dicedados-blog

[mobageheroine]

Rin - 凛

【Koihana Bakumeiroku】

[dark-frosted-heart]

Ikemen Series + Other Cybird Games X Food Fantasy seiyuu

Skipped Destined to Love :>

If you see Sengoku Night Blood characters, it's because food fantasy had a collab with them

[clavissionary-position]

Otome Rule #78: All zaddies must catch MC at some point

[chasing-storm-s]

Completed my first route in Koihana Bakumeiroku!

Generally enjoyable, I like the MC and the guys. Also, compared to the others IkeSeries I've played, in this one Rin (MC) is also a mystery. Who is she, how does she know swordfighting, and a specific style of it too. This was a good aspect of the game for me. Not just about the guys, but her and how her recovering her memories affects the story. I do wish there's a bit more drama as to the effect of her identity has on everything (don't ask me what kind of drama, I just wanted a things to be a little more heated ok 😂)

It took a while since for a number of reasons, but it was enjoyable. There were lots of confusing terms and moments because my reading ability is very basic and translation app just keeps giving strange translations from time to time. Also, because I am not at all versed in the Meiji era going-ons, I had to pause mid story from time to time just to search it up, and still finding things confusing - history is far FAR from my strength especially when it comes to other nations. On top of that my first introduction with the Shinsengumi is from Gintama.. so yeah. Well aware that as fun as Gintama is, it do be pretty random and meshes up stuffs 😂. It does, however sparked my interest in them. Trying to separate anime with historical facts was something.

Anyways, the hunt for my ult love remains. Initially thought it would be Hijikata, but thought I like him, I wasn't that attached to him. Potential bias(es) may/may not be Saigo and/or Katsu, but alas, their routes aren't out yet.

Next up, Kido! He's such a tease in during story events so I'm looking forward to it~

[archiveikemen]

Main Story Release Date

Katsu Kaishu [CV: Azakami Youhei]

Katsu Kaishu's main story will be released on the 28th of September 2023 at 16:00 JST!

「 Believe in myself, and live with my own strength.

— That's my way of life. 」

[daeva-agas]

Ｌｏｒｄ

Looking at the pretty Bakumatsu Kareshi artwork and comparing it to the Sengoku Romansque one makes me want to cry. The Koiroma artist is actually a well-established anime artist? I don’t know why the artwork in Koiroma seems so bland... 

[saizoswifey]

Omg you play Bakumatsu Kareshi?! [Insert shook eyes] 👀👀👀 Do you have any super favourites and did you see the anime they made about it? Yamazaki and Souji own my soul 😫👌

YES not as much as I’d like Rn because I have so much on my plate but I went face first into the Emporer tiddies AJDNSJSN I love Saitou and Takasugi hnnng ALL GOOD THOUGH yes I did see the anime!!!!!!! GOOD SHIT 😩👏🏻👏🏻

[clavissionary-position]

Koibaku Character Impressions

Aaand of course my translator starts glitching the second I get to Naosuke in the prologue >.>

Anyway, my first impressions of everyone so far (please forgive inaccuracies since I use a translator to play).

SAITO

Straight-laced former-Shinsengumi current-Tokyo-police-dude(?) with an understated gentleness to him. Of all the Ikeseries posterboys that I'm familiar with he reminds me of Napoleon and Ray the most. He's heccin easy on the eyes, but nothing else has really captured my interest so far.

KIDO

Kind, easy-going, progressive-thinking (feminist icon) and gentlemanly. He's basically the advisor to the Emperor(?). All the characters on the Meiji Government side seem to answer to him. He reminds me of Comte and Victor!

MORI

Not a romanceable suitor (yet?) but he has a sprite and he's a quirky military doctor. He's very playful and inviting and hospitable (he literally invites Rin, the MC, to come stay with him while she stays in Tokyo and tries to get her memory back). He reminds me of Gilbert if Gilbert hadn't joined the dark side. Also I think he robbed Mousse in a dark alley and stole his outfit.

KATSU

I don't know how I feel about him. He's one of the characters who is the most openly distrustful of Rin. He's also the only one so far who's made a pass at her, joking or otherwise. So I'd say he reminds me of Nokto. He was against Kido hiring a female, but he might have a more nuanced reason for it besides it being the prevailing attitude in that era. And he did quickly accept the decision without a fuss, but it seemed more because Kido is such a high-ranking official. Katsu leads the navy.

SAIGO

Charismatic general. He's really just so very charming and easy to talk to. And that reminds me of Jin and Leon and Masa. I don't really have a lot else to say about him. He's very good at keeping his guard-dog at bay XD

TOSHIAKI

Angry pomeranian general. He tiny, he bark, he probably bite. He literally has a little fangy sticking out of his mouth. He's SOOO overprotective about Saigo. He. Is. ADORABLE. Reminds me of Hideyoshi in terms of "my lord can do no wrong and I would die for him" vibes. Yves too! And though I don't know a whole lot about Kanetsugu, I think the guard dog bit might be similar to him?

ENOMOTO

My dude is a prisoner!? Only because he was on the losing side of the Boshin War. But he has his own little research room at the prison and gets so caught up in his research that he forgets to eat for DAYS at a time. Without showing any exhaustion. He's got radiant vibes. I think I might love him. I don't know. Mitsunari? I don't know. Dazai minus his rainy vibes?? ;;

HIJIKATA

Alluring. Somehow elusive. Leaves an almost ghostly impression in the brief encounter Rin has with him. AND HE'S GOT INHUMANLY COLD HANDS SO LET ME JUST PREPARE MY TEARS. I think he's definitely for the Leonardo-enjoyers. And Galileo-voice-enjoyers :)

NAOSUKE

I don't know because my stupid translator decided to glitch just as I got to him :( But he's mysterious. Seems to huff a quiet, knowing, malicious laugh instead of giving a straight answer. Will update after I play the last bit of the prologue.

edit: finished the prologue. HECCIN Shakespeare vibes. He only says as much as he needs to and leaves the rest to his mysterious and unsettling aura. During Rin's encounter with him he helps her back to government HQ when she gets lost, but ofc it's weird that he even knew where she was going in the first place hehe :)

???

WHO IS HE?? Foreigner dude that Rin only sees in passing. 0 interaction in the prologue. And he's not romanceable afaik

[dark-frosted-heart]

Not another jar…

[dark-frosted-heart]

Now that it’s not the middle of the night, I can properly look at Ikevil and Koibaku’s collab cafe menu items

Harrison - Strawberry milk (true or false?) with a mint leaf and monaka wafers in the shape of fox ears

Liam - Rosehip tea and gummy paws

Alfons - Soda with cotton candy and blue curaçao syrup you pour over and watch the cotton candy dissolve so good luck trying to take pics of your drink

Roger - Apple juice in the style of beer, dried peas snack, monaka wafer in the shape of glasses

Ellis - Grape juice with orange jelly and mixed berries

Victor - (cursed) coffee with rose-shaped sugar cubes. Drink and you will become a part of Crown

Enomoto Takeaki - Tieguanyin tea and bean snacks

Hijikata Toshizou - Acerola juice with plum syrup and mint

Ii Naosuke - Genmaicha with red bean monaka

Milk tea with a random suitor’s emblem

William - Hamburger steak with fresh blood (Demi-glace and red wine sauce)

Jude - Nuggets and fries that Jude’s not going to eat so you eat it instead

Saito Hajime - Breakfast of grilled mackerel, rice, miso soup, lotus root

Kido Takayoshi - Omurice with a Japanese-style savory sauce, bamboo shoots, and peas

Kirino Toshiaki- Sweet potato curry

Elbert - Deep sea jewelry box dessert that’s blue jelly, Bavarian cream (or yogurt bavarois?), crushed biscuits, white chocolate, edible pearls, and a dried orange

Katsu Kaishuu - Matcha ice cream parfait with mochi, candied chestnut, red beans and a cherry

Saigou Takamori - Dorayaki, dango, vanilla ice cream with Japanese black sugar syrup

[clavissionary-position]

Koihana Bakumeiroku Suitor Profiles, Lite Ver. (All 8 Suitors)

↳ Taken from the official site x ↳ I've included links to the wiki pages of the real-life people they're based on (in case you're as oblivious as I am) ↳ Translations may not be completely accurate, and may be totally off in some places

HAJIME SAITO (CV. Shugo Nakamura) 冷徹 ⨉ 純愛 Level-Headed ⨉ Pure Love "That sword-stance... Are you from Aizu? No wonder you've got such strong eyes."

TAKAYOSHI KIDO (CV. Ryouta Suzuki) 人たらし ⨉ 知略 Smooth-Talker ⨉ Ingenuity

"'Kogoro the Runaway' you say? Why, I take that as a compliment. You can't do a thing if you're dead, after all."

*Kogoro was Takayoshi's birthname. "Kogoro the Runaway" is supposedly a nickname the IRL Takayoshi received for his knack for escaping in pinch (using disguises, deceit, etc.), though apparently this hasn't been historically verified? You may be familiar with his story from other media/games. (dubious(?) sources 1 2 3)

TAKAMORI SAIGO (CV. Ryouhei Kimura) 勇壮 ⨉ 包容力 Heroic ⨉ Broad-Mindedness

"I've got too many precious things on my hands. And that's why I don't have a second to waste."

TOSHIZO HIJIKATA (CV. Makoto Furukawa) カリスマ ⨉ 大人色気 Charisma ⨉ Adult Sex-Appeal

"In the end, the only thing we can do is follow the path we believe in. That goes for me―and that goes for you."

TAKEAKI ENOMOTO (CV. Kazuyuki Okitsu) 博愛 ⨉ 探求者 Philanthropy ⨉ Seeker

"Now that I've survived to this era... perhaps there's something for me to be doing."

*博愛 has a swathe of meanings that generally align with things like fraternity, charity, love of humanity etc. *seeker in the sense that he is searching for something. Perhaps a purpose?

KAISHU KATSU (CV. Youhei Azakami) 野心家 ⨉ 独立独歩 Ambitious ⨉ Self-Reliant

"We may share a common front, but I don't trust you. Well, the feeling's mutual, isn't it?"

NAOSUKE II (CV. Masaya Matsukaze) 絶対規律 ⨉ 鬼畜 Absolute Discipline ⨉ Demonic

"I am the law here and my word is absolute. If you don't obey, I'll kill you. Is that clear?"

TOSHIAKI KIRINO (CV. Shogo Sakata) 忠実 ⨉ エキセントリック Loyal ⨉ Eccentric

"You're a surprisingly good person, aren't you! Let's do our best for Saigo-san together!"

Meiji Government: Hajime, Takayoshi, Kaishu and Enomoto New Tokugawa Shogunate: Naosuke and Hijikata ???: Saigo and Kirino

[clavissionary-position]

Finalllyyyyyy, Koibaku is up on Google Playyyyy

[clavissionary-position]

He looks so saucy

Naosuke's flower crest is the globe amaranth, which symbolizes "unfading love" and "immortality." This seemingly ties into his background as someone who ought to have been assasinated and yet is still alive. He also seems to know something about MC's missing childhood memories, so I wonder if they were childhood friends.

[chasing-storm-s]

In KoiBaku, Hijikata is referred to as one of the

"士花人" and this phrase crops up a lot. I'm wondering if anyone can help with with this?

I can't get my head around what it really means or refers to so I'm mostly confused about it and how exactly it plays into the relationship between him and Rin, and everyone else actually. Like is Ii part of the same group? Or just hijikata?

Also is this group like completely fiction or what is it based/referring to historically.

I get the sense that it's something dangerous? A faction? And my translator at some point also suggests something like a "blooming" injury?

So yeah, if anyone could help out that would be greatly appreciated.

Screenshot of one scene below cut cause not sure if it's spoilery or not:

[chasing-storm-s]

Katsu's route is coming up soon and I haven't even finished a single route 😭. Currently still only about a third way through hijikata's.. unfortunately my phone translation app and phone can barely handle a full chapter - and the app's lag is not helping either so.. either events or main story only :')

I've only been concentrating on events just so I can get a better feel of the others but yep, guess now it's about time I catch up with the main story 🙃

... after I finish saigo's and katsu's event story tho 😆

[chasing-storm-s]

Routes I've done for Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Vampire, Ikemen Villains, and Koihana Bakumeiroku. To be updated from time to time.

IkeSen Routes completed:

Masamune: romantic | dramatic | eternal (fav guy and fav routes)

Shingen: romantic | dramatic (not my type but damn I'd be lying if I say I didn't fall for him in his routes)

Nobunaga: romantic | dramatic (rather have you as an older brother figure, but you sure can be fun). sign me up for a late-night konpeito heist.

Sasuke: Romantic & Dramatic (routes SUPER fun. Guy's also super fun). Preferance: dramatic. Side story for both full love bonus is awesome!

Mitsunari: Romantic (the incomparable angel)

Keiji: Romantic (feeling: complicated. Sometimes I hate him, other times I like him well enough. His route is different but in a good way I guess?)

Kenshin: Romantic, Dramatic. (was worried but I think I like MC in his route. Ngl did fall for him despite his yandere-ing. Although, it's probably because I expected worse). Prefer his romantic cause we get to see them all plotting to bring him back, Mai as the Goddess of War. Ah, that was such a cool scene.

Motonari: Dramatic | Romantic (boy is he wild. But nope, not my thing - looks hot tho). I surprised myself by finishing both his routes this early hahah. Liked him much better on my 2nd gameplay but gosh will I always dislike that first couple of chapters.

Hideyoshi: Romantic | Dramatic (an extremely much needed break after the prev 3 guys. Worried I would dislike his route. But I love it. Him too. Very much. Fav parts: MC saying she will not send him a letter & her threatening Mitsuhide)

Ieyasu: Dramatic | Romantic Annnd that's my first Ieyasu route completed (dramatic). Enjoyed it more than I expected since Tsunderes aren't my thing, I was worried that I would've dislike his route but it turns out alright. I am a little sad that there weren't much of Sasuke fanboying moments but yeah overall things are still fine. Not sure yet how it goes in my ranking of routes I've done tho. Romatic: i've left it too long between reading and writing this.. so I'm sorry but I really forgot how things go. BUT. I think I enjoyed dramatic more.

Yoshimoto: Romantic (very dramatic. And it's not even the dramatic route. I love it.)

Yukimura: Dramatic | Dramatic (sometimes, you need to get yourself an awkward, tactless, yet super sweet guy who'll chase after you and call you dummy. Not fav LI but my 2nd fav route to play).

Mitsuhide: romantic. ohoho. I am warming up to this guy.

Kanetsugu: dramatic | romantic. His smile. His SMILE. I melt every time. Both routes were awesome! But I'll pick dramatic over romantic cause of that one Azuchi mother hen-ing scene 😂

Kennyo: Dramatic. That was pretty good actually.

IkeVamp Routes completed:

Leonardo: romantic | dramatic (is he the sweetest guy ever or is there someone who competes for this position?)

Vlad: dramatic (quite the bittersweet route. I love him)

Jean: romantic (boy be breaking my heart with his story. Extra love given to this man.)

Napoleon: dramatic. A lovely, lighter, more humorous read (compared to previous two).

Isaac: dramatic & romantic (adorable 100%. Need I say more?)

Dazai: romantic (thoughts tbc)

Faust: dramatic. Welp, this is one dramatic, red-flagged guy. Kidnapping, threats, dubious consent (?). Then again, it's pretty much expected/we've been warned. I donno but I was quite excited about playing his route but now that I've finished it.. I donno. I thought I would've enjoyed it more maybe? (This is why expectations are dangerous). I like the drama esp that beginning and learning about his softer sides especially with his interactions with the orphanage children (I love these scenes) but, I'm feeling like there's something.. missing. Maybe it's just me these past month because it has been a very busy, full of change month for me outside of my otome games. Im just here trying to divide my braincell for everything 🙃 . I'll replay his route once I'm properly settled in.

Arthur: Romantic. I love his route, how complicated things are between him and his past and him and Emma. With their very rocky start, how the comes to be be friends and their feelings, all to aware that both could not hope to fall in love with the other. Despite the complications, things aren't messy (I'm not refering to how Arthur himself's a mess). I think the route's written quite well, and it really does messes with your feelings (I like routes that gives me strong feelings, good and bad)

Theo: Romantic. Love how he's so insistent at going to the future for MC. I haven't seen any in Sengoku (not incl sasuke cause he future person) or other Vampire suitors yet that offers to do so. Overall, I enjoyed his route. I wish there were more..

Shakespeare: Dramatic. It's awesome.

Charles: Romantic. Ugly-crying almost the whole time. Is it my hormones? Is it purely Charles? I'll never truly know. But I love his route, though I'll never forgive cybird for that one chapter for toying with my emotions like that.

Vincent: Dramatic. Pretty lovely. It has that pure, gentle feeling like the man himself. Oh but I didn't think I would hate Shakespeare as much as I did in this route. Well, it's for the plot after all.

Comte: it was a fun ride. Got so many new dresses 😌

Interlude: very enjoyable. Nice seeing lots of friendship/family dynamics and more of everyone

IkeVill routes completed:

William Rex: Mad love - I like the story. Warming up to the game and concepts. Guy wise, it's kinda hard to get a proper sense of him through translation apps but I might put him on my like-as-friends or neutral acquaintance group.

Liam Evans: Both Ends - my fav being Blind End. best boy 😭 the sweetest man I could ever ask for. But oh the pain, the hurt, the tragic backstories. The amount of times I cried.

Harrison Gray: Blind Love - did a speed run through so can't remember much right now since I am updating this like after finishing a whole different route later. But. I remember thinking that it gives the most adventurous feeling between the others I've played.

Elbert Greetia: Mad Love - Quite enjoyed the route, though El's back story was disturbing. Love the whole El, Al, and Kate relationship side of things.

Koihana Bakumeiroku

Hijikata - First route I've ever finished and well, there were parts I was confused about but did figured out in other routes I have not finished playing yet (Kido and Katsu). I liked it.