Cupid Parasite was INCREDIBLY fun. The characters and LIs work so well as an ensemble cast; their dynamics and interactions are just so entertaining and often chaotic. Lynette is a great MC, and it never felt like her personality changed drastically from route to route. There are plenty of emotional moments (and some melodrama), but I found myself laughing so often because the characters and situations are so funny a lot of the time. Overall, it was a very enjoyable and light-hearted romcom-kinda story.
Things I Liked:
- Absolutely wonderful MC in Lynette.
- Beautiful, colorful, unique art.
- Great voice acting from a talented cast.
- Fairly short common route; doesn't take too long to set things up.
Things I Didn't Like:
- Gill's route. He's fine in other routes, but he's just NOT my cup of tea. At all.
- Translation/localization is stellar throughout 99% of the game, but there was a section of Raul's route that felt like it slipped through the editing cracks. It was suuuper distracting.
Things I Liked:
- Absolutely wonderful MC in Lynette.
- Beautiful, colorful, unique art.
- Great voice acting from a talented cast.
- Fairly short common route; doesn't take too long to set things up.
Things I Didn't Like:
- Gill's route. He's fine in other routes, but he's just NOT my cup of tea. At all.
- Translation/localization is stellar throughout 99% of the game, but there was a section of Raul's route that felt like it slipped through the editing cracks. It was suuuper distracting.
My favorite route in order:
1. Allan - cried in every scene 5/5
2. Raul - sexyman 4.5/5
3. Shelby - the banana 4/5
4. Gill - cried in his tragic end 3.5/5
5. Ryuki - just cute 3/5
1. Allan - cried in every scene 5/5
2. Raul - sexyman 4.5/5
3. Shelby - the banana 4/5
4. Gill - cried in his tragic end 3.5/5
5. Ryuki - just cute 3/5
Raul changed my life forever god bless
Art is gorgeous and the music is so fitting as well. Allan's theme is a personal favorite. All the characters are enjoyable to watch. I love the designs of each character and how it fits their personality. Super excited for the sequel coming out.
This review contains spoilers
genuinely the most fun i've ever had with an otome game. how did they do it. someone else said it but it truly is for the girls and the gays
things i enjoyed:
❥ THE SOUNDTRACK oh my god IT'S SOOOO FUN i think it's so cute that all the love interests and lynette have little theme songs
❥ the art and visual design is so fun and poppy and good
❥ i'm the kind of person who dreads bad ends but reads them anyway out of curiosity's sake but this one has like. FUN bad ends. isn't that crazy. i was enjoying myself there too
❥ plot points:
➛ zeus: "the distinction between man and woman is no longer necessary. and no other androgynes need exist apart from myself." <- obsessed with this. zeus validating nb identities and then establishing himself as The Ultimate Non-Binary Person Ever in one breath is hilarious to me
➛ gill transformers fight. what the hell LMFAOOOO
➛ i thought all the little pop culture references were sooo cute
➛ the ultimate Working Couple (shelby/lynette)
➛ FWB? IN MY OTOME GAME? HANDLED NICELY AND WITH RESPECT TO CASUAL RELATIONSHIPS? omg
➛ mars and his stupid little roomba
➛ lynette's transparent little crush on claris. i get that it's supposed to be foreshadowing her being a succubus but there's only so many times u can read lynette thinking "claris' smile made her look like an angel" "claris is the cutest person in the world" before being like Oh. Girl is a little bit in love
➛ Allan Melville
my biggest gripe with this is that it's a bit hard to tell the difference between when lynette is thinking and when she's speaking :(
also otome games also tend to be cishetnormative and this is no exception (outside of zeus being The Non-Binary Entity and one instance where lynette mentions angels potentially being genderless) so i often just try to zone that out, but i do wish that cupid corp wasn't so insistent on Men and Women. the brief moment where raul was like "Oh, Cupid is a woman? So was Cupid and Psyche just a friendship thing?" SIR...
i also have a problem with how los york (assumedly a combo of los angeles and new york) has basically zero diversity but it's a japanese game so that's not surprising
allan > jupiter > raul>/= ryuki > shelby >>>>>> gill
things i enjoyed:
❥ THE SOUNDTRACK oh my god IT'S SOOOO FUN i think it's so cute that all the love interests and lynette have little theme songs
❥ the art and visual design is so fun and poppy and good
❥ i'm the kind of person who dreads bad ends but reads them anyway out of curiosity's sake but this one has like. FUN bad ends. isn't that crazy. i was enjoying myself there too
❥ plot points:
➛ zeus: "the distinction between man and woman is no longer necessary. and no other androgynes need exist apart from myself." <- obsessed with this. zeus validating nb identities and then establishing himself as The Ultimate Non-Binary Person Ever in one breath is hilarious to me
➛ gill transformers fight. what the hell LMFAOOOO
➛ i thought all the little pop culture references were sooo cute
➛ the ultimate Working Couple (shelby/lynette)
➛ FWB? IN MY OTOME GAME? HANDLED NICELY AND WITH RESPECT TO CASUAL RELATIONSHIPS? omg
➛ mars and his stupid little roomba
➛ lynette's transparent little crush on claris. i get that it's supposed to be foreshadowing her being a succubus but there's only so many times u can read lynette thinking "claris' smile made her look like an angel" "claris is the cutest person in the world" before being like Oh. Girl is a little bit in love
➛ Allan Melville
my biggest gripe with this is that it's a bit hard to tell the difference between when lynette is thinking and when she's speaking :(
also otome games also tend to be cishetnormative and this is no exception (outside of zeus being The Non-Binary Entity and one instance where lynette mentions angels potentially being genderless) so i often just try to zone that out, but i do wish that cupid corp wasn't so insistent on Men and Women. the brief moment where raul was like "Oh, Cupid is a woman? So was Cupid and Psyche just a friendship thing?" SIR...
i also have a problem with how los york (assumedly a combo of los angeles and new york) has basically zero diversity but it's a japanese game so that's not surprising
allan > jupiter > raul>/= ryuki > shelby >>>>>> gill
amazing art and ost. crazy plot points.....
Allan <3
The OST and visual design hard-carry this game.
This review contains spoilers
A fantastic romcom otome with a variety of LIs, a cute MC, catchy music, and fun visuals. Its very visually over the top and I love it. Some of the routes were very campy, which was incredible. I think I tended to prefer the human/earlier routes to the later routes when things got supernatural. Every LI had something to like about them. Standouts were Ryuki and Allan, although Shelby and Gill were also quite good. I think it is worthy of a replay in the future.
as OSTS são MUITO BOAS Pqp
This review contains spoilers
i think this game made me finally decide to stick with Western Otomes.
Also sheeesh the localization is bad
I honestly expected more from a 60 dollar game
Also sheeesh the localization is bad
I honestly expected more from a 60 dollar game
allan melville if you read this im free on Thursday night and would like to hang out. Please respond to this and then hang out with me on Thursday night when I’m free.
Insane game. Extremely enjoyable & hilarious. I had expectations going into this game since I've waited around a year to play it and I was not disappointed with what I got out of it! An otome game that's worth your time if you're looking for something for an engaging plot with a side of absurd humor and events at times. I ❤ LOS YORK
Cupid Parasite is an absolutel WILD RIDE of an otome, and I mean that in the best way possible. If you love lots of laugh-out-loud moments in your otome games, then play this game. CupiPara also goes out of its way to cram in as many cheesy romance tropes as possible. Here is a list of just a few that can be found in the various routes of this story:
- Fake dating
- Soulmates
- Friends to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Secret identity
...And many more that I can't list without giving spoilers. CupiPara knows exactly what it is, and embraces its cheesiness fully. Huge recommend if you want a sweet and funny read.
Also, Ryuki is my favorite.
- Fake dating
- Soulmates
- Friends to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Secret identity
...And many more that I can't list without giving spoilers. CupiPara knows exactly what it is, and embraces its cheesiness fully. Huge recommend if you want a sweet and funny read.
Also, Ryuki is my favorite.
i only actually played through gill and shelby's route but both of them were good
Fofíssimo! Um jogo com uma estética pop art meio revista feminina que eu nunca tinha visto antes e que me fez pensar como a maioria das referências estéticas pra jogos nunca vêm desse lado.
A premissa do jogo é divertida, a Cupido que veio para o nosso mundo pra fazer o trabalho dela sob os termos dos humanos e não dos Deuses, e os personagens, apesar de serem vendidos como os piores homens do planeta, na verdade acabam sendo bem fofos num geral.
Como o jogo é mais focado no amor em si e menos em questões sociais ou no mundo, achei que não acharia tão emocionante ou impactante quanto Olympia Soirée que joguei por último. Mas não adiantou, houve uma rota em cenas em particular que fizeram minha garganta travar.
É um jogo que respeita o amor (até... certo ponto porque sabemos que né, qualquer atração que não seja heterossexual é impensável) e que não tem medo de se questionar quando soa muito puritano.
A premissa do jogo é divertida, a Cupido que veio para o nosso mundo pra fazer o trabalho dela sob os termos dos humanos e não dos Deuses, e os personagens, apesar de serem vendidos como os piores homens do planeta, na verdade acabam sendo bem fofos num geral.
Como o jogo é mais focado no amor em si e menos em questões sociais ou no mundo, achei que não acharia tão emocionante ou impactante quanto Olympia Soirée que joguei por último. Mas não adiantou, houve uma rota em cenas em particular que fizeram minha garganta travar.
É um jogo que respeita o amor (até... certo ponto porque sabemos que né, qualquer atração que não seja heterossexual é impensável) e que não tem medo de se questionar quando soa muito puritano.
This review contains spoilers
Not going to rate it for now, because I haven't finished the game, but my god! It's so fun. I love the art direction and the humor.
I started the game doing Ryuki route, because I knew it would be my least favourite and I was right. There were some funny things about him, (like his mist) but other than that I disliked it a lot.
On the other hand, Gill's bad ending had me barking. He made me go feral. Running, jumping around my room. I will eat that man alive. /pos
I started the game doing Ryuki route, because I knew it would be my least favourite and I was right. There were some funny things about him, (like his mist) but other than that I disliked it a lot.
On the other hand, Gill's bad ending had me barking. He made me go feral. Running, jumping around my room. I will eat that man alive. /pos
eu. meio que odeio esse jogo. os cgs/sprites e o design do jogo são lindos, eu adoro as cores e a vibe de cidade grande! a ost também é de respeito. o problema é que eu odeio todos os personagens e mesmo quando eu tentei dar uma chance a eles jogando a rota integralmente eu ODIEI ELES AINDA MAIS. a lynette é uma cu azedo e quero entrar numa briga de faca com todos os garotos, talvez exceto o gill porque ele já é digno de pena. queria dar um pé violento na bunda dele e deixar ele perturbado pra sempre (até acontece num bad ending!), mas ele não é um Bom Husbando, sabe. e os outros personagens são ainda piores. puta que pariu que raiva.
loved this otome game!! fantastic romcom with great writing. it's campy but that is the appeal.
glad men who read vns and think otome games are cringe will never read the insane masterpiece of a game that is cupid parasite this ones for the girls and gays only. also SOMEONE let yuuya draw porn PLEASE!!!!!!!! this game was like 1 level of horny away from a package shot and i would have rated it a 10000/10 then
This otome has a lovely plot that gets expanded on with each route you choose. Every character has a different piece of the puzzle you need to solve in order to get the "true" or "final" ending in Cupid's chapter. Additionally, the characters themselves will call Cupid by her canon name "Lynette Mirror" if you choose to keep her name in your routes.
The selling point for this game is not to date the men, but to enjoy a hilariously written narrative that never truly takes itself too seriously (I say this in the best way possible!) and I can tell you that even if you don't generally enjoy Otomes, this one may spark your interest in playing more of them.
Lynette is not a silent protagonist (though she is not voiced) and her chemistry with every character is natural yet different.
Gill: He learns what it means to be independent and not compromise his own beliefs to fit the one he loves because of Lynette. And Lynette in turn realizes she actually enjoys being dotted and waited on at times when those benefits are stripped away.
Shelby: The most equal dynamic in the sense that they are both workaholics with a common goal. They agree to keep their relationship professional (something they both prefer) until they realize it's not what they want anymore. This is the slowest damn burning route I have ever played in my entire existence. I hate this man.
Raul: Though Cupid is the God of Love, she has never really had any intimate relationships that are physical. Raul challenges her to separate pleasure from love, and she in turn teaches him about what it means to fall in love. If you think Shelby's route was slow burn, then I'm happy to announce this will be the equivalent of dowsing yourself in gasoline and setting yourself on fire within the first 2 events.
Ryuki: The youngest and yet, boldest of the group. Unlike Shelby, Gill, or even Allan, he does not flip-flop when it comes to what he feels or believes, and proudly takes what he wants. Lynette shows him a kindness he never sees from others because of his personality, and his worldview shifts dramatically the moment he realizes he's in love. A touching and brave relationship.
Allan: The easiest person to dislike and skip in terms of a route, but an essential part to understanding both him, Lynette, and the Gods in Celestia. Though he seems dismissive of love at first, it is because he has a greater goal in mind that allows no mistakes, and falling in love would no doubt be a mistake for him. Easily the most heart-wrenching and touching route with the most beautiful CG in the whole game, along with some lovely lore that adds a whole new layer of depth to his character when compared to the other routes. In my opinion, it is best to save his route for last to get the full scope of how much he goes through just for Lynette.
Overall, the Parasite 5 (or 6, if you unlock the final chapter) are all both frustrating, annoying, and lovely in their own ways. Not all routes were for me, and I can genuinely say that I had my preferences, but I can also confirm every route has something wholly enjoyable to look forward to. The dynamic of the men when they speak together feels so natural and smooth that it's hard not to enjoy it even if you end up disliking some of them at first glance. By the end of the game, I was fond of every character to some degree and happy with how most of their routes concluded.
I can't say there was a part I disliked, was left unanswered or didn't get expanded on in a satisfying way. I never thought I'd give an Otome 5/5, but the way each character is written shows that the writers considered each of them with love and care to appeal to more than just a niche. What really seals the deal on this Otome is how consistent everyone's characters are even in each-other's routes, and how beautifully the story comes together and wraps up in the "final" chapter. When I realized this is one of those games I'd love to play "blind" again, I couldn't help but keep it up there as one of my favorites.
The selling point for this game is not to date the men, but to enjoy a hilariously written narrative that never truly takes itself too seriously (I say this in the best way possible!) and I can tell you that even if you don't generally enjoy Otomes, this one may spark your interest in playing more of them.
Lynette is not a silent protagonist (though she is not voiced) and her chemistry with every character is natural yet different.
Gill: He learns what it means to be independent and not compromise his own beliefs to fit the one he loves because of Lynette. And Lynette in turn realizes she actually enjoys being dotted and waited on at times when those benefits are stripped away.
Shelby: The most equal dynamic in the sense that they are both workaholics with a common goal. They agree to keep their relationship professional (something they both prefer) until they realize it's not what they want anymore. This is the slowest damn burning route I have ever played in my entire existence. I hate this man.
Raul: Though Cupid is the God of Love, she has never really had any intimate relationships that are physical. Raul challenges her to separate pleasure from love, and she in turn teaches him about what it means to fall in love. If you think Shelby's route was slow burn, then I'm happy to announce this will be the equivalent of dowsing yourself in gasoline and setting yourself on fire within the first 2 events.
Ryuki: The youngest and yet, boldest of the group. Unlike Shelby, Gill, or even Allan, he does not flip-flop when it comes to what he feels or believes, and proudly takes what he wants. Lynette shows him a kindness he never sees from others because of his personality, and his worldview shifts dramatically the moment he realizes he's in love. A touching and brave relationship.
Allan: The easiest person to dislike and skip in terms of a route, but an essential part to understanding both him, Lynette, and the Gods in Celestia. Though he seems dismissive of love at first, it is because he has a greater goal in mind that allows no mistakes, and falling in love would no doubt be a mistake for him. Easily the most heart-wrenching and touching route with the most beautiful CG in the whole game, along with some lovely lore that adds a whole new layer of depth to his character when compared to the other routes. In my opinion, it is best to save his route for last to get the full scope of how much he goes through just for Lynette.
Overall, the Parasite 5 (or 6, if you unlock the final chapter) are all both frustrating, annoying, and lovely in their own ways. Not all routes were for me, and I can genuinely say that I had my preferences, but I can also confirm every route has something wholly enjoyable to look forward to. The dynamic of the men when they speak together feels so natural and smooth that it's hard not to enjoy it even if you end up disliking some of them at first glance. By the end of the game, I was fond of every character to some degree and happy with how most of their routes concluded.
I can't say there was a part I disliked, was left unanswered or didn't get expanded on in a satisfying way. I never thought I'd give an Otome 5/5, but the way each character is written shows that the writers considered each of them with love and care to appeal to more than just a niche. What really seals the deal on this Otome is how consistent everyone's characters are even in each-other's routes, and how beautifully the story comes together and wraps up in the "final" chapter. When I realized this is one of those games I'd love to play "blind" again, I couldn't help but keep it up there as one of my favorites.
Not all the characters were for me, but this was a good game! The writing was funny (if a bit much at times), the CG art was great, and voice work was top notch. Definitely worth your time. Pick this one up if you're looking for a feel-good VN that doesn't take itself too seriously.
My favorite routes were Ryuki's, Allan's, and the secret route - it's been a minute since an otome game got me to stay up way past my bedtime so I could see what was happening, but those routes definitely had me hooked!
My favorite routes were Ryuki's, Allan's, and the secret route - it's been a minute since an otome game got me to stay up way past my bedtime so I could see what was happening, but those routes definitely had me hooked!
Full video review: https://youtu.be/ksBqPhPvPrI
Right as I finish up Olympia Soirée and we already got another big otome release from the same studio, perfect timing!
Setting/Story
Cupid Parasite takes place in the fictionalized city of Los York, which, yes, means that the game is actually set in America instead of Japan. The setting plays heavily into the story, with this overall “Hollywood romantic movie” theme – and honestly, it works really well for an otome storyline.
You get the game’s version of some trashy American reality TV show, a plot structure that follows the typical highs and lows of a big budget Hollywood film, and – as if that wasn’t enough – this whole other story layer based in Roman mythology. It’s a bit ridiculous at times, but it’s not really one of those romance stories where logic applies and sometimes that’s just the kind of romance I want to read.
Characters
You’ve got the shy, yet extremely loyal writer that is lost in his own one-sided love, the fashion designer that seems more interested in his work than what goes on around him, the movie star that is weirdly addicted to Greek and Roman mythology, the womanizer that is only interested in ladies that are already in a relationship, and the company CEO that values his status above all else.
They’re all interesting in their own right, but my favorites ended up being Gill and Shelby. Gill’s route in particular is a great place to start – it hits all the highs you would expect from a Hollywood romcom, but blending the elements unique to Cupid Parasite all into this one nice package. The only character I outright disliked was Raul, the movie star. His character quirk just came off as annoying to me, even if it does get explained in his route.
Writing
The pacing is generally pretty fast across the board, which is good in that it lets you get right into the good stuff, but bad in that conflicts that do arise are resolved before they’ve been given proper exploration and it can come across as rushed. That and the story does use the occasional cheap trope or two to throw in some quick drama.
And while the story may get serious at times, it never really escapes that “bright and colorful romcom” feel – and that’s not even a bad thing. I just played Olympia Soirée, which dealt with some pretty heavy topics, so it was nice to just sit back and play through something that is just over the top and fun for the sake of it.
Art/Music
The art is like a color explosion, with these super vivid character designs, background art that is all sorts of… things at once, and an overall aesthetic that just oozes style. The music too. Been a while since a VN opened with a backing track that just grabbed me right from the start – but Cupid Parasite did just that.
Overall
Cupid Parasite is well-deserving of a recommendation. Whether you’re an otome fan or not, the story here is some really fun stuff – going from over-the-top romcom to drama with mythological undertones. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and really just getting into the super-vibrant setting, it is very unique for a VN and worth a look for just that alone. It may have its hiccups, but it is easily the best otome I’ve played this year.
Right as I finish up Olympia Soirée and we already got another big otome release from the same studio, perfect timing!
Setting/Story
Cupid Parasite takes place in the fictionalized city of Los York, which, yes, means that the game is actually set in America instead of Japan. The setting plays heavily into the story, with this overall “Hollywood romantic movie” theme – and honestly, it works really well for an otome storyline.
You get the game’s version of some trashy American reality TV show, a plot structure that follows the typical highs and lows of a big budget Hollywood film, and – as if that wasn’t enough – this whole other story layer based in Roman mythology. It’s a bit ridiculous at times, but it’s not really one of those romance stories where logic applies and sometimes that’s just the kind of romance I want to read.
Characters
You’ve got the shy, yet extremely loyal writer that is lost in his own one-sided love, the fashion designer that seems more interested in his work than what goes on around him, the movie star that is weirdly addicted to Greek and Roman mythology, the womanizer that is only interested in ladies that are already in a relationship, and the company CEO that values his status above all else.
They’re all interesting in their own right, but my favorites ended up being Gill and Shelby. Gill’s route in particular is a great place to start – it hits all the highs you would expect from a Hollywood romcom, but blending the elements unique to Cupid Parasite all into this one nice package. The only character I outright disliked was Raul, the movie star. His character quirk just came off as annoying to me, even if it does get explained in his route.
Writing
The pacing is generally pretty fast across the board, which is good in that it lets you get right into the good stuff, but bad in that conflicts that do arise are resolved before they’ve been given proper exploration and it can come across as rushed. That and the story does use the occasional cheap trope or two to throw in some quick drama.
And while the story may get serious at times, it never really escapes that “bright and colorful romcom” feel – and that’s not even a bad thing. I just played Olympia Soirée, which dealt with some pretty heavy topics, so it was nice to just sit back and play through something that is just over the top and fun for the sake of it.
Art/Music
The art is like a color explosion, with these super vivid character designs, background art that is all sorts of… things at once, and an overall aesthetic that just oozes style. The music too. Been a while since a VN opened with a backing track that just grabbed me right from the start – but Cupid Parasite did just that.
Overall
Cupid Parasite is well-deserving of a recommendation. Whether you’re an otome fan or not, the story here is some really fun stuff – going from over-the-top romcom to drama with mythological undertones. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and really just getting into the super-vibrant setting, it is very unique for a VN and worth a look for just that alone. It may have its hiccups, but it is easily the best otome I’ve played this year.