Romance and bad jokes in Feudal Japan! Let's Play Yo-Jin-Bo

Ahaha, so even the original is full of anachronisms and stuff? Fun. And yeah, the dempsey roll is a surprisingly popular term in Japan! Even the opening of Persona 3 FES refers to it:

If you wanna battle then I take it to the street
Where there's no rules
Take off the gloves ref please step down
Gotta prove my skillz so get down
My lyrical dempsey roll about to smack down now

Mon-mon! I went after him immediatly after Muneshige, mostly out of spite towards the other characters who were always making fun of him...but he is really cool <3

I like Yo as well, the only character I didn't want to romance was Jin XD

Bo breaks out the meta guns and uses the worst insult possible in an otome game.


Mon-Mon is sure that the ladies will not be denied his romancing!


This, however, is the calm confidence of someone who knows he's on the main menu.


Saeki's the main guy in GS2, Mon-Mon, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS!!


"DAMN IT! I WILL BE RELEVANT TO THE PLOT!"


Yo shuts it down.


And it's Hatsu who starts the fight.


He's obviously better with his sword than he is with the ladies. Hatsu compliments him on his strength.



Yo's a good friend.


Hatsu offers her gratitude. Jin is confused by her politeness.


I mean it's right in her name, bro.


Yes.


We're clearly on the same wave-length.


Yes.


Someone clearly hasn't watched any series set in pseudo-medieval Europe! Rebellious princesses everywhere!


Jin's nips: they can potentially addle your brains.

If I was a princess I'd also demand this when people displeased me.


STOP BEING REASONABLE AND JUST DO IT OKAY.


If there's any eucalyptus oil involved I'm out.


Some people pay extra for that sort of thing, Yo.


Muneshige again acts as the voice of reason.



So dumb.

After some more teasing of Jin, Hatsu and Muneshige roll out, though not before finding out their names.


It doesn't show in the text but he calls her onee-chan. Just in case you weren't aware he's the shota.


The serious guy!


The weirdo pervert guy!


The awkward guy!

(Yo-jin-bo put together means "Bodyguard" in Japanese. Like most Japanese puns it doesn't translate well.)

Jin then asks for her name.


This is the first time they've not been teasing each other awww it must be love~


Famous last words.


Yes, yes she was.


Sure Jin. Suuuuuuuuure.

Yo steals my thoughts. I'm alarmed.

: Why are you staring at my face like that?
: No real reason. Still, you're pretty easy to figure out there, tiger.
: Who are you calling 'tiger'?
Oh Jin. So dumb and obvious.


GO MON-MON ROMANCE THE PROTAGONIST BE A SELF-AWARE CHARACTER IN AN OTOME GAME.


Yozaburo: dream crusher.


The way Yo says this makes Jin and Hatsu sound like they're Miaka and Tamahome. I laughed. A lot.


"WE'RE NOT CHARACTERS IN A 90s SHOJO ANIME"



Jerk friends are the best friends though.


And that's the end of chapter two. There's two more chapters of set-up to go before we can start making important decisions.

Next chapter: We get backstory and meet a nice man who wants to give us candy! Yay!

(And lastly because I just mentioned him, check out this awesome fanart I found of Tamahome here)

As far as I can tell, the translation doesn't alter the content of what they're saying all that often - mostly just when it involves puns that simply wouldn't make sense translated directly, or when they're using gratuitous English (which becomes Spanish or French). I'm not sure about all of the Western pop-culture references, but a lot of them are actually audible in the dialogue.

This game does not take itself seriously at all.

Eeeeeeeh Mon-Mon <3 You weird and adorable perv !

I'm really liking Muneshige and Mon-Mon so far.

Everyone is gravitating towards Mon-Mon. This pleases me immensely.



Still, Ittosai. Both he and Mon-mon have like... THE MOST EPIC route-end moments.

I'm late but I just wanted to say this is an amazing character introduction.

Also Mon-Mon is hilarious.

Mmm...
Dat Muneshige, dat Mon-Mon.



I can't wait to see how this plays out.

Has anyone told you guys you have awesome taste? Because you do!

The title of Chapter 3 'Hint of a Conspiracy'. This is not ominous at all.


Hatsu gets home and is yelled at by Yahei. Hatsu worries about his blood pressure.


Luckily he's aware that high blood pressure is bad thanks to ER! George Cloony saves lives, people.


Things Hatsu is good at: distracting people. Things Hatsu is bad at: not being a brat.


Muneshige also gets chewed out.


This was your mistake, Hatsu is a force of nature who cannot be stopped by anyone, nevermind someone who's been looking after her since she was a small child.



"SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BOYS" Hatsu also doesn't get why Yahei is mad.


Question: is this Yahei talking to Hatsu or one of my friends talking to me?


ANYWAY, BOYS. BOYS BOYS BOYS.

(This is my theme song when playing otome games. The video isn't work-safe unless your workplace is really cool with nipples.)


Such a brat. Yahei points out that it's necessary to talk about boring stuff and if she's coddled all the time she'll never grow up and she needs to be more aware of her station.


Tea and flowers are kinda boring though. Can we go back to talking about boys?


Muneshige: the back-up plan. Although as Yahei points out, she can't marry one of her servants. Hatsu changes the topic, hey check out this shiny I got! Yahei, like someone's pet dog, is distracted by it.


If I was you I'd take it back to that guy and if he doesn't accept it, punch him.


Hatsu dreams big!


Don't front Yahei, I know you want girls in your bathtub too.


SNORT GIGGLE SNORT okay I'll be mature now GIGGLE.
Then they hum the theme from the film. But Yahei misses his cue. Shake my head Yahei.


Saying these things out loud is effectively asking the universe to kick your ass.



Muneshige, you're not very good at this controlling influence thing are you.

A WILD PLOT POINT APPEARS. Hatsu asks why she can't just inherit instead. The main reason is because she's a GIRL and this is feudal Japan.

There's also no clear heir to the clan. As the only male heir is illegitimate, there's the possibility of inter-clan war breaking out over the succession. Hatsu also has duties as a lord's daughter to marry for alliance, which currently looks like it'd be with the child lord of a neighbouring clan, and to secure the clan's bloodline. Hatsu naturally does not like these duties.


Hatsu declares it's her choice who she marries and ends the conversation to go ride her horse.


Time for Muneshige to act as the voice of reason!
Hatsu: Not me, the clan. He's trying to do what's best for the Mochizuki clan.
Muneshige: In his position, that is natural. But do you really think he is not thinking of you as well?
Hatsu: I know.
Muneshige: Then perhaps you should listen a little bit more to what he has to say?
Hatsu: No! That's one thing, and this is another.


Oh ho ho, now it gets interesting


#royalpeopleproblems


Oh Muneshige. Hatsu asks him to explain.




You're so awkward, Muneshige. Why so awkward?




Yes. It's called the internet


As you're a princess, yes, but I'm not gonna go all Lambert on you about it.


Oh hey my telepathy worked again!


And this kind of thing is why Muneshige is my favourite.


Character growth DENIED. Let's go ride some horses!

Nothing feels better than blowing off our responsibilities! WHEE! Muneshige tells us to slow down but nothing will stop us!




Your horse disagrees, mi' lady.


Haha Muneshige you're Hatsu's butt monkey.


He's well aware of the fact. Hatsu teases Muneshige about his face and blames it for her lack of marriage proposals.


Oh snap. Hatsu, what you gonna say to that??


Much like Prince Philip, Hatsu thinks of her equerry as a talking horse.


As he practically has one foot in the grave by anime standards, Muneshige is sad to have missed out on love but you'll have mine it's okay



I wouldn't bet on it is all I'm saying.


Hatsu really likes playing with fire doesn't she


Hatsu: I'm serious. What, I'm not good enough for you?
Muneshige: That's not it at all! What I mean is...The problem isn't that I don't like you...


Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure. Muneshige tells her not to tease him. She continues to do so as he starts blushing. Oh Hatsu. You're such a brat!


Then the music cuts out and this serious face comes out. UH-OH. There's someone up ahead! Muneshige yells at them to reveal themselves.


This guy seems legit.


Totally legit!


You're pretty freaking suspicious yourself dude let's not beat around the bush here.


Again, telepathic link between myself and a character.


I bet you laugh into your hand like a noble-woman too. How dare you have an reasonable explanation for being here!


HOME wait this is Hatsu she's going to want an adventure. We tell him we're just riding on our horses but HEY aren't you far from the castle for that.

Ohohoho <3 can we go after Mon-Mon first? I just remembered that I never played his route. (Saw something shiny)

Don't listen to his lies. Harumoto's actually just lurking here, waiting to ambush Kenshin and his friends.

Going to arrange a vote when we've met all our potential victims suitors, but I can see the tide going towards Mon-Mon. Added bonus: I like to imagine you choosing his route makes Yo's head explode in shock (I do like Yo too, he's just meaaan about his chances as a love interest). And you were distracted by something shiny? Sayori would be proud of you.


FLATTERY. I'm watching you Ohno!


Harumoto: Would you like to rest there for a while? I am sure all of the retainers would be delighted if you were to grace us with your presence.


DON'T GET EXCITED IT'S CLEARLY A TRAP YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS GUY LOOK AT HIS HAIR!!!!


"Damn kids on my lawns." He compares the different between the inns and the castle's views to bugs. I don't get. Neither does Hatsu.


Venusaur is way more awesome and post-gen 1 psychic isn't so madly overpowered so basically up yours.


I am ashamed of you Hatsu.


She gets this one. Pokemon > Star Wars though. Hatsu I'm not impressed!!!


And freakishly fast pigeons.


Harumoto is clearly the teapot.


Yes that's right trust the suspicious man offering you candy.


Muneshige meanwhile is seduced by hot springs. Not helping the whole old man thing there dude.


VOICE OF REASON




That feeling is me yelling at the screen, reaching him from another dimension.


!!!


Booooo :( I've heard evil expressions and purple hair is very in this year though.

Is it bad Harumoto's hairstyle reminds me of an octopus? >.> and Mon-Mon is great...even though my fave is Ittosai....but i like all of them equally, hehe x3 Muneshige is awesome too...no worries Mune...i will marry you (why couldn't there have been a harem ending in the PC version too waaa T_T)

Harumotooooooooo~~~ -wiggles-

I laughed until I cried when even Ohno started whipping out the pop culture references. It was just too funny. Especially the Pokemon reference. I saw THAT, and was all "... My body is ready, take me away, Harumoto, you attractive creep."

Does that mean there's a harem ending in the PS2 version??? SO UNFAIR. I also like Ittosai a lot which I didn't expect since sadist/psycho with glasses isn't one of those character types that makes me swoon.


More evil laughter! More worrying from Muneshige!


Brutal!







No karaoke for you! We have puddings to discuss!!!


Hatsu. That mango pudding? Will be prepared with your SOUL.


There's always a good excuse for pudding.

And off we go!

Next chapter: We arrive at the castle and absolutely nothing bad happens to us apart from it totally does.

Is it just the angle, or does Harumoto have a paper halo attached to the back of his head? Sort of like one of those disc-ish ray-of-light ones from old icons. Because if he was going around with an actual halo attached to show his Complete Innocence No Honest, that'd be pretty awesome.

He's wearing an actual halo thing that stands up behind his head. I think it's supposed to be a fancy stand-up collar.

Now I really want to eat mango.

I mean, candy! There is no way anything can go wrong!
All suspicous men think alike.

Well now I'm torn. On one hand MON-MON. On the other, Harumoto's awesome hair.

I always thought it was one of those hats you can usually see Tanuki statues wearing, like this one:


... That said, the thought of Harumoto wearing a paper radiant halo to make himself look innocent is hilarious. I am going to accept that as my headcanon now.

Harumoto seems to be the most fabulous character in this game.

,,,Me gusta.

Am I the only one that don't really like Harumoto?

Also, I really think his clothes together with this "halo" of his make he look like some kind of saint. I mean, a fake one.

You aren't alone; I find Harumoto pretty creepy.

Of course, I find myself feeling morbidly curious about his route in the PS2 version because of it. Really, just the logistics of it baffle me a bit considering his goals in the game. 0_o

From what I can gather from watching the route with no clue about what was being said in the least, it's actually a pretty interesting bit.

Oh god, this game. I just started playing it again because of this thread (Mon-Mon and Muneshige fan here)

I got ticked off with every Harumoto scene in the game - and then I figured out why (mind you, this is just my opinion). I enjoy very hammy villains. But Harumoto's wild laugh can't compare to all the other wacky characters. He seems like a bland villain in comparison.

Then again, I've only played through the first 6 or so chapters. His route (thanks, Edelweiss) actually sounds pretty sweet.

As someone who's played his route twice, it IS pretty sweet. ;)

That... actually sounds pretty sweet. Now I'm doubly sad there's no PS2 translation. :(


Edit: Double Ninja'd on the sweetness! Still sad.

Wait... so...

...

LKDJFKDSLJFLDJSFKLDSFJ DEIR, PLEASE TRY TO TRANSLATE THE SCRIPT FOR THAT ROUTE AND SEND IT TO ME SO I CAN READ ALONG WITH THE ROUTE WALKTHROUGH ON YOUTUBE AND ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S BEING SAID. ;_____;

I'll try to find my copy of this game and do that for you. :)

It does looks sweet, but I'm just not hot for Harumoto. I do have a thing for bad guys in games and anime, but he's not the kind of bad guy I like.

But I would totally want to date the ninja bad guy.

Silver-haired ninjas are a thing I like a lot...it's kinda embarrassing.

Another update is coming right up! If you're wondering why I'm doing so many right now it's because I know from next week I won't have as much time to do them and I want to get us onto a route before then.

I hope we ate him out of house and home. It's the least he deserves.


Eating makes us sleepy. Let's nap!


We are then woken up by Muneshige sneaking into our room just as we drift off.


NEVER. Post-food naps are SACRED.



Who said we're joking? wink wink nudge nudge say no more

Muneshige tells us we're leaving right now. Dine and dash! Good idea!


Ghosts? Ninjas? Ghost-ninjas? I bet it's ghost-ninjas they're a plague on society


GHOST-NINJAS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS, YOUNG LADY.


That's fortunate.


We conceal ourselves in a nearby room as the steps approach the room.


CALLED IT.


Let's roll-roll the hell out of here!


Okay but let's hold hands because as an otome heroine Hatsu will inevitably trip.



CALLED IT. After complaining that she's not a child anymore, Hatsu gets on Muneshige's back.


Hatsu: It's been a long time...


Having him at her side...it made her feel safe.
Hatsu: Muneshige...
Muneshige: Yes, what is it?
Hatsu: Nothing. I was just saying your name.
Muneshige: Are you tired already, Princess? Show a little spirit.

(I don't have much to say I just really like this scene)


Let's ignore the fact they just bickered because Muneshige pointed out that she weighs more now and she tried to choke him and focus on the cute instead.

D: Hatsuuuuuu

They arrive at a big old pine at the edge of the castle.


It has a secret passage in it! Good work wee Muneshige!


Your puns are bad and you should feel bad.


We get dramatic music provided for us as we climb into the tunnel. Hatsu doesn't appreciate it though.


At the end of the tunnel there's a space big enough for us to hide in. Muneshige infodumps!


Company arrives.


No.



Well done Muneshige.


His Julie Andrews impression is STUNNING. He's a natural.


You can't tell from the pictures but he's YELLING this.


So it's not a surprise when he's overheard.


Damn it Muneshige!


You better be!


You NERD. However he has a plan for getting Hatsu out of trouble.




She won't leave him! Even if he is responsible for their position being revealed! We go down together!


Yes but there are a lot of ninjas on their home ground. The odds are kinda against you. He reassures Hatsu that because the castle is old and has been built and rebuilt on several times, the end of this tunnel leads into a former moat now used as a prison, and that she can hide there safely. Seems legit.


(swooon)

*swoon* Oh my, between Muneshige, Mon-Mon and Harumoto's hair, I can't chose !

No more time to discuss anything! Muneshige will go fight and Hatsu will use it as a chance to escape.


Muneshige promises he will. Hatsu says that he has broken one to her before when he promised he'd stay till she finished when she was learning to play the koto, but vanished. Not the time, Hatsu!



REALLY NOT THE TIME THERE ARE NINAJS COMING. The two split up and Muneshige goes out to his nearly inevitable death.




Hatsu reaches the end of the tunnel, but uhh that's not good.


DAMN IT.


This is why we don't trust men who promise us candy if we come with them!


This is sensible but DAMN HIM ANYWAY.


"Do you know that you are pointing a sword at the
daughter of the lord? Put it down!"
MAKE YOUR STAND.


That is no way to talk to a lady even if she can't arrange flowers! RUDE.


"You should know that! I'm doing this for the sake of our house, for the entire Mochizuki clan."
"With you out of the way, young Matsuchiyo will become the next lord, and the real power will fall to me.


Obviously.


"The fact that it'd give me more power is irrelevant! REALLY."




Hatsu is many things, but useless is not one of them.

Harumoto: If you're going to hate anyone, hate yourself for being lured here by your own selfishness. I'm just a poor moth being drawn to the fire.


You're so noble ;____;