Bromances in Video Games (Rec List)

Here is the introductory post to this series: https://jayce-y.tumblr.com/post/672514508618678272/ive-always-loved-bromances-in-all-types-of-media

In no particular order, these spectacular games will surely make you jump in delight at some of the bromantic interactions. I will avoid major spoiler about the games and the characters. Very minor spoilers may exist.

I believe that gameplay, character growth, story, art & music, and the overall presentation all contribute to the enjoyment of an otp, so all the games listed below will rank high in those categories based on my personal opinions.

Explanation of my ratings:

- story: how engaging was the story and its world. 10 = wow, thought about it for days/weeks/months after I finished playing.

- presentation: how effective was the game at conveying what the creators tried to convey through art, music, style, worldbuilding etc. 10 = really unique and charming, very distinct style that hasn't really been seen before

- gameplay: how fun was the game mechanics. 10 = I loved grinding because it was so fun to just battle, UI was easy to use

asterisk means ship has option to be canon.

I've always loved bromances in all types of media, so I thought it would be time to make a comprehensive list of all my favs over the years. I love BL as well, but sometimes I'm in the mood for something with a bit of room for ✨imagination✨. I don't know if you all feel the same, but I almost always find that I am more dedicated to ships that aren't canon? I guess the longing is what fuels my passion. So, I decided to create a three lists of media with amazing bromances/guyxguy romances that do not have a female lead very obviously coming between them. Of course, the media itself has to be outstanding to me, to be on this list, and the bromance is just the cherry on top. An asterisk means the ship is accepted as canon by the creators.

So, I'll be making three posts, first category is video games, second will be manga/anime, and third will be live action dramas/movies. See you in the next posts!

Stuff about Great Ace Attorney that stood out to me

So I just finished both great ace attorney games and just had to gush about it. Will contain spoilers as I write random thoughts throughout the entire game, including things related to the final case. I’m serious. You will miss out on some pretty epic reveals that are so much better being experienced yourself so please only read once you’ve completed the entire game.

-Ryunosuke’s darting eyes and cute table slams and stuttering his words slowly transitioning to confidence was so smooth throughout the two games.

-When Kazuma did his first table slam I was like: “DAMN SON that’s hot”

- I was jumping in my seat when I realized there was an investigation with Yuujin and Herlock. And the TAP DANCING. Gosh I love this game.

- I found it so hilarious whenever Barok Van Zieks was determined to ignore Ryunosuke, but then Ryunosuke would inadvertently insult him and he’d be forced to speak up to defend himself. 

-Enjoyed the english dub, especially on that reunion scene where Kazuma is revealed to be alive.

-Herlock being a dumbass and nearly killing all of them by mistaking a time bomb for an anti-gravity device. My reaction to him was the exact same as Gregon’s. *glare*

- omg when Iris finally calls Herlock “daddy” was the cutest moment ever. Happy for Herlock.

-SHAMSPEARE WAS SO ANNOYING OMG

- they are so fricking lucky that the “SHOLMES” number combination puzzle still worked with the localization for opening Jigoku’s suitcase haha.

- ALL OF KAZUMA’S THEME SONGS. Literally even his prosecutor theme is so great and when you first hear it you’re like, oh shit we’re actually going against him, but then you hear the familiar theme and you carefully look at his actions, you realize he still sees you as his best friend, but his mind is just so overtaken by revenge.

- Also loved the Pursuit theme for this game. Other songs that stood out were Edoch Drebber’s theme and Susato’s theme.

-Kazuma’s...white....skin-tight...outfit... Also I noticed his hair got slightly longer haha.

- I loved how extra all of Barok’s animations were. Speaking of animations, why were Edoch Drebber’s animations so frickin satisfying to watch. Like seriously especially the one with the smirk, I can look at it forever.

- Found it really interesting how different it felt going against the three prosecutors, Auchi, Barok, then Kazuma. With Auchi, it was like, super easy to make him flustered and feel like you’re winning. He was stuck-up and prideful and not willing to admit he was wrong when he so obviously is. With Barok, it felt like going against a metal wall. Like, it wasn’t even that he was stubborn (in fact, if he saw merit in your argument, he’d go along with you), he was just flawless in finding kinks in your arguments and shutting them down professionally and efficiently. With Kazuma, he had the sharpness of Barok but not the professionalism (makes sense as Barok has way more experience) and there was an emotional side to it since he’s your best friend who supported you so much in the first case.

- knowing Kazuma’s true goal now, I wondering if he was serious in case 1-1 when he said “if I fail to defend Ryu then I don’t deserve to go to Britain”. He wouldn’t lie about something like that, so either he was 100% sure he would win (which I'm not sure he would’ve as the lawyer since he faltered during one of Jezaille’s testimonies, and it was Ryu that found the contradiction), or Ryu really meant so much to him that he’d truly meant what he said and would give up on finding the truth about his father due to how disappointed he’d be in himself?

- I was reading about people saying Case 2-4 and 2-5 were Kazuma and Ryu’s “divorce arc” and I was so scared for the angst but once I actually played, I realized that Kazuma’s malice is never directed at Ryu, despite him defending Barok. On the contrary, he wanted Ryu to be at this trial to see it through with him to the end because he knew it was going to be too painful to travel this road by himself. And gosh I loved that speech where Ryu helped Kazuma see that hate was clouding his judgement. Yes Kazuma is so different compared to case 1, but once you understand his mindset for the past ten years, I think the way he acted towards everyone makes sense.

- I also laughed so hard in one of the final scenes, right after the trial with eveyone in the defense antechamber and Susato was like: wait til you see the smile on Barok Van Ziek’s face. And he just suddenly appears with the biggest frown on his face. Then later Susato was like: If Kazuma saw you now he’d have the biggest smile. Then Kazuma suddenly appears with the biggest frown on his face. I don’t know why, maybe it was just how suddenly they appeared that made me laugh.

- so much pain in case 5. I actually cried when Klint Van Zieks was reading out his confession letter. Probably was because of all the build up leading up to it. Genshin, Kazuma, Barok, Klint, Ginny, Gregson, Yuujin... so many people were pushed to their breaking point.

- I found it amusing to see the different art styles of the different artists working on the game through the character profile icons.

- loved the bittersweet, but mostly sweet, ending where they separate but promise to meet again soon.

That’s all for today, might add more if I remember them.

joshneku fanfic tropes

Been reading through some Joshneku fanfic and I gotta say, and there are some recurring tropes/moments that I absolutely adore:

Neku to Josh: *affectionately* Shut up for a second.

Neku to Josh: Stop avoiding me.

Josh to Neku: *finds most inconvenient time possible to poof into existence* You called earlier?

Neku to Josh: I don’t care about your god powers, I just want us to be (boy)friends.

Joshua performing some higher-plane magic to take Neku to a once-in-a-lifetime location for a date, mostly likely traumatizing Neku during the process of getting there.

Joshua trying to recruit Neku as conductor-boyfriend.

Josh to Neku: *barely audible* I’m sorry. 

Others to Neku: He’s a top-tier troll and killed you multiple times why do you even like him.

Neku to himself: He’s a top-tier troll and killed me multiple times why do I even like him.

Bonus NEO-exclusive: Haz intentionally/unintentionally third-wheeling and doing god’s work by making Joshua jealous or frustrated.

Im near the end of Tales of Vesperia and why do Flynn and Yuri ALWAYS need to be like: “hey I need to talk to you….alone”. EVERY GODDAMN TIME. Like, why do u aways need to be alone when you talk? Do you need some sweet sweet catching up time that’s not for the eyes of children???

I love it.