I have a kind of big issue with the romance in game

[blackrose221]

I feel like the game is heavily biased toward male romance. four of the five male love interests you can stay with while only 2 of the girls you can and it kinda sucks considering I got this game and wanted to romance girls. We also get no female focused poly options at all and I feel like this is an issue that should be fixed. It doesn't ruin the game but it genuinely does bother me, especially since the two you can't are the only black romanceable character and the trans girl.

[Kira]

I don't like poly, it's just weird. The existing options sort of make sense based on the characters' personalities, because Dis *is* weird, and Mars/Rex are more the fooling around/flirting with everyone type of people but I mostly avoid these. If you want female options go with Nem, she is a well written character. Or Tammy if you love kids / Utopia if you're an explorer. Mars is too selfish and Tang has issues, but they are also nice otherwise (more "girlfriend" material, not really the kind of people you want to have a family with).

[blackrose221]

I understand you may not like poly but it is in the game and the characters personalities not working for romance is a purposeful choice by the devs. They are not sentient people and having only two of the female romance options actually work out is what they chose to do not the characters. I do love the game but I just consider these pretty big faults.

[Kira]

This is a life sim, not a dating sim, so I think the characters were designed to each be interesting in their own ways and one aspect of their personalities is any romance options, but that was probably not the main focus, but rather how you grow up together from childhood (sheltered but limited) to adulthood (with more options but also more responsibilities). Also, the world of the game strikes me as one in which gender and orientation are treated very openly.

[bunners]

(I bought the game on the switch, but-) I've got mixed feelings but it's mainly about how the poly is handled. I think to some degree I agree with Kira, because it does feel like romance is more of a garnish than a detail deeply thought about to the game, to the point that I honestly think not much would feel different if it wasn't there at all. I don't get the feeling the male leaning is on purpose, though (not saying it's not true bc of that, just that it's most likely an unfortunate side effect), and Tangent is a weird one because her focusing on casual relationships does feel fitting for her...but again, that runs into the issue of the romance options feeling more like an extra thing. It feels like the devs were trying to be more on the realistic side with how their characters approach relationships (and really just the feel of the game in general outside of the cotton candy solarpunk stuff) but that conflicts with most people's wants in a game with dating elements, because in most games where that is the case, the couples (particularly between the player and the options) staying together forever is expected. I'm not sure if I necessarily agree with it being "fixed" I wanna add, but I do think it's something to consider for future games.

I won't make this too long and I do gotta acknowledge that maybe this is more a selfish want than actual criticism, but despite being aware not all poly relationships have to be mutual in the sense that everyone is dating each other, there's a couple I kiiiiinda wish did go that way, Dys and Sym in particular. As far as I could interpret from some epilogue variations and based on what I've seen here in the forums, Dys either admits to loving Sym and he (Sym) dates you and him, or Dys dates the both of you but loves Sym more and I'm just like....♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥....

(still love the game and maybe i'm no better bc I usually pick Dys over Sym myself)

[blackrose221]

yeah the poly options are mega lacking imo as someone who isn't even interested in the sets we currently have they're not fleshed out enough and kinda basic or not really great portrayals of it. Not offensive but just kinda meh.

[spaceinvaderz]

I totally agree with you and this was honestly my biggest disappointment with the game considering Marz and Tang were my favorite romanceable characters (still are, I've just resigned myself to heartbreak). I think this is kind of a common issue in games with romanceable characters. Whether consciously or not, male characters are favored because people who care about romance in games tend to usually prefer or exclusively romance men. It's pretty tiring for me as a lesbian but something I've kind of become accustomed to. I wouldn't have even minded if they just had us date in an open relationship forever, but it rubs me the wrong way to imply that some people just aren't cut out for a serious relationship (unless they're aromantic but considering these are romanceable options I don't see any way that would be the case.)

[blackrose221]

Yes thank you as a lesbian too it's so annoying and like it does rub me the wrong way too especially since like it feels kinda... weird considering how Marz is characterized it feels... uncomfy in some ways.