Melon's Favourite Characters
Seems to be a trend in here now. I'll throw my hat into the mix. Probably will come back and elaborate on all of those in the future, because you know me! I love yapping!
18 Games
Akane Owari. I've got something of a reputation as a huge Akane fan — in the past, after being awoken to the cruel reality that there's a lot of people who despise her, I've gone so far as to write a character analysis piece. I think she deserves it. She's someone a lot of fans online immediately write off as one-note comic relief, but there's genuinely so much lurking under her surface. I'm of the belief a lot of things about Akane are a façade, a coping mechanism. At one point during her (fantastic) Free Time Events, Hajime wonders if all the times she's gotten his name wrong haven't been on purpose, and I believe that to absolutely be the case. "I was much stronger when I was alone", she says. Akane acts oblivious to others' words so they'll give up talking to her. She doesn't want to love because she doesn't want to lose. When Fuyuhiko sees through her façade in my favourite scene in all of the franchise, she plays dumb but later shows she's taken his words to heart. She's pathos. Someone so full of feeling, so full of love, so determined to fight for what she believes. I adore Akane so, so, so much.
Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu. I always mention these two characters in tandem. Fuyuhiko's a beautiful parallel to Akane in how they both have their façades shattered by grief. (I've written about him, too.) His character is one defined by toxic masculinity — he looks too cute to be tough, to be a yakuza, to be a man, so he massively overcompensates in a way that does not reflect his true self at all. He's been abused all his life, forced into a mold of something he could never live up to, and the events of the game are him slowly breaking free from those expectations. The reward for those who take their time to hang out with him is seeing his sweet, sweet smile — it doesn't get any better than that!
Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu. I always mention these two characters in tandem. Fuyuhiko's a beautiful parallel to Akane in how they both have their façades shattered by grief. (I've written about him, too.) His character is one defined by toxic masculinity — he looks too cute to be tough, to be a yakuza, to be a man, so he massively overcompensates in a way that does not reflect his true self at all. He's been abused all his life, forced into a mold of something he could never live up to, and the events of the game are him slowly breaking free from those expectations. The reward for those who take their time to hang out with him is seeing his sweet, sweet smile — it doesn't get any better than that!
Moma Kumakura. Coming to terms with Moma was a long journey. I was instantly and easily hooked by the tried-and-true "short little yakuza full of love and empty bravado" setup, but then they had him talk like that about Iris. I wanted nothing more to do with him until the second game, where they doubled down on this aspect and it really pissed me off. I just know this guy could have shined as a character in the hands of someone who doesn't think pedophilia is funny. What's better than someone who's been inserted in a violent background for several years, living in the shadow of a complete monster, who has decided this is no life for him to lead, and carries himself with unshakable confidence as the leader of a "clean gang" no matter how much the narrative itself relentlessly mocks him for it? Fucking peak, I tell you. When he decided to cast Rohan's memory fully aside, out of the last shred of love he still had for that wretch — that was when I knew he could've been great. God I'm so glad he doesn't say a single word in the sequel.
Rohan Kumakura. On the other hand, Moma's brother is great too. I took a while to notice, but Rohan is really, REALLY funny. I can't go into it without spoiling the entirety of this game, but trust me: this man is a cartoon villain with a sixth-grader's sense of humour, and I adore him for it. At the same time, his commanding of the narrative from beyond the grave is nothing short of brilliant. How can someone so towering in influence blend so effortlessly into the background?
Rohan Kumakura. On the other hand, Moma's brother is great too. I took a while to notice, but Rohan is really, REALLY funny. I can't go into it without spoiling the entirety of this game, but trust me: this man is a cartoon villain with a sixth-grader's sense of humour, and I adore him for it. At the same time, his commanding of the narrative from beyond the grave is nothing short of brilliant. How can someone so towering in influence blend so effortlessly into the background?
(I will be spoiling this game here!)
Kyohei Hamura. There's just something of magnetic about him, even for the large chunk of his screentime he spends being a thoroughly unpleasant person who doesn't even dignify himself to beating Yagami's ass in person. I was completely enthralled by Hamura's noxious smugness, stubbornly evil attitude, and — why not — good looks from the moment we first met. I dearly felt his absence from the plot every second he was away from it, and was over the moon the minute the idea of going to find him was mentioned. When they revealed he had >depth<, to boot? My God, I could not be more sold!! I'm just obsessed with the fucked up family situation he's got going on — between Matsugane, his found father, the unflinchingly devoted reason he became an amoral monster, and Yagami, essentially his little brother, the one that gets all the glory, whose justice-seeking career was built on a bloodied path Hamura laid out with no thanks (because no thanks was ever expected or even deserved) —, and I especially love the ending to his arc. It's near suicidal stuff. You spent the entire game looking for him and he ends his role by coming directly to you. PEAK!!!!!!!!
Kyohei Hamura. There's just something of magnetic about him, even for the large chunk of his screentime he spends being a thoroughly unpleasant person who doesn't even dignify himself to beating Yagami's ass in person. I was completely enthralled by Hamura's noxious smugness, stubbornly evil attitude, and — why not — good looks from the moment we first met. I dearly felt his absence from the plot every second he was away from it, and was over the moon the minute the idea of going to find him was mentioned. When they revealed he had >depth<, to boot? My God, I could not be more sold!! I'm just obsessed with the fucked up family situation he's got going on — between Matsugane, his found father, the unflinchingly devoted reason he became an amoral monster, and Yagami, essentially his little brother, the one that gets all the glory, whose justice-seeking career was built on a bloodied path Hamura laid out with no thanks (because no thanks was ever expected or even deserved) —, and I especially love the ending to his arc. It's near suicidal stuff. You spent the entire game looking for him and he ends his role by coming directly to you. PEAK!!!!!!!!
Grand Marshal Akiko 14
(I will be spoiling this game here!)
Ace. A pleasant presence every time the narrative focuses on him, dorky middle-aged man that he is. Just a solid character with a huge heart, someone completely trustworthy.
...
OK, have the people with no clue what this game is about left by now? Good.
Ace is just such a good villain — like Hamura, someone you love to hate. He builds up so much rapport with the player before yanking the rug from under us and revealing there's no low he isn't willing to stoop to. It's like being backstabbed by a family member. His motivations may not be very compelling (and represent some nasty ableism on Uchikoshi's end), but his presence entirely makes up for it. I especially like his function as a contrast to June herself. He's torturing people to meet his own needs, but she's doing much of the same. Shades and shades of gray.
Ace. A pleasant presence every time the narrative focuses on him, dorky middle-aged man that he is. Just a solid character with a huge heart, someone completely trustworthy.
...
OK, have the people with no clue what this game is about left by now? Good.
Ace is just such a good villain — like Hamura, someone you love to hate. He builds up so much rapport with the player before yanking the rug from under us and revealing there's no low he isn't willing to stoop to. It's like being backstabbed by a family member. His motivations may not be very compelling (and represent some nasty ableism on Uchikoshi's end), but his presence entirely makes up for it. I especially like his function as a contrast to June herself. He's torturing people to meet his own needs, but she's doing much of the same. Shades and shades of gray.
Eric. No joke. If this guy was attractive you'd all be recognising him for the messy, uncomfortable, yet compelling portrayal of someone who has massive trauma and doesn't react in a way people judge cutesy or acceptable. This guy's peak.
Anemone. When I was a young teenager desperate for human connection, I hung out with shithead cryptofascist motherfuckers knowing they were not good companies but being too attached to the idea of having friends to let go. Anemone speaks to that part of me. It was heartbreaking to witness her being radicalised again and again, lacking that same understanding I had and thus actually being dragged into the pits of destructive ideology — it's a little like looking into the abyss and finding what I could have been. Breaking her free is my favourite part. Fuck you, Vace.
Miles Edgeworth
Edelgard von Hresvelg but I promise I'm normal about it
Yunaka!
Kirumi Tojo
Tianyou Zhao (can you tell I like it when a guy has a messy family situation?)
Arataki Itto. I've disavowed everything Genshin EXCEPT for him. What can I say? It's all right there. A larger-than-life personality, a childlike whimsy, a terrific voice performance by Max Mittelman — and a pet cow named Cow. He's great.
Kanji Tatsumi, my ray of sunshine in this hell game
Touko Kirigaya. I don't have long essays to write about Touko... I just like her! She's just fun! Her unrestrained whimsical personality is the energy Morfonica needs. She's the heart of the friend group, the one that gets them moving, even if it's just by bickering with Rui. I especially adore her relationship to Mashiro and how symbiotic their dispositions are. Sunshine and raincloud is just an all-timer of a dynamic.
Partitio Yellowil
