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.