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Having experienced the main story relatively free of outside influence, I decided to look at the wider world of the Greater Hakuoki Franchise and Fandom.

And... you know the general expectation is that canonical sequels will tend to be pretty much in character, following the story logically etc, while fanfic will be a bunch of ridiculous tropey bullshit, full of out of character fluff and highschool AUs?

Imagine the exact opposite of that.
( Read more... )

Background information and links to previous posts

(yes, I have been looking forward to using this title)

AND NOW TO SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF DEMON LORD KAZAMA CHIKAGE.

It's ok, so far, as villain paths go?

( Spoilers )

Background information and links to previous posts

Part 2 of Harada Sanosuke!

I didn't like this second half as much as the first, the "benevolent" sexism got dialled up pretty high. But there were some cool moments.

( Spoilers )

Background information and links to previous posts

So, having decided to play the 6 original love interests first, I couldn't escape the logic of playing Okita Souji next. Time to rip off that jerky bandaid.

Content Note: Transphobia, sort of? Tacky disability Angst. And mention of ritual suicide, which comes up here and there a lot in these paths in general, and I may not always remember to warn for it.

Also, dude really is a jerk.
( Spoilers )

Background information and links to previous reaction posts

I added a bunch of character images and descriptions if anyone's confused with all the names.

Time for put upon cinnamon roll Heisuke, as selected by popular vote!

(ok I was going to play him anyway)

( Spoilers )

Since I have made so many of these reaction posts without meaning to I thought it would be good to write an introduction I can link to at the top. (How did this take me all day it was supposed to make my life easier...)

Introduction
About the games
Characters
My reaction posts, and brief reviews of each route
Notes

Introduction:

So! Hakuoki (or Hakuouki) is a Japanese series of games and anime set in the 1860s about the real 19th century Japanese samurai group The Shinsengumi, but with added supernatural elements. It covers the period of history during which it became clear that samurai weren't really going to be a thing any more. This post is primarily about the visual novel/dating sim contained in the games "Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds" and "Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms".

The protagonist of these games, Yukimura Chizuru, is a doctor's daughter in her late teens looking for her missing dad. She gets tangled up with the Shinsengumi and ends up living with them and becoming part of their lives during this bittersweet time, eventually falling in love with one of twelve men involved in the story (or not), depending on what choices the player makes.

It starts out kind of slow, with a heavy emphasis on the politics and real battles of the period, and then becomes INTENSE AND TROPEY AND AMAZING. I started out writing these summaries to share my reaction to some of the more bizarre plot twists but am now MADLY IN LOVE WITH ALL OF IT.

Ok, most of it, it's pretty heteronormative and ableist and the plot twists continue to be a little silly sometimes.
( Cut for length, no major spoilers )

Previously, the Saito Path:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Background information and links to other reaction posts

And now: Hijikata, the tsundere commander and default love interest.

I don't know if anyone still finds these interesting but I'm having fun, so :)

It only took 5 hours to get through Kyoto Winds this time, now I'm skipping all the scenes I've seen before. And it was good! Hijikata doesn't hit my id as much as a romantic interest but he's very likeable in a gruff way, and having the plot revolve more around the Commander made for a good narrative.

( Spoilers )

This is closer to an actual liveblog. First part here!

Background information and links to other reaction posts
( Spoilers! )