This. This is what I'm most excited about, I really need some drama, especially since I typically only play dark/complicated/toxic like romances, OurLife is sugary sweet, and I like it, but I really only love/play the game because it's so innovative and creative in its customization. If every game was like this, I probably would never play it, for the wholesomeness alone (I do like wholesome/fluff, but I haven't played a sane dating game in a long time, I get bored if I don't have enough tension/plot twist/drama).I'm honestly just excited to see how the game unfolds since both of the love interest are extremely interesting characters I also enjoy that their can be a bit of an edge to the relationships with the jealously mechanic that will be introduced later since I'm all for more angsty natural feeling relationships.
The thing is the only way to have friends to lovers feel more natural for Cove is if you wait until your at Step 3 to choose Crush and that just feels waaaaay too late for me, Especially since I also really fucking like romance so hopefully friends to lovers is a lot better implemented for Our Life 2 but Ill probably just enjoy it anyways since it seems like their character writing has been upped by a lot.This. This is what I'm most excited about, I really need some drama, especially since I typically only play dark/complicated/toxic like romances, OurLife is sugary sweet, and I like it, but I really only love/play the game because it's so innovative and creative in its customization. If every game was like this, I probably would never play it, for the wholesomeness alone (I do like wholesome/fluff, but I haven't played a sane dating game in a long time, I get bored if I don't have enough tension/plot twist/drama).
One other thing, I've been wanting to try out holding off on the romance in the early stages, because I was no where near sexual (understatement of the century) as a child, and didn't care or even think about boys until I was 19 (whoo-boy, let me tell you); however, when I tried going the friends-to-lovers with Cove, it just felt... off to me? It didn't feel organic at all, it felt like one day you were best friends, then the next you've both just always crushed on each other. I did only do childhood friends to teenage crush, so I don't know about any other dynamic/holding out, but it didn't feel significant to wait until later for the relationship, it just felt like you either is or you ain't, and it being a game, and me loving romance, I didn't want to miss a drop of the romantic content. I also think its hilarious to have a yandere tot saying she's going to marry some random kid she literally just met, nothing I did as a kid, (though I did have a preschool "husband"... wait, is this my subconscious speaking?), so I can't help but lean into kiddie crushes. I do feel like OL2 is an improvement, so maybe the friends to lovers will feel better, but as of right now, if I can't have yandere LIs, then I'll be the yandere.
Yeah, that's way, way too late for me, considering that's over half the game, and I liked each stage's romance, so you'd be missing out on a lot of cute scenes just to play pretend platonic. There was an explanation in OL2's tutorial that said something like "the relationship towards characters are mutual" (not a direct quote), so I'm assuming, just as with Cove, no "unrequited love" or "secret crush" or anything like that for OL2 as well, unless you directly select the romance path, because they want the writing to feel very mutual, and it's hard to tell if a player is going the friends route because they want to keep it platonic, or because they want a special "only just realized" moment; I'm going to assume it's going to be doubly difficult, since there is two romantic options, both of different genders, and it might make people feel bad if they have to choose between their two bffs. (I don't mind, but I'm not like other girls™)The thing is the only way to have friends to lovers feel more natural for Cove is if you wait until your at Step 3 to choose Crush and that just feels waaaaay too late for me, Especially since I also really fucking like romance so hopefully friends to lovers is a lot better implemented for Our Life 2 but Ill probably just enjoy it anyways since it seems like their character writing has been upped by a lot.
I think I did the same, actually! The first time we could define our relationship I set it to something like shy crush? Don't remember the exact name. I think it makes sense to start as childhood crushes but only actually confess you love them later in your teens. Plus it was fun teasing Cove as much as possible in every Step and making him flustered (like with the anklet thing), so I hope there's some of that kind of thing in OL2 too, like a shy domme, is that a thing?What I did for Cove was select the "love" option, increasing it for each stage, and just played a shy character, so it could seem like it was two "friends" who "didn't" have feelings for each other. Though I caved and confessed at stage 2
Aye, no sexual content in this one - and judging from how the devs gave it a 'teen'-rating on the itch.io page, that's probably not going to change in future versions.
Damn shame, man. Almost all the romance games with good art are sexless PG-13 stories.
Edit: speaking of tags, looks like the protagonist is customizable and can be male or female. So it needs a 'female protagonist'-tag as well.
It's because you caved and confessed during Stage 2. Unless you replay the game a lot with different answer, it will be difficult to see hints but man Cove in fact is burning for love for MC for a long time, and it's kinda heartbreaking when you pick up the hints. But I don't recommend confessing during stage 4 because there is no build up since you've 0 moments to live, a big disappointment for me who tried to confess as adult MC who were always besties with Cove lolhowever, when I tried going the friends-to-lovers with Cove, it just felt... off to me? It didn't feel organic at all, it felt like one day you were best friends, then the next you've both just always crushed on each other.
(Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention this, the experience I was talking about was from stage 1 to 2. If I made the setting fond for stage 1, then switched it to crushes on stage 2, there was no difference in how Cove and MC felt attracted to each other, rather I started with crush or not; it's kind of just glossed over like "oh, yeah, you kids kind of started liking each other through the years!", and even this was only slightly rewritten upon meeting Cove first time in stage 2, I think, and this felt sort of pointless to hold out for, to me. I know gaps are in the moments, especially because the game plays only through summer break, but I thought since I can't confess until the later stages, I might as well set up a crush, and choose to flirt or not through my choices.)It's because you caved and confessed during Stage 2. Unless you replay the game a lot with different answer, it will be difficult to see hints but man Cove in fact is burning for love for MC for a long time, and it's kinda heartbreaking when you pick up the hints. But I don't recommend confessing during stage 4 because there is no build up since you've 0 moments to live, a big disappointment for me who tried to confess as adult MC who were always besties with Cove lol
Anyway, time for me to try this demo!!
Yeah, I understand that, I did see the hints
Ah, okay, yeah, if that's the credentials to make it happen, I definitely did not do that! Once again, I'm not sexual at all, so I would have never been that bold, and if he needed me to spell it out like that, that wasn't going to happen! To be completely honest, both MC me and RL me wasn't even thinking nothing like that when I invited him up there, I truly did have innocent intentions (but then the scene kind of hammered in that the situation was suggestive, so even a sexual dunce like me understood the cues—"child" me would not have). Man, now I want to play it again, and try to trigger this, but it's sort of out of my character, because I don't play promiscuously. Thank you for letting me know, though, it's really interesting!You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
Honestly the fact that Qiu and Tamarack actually have initiative from what it seems is a real game changer especially Tamarack since she starts off as Contesting, That's not to say that I didn't enjoy Coves entire deal (because I really do) but having characters that feel so different from him is basically everything I wanted from a new Our Life game.Ah, okay, yeah, if that's the credentials to make it happen, I definitely did not do that! Once again, I'm not sexual at all, so I would have never been that bold, and if he needed me to spell it out like that, that wasn't going to happen! To be completely honest, both MC me and RL me wasn't even thinking nothing like that when I invited him up there, I truly did have innocent intentions (but then the scene kind of hammered in that the situation was suggestive, so even a sexual dunce like me understood the cues—"child" me would not have). Man, now I want to play it again, and try to trigger this, but it's sort of out of my character, because I don't play promiscuously. Thank you for letting me know, though, it's really interesting!
Oh, and, yeah, I agree 100%, the characters are very cute, but we do need a little more before I can really get a feel of their personality, I'm also looking forward to playing this game. I don't know why, but I feel the hints of some drama/cheekiness I've been asking for from OL1, something about Qiu and Tamarack feels wild, and I'm living for it, I don't know.
Have a happy new year, too!
Yeah I feel like I will be following her around like a puppy and as adults she can dom me softly but firmlyHonestly the fact that Qiu and Tamarack actually have initiative from what it seems is a real game changer especially Tamarack since she starts off as Contesting, That's not to say that I didn't enjoy Coves entire deal (because I really do) but having characters that feel so different from him is basically everything I wanted from a new Our Life game.
I wouldn't call it that, honestly. It's just very innocent flirting. It has been a while since I played that but I remember that scene pretty vividly and it was very cute and wholesome and emotional. I don't recall how old MC and Cove were then, and I probably wouldn't have been that bold myself at their age, but it's just a game, a fantasy.Man, now I want to play it again, and try to trigger this, but it's sort of out of my character, because I don't play promiscuously.
Yeah, i don't really take the word "promiscuous" very strongly, I use it as a go to "someone who's seeking casual sexual activity" and I include physical contact to garner pleasure as "sexual", but I don't really mean it as in PIV or anything. If I remember correctly, first you call Cove over towards your bed, then you ask him to sleep with you (not the innuendo), but then you start staring, and have the option to touch (on the arm) and stuff; I remember pushing it this far, just to see how hilarious it would be (normally I stop at inviting him to hang out, then we fall asleep), but Cove's parents always wake up, so I sort of don't really know how to get to a "kiss"/"Almost kiss", is it how my character's personality is set? I tried this on a shy run. This feels sexual to me, because both are expressing a desire to touch, and I consider it promiscuous, because they're exploring this without a consideration or committed relationship (no certainty, if it keeps going, uninterrupted, kissing or more does happen, what if one party goes "Ha, yeah, that was just casual fun", and don't pursue anything, I know they're kids, and probably aren't thinking that far, but that's kind of the foundation of promiscuity), they don't really understand what's going on, and I'm going to assume this is the blossoming of preteen lust, that they just... act on, without really considering the consequences. Flirting of this nature is pretty promiscuous, mainly because it involves physical contact. It was still wholesome though, sometimes even the wildest, sexual action can feel very wholesome, and even the most innocent of physical contacts can be expressing a promiscuity.I wouldn't call it that, honestly. It's just very innocent flirting. It has been a while since I played that but I remember that scene pretty vividly and it was very cute and wholesome and emotional. I don't recall how old MC and Cove were then, and I probably wouldn't have been that bold myself at their age, but it's just a game, a fantasy.
I get that, it's fine, everyone interprets sexuality different, it's like the word "molestation", some people put harsh meaning to it, and even use the word to replace "rape", but all it really means is aggressive/persistent harassment. I only got sexy cues because the music went very *bow chicka wow wow* up to that point, they (mainly Cove, if MC stays innocent) sort of read heavily into it (even Cove mentions he wasn't that innocent; I can't remember the direct quote, been a while when my 18 year old MC reminisced about being innocent that time, and confused on why his parents were so upset). Plus, I'm of the belief 13 year olds should not be sneaking into each other's beds to touch and makeout; as you said, they're way too young for any of that responsibility, so for the fact that they were exploring the option to begin with, without the proper intellect to handle it, automatically pushes it into the "indiscriminate"/"reckless" category, because they are not old enough to truly understand what these actions are, so they cannot have proper judgment to discriminate.I see and understand where you’re coming from on this, but I’m not sure I agree about it being indiscriminating or them just looking to satiate their lust and get satisfaction. That sounds like very adult behavior to me. In my play through it felt much more innocent. Cove and MC had genuine affection for each other, but both were shy idiots, so it was very sweet and awkward and not at all sexual in nature. I suppose there is always an undercurrent of sexual arousal when you want to kiss or touch someone you have a crush on, but I dunno, I didn’t get sexy vibes here. Maybe that’s just me.
Oh, honey, you got a big storm coming if you don't think I don't explain everything with a mini-essay. (some people say its the novelist in me) The term "Promiscuous" is used like that, at least, in my community, it's actually "new" to turn that word into a sexual one (see my above mini-essay in this post, on my thoughts of "molestation", if you'd like to know more); even in law, children are described as promiscuous if displaying suggestive attraction under the legal age of sexual consent (16 for my state). This is normal in the USA, we don't really have laws on when adolescents can kiss, though there is a gray area for 11-13 year olds (pre teens), that we sort of just... ignore. Shockingly, it's okay to kiss adolescents between this age, but touching and "making out", spoiler because some people understand this as "kissing" (another word with various meaning in the English language; could be kissing, could be touching, could be dry-humping). And just to tie up loose ends, I'm talking about parties of the same age range.I'll just point out that using the term "promiscuous" like that - very much *not* its normal colloquial usage in this sort of interpersonal context - strikes me as a recipe for rather unnecessary misunderstandings and coming across as bizarrely prudish (and neurotic about casual physical contact for that matter). And if you then need to write a mini-essay to clarify the matter, well, might just be better to rethink your choice of words in the first place.
Just sayin'.