. And I'm thinking that has to be an underestimate, unless half the love interests only get one ending each.
Let's look at the CG gallery. The categories are:
Caramia, Kyrie, Axel, Scarlet, Caesar, Soh, Pashet, Robin Hood, Brothel, Other
Hmmph, Pashet has like half as many as the others. But Manboy, Dorian Grey and Hamelin get none to themselves at all despite the wiki listing them as love interests.
According to the walkthrough the Axel endings are:
AXEL ENDING 1 (what I just saw)
AXEL ENDING 1 (looks like a bad end)
Two different "Caramia Love Triangle" endings???
Two "Kyrie Love Triangle" endings, with the note "This is the route to get to Caramia’s endings via the Kyrie rivalmance. The endings are the same, the only change is that you go through Axel’s rivalry and obtain a different CG"
THERE IS RIVALRY ROMANCE IN THIS GAME??????
And then two Hamelin ends, which look like the default bad ends for any of the Oz famiglia.
So now it's like...do I start a new route or look into these love triangle ends??? I'm pretty curious, but...I think the catgirl's call is too strong (apparently she has a platonic route, which will do. I GUESS)
Wait, looking at the MangaGamer site:
"Once you’re on the route of one of the Oz boys, you’ll enter the “triangle” route of your chosen Oz and a rival––whichever of the other two has the second highest affection score.Your decisions during the triangle route will determine whether you stay with your initial choice or switch to the rival."
That's an interesting mechanic, I guess? Heh. I was going to say it has no appeal, but dumping Kyrie for Axel could be fun >.>
"After completing a route, bonus scenes will unlock in each route, and once you’ve collected every single ending, the Grand Finale will unlock!"
Huh. So I have to play it again? Or is that just for the non Oz routes?
TIME WILL TELL.
Ozmafia is a silly, fluffy Japanese dating sim about an amnesiac heroine waking up in a vaguely early 20th century Italian town run by fairytale themed mafiosa (it's best not to over-think the worldbuilding, because at least so far the game has zero interest in explaining ANY of it)
There's a few things I didn't like, but overall I really enjoyed the route I played. There's no clear line between the common route and love interest path, so this is the full playthrough for the good end for my first chosen love interest: the rules oriented, tsundere, glasses wearing Axel. Who was exactly my type :D
There's also a little of me failing to woo the tsundere catgirl warrior Pashet. This is a het only game but I had to try ;_; She does have a platonic route, apparently, so I'll be looking up a walkthrough for that next.
Content Notes: fatphobia, relatively mild romantic violence (for a Japanese dating sim), discussion of potential rapeyness of plotlines
So I have read the summary for this game then forgotten it again, as I recall it's like...the mafia but fairytale/Wizard of Oz? Which sounds very silly but I have a fair tolerance for silly.
I am not going to address the ethical issues inherent to a fluffy depiction of THE MAFIA, but, yeah. THAT'S A THING.
Just getting the game was an ordeal. I decided to buy it from the English distributor MangaGamer's site instead of through Steam, since it's cheaper that way and doesn't support Steam's monopoly etc etc, but it became very clear that our network and MangaGamer's network were Never Going To Be Friends. But their support staff were lovely and gave me a Steam key without charging me the price difference so no real harm done.
The vast majority of MangaGamer games are porn aimed at dudes but afaict this game is aimed at women and not porny at all. BUT WE SHALL SEE.
First line: "He's going to kill me". Nice :D
Then we get a summary of the Wizard of Oz, ending with "They had proven they could shape their future with their own desires. From black and white to a technicolour splendour."
Which answers the "Is this going to be based on the books or the movie?" question. Luckily I am not super familiar with the books anyway.
"The girl" wakes up, not knowing who or where she is (ooh, third person!). A silver haired man shows up and says she's his prey and that he's going to destroy her, so she runs through the unfamiliar streets of a town, and bumps into dudes called Kyrie and...Caramia, lol. "Ojosan" is translated as "Signorina" so I guess we're in Italy!
Silver haired dude shows up again, and is apparently Caesar from the Wolf Gang (I was like 90% of the way through the game before I realised this is a pun). They scare him off with a bunch of soldiers. When they ask the girl who she is, just trying to remember makes her pass out...
Opening Credits!
Lots of bullets and cute boys, two things I am very much a fan of. Some of these names are amazing. MANBOY.
The girl wakes on a couch, and a quietly sensible dark haired man in glasses (HELLO) goes to get the others. His name is Axel.
They know she's not a villager because she "doesn't have a mark"??
Kyrie explains that the village has various famiglia. They're from the Oz famiglia, with Don/leader Caramia.
Kyrie is number two, and when MC guesses that Axel is number three he is VERY RUDE ABOUT IT, maybe he won't be my fave after all. Though he DOES seem super into rules and order, which is my jam...
The girl is really cute, she has this determined expression that makes me want to pinch her cheeks. I vaguely recall that she's Dorothy (even though she...looks nothing like her)
Caramia asks what name she wants, but when I say I don't know he picks "Fuka", how very Italian lol. She's taken to meet the other famiglia.
Apparently Scarlett is a love interest? He's cute but seems kinda young. Then again I don't know how old Fuka is. Also wow I looked up the list of love interests and there's TEN?! Including Manboy lol
Kyrie is showing signs of being a slimy flirt and I am not into it. Caramia seems to be the Nice Confident Leader, which is not something I tend to be into but is inoffensive enough considering he's probably going to be fairly central.
wait what
(Noone ever explains why Melisus is THIRTY CENTIMETRES HIGH, or even really brings it up)
Oh no there's a hot grumpy looking cat lady. Her name is Pashet and she's from famiglia Boots. Not present is Heidi from famiglia Adelheid.
...oh no Heidi showed up and is very fat and very clearly voiced by a man D: *turns off Heidi's voice in the settings, glosses over further fatphobia in my reactions*
The voices are grouped by famiglia, which will be useful if I forget!
...I was not expecting Gretel to be so loudly mean, based on her sprite. Scarlet seems a lot more sensible and calm.
So since Fuka "doesn't have a famiglia crest" (DO THEY BRAND PEOPLE??) the Oz famiglia is claiming her until she chooses her own. Everyone in the town needs to belong to one.
Caramia: A famiglia is a family so you can't leave easily. Choose carefully.
Fuka: Aw, a family!
Me: Lol
Robin Hood is...a doctor??? In a sort of plague mask thing?? In a mafia AU?
SURE. FINE.
Despite his scary appearance he has a gentle, youthful voice. I hope he at least treats poor patients for free or something. (I don't know why this character in particular is bugging me so much. But I just...it's ROBIN HOOD and MAFIA and you made him a DOCTOR?)
Did Kyrie just refer to Caramia as a lion? INTERESTING. I'm guessing they all have extra of their gift: Caramia is the brave lion, Axel the clever scarecrow, and so I guess Kyrie is the hearty tin man.
Apparently Sunday is the only day it's safe to walk the streets because there's a truce between the famiglia called the Sunday Compromise.
I get to go on a date! My choices are Axel, Caramia, Kyrie, Scarlet, Robin Hood, and ...Pashet!!
SO OBVIOUSLY I AM PICKING THE GRUMPY CATGIRL
I know she's not romanceable but I'm going to live my best life as well as I am able.
Haa she says Fuka is odd to live in a house of men (because apparently there are NO other women in the Oz mansion. *side eyes their hiring practices*) Apparently "Miss Kitty"'s home is all women.
And then Fuka bumps into an earnest young man called Soh, who the voice groupings suggests is in Caesar's Wolf Gang.
In the centre of town is a mysterious tower reaching up into the clouds. Legend says that the king of the world lives at the top, and if you meet him he will grant your wish. But there's no doors, just named slots for each of the famiglia.
...I can't believe it took me this long to consider that this might all be a dream.
A red brick road leads from the tower back to Oz Mansion. And sure enough if I look at the voice groupings, Oz is red. And yellow is...Heidi/Adelheid. Huh.
Wait, Fuka has a voice setting? But she never talks?? In general not all of the dialogue is voiced, but enough is to give a feel for the characters, and the voice acting is pretty good.
Haa Scarlet showed up and he's like A FOOT SHORTER than Caramia and Axel. He's a bit cold, but Axel says Hansel and Gretel are the cruel ones, then tells Fuka she has nothing to worry about in Oz territory.
Caramia: So you're saying you'll take care of her? ;)
Axel: NGH. I'M GOING BACK TO WORK.
I'm not sure we're supposed to read Axel being stiff around Fuka and Caramia trying to draw him out as Caramia realising Axel has a thing for Fuka and trying to help, but I shall read it that way anyway.
BUT TIME FOR MORE PASHET
Fuka watches as the Boots famiglia's female soldiers do drills.
Pashet: Why are you here? Answer quickly!
Fuku: I just...wandered over...
Pashet: Hmm. I'll overlook your presence in deference to the foolish look on your face.
Pashet is clearly invested in her soldiers well being. Also Fuka seems to be growing on her :D
Compulsory date with Kyrie. Ok, his dubconny flirtation is kind of hot, fine. "I can't help but tease girls I like...and even ones I don't. This was just a taste, prepare yourself."
"This is Oscar Wilde Street. It's an unaffiliated area". WAIT IS THIS THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT. And I suddenly remember a friend warning me "don't mess with the people at the brothel, it's a weird bad end and kind of rapey". HMM.
And oh look it's Manboy! He describes himself as the concierge of "The Oscar Wilde Salon", but seems to disapprove of Kyrie bringing her, and looks embarrassed when Kyrie says it's "too early" to bring her inside but that she may become a customer later.
*bumps Kyrie up the "predicted rapeyness" scale a few notches*
Manboy himself seems nice enough, but I think I'll avoid him until I can get more details on avoiding that bad end.
Axel: I've come to take the houseguest home.
Kyrie: Excuse me, Ms Fuka, I have some work to attend to in the salon.
Axel: *muttering* Liar.
And he takes her along an EMERALD brick road? As in literal emeralds or just green? o.O
Gretel glares at Axel from behind Hansel and calls him "robot". OH. AXE-L. TIN MAN = ROBOT. *will be thinking of him as a robot from now on*
Gretel: Are you here for a fight D:<
Hansel: They'd have brought more people. It must be a date!
Axel: N-no
Gretel: AN AMBUSH THEN. BRING IT.
Scarlet: *tired sigh*
There is a tense scene as Axel secretly prompts Fuka to buy THE RIGHT BAG OF COOKIES from Hansel and Gretel's store.
...I'm not sure I'd have translated Hansel calling her "Fuka-chan" as "Fuka, baby" (afaict everyone else is going for -san, -kun, or nothing)
Fuka's dogged (and kinda dumb) optimistic friendliness in the face of all these assholes is endearing to me but I can see why some players find it off-putting. She doesn't have a lot of personality so far, but I don't mind Generic Otome Girl.
Hee Axel gets flustered when Fuka describes him as nice. And it turns out he wanted those cookies because...that's his favourite flavour.
OH NO CAESAR ATTACKS. Axel tries to shoot some of his minions but apparently has terrible aim (?!) and tells Fuka to run while he holds them off. She finds Kyrie and Caramia...and they say Axel will be fine, and anyway as long as Fuka's ok he can be sacrificed???
They send scouts, who say Axel is gone, probably taken to the Wolf Gang's forest hideout, or the slums, home to those who refuse the famiglia's rule and "a breeding ground for criminals".
*quietly hopes for an anti-establishment Soh path*
(I mean you'd think ROBIN HOOD would be that but it's not looking that way so far)
Aww. So Kyrie and Caramia cheerfully discuss dinner and tell Fuka that Axel is a famiglia problem she shouldn't worry about, but she's too distressed to eat, and doesn't like that they're so much colder to Axel than they are to her. It's not often you see an otome heroine think something like that, normally being everyone's first priority is presented an unquestioned good.
omg is she going to go on a one woman rescue mission?? That's suicidally dumb (she has ZERO combat skills) but very sweet.
Huh it just occurred to me that this game being in third person gives it a sort of fairytale vibe.
She is IMMEDIATELY caught and says she's come to offer herself up so Axel goes free? Ohhh honey that is not how hostage negotiations work. One of the thugs is QUITE GROSS but the one in charge tells him to stick to the whores in the slums unless he wants Caesar to kill him.
Meanwhile, back at Oz Mansion, Kyrie gets a report from a soldato and tells Caramia that everything is going according to plan??
Fuka is tied back to back with Axel. "I can't say your actions were remotely worthwhile but...I appreciate the sentiment" aw.
He says it's the rules that he serves the famiglia body and soul, and Kyrie and Caramia were right to abandon him ;_;
And then...
Caramia: Hello. I hear one of my subordinates and my dear guest are joining you by the fire. For both our sakes, why don't you just hand them over without a fuss? ^_^
When they refuse, ALL the other famiglia show up: the Sunday Compromise truce applies to everyone, and the punishment for breaking it is severe.
Wait, what, an unfamiliar woman called "Peter" briefly showed up in the protagonist slot??? I think she's with Heidi? ...ah ok I think anyone without a full sprite shows up there.
WAIT WHAT
(He's apparently the Anderson famiglia's intelligence operative?? THIS IS NEVER ADDRESSED)
When they're freed, Axel covers Fuka's face with his jacket so she won't see the dead bodies, and leads her to safety. But she can still hear and smell the death going on around her.
Oh no I think Axel is going to get punished for firing his gun on a Sunday. It was self defence!
Axel kneels calmly in front of Kyrie, who coldly draws his gun.
THEY IMPLIED HE GOT SHOT BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT
The next morning...
Fuku: MR AXEL YOU'RE NOT DEAD :D :D
Axel: S-STOP HUGGING ME
Kyrie just shot the ground, to express his annoyance at having to negotiate ways for the Oz famiglia to make up for Axel's transgression to all the other famiglias.
Caramia: Also no sweets for a week.
Axel: Is that part of my punishment for breaking the compromise?
Caramia: No, for making us worry ;)
haaa. Fluffy mafia it is then.
(I mean I'm not TOTALLY surprised, but I was semi-convinced the story was as dark as it was briefly pretending to be)
Awww she asks to help Axel with his cleaning punishment and he says that won't be necessary, then haltingly asks if it would be alright for them to drop formal language around each other. HE GETS ALL BLUSHY WHEN SHE CALLS HIM JUST "AXEL".
Kyrie: All this sugar is making me nauseous. It's not too late to just shoot him.
Fuka: How long were you guys there?!
Caramia: From "You're my sunshine, I love you"
Axel: I SAID NO SUCH THING
Am I somehow on the Axel path despite going on zero dates with him? I guess I did aim for pro-Axel dialogue options when it came up. MAYBE THERE'S A SECRET AXEL/FUKA/PASHET PATH AND I'M ON THAT.
...or not. As much as I love Pashet she's very clearly not connected to the main plot, and if I'm going to be on the Axel path I'd rather do it properly. Time to go back and actually date him!
First date:
Fuka encounters Axel sleeping on a couch and watches him for a moment then goes to cover him with his jacket in case he gets cold.
But he grabs her and pins her to the couch
o.O
*bumps Axel up the "predicted rapeyness" scale a few notches*
Then he says he doesn't like that Famiglia Oz is protecting her, and leaves. I forgot how mean he was at first haha.
Next date!
Axel: Ugh, I've been ordered to chaperone you when you leave the mansion.
Fuka: I'm sorry! Should we go back?
Axel: It's my duty. Forget I'm here and do what you want.
And now I'm back to where I was!
Kyrie buys a bag of sweets for everyone but Axel, who has one day left of his sugar ban, because Kyrie is an asshole. Fuka doesn't want to join in, but Axel says she should enjoy them on his behalf.
Kyrie: Miss Fuka, I have a business proposition: I'd like to borrow your body.
Axel: D:
Kyrie: For a beauty pageant!
Me: D:
Kyrie frames it as her paying them back for their care of her, so she says yes. Later Pashet expresses her disapproval of the whole concept, bless. And Scarlet makes sure Fuka's not being coerced.
AND THEN FUKA ASKS WHAT SCARLET'S WEARING. BECAUSE SHE THINKS HE'S A CUTE GIRL.
He is embarrassed and annoyed but takes it with pretty good grace.
Oooh I have the option to go on a date with Caesar! NO THANK YOU.
Fuka tells Axel that he's really handsome but would have better luck with women if he smiled more haa. (He says he has no interest in romance, like a liar)
The day of the pageant! Axel is endearingly flustered by Fuka's appearance, and says he'll defend her in case of violence: it's not Sunday and anything could happen. Caesar is about to attack but offends Heidi by being aggressively fatphobic and has to defend himself from Peter's knife. Fuka worries about Caesar, much to Axel's bemusement. "But I think he's a good person deep down" BASED ON WHAT.
And we finally find out that Soh is part of the Wolf Gang! Fuka doesn't want to believe it.
Fuka wins the pageant! BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER WOMEN GOT DISQUALIFIED FOR FIGHTING :D :D
...hahaha ok, except for famiglia Anderson's entrant, who is a DUCK.
Axel says he didn't vote because it wasn't part of his job? He ends up blushy and implies he's not used to being around girls but will get used to it.
PHYSICAL DAY! Fuka is told to wait in her room unless she wants to see all the dudes half naked. So she does and there is no fanservice at all? FINE THEN.
Manboy and Caesar have vanished from the date map, I guess you have to pursue them right away or their plots don't work or something.
Axel points a gun at her head then says he was just kidding? Then he secretively tells her he's doing target practice. She compliments his work ethic and at first he's dubious "because Kyrie often compliments him just to knock him down", but is happy when he realises she's sincere, aw.
Kyrie: Miss Fuka, I worry you have the wrong idea about me: do you consider me a cruel man without a heart?
Fuka: Um...only a little? I'm sure you're nice deep down.
Kyrie: Then you do have the wrong idea! I'm a cruel man devoid of kindness. I could dispose of you with no regrets. It seems like something you should know ^_^
A funeral procession passes by, everyone is dressed in black and tinkles with hidden bells. She notices a man dressed like Manboy, apparently that's the uniform of the estate that manages various public services, including funerals and the "salon", even for inhabitants of the slums.
This game is fun but I'm wondering if there's ever going to be an actual plot.
Axel takes Fuka to Doctor Hood to see if there's any way to get her memories back. There isn't, but Fuka is charmed that he tried, and that he actively invited her somewhere. Dr Hood quietly ships it.
I like that so far there's been zero jealousy in this game from anyone of any gender. And there's multiple female characters who are neither supportive bffs OR love rivals?? Or even villains? I mean they're all kinda silly and thinly drawn, but they EXIST.
Afaict Fuka never cooks or does any real work asides from watering plants (EDIT: She eventually does laundry sometimes). Meanwhile Caramia cooks regularly, and Fuka and Axel love it while Kyrie is mean.
Hansel and Gretel make a surprise attack on the mansion and are driven back! Axel is injured. Caramia talks about how Axel is a terrible shot who treats his guns "like an axe". Maybe he should use a sword?
Scarlet and Fuka disapprove of Kyrie reserving some of famiglia Grimm's reparation funds for himself. Kyrie distracts them by pointing out that Fuka is slightly taller than Scarlet, much to Scarlet's horror. He vows to grow taller than her one day.
*bumps Scarlet up the "predicted shota-ness" scale a few notches*
Axel returns from treatment, and is QUITE UPSET when he finds out Fuka knows he's a bad shot, though she just cheerfully encourages him to keep trying his best.
A day out with Caramia, Kyrie and Axel. I'm still getting choices between the three of them but almost none involving everyone else, which makes me wonder how fleshed out the other paths will be.
Axel is entranced by a cute cat and it's ADORABLE. He whispers for her to keep it a secret, so she does.
They encounter a fight: Hansel and Gretel vs Ande. Caramia says they should walk away, but Fuka sees a small girl in danger and rushes in to save her. Gretel grabs Fuka as a human shield and has to be stopped by an angry Scarlet.
Axel: Don't put yourself in danger D:
Kyrie: Ah, I love watching people suffer :D
Fuka: AXEL IS SUFFERING? IS HE SICK?
Kyrie: In a sense. And you're giving him the best medicine ;)
(She is. SO DUMB)
Later, Scarlet forces Gretel to visit and say "I'm sorry I used you as a meatshield when you wandered into the fray like an idiot."
Axel angsts about not being as good of a shot as Scarlet, so Fuka says "But I think you're amazing! You're so adept at missing, perhaps you're actually some kind of genius!"
Aw, Axel has a midnight sugar craving so Fuka bakes him cupcakes. He is honest about how terrible they are but appreciates the thought.
Soh comes to visit! He calls Caramia "Cara-cara" and Axel "Ax-Ax" (pronounced "Ack-ack"). But just calls Kyrie by his name haha. When Soh refers to "Cara-cara" as the most important person in famiglia Oz, Kyrie brings out a huge "chronicle of famiglia Oz's history" which would prove Kyrie's contribution to it's "very foundations"...if he was allowed to show them it.
Hw long has the famiglia existed, then? How old is the town? Do any of them even have parents...
Ha I get to choose who Fuka thinks is most important so of course choose Axel even though this is blatantly untrue.
Fuka: I guess you're just the most important to me ^_^
Axel: o.O
When Caramia arrives, Soh cheerfully passes on a threatening challenge from Caesar, saying they'll attack next week. Then he privately tells Fuka he's glad to see how happy she is and to try not to let Caesar catch her. He's clearly very loyal to Caesar, though, and says he doesn't like to go out too much because it leaves Caesar alone. GET BETTER FRIENDS, SOH.
Famiglia Oz is hosting a festival! Caramaia asks Fuka's opinion as a woman (THIS IS WHY YOU NEED MORE DIVERSE HIRING POLICIES, CARAMIA) Axel shyly suggests a chocolate river, and Fuka is enthusiastic, but Kyrie says no. Caramia says he'll buy them a chocolate fondue set, like an indulgent dad.
Caesar: I'll be coming to get you next week, prey!
Fuka: Haa...
Caesar, pouting: Fear me!
Fuka: I am a little afraid...
I quickly skimmed an Axel walkthrough without reading past where I'm up to, to get a sense of the length, and I seem to be approaching the end of the game. I guess there just...isn't a plot...
Axel wonders how Fuka can cheerfully interact with someone as awful as Kyrie and is unconvinced by her argument that he's nice deep down. Me either, Axel.
It's the festival! Caesar says if they accept his duel and he loses, he'll withdraw. So Axel accepts! That's sweet, but kinda dumb, Axel. I guess you and Fuka are made for each other.
(EDIT: And then the duel happens off screen or something? This game glosses over a lot of what little plot it has)
I have another "who to meet" choice but with Axel as the only option.
Caramia bugs Axel to stop using his gun as a bludgeon. Fuka asks if he could use a different weapon, and apparently Axel is way better with an axe but Kyrie forbids it? LET THE TIN MAN USE AN AXE.
There's a big town-wide festival coming up called "The Meteor Shower Gathering", where it's said a wish made on one of the many shooting stars will come true.
Axel: I can't protect you if you don't stay close to me, got it?
Fuka: Ok. But you should have fun too, we can have fun together!
Axel: Understood.
Fuka: You make it sound like I gave you an order!
Axel: I prefer thinking of it that way.
Me: *waggles eyebrows*
Fuka, not wanting to be burden: I wished you'd be released from having to protect me ^_^
Axel: Do you hate me that much?
Fuka: ...hate?!
Axel: Dealing with people is annoying, but you're different...you're warm, and just looking at you makes me happy. I think I have feelings for you. I feel glad that I've been entrusted with protecting you from the bottom of my heart. But maybe my feelings are just bothersome to you...
Fuka: They're not a bother at all. Because I love you ^_^
...ok I was expecting slightly more leadup on her end, but are super cute together. They tell Caramia and Kyrie, who tease Axel a little but are supportive.
*blink* Kyrie refers to "back when he was a scarecrow". WHAT IS THE WORLDBUILDING SITUATION HERE. Alas Fuka expresses zero curiosity.
Axel seems to be avoiding Fuka.
Fuka: If there's something about me you don't like I'll do my best to change it.
Axel: There's nothing about you I don't like. But...things I want to say and do crash over me like waves. What can I say to make you happy? What words will make you sad?
Fuka: I like that you're thinking of me, but you don't have to think so hard! I like you just the way you are.
Awwww.
Just as I'm wondering if they'll ever kiss they had the cutest scene where Axel shyly asks to hold her hand.
She visits his room and says it would look nicer with some stuffed animals, I get the feeling Axel would actually like that but he says people would think he was weird.
Caramia implies interest in Fuka, but tries to give helpful advice when Axel is avoiding her again. Unfortunately Axel sees her and Caramia in what looks like a compromising position. He pins Fuka against the wall in a mildly violent way, shouts a little, then runs away when Caramia confronts him.
Hmm. I mean on the plus side the game clearly sees this as bad, but...
Fuka spends the whole next day searching for Axel in vain. Caramia says that maybe he is the worst, just like Axel said...then declares his own love for Fuka, and says he would never worry her the way Axel does. BAD CARAMIA.
But then he offers to help her keep searching, and says he can keep his feelings separate.
They find Axel in a bar, surrounded by broken bottles and sadly slurring his love for Fuka. As Caramia carries Fuka back to the estate Caramia expresses his interest again and asks Fuka to give a clear answer.
My options are "..." and "I can't choose"??? WTF KIND OF ANSWERS ARE THOSE
I mean I'd be up for a threesome but I am QUITE SURE that is not an option.
I checked a walkthrough because seriously, and the answer is "..."
Caramia: You remind me of him, always silent. Which is fine in a subordinate, but then all those repressed feelings explode. It's not safe for you.
Axel wakes in his bed, with Fuka watching over him.
Axel: I was going to run away...when I'm with you my senses become weird and I can't control my strength. I'll only end up hurting you. I'm afraid to touch you. Please, be with the boss instead.
Aw. Ok, I forgive you for being violent, Axel. (Look, he's an otome love interest, I have to keep my standards low)
And of course Fuka wasn't bothered in the first place, because she is an otome heroine. She kisses him.
Fuka: Don't be selfish. If you truly want the best for me, don't let me go.
Axel: I'm so clumsy, I'm sure to keep causing you trouble. Do you still choose me despite that?
Fuka: Of course. I love you.
She goes to talk to Caramia but he says "You don't have to say it. Good luck with Axel."
Fuka decides to join famiglia Oz! Unfortunately Axel is busy the day of her pledge, but they're both happy that he will be able to tell her more about his work now.
omg it is a brand and noone made this clear to Fuka until she gets it. This is such a dystopia under the fluffiness.
She wakes up the next morning...next to Axel. When he wakes up he gets very flustered and says he wanted to talk to her but she was asleep, and he ended up falling asleep next to her. She hugs him and tells him he's adorable, and he gets even more flustered.
Fuka: I'll have to stay in your bedroom next time ^_^
Axel: Aasfghfdhg...uh. Yes. Eventually >.>
...does she know what sex is? Why is that a question I keep having to ask about otome heroines...
Haha Fuka keeps calling Axel "Boss" and "sir", since he outranks her, but he doesn't like it. He takes her on patrol and explains the job.
Fuka: This reminds me of when you used to be my bodyguard.
Axel: But then I was protecting you. Now we're protecting this area together.
AWWW
Axel goes out to buy Fuka a hair ornament...and then someone HITS HIM ON THE HEAD.
Dorian Grey(?!) and Manboy come to tell famiglia Oz that they found the injured Axel and took him to Dr Hood. Soh helped carry him, and calls Manboy "boy-boy-chan" lol.
And then Axel wakes up, shoves Fuka out of the way roughly, and tries to murder Soh?!
IS HE LITERALLY A ROBOT
Now Axel follows Caramia's orders but treats Fuka with cold disinterest.
Kyrie explains that he, Axel and Caramia weren't originally human, and that Axel got a "heart core" at the end of a long journey, that he wears around his neck. But it seems to be broken now and Kyrie doesn't know how it can be fixed. (Now that I look, I see that all three of them have little metal pendants)
Fuka keeps trying to be a good girlfriend but it's hard and she feels very lonely.
Fuka: I found this in your jacket.
Axel: That's a gift I bought for you earlier. There's no point me keeping it, take it and leave.
Fuka: You talk to me like we're not lovers :(
Axel: You're so insistent on this relationship. But I don't know what you want from me. *He pins her to the ground* Is this better? Not quite? What do you want me to do? Tell me, Fuka.
Fuka: Uh... ;_;
Axel: Why are you crying? Are you sad? I shouldn't understand sadness. That's why I went on that journey...
Fuka: Axel :(
Axel: It is time for the meeting. I must go.
Evidence point to the Wolf Gang being responsible for Axel's injury, and Soh may end up killed in retaliation. Fuka runs to warn him, and he says he'll only leave if she does too. He leads her to the slums, where they are confronted by Axel, who is all ready to kill Fuka for defending Soh D:
And then this guy I've never seen before called Hamelin shows up, and says he's the one who injured Axel. There's a fight, and Axel wins.
But instead of killing Hamelin, Axel arrests him. And then he apologises to Soh, since his gang was innocent, and apologises to Fuka for being cruel.
Fuka: You feel bad for hurting my feelings?
Axel: Yes
Fuka: YAY :D
Axel: I don't see why that's something to celebrate.
Fuka: It means you have a heart! At this rate you'll feel all sorts of emotions!
Axel: If that's what you wish, I will obey. I am your lover after all :)
...that's great but I have no idea why it happened? Let's say it was THE POWER OF LOVE.
Closing Credits: a rather dull screen of blue floating petals and a generic love song.
Fuku is trying to teach Axel empathy.
Fuku: What am I thinking about?
Axel: ...chocolate?
Fuku: No, you ^_^
Axel: Oh, I had no idea. Can you tell me these things in words while I get the hang of it? I swear, if you tell me to do anything, I'll do it.
Fuku: Um. Will you hold my hand?
Axel: Understood.
Fuku: And...come closer?
Axel, leaning over Fuku on the bed: What's your next order?
Fuku, blushing: UH
Axel: I get this nice feeling in my chest when I follow your orders. Is this emotion "fun"?
Fuku: Yes, that must be it!
Axel: Then I want to have more fun. Please give me more orders. Because you are my precious love.
THE END
So I don't think that made a whole lot of sense but I am here for it anyway.
I was expecting more to get explained but they seem to fit all their plot into the endings and there are apparently twenty, so. And I'm thinking that has to be an underestimate, unless half the love interests only get one ending each.
Let's look at the CG gallery. The categories are:
Caramia, Kyrie, Axel, Scarlet, Caesar, Soh, Pashet, Robin Hood, Brothel, Other
Hmmph, Pashet has like half as many as the others. But Manboy, Dorian Grey and Hamelin get none to themselves at all despite the wiki listing them as love interests.
According to the walkthrough the Axel endings are:
AXEL ENDING 1 (what I just saw)
AXEL ENDING 1 (looks like a bad end)
Two different "Caramia Love Triangle" endings???
Two "Kyrie Love Triangle" endings, with the note "This is the route to get to Caramia’s endings via the Kyrie rivalmance. The endings are the same, the only change is that you go through Axel’s rivalry and obtain a different CG"
THERE IS RIVALRY ROMANCE IN THIS GAME??????
And then two Hamelin ends, which look like the default bad ends for any of the Oz famiglia.
So now it's like...do I start a new route or look into these love triangle ends??? I'm pretty curious, but...I think the catgirl's call is too strong (apparently she has a platonic route, which will do. I GUESS)
Wait, looking at the MangaGamer site:
"Once you’re on the route of one of the Oz boys, you’ll enter the “triangle” route of your chosen Oz and a rival––whichever of the other two has the second highest affection score.Your decisions during the triangle route will determine whether you stay with your initial choice or switch to the rival."
That's an interesting mechanic, I guess? Heh. I was going to say it has no appeal, but dumping Kyrie for Axel could be fun >.>
"After completing a route, bonus scenes will unlock in each route, and once you’ve collected every single ending, the Grand Finale will unlock!"
Huh. So I have to play it again? Or is that just for the non Oz routes?
TIME WILL TELL.
