Not this again.
Guess I'll just have to simply explain why fmc ntr is ntr. This time with a good and simple logic behind it. Just go watch JAV ntrs. It's 80% focused in female pov. It's also hidden ntr most of the time. Unrealistic , a bit rapey sometimes, but it still hooks a lot of people. Now apply that to an ntr game. That's pretty much it really.
And it's not exactly cheating (depending on the game) , as theyre mostly blackmailed, forced , hypnotized, corrupted and the like.
Im not even a big fan of fmc ntr, but at least, I understand the perspective of it. Is it better than ntr w/ male protag? No (on rare circumstances, it can be).
I'll say it again, just leave the fmc ntr enjoyers alone. If you cant see what they can see, that's a You problem. No need to cry about it if you cant get into it.
I would say one of the most integral parts of NTR is the focus on corruption.
I originally found my way to NTR from corruption-style games. I liked the one the most where the FMC was a strong, independent person and did not like the idea of being sexually involved with the other characters, where it took time for her to warm up to the idea of doing anything in that regard or where circumstances forced her to engage in something. Often times you can effectively do that by putting the main character into some kind of isolated environment where they need to rely on people around them whos intentions are not always the best, who are selfish or have worldviews that clash with the FMCs views.
The best aspect about NTR for me is if there is slow progress towards becoming more lewd, but in a very directed manner. Going from "You are dispicable" to "My hands are forced / I guess I have to" - which goes into accepting the situation and releasing control of the situation, giving it to someone else (the characters lusting for the FMC) and then gradually getting used to it and starting to enjoy it.
It can't be too hopeless and masochistic and mind-breaky (or hypnosis-related) because that takes away the emotional impact and agency of the FMC and makes it ultimately not her decision. She basically looses her free will, which is besides the point.
It cant be with multiple other people at the same time (with exceptions of the occasional well-written "sharing" or "pimping-out" scene because it detracts from the possessive elements that many of the antagonists in corruption/NTR games exhibit. An antagonist who sees the FMC as a commodity to make money off of is not as hot as an antagonist that treats the FMC like a tool, but is possessive of his tools. (Not saying FMC has to be treated like an object btw, there is a good deal of stories where the FMC is treated like that for a while but then the antagonist changes into appreciating them and valuing the FMC and treating her more human again, almost like a girlfriend (still in a bit of a mysoginistic way), those are often almost better than just having a 100% asshole antagonist).
There is a really great balance that makes up a good NTR game for me.
And I understand some aspects some people have other preferences on. Like FMC vs (M)MC, like hidden cheating vs. semi-hidden and public humiliation vs. blatant cheating + depressive eleemnts vs. blatant Netorase (asked for by MC) vs. Netori (antagonist POV). Or even multiple partners or routes vs. one route/partner. There is arguments for any of these vs. the other ones.
But I think NTR defines itself mostly by a few core elements, which is corruption of the female character, and element of S&M (to varying degrees) - esp. also in where players come from, some like the masochisit angle of the (M)MC, some the angle of the FMC, some like the sadistic angle of the Netori MC, a lot of them like a certain mix of those. And it is also in a way about control. Who is in control? Who gives control away? Who acts according to their desires? And the story can be a good flavor-tool to get a really interesting world and scenario set up that people care about and have characters people are interested in.
Cheating and NTR cant be clearly separated is what Im trying to say. They both belong to the same genre, they just have different aspects. Id say pure "cheating" games or doujins or media mainly deal with a person who is willing to cheat due to temptation and their own sexual desires and it focuses primarily on the POV of the cheater. And even FMC NTR games can focus on the POVs of other people around the FMC and their feelings and what they witness and dont and what the FMC thinks and feels about them. And that is one aspect to seperate the two a bit. But it is never 100% separated. It is one larger genre. All NTR is cheating, but not all cheating is NTR.
The fact is: no FMC+NTR will be better than an NTR with MC.
No, not fact. Subjective opinion.
