Recent reviews by melonmilktea

Like the previous reviewer, I was initially turned off by the weird game description. But I wasn't going to kick it until I tried it.

Pros
Character design
Reminiscent of a Korean romantic comedy

Cons
Inconsistent music loop
Blurry backgrounds
Lack of depth
Cliche plot elements

Some of the pros and cons I listed could be taken either way. But here, I'll discuss my personal opinion of the game. (I know it says I've only docked about 11 hours, but I really did get all the acheivements already.)

The story starts out with you, the protagonist, newly transformed after undergoing plastic surgery to impress your fiance (slightly weird thing to do, considering he's already agreed to marry you, but it's good. lol). Later on, using your stalking skills and the help of a handsome stranger, you find out that he's actually a con man who tricks women into marriage. After returning home, you get a call from your fiance asking to borrow money, but you had spent it all on the surgery, so he breaks up with you. And thus, your otome dating sim begins.

Right off the bat, I assumed this game would be your typical, cringy, dating sim. And I'm actually really into that (I've played so many Dogenzaka lab games lol), so I went into it with a very open mind.

I really liked the art style in this game, specifically the CGs and character sprites. One thing that bothered me a bit was the way the protagonist was drawn (no eyes), but that is a minor detail. The backgrounds were disappointing and looked like blurry pictures, which has worked for other games, but these specific photos looked bad (maybe I'm just being picky?). The music also seemed familiar, maybe recycled from another game, though it was pleasant enough. I got the impression that the creators didn't invest as much time into this game compared to some of their other titles.

Above, I mentioned that the story reminded me of a Korean romantic comedy (which I'm not that into, so I listed it as a pro for others rather than myself). I found the protagonist a bit silly, with her clumsiness and stalkish behavior, made me chuckle a few times. She wasn't too passive overall, so the choices weren't ridiculously frustrating, which was a plus. A surprisingly common element in this game was that the characters were engaged to someone else from the beginning. Personally, I'm not interested in pursuing this type of character, so I didn't like that aspect either. And though the characters had great designs and personalities, I didn't feel an emotional attachment to any them or their stories. The suitors seemed cliche (e.g. rich doctor, model, CEO who sweeps you off your feet). Halfway into most of the routes, I lost interest. I can honestly say the story got pretty freakin' weird at times, but it still wasn't enough to keep me captivated.

What I liked the most about this game was the obvious message and overall theme that beauty isn't only skin deep. Sadly, the protagonist had already gone under the knife before realizing any of that. And in a way, her beauty makes me question the integrity of some of these characters. It's likely that most of them wouldn't have even interacted with her, had she not undergone plastic surgery to be such a stand out beauty.

Even though I liked it, this has been my least favorite of the Dogenzaka lab games I've played. Now, if you are a fan of kdramas, romantic comedies, strange storylines, or you just need something to pass the time, then you might enjoy this more than I did. Overall, I give it a 5/10. Not that great of a game, but I've certainly played worse. I'm not really recommending it, but I'm not saying you shouldn't give it a chance.

Awesome game, 10/10.

An unexpectedly amazing game...11/10.

Better than any otome dating sim I've ever played.

Like kikuya, with some improvements, but lacking in content and uniqueness. A fun game, 7/10 overall.

What I liked:
Variety of character types
More assertive protagonist (compared to most of their games)
Lovely art
Beautiful BGM

What I disliked:
Inconsistent music loops
Short routes and lack of depth

This game takes place on the same island as The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya. Ohgiya is a competing brothel. Characters from the previous game make brief appearances, but not enough to further any storylines from the previous game.

I was not drawn to any of the characters at first. The art style is different (I prefer the character designs in Kikuya), which could be why. I also prefered the backgrounds in Kikuya as well. I thought the music in Ohgiya was more appealing though. Unfortunately, the music still pauses awkwardly, just like the other games.

What really shined for me in this one was the protagonist. It can be frustrating to play a character that behaves passively. The lead is much more assertive and straight forward than a lot of the ones I'm used to in these kinds of games, which I found refreshing.

Sadly, I had a hard time connecting to most of the characters and their storylines in this game. There were too many parallels to Kikuya's characters. I felt like the routes lacked depth, likely due to them having fewer chapters. I also found that even though I liked a character's personality, their storyline was lacking. My favorites in this game were Gakuto and Takigawa.

I likely won't be going back to this game too often. Though, it was a nice treat to have after finishing Kikuya! I still thought it was very enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing.

Fav otome dating sim, 10/10!

What I liked:
Variety of character types
Unique storylines
Gorgeous art and BGM
Tons of content
Great value

What I disliked:
Inconsistent music loops (gets annoying)
Passive protagonist (not unusual)

This game follows the same general formula as other Dogenzaka Lab games (played Pub Encounter and My Butler prior), but there's something about it that keeps me coming back. I found all of the characters extremely likable and I thoroughly enjoyed each of their routes. I originally got this just to kill time, but it turn out to be a surprisingly satisfying game!

It's a good one, 8/10 overall.

What I liked:
Variety of character types
Unique storylines
Beautiful artwork
Pleasant BGM

What I disliked:
Some overly cliche story elements
Awkward writing/translations(?)
Passive protagonist

Notes:

I wouldn't go into this expecting anything more than any other dating sim. It is a very simple, enjoyable game where you romance older men. (There's also lots of fun information about drinks and cocktails.)

I got this on sale, but even at full price, it's worth every penny!

A strange, cringy, yet enjoyable game to pass the time, 5/10 overall.

What I liked:
Cliche plot with equally cliche characters
Lovely art
Pleasant BGM

What I disliked:
Not enough characters
Not enough content
Passive protagonist
Creepy/abusive behavior at times
Lacking in overall depth

Something about the game still feels incomplete. The storylines could use more depth I'm hoping they add udates sometime in the near future.