#eccentric type

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(((The right options for a route are the ones that make sparkles appear after you pick them)))

Great Personality: Guardians is a visual novel by Light Grey Art Lab. Over 50 artists collaborated on the project -- but if I’m going to be 100% honest, as cool as that seems on its face, it just didn’t work for me personally. The art styles for the different characters are radically different, making it sort of jarring to see them together. Likewise, the MBTI basis for the game seemed awesome when I first read about it, but the player’s autonomy in shaping the protagonist’s personality type seems really limited. As far as I can tell, almost all your choices are about how to interact with your romantic interest, and picking the right answers for that character automatically shapes your personality to the one that compliments theirs. With all that being said, I did enjoy the characters’ personalities a lot (including their MBTI basis), and although the stories seemed a little rushed (grown adults jumping into the ‘love’ word after just a few days always freaks me out in games) the developers did a great job packing in some depth to the love interests’ identities. Overall, I had fun with this game, and it’s worth giving it a few playthroughs just to see the impressive variety of the different characters included. If you enjoy the game, you can theoretically look forward to three more installments of the Great Personality series -- although the next releases are being slow to rear their heads.

The premise of the game is that the (non-gendered) protagonist has just moved to a new city. They doesn’t know anyone there, and with only their cat to keep them company they’re anxious to form some ties in their new home. As the protagonist explores their new environment, they meet new people to befriend and perhaps fall in love with.

The game includes alcohol and drunkenness, non-explicit sexual encounters and mentions of sex, and semi-nudity on Amelia’s route (I’m labeling the game as steamy literally just because of her path).

Let it be known that this game is not a conventional otome game, so the characters really don’t fall into the same archetypal traps. Maybe some otome game developers could take a page out of Light Gray Art Lab’s book here, ESPECIALLY with regards to female love interests.

Lukas: Eccentric Type

Lukas is an odd duck, and during his first encounter with the protagonist they’re inclined to think he’s weird at best and insane at worst. Although they’re initially rather unnerved by Lukas’ rather excessive love of puns and unpredictable movements, after spending some time with him they realize that there’s more to him than his unusual mannerisms. In fact, Lukas is a very dedicated historian and artist, working hard at his job at the museum and painting masterful works in his spare time. Although he may at first seem like a bit of a delinquent, he actually operates by a very strict code and is absolutely horrified when something outside his moral framework happens that he considers his fault. Lukas is always fairly nice to the protagonist and encourages them to accompany him on his escapades, and although they’re uncertain about him at first they’re eventually won over by his unfettered enthusiasm for basically everything he’s involved in.

Greta: Tomboy Lesbian Type

Greta is very rough around the edges, with such a gruff attitude towards the protagonist initially that they’re unsure they want anything to do with her. However, after a couple encounters, the protagonist realizes that there’s more to Greta than her seemingly grouchy demeanor. Greta doesn’t like to play pretend (and doesn’t really respect people who do); she’s a “just-the-facts” type of girl who believes in calling ‘em like she sees ‘em. If she doesn’t like someone, she has no problem at all making that clear -- and when she likes them, she has her ways of making that obvious as well. However, it seems as though pride wins out over total honesty for Greta sometimes; she wouldn’t dream of asking for help even when she clearly needs it, and tends to insist she is fine (or at least not mention her problems) even when she’s not.

Lily: Interesting Lesbian Type

Lily is a very talkative person, and seems perpetually eager to share her life story with anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. She’s definitely not shy when sober, but when tipsy or drunk she enters a whole new level of brazenness that’s unusual to see in women in dating games. She can be fun to hang around, but there’s a certain hint of desperation for interaction (which at times is less of a hint and more of a glaring fault) that initially turns the protagonist off of her company. However, Lily’s enthusiastic attitude and eventual development of a more honest persona draws the protagonist back in on her route.

Mikey: Unique

I’d love to tell you that Mikey has an archetype but... Nope. He’s something special, both in-game and in the more meta-analysis sense. Mikey’s a very accomplished man, leading major projects including one to revitalize the protagonist’s new city and encourage independent businesses. He’s tremendously charismatic, and generally has the sway to influence anyone to do what he wants. The protagonist is basically immediately smitten with him, and after their first date she seems ready to melt into a puddle of mush at the slightest provocation. However, Mikey isn’t as flawlessly sparkly as he first appears -- apparently all his success has gone to his head a little too much, and he’s less than comfortable when his authority is challenged at all. This doesn’t mean he’s incapable of listening to reason or admitting when he’s wrong.

Oli: Friendly Type

(Oli is never gendered in the game, but I’m using a “male” personality archetype because it’s fitting.) Oli is an incredibly enthusiastic and fun-loving person. They are basically always excited about one thing or another, and their charisma tends to get other people (including the protagonist) swept up in their energy. Oli is tremendously nice to everyone, and upon meeting the protagonist immediately offers their services as an impromptu tour guide. However, since Oli is so friendly and helpful with everyone, the protagonist is very unsure that they are actually interested in a relationship and not just being Oli.

Amelia: Interesting Lesbian Type

Oh man, Amelia is so cool you guys. A sexually liberated, confident, talented woman in a dating sim? Who would have thunk it! Amelia “does what she wants” according to Oli, and Oli ain’t wrong about that. Basically from the minute they meet, Amelia has the protagonist wrapped around her finger, and has no intention of letting her go. Amelia’s route is mostly spent with the protagonist in crippling anxiety over Amelia’s feelings towards them, head reeling from their early encounter. I’ve gotta be honest though, you guys. Although I’m really happy to see such an empowered woman in a game like this, Amelia was presented in a disappointingly flat way without much emotion or really any weaknesses.

Francesca: Interesting Lesbian Type

Francesca is a sweet, reserved, introverted baker, and on her route the protagonist is immediately drawn to her quiet but kind personality. Francesca isn’t the most talkative, and initial interactions are a little awkward as she just doesn’t have much to say. She’s also hesitant to get to know people better, the protagonist included, wanting to reserve time for herself and her work. However, once she likes a person, she becomes more talkative and enthusiastic about spending time together. Although she never becomes extremely outgoing, Francesca does lose some of her inhibition around the protagonist by the end of her route.

Conor: Responsible Type

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Walkthrough (scroll down a lot, it's there I promise)

The Knife of the Traitor is a visual novel by Clua, made for the NaNoRenO challenge in 2012. I thought the premise was really interesting, and if anything I wish that the game was longer so that it could be developed more. If this were turned into a commercial game, exploring the adventures of Lady Os as she tried to repent for her past and turn Ulla into a beautiful kingdom, I would buy the fuck out of it. As it is, the game is pretty short, but still well executed and worth playing. Because of how short the game is, the relationships don't develop much, but that's honestly for the best. Given how much everyone but Corvus hates Lady Os, it would feel forced and unrealistic if they were suddenly completely devoted to her. Coding, spelling, and grammar are all superb in this game, and I didn't notice a single error.

The premise of the game is that Lady Os, ruler of the kingdom of Ulla, has woken up after a long cursed slumber. A knife through her neck seems to have taken both her voice and her memory. In the game, she and her servant Corvus search the tower and talk to the prisoners there. The game is in conventional visual novel format, with text that you click through and occasional choices that you select from a given list.

Vosges: Shota Type

Vosges is a shota type solely because of his appearance. The mushroom hat is a part of his torture devised by Lady Os, forcing him to keep the body of a thirteen year old boy no matter how old he becomes. His attitude, however, betrays his age and situation. He despises Lady Os for her horrible treatment of him, so his attitude is far from the cheery and excitable persona that most shota types possess. Likewise, Vosges is very knowledgeable and has spent much of his time in the tower researching, rather than being naive as is common among shota types. Lady Os repeatedly calls him "kid," but he staunchly asserts that he isn't a child.

Gervase: Jerk Type

Although all the prisoners hate Lady Os, Gervase is the most confrontational. He calls her a "bitch" to her face, and repeatedly tells her to "fuck off." Gervase has a tragic back story like most jerk types, although all the characters in the game have experienced one horror or another and Gervase's (known) story sort of pales in comparison. Gervase is unquestionably the most vulgar character in the game, as well.

Lilja: Eccentric Type

Well I mean, just look at him. Lilja is absurd in practically every way, from his attitude to his appearance to his actions. I thought it was rather interesting that Lilja is supposed to be a god, given the typical image of gods as poised and refined beings. I guess there's no rule that says gods can't be completely ridiculous, especially when they've been effectively held prisoner on earth for years. Although Lilja was really too comedic for me to take seriously as a love interest, I still thought he was an interesting addition to the cast.

Corvus: Best Friend Type; Protective Type