Who Did It Better? Gekkamaru vs. Choujirou

[FragolaGelato]

Both Gekkamaru and Choujirou's routes follow very similar directions when it comes to the overarching plot, and are probably the most similar pair of routes. Keeping that in mind, which route's approach did you guys like better and why?

There will likely be spoilers ahoy in this discussion!!!


Just as one example, the middle part of both routes can be pretty well summed up as "All my friends die." However, in Choujirou's route everyone dies all at once, in an abrupt, shocking, and depressing manner. While in Gekkamaru's route, the deaths are more spread out and we get more closure on each individual death.

As another example, the end of Choujirou's route has the two lovers ordered to fight to the death feat. a beautiful bad ending. On the other hand, in Gekkamaru's route ending we get to finally confront Toyotomi for his stupid game, and also learn the significant of the game's Japanese title in the morning glory flower.

[ｚｏｍｂｉ★ｄｅｓｕ]

Both of their 'good' endings annoyed me just a bit. In Gekkumaru's you're refusing to move on, and planning to make pilgrimages between the various graves till the end? xD In Chojiro's ... it's not even clear what's going to happen to the two of you. You're running away again. You'll probably be chased again. Unless they finally decide to give up on you. Though yay for Hanzo and Kuroyuki making guest appearances to help you out a bit.

That being said.. Chojiro preventing Enju from killing herself.. is one of my favorite moments, and probably my favorite CG, even though it's a really sad moment. But I also always liked how Chojiro respects her wishes? and tries to encourage her to be a better fighter and such. He's a lot like Hanzo in that regard. Gekkumaru is always trying to do everything for her, even when she tries to convince him to let her help (like, look at the bonus story even. x_x)

Gekkumaru's route gives us more plot hints that's true.. but in Chojiro's route more people get character development. Though, Chojiro really should be present in his own route a bit more. xD

Chojiro's bad ending is one of my favorite endings even though it's super tragic. I didn't quite like Hanzo's bad end .. because well. "I'm following you, against your wishes" >< .. plz Enju. I maybe liked Kuroyuki's bad ending just a tiny bit more? maybe. But they're really, really close. But I loved how they acted together, to just disappoint the hell out of Hideyoshi and end everything. And he didn't even get to see.

With Chojiro.. there's also not the implication that he might have liked someone else given the chance that there is with Gekka. And he also does the secretly looking out for her thing, without being creepy about it.

Chojiro wins in my book, because of the suicide stop (in Gekka's.. Hanzo had to stop her. Hanzo!), and because of his bad ending. But also because Enju was a little more independant than in Gekka's too. They're both very good though.

[Cherie]

I ended up preferring Gekkamaru's route for the closure+revenge. I was kind of disappointed that after all Kando had done to Chojiro & Enju they dont do a thing about it. I dont know if the dlc that the vita got adds on to that at all or not tho.

[Whooki91]

I think Chojiro suited more the story than Gekkamaru did (even though I prefer to see that scum Hideyoshi terroryzed until his last day, thanks to Gekkamaru's menace, than escaping without doing nothing).

Chojiro takes seriously the shinobi life: respect your master and follow his orders no matter what they are. He is born as a shinobi and he will die as one of them, so I respect more his struggle between what he must do and what he wants, instead of Gekkamaru that follow blindly Enju everywhere without a thought for the village and its people.

Chojiro is a man of honor, but he decided to not kill Enju because he loves her and couldn't bear to loose her...this version was more touching than Gekkamaru that his behaviour are obvious like a loyal dog (forgive me Gekkamaru, I know you are a cinnamom roll).
For these reasons Chojiro reminds me a lot of Hanzo...

I liked more (sounds terrible to say) how characters died in Gekkamaru's route...the angst is slow and painful :,)
I must say that Ennosuke and Kyara's relationship was marvellous on Chojiro's route.

Chojiro never treated Enju as a princess, but as a shinobi and respected her as an equal even when the two faced to fight in the woods.
Gekkamaru pamper too much Enju and never encourage her to fight and stand for her life. Only he can fight and that's something I didn't like about Gekkamaru.

Originally posted by тєнc๏ffєєz๏мвιє:

Chojiro's bad ending is one of my favorite endings even though it's super tragic. I didn't quite like Hanzo's bad end .. because well. "I'm following you, against your wishes" >< .. plz Enju. I maybe liked Kuroyuki's bad ending just a tiny bit more? maybe. But they're really, really close. But I loved how they acted together, to just disappoint the hell out of Hideyoshi and end everything. And he didn't even get to see.

Agree. Chojiro's bad ending has the most beautful CG <3

[Noxquietem]

I'm also a big fan of Chojiro's bad end and think it fits his story better.

Unlike some opinion, I think him not getting a lot of screen time in his own route quite fitting.

In the other routes, you get to interact with the chosen character more and develop their relationship from there, the typical formula I'd say, while in Chojiro's, it is somewhat hinted that he had feelings for Enju for a long time, and loosing her made him realize that through many flashbacks. Not only him but Enju as well. After all, they are very similar, not realizing and understanding their love for each other until the very end, because they where shinobis before being man and woman.

Although there are things I liked more in Gekkamaru's route, such as the way Kyara died (simply beautiful!), while I preferred Kasumi in Chojiro's route (her trauma and voice acting was so well done!). But for someone who likes traditional japanese romance, Chojiro's route does it better for me than Gekkamaru's.

My favorite CG is when Chojiro holds Enju's hand. So much meaning in that simple gesture. T.T