marry me by the ocean sea
Something quite different compared to before despite it wearing the skin of different pieces of the series up until now. A culmination of sorts. I was very impressed by what this entry had to offer, but at the same time I am loathe to admit that it didn't evoke the same level of feelings that the previous entries did upon me-- even the oft maligned 6.
Moca and Koucha's story was very well developed. It is what stands out with this game. Moca being a non-silent protagonist made a huge difference for this. Moca just being able to provide... Comfort for Koucha with beautiful words was something that was so very human, so pretty. Aghast with herself, Koucha asks, "would you still love me if I were a cloud...?" And the response:
It's wonderful. I love these two! And although there is something to be said about this love being conveyed, unspoken, like in 2 and 3, notably, there is something else about just seeing this play out in a manner where both characters very clearly have their chemistry developed. But even so, I wish that the relationship between the two of them was given a little bit more of a sharper focus and time to breathe. Their story, along with the other "coupled" characters, confront both appreciable and irreverent (in classic Towelket fashion) ideas pertaining to matrimony. The groom and Eschalite is played for laughs but there is something to be said about the latter's unending devotion-- her character is truly admirable. Moochasu and PPU are an interesting case, but I read them more as a sort of inversion of the dynamic of 2, almost. Pian and Momo-chan... Hmm. Shoutouts to yuri? But it's clear that Koucha is the most developed here, and she sort of occupies a Little Mermaid fairytale-esque longing. That's another sort of thematic element that comes into play (although it is eventually discarded), but it is in classic fairytale fashion where these wishes become something warped, like the monkey's paw.
The weight of this love comes at a dire price. It is Koucha's path towards destruction. She is maimed, treated as a harlot, trampled upon, dismissed by her family, and ends destroyed, but this love, although warped, is what remains. It is fitting that there are direct allusions to Parpariume and Warawau's story, with this being said. I do not feel like there is too much of a rehash here, as the game tries to interrogate this idea with more depth than before. Moca is admonished, visibly corrupted for loving this poor girl. Those haunting lines-- "Lying on the floor, but still looking gorgeous." I can't help but view these last words as a sort of thin red line that begins to blur between Moca's true, earnest love towards her, and abhorrent objectification. It's terrifying and lingers like rot. Particularly considering the implication that Moca "eats" her-- drawing allusion to the consumption of mermaid flesh for immortality, sexually charged "devouring". But again, before these ideas can breathe, or for there to be anything to draw from this... The game ends then and there.
Sadly, all of this takes a backdrop to a latter half that feels like it is held together with duct tape and a dream. Which, to be fair, has been somewhat of a constant in regards to these games, but more often than not this jank is charming if anything. But now, it just feels even more apparant than ever. Both for 6 and... somehow, even moreso with this game in particular.
I feel like I can put a finger on why it feels this way to me. When it comes to the characters we've met so far, what interests me isn't necessarialy the ensemble group that is accumulated, or the recurring character aspect. I should say that I love how characters are constantly reframed or "recast" so to speak, in a simlar manner to Osamu Tezuka's Star System. In this game, though, there was a palpable demystification that came with this game handfeeding allusions to previous entries, the characters from them, the iconography, their struggles. Making these "alternate" timelines or realities a part of the game world just felt a little bit off to me even if it aligned with the sort of adventureous/swashbuckling nature of this game. I feel like this was all done in service of having all of the previous games "tie" together here. I want to say that there are times where repeated iconography from the previous entries works. The final scene in the same ocean of tears at the end of 2, as the "malevolent" Goddesses loom over Moca and Koucha is one such example. It is effective imagery in this sense. But otherwise, these callbacks did feel like they were very much on the nose with this one without many of it feeling warranted. It comes at a sacrifice and that is the expense of the game's own, original ideas. Moca and Koucha, their love, their pain. There is something so wonderful here, so I wish that these ideas could have been allowed to breathe. Instead, they drown in the ocean sea.
There is a lot more put towards the actual game asepct, here. At the midpoint of the game, it opens up, and you're given free reign to explore an actual world map. But any seafaring intrigue is diminished by asset reuse. Dungeon cave areas and countless wells with rats in them with nothing much to them that are either persistently reused, and any talking points to interact with end with repeated gags. Towns don't have much to offer, either. The Yaoibaiting between Moochasu and Moca got a good kick out of me, but another round of Pucchi abuse will make me go crazy. Same for Yoshimi (me and the homies HATE Yoshimi) and the bird sisters not letting off on their sekuhara shtick... it all blends together at some point so the initial exploratory joy faded away quickly for me. Of note is that you can pick up optional party members and while it's fun to see familiar faces in this context but ultimately the optional party members don't add much to a supporting cast that already acts "like air" to begin with. Gameplay wise? It's fun, I suppose, but this is in service of stock RPGMaker damage exchange boss fights, so it's hard to stay excited especially when they really put you through the boss gauntlet meat grinder at the end.
With Fury looming overhead, however, I'm sure that a lot of my qualms with this game in particular will be resolved with that one. I've heard... things. Ultimately, no matter what I've played up until now, it has always been time well spent.
