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[personal profile] lb_lee
Submitted by [personal profile] quailfence! Thank you, [personal profile] quailfence!

"There is a radio in the distance. A radio of the world. Playing sound: Good morning, Elysium. Soon you will return to the world"

Blurb (from TVTropes): One miserable morning, you awaken from pain and darkness in a trashed motel room with the hangover to end all hangovers. You have no idea where, or even who, you are, but some details begin filling in as you explore: you are a police detective visiting Martinaise, harbor district of the city of Revachol, jewel of the Insulindian Isola, in the year '51 of the current century. Perhaps most importantly, you were sent here three days ago to deal with a lynched corpse, but instead went on a deranged bender of drug and alcohol abuse.

Now, you must resume the investigation with the aid of Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi, a fellow detective from a rival precinct. But of course, it won't be as simple as it seems — the victim, a security contractor for a major international shipping company, stands at the center of a labor dispute involving the local dockworker's union, corrupt businessmen, communist agitators, and foreign interests, with blood on the streets looking more likely by the day. Everyone involved is eager to use you for their own ends — and of course, you're no titan of mental stability, what with the two dozen voices in your head vying for your attention...

Why is it worth your time: The aforementioned voices in your heads are your skills. As you get your skills higher, they become more talkative and interact more with you and each other. Overall the game places a lot of emphasis on crafting an identity and making your own choices. While the player character has a past and a personality that goes along with said personality, the main character's amnesia means that you can choose to follow that past or create your own identity. How you choose to shape your personality also affects your ability to connect with and learn about other characters and engage with sideplots, with certain dialogue checks being easier if you level up certain skills - though there is always a small chance (3%, to be precise) chance of success or failure.

Plural/1+ tags: abuse low-focus, people: the dead, people: copies (you can talk to the victim's corpse if you pass a check), people: nonhumans (you can also talk to your necktie in certain circumstances), voices, visions, otherworld (in the form of dreams), type: spiritual, type: medical(?), type: setting-specific (to elaborate: it's theorized in-game that the skills/voices are a result of some combination of an in-universe phenomenon known as The Pale and the player character's pre-existing mental problems, but it's ultimately left unclear as to exactly why this is happening), teamwork

Content Warning:
It's a murder mystery where the player character is a cop who struggles with addiction to/withdrawal from alcohol and other substances. Other warnings are spoilers, see comments.

Note: due to the nature of the game, compiling a full and accurate content warnings list is rather difficult - I had to ask on Discord for help, and even then I still probably missed some things. Some of these things are unavoidable, while others can be avoided with varying amounts of difficulty

Accessibility notes: All dialogue/lines appear on-screen, and all dialogue and most narration is read out loud, though menus and such aren't. There exist let's plays/streams but I haven't seen any of them and the nature of the game, involving lost of little variations and branching choices, means that a completionist playthrough is basically impossible. Translated into Japanese, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Polish, Turkish, and Arabic, though audio is only available in English. Available on Steam, Gog, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and Switch
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
Submitted by [personal profile] beepbird! Thank you, [personal profile] beepbird!

"I'm so tired of the bad blood between us. But it's hard to let it go. You've hurt me. And I've also hurt you."

Blurb: You're on a path in the woods, and at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a Princess. You're here to slay her. If you don't, it will be the end of the world.

Why is it worth your time?: Overtly median protagonist where hearing voices is a central part of the narrative, an ever-changing princess whose fluidity of self is emphasized, and it's all amidst a narrative where your choices all have meaningful consequences (despite the time loops). Hearing voices is presented as a strength, not a flaw, and you even have the chance to tell one of them that you missed him.

Plural Tags: nonhumans, the dead, realitymashing, enmity, teamwork, nonswitching (mostly), median, voices, possession

Content Warnings: a detailed list of content warnings written by the developers can be found here (it even breaks it down by route): https://blacktabbygames.com/content-warnings-stp

Accessibility Notes: Game can be purchased from Steam, Gog, itch.io, and on Switch. Dialogue is narrated and the accessibility menu includes font replacement and adjustment, text-to-speech for non-narrated dialogue, and contrast improvements. Game is a visual novel, so it's mostly text, though there are some stunning images that don't give much information that's not also stated in text.

The audio is only available, however, in English. (The text is available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (both Catalan and Latin American), Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.)

If the violence is too much for you, ManlyBadassHero did a censored Let's Play here covering all routes and updates.

Misc. Notes (if any): Abuse is not related to the plurality; there's never any explanation given for the voices existing, actually. Check the content warnings for sure on this one. It's definitely a horror game.

Also, there is merch: shirts, stickers, and posters!
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
"What happened to the girl whose body this was...? I wonder if she's okay..."

Blurb: Neglected by her family, Remilia is destined to become the villainess of her world, but when a young woman from our world, Emi, is suddenly reincarnated into her body, suddenly Remilia is cherished and sheltered for the first time. For 11 years, Emi builds a life for Remilia's happiness, but when the treacherous court turns on softhearted Emi, it's Remilia's turn to build a life for her... and make all those jerks sorry!

Why is it worth your time?: Iron-fisted Remilia is a glory to watch in action. Lacking morals herself, she nevertheless embarks on a campaign to revolutionize the world around her for the better, from protecting the oppressed to farm reform to murdering corrupt gods, all for the sake of Emi, whose own moral code is extremely strict and who Remilia loves above all else. All of this is to bring about the downfall of those who wronged her, BY BUILDING A WORD SO GOOD THEY CAN'T SUCCEED IN IT. Give it a shot!

Plural Tags: abuse intermediate focus, the dead, intimate relationships, setting-specific, switching

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: Not officially licensed in English, but the English fan translation is pretty good! Google the title and pick the one of your choice; scanlators are working on it in Indonesian, Vietnamese, traditional Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese. Not screenreadable.

Misc Notes: In progress; 22 chapters scanlated at time of posting.
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
Submitted by [personal profile] acorn_squash! Thank you, [personal profile] acorn_squash!

“Seeing is believing in the things you see
Loving is believing in the ones you love!”


Blurb: A sweet song about being friends with a unicorn, the northern star, and someone who lives inside of you.

Why is it worth your time?: It’s cute and it’s about love!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, imaginary friends, nonhumans [unicorn, celestial body/northern star in English, flying elephant, moon and stars in Cantonese], friendship

Content Warnings: Discussion of facing ableism and lack of understanding, which is shrugged off immediately. This is a happy song!

Accessibility Notes: The audio and lyrics are available for free on the singer’s website. The songsheet is $5. Also, in 1984, this song got covered and adapted in Cantonese by George Lam, with the title San Ren Xing/三人行! You can listen to it and see the lyrics both in Chinese and English here!
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
"I cannot hold onto this body when another will need it far more. We are a single existence, split only by the tides of time, joined together in death."

Blurb: You play as a body-hopping Foundling, borrowing bodies of the dead, finding out who they were when alive, and fighting your way through a corrupted doomscape. Each "shell" has different skills and playstyle, from Eredrim the long-suffering king with all health and no stamina, to Tiel who runs up stairs for fun and chugs poison like candy.

Why is it worth your time?: It seems like a fun souls-like! It's lighter on story than other games in here, but I didn't mind watching it. The Virtuous Cycle expansion pack gives a little more story.

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, nonhumans (the Foundling), the dead, bodyhopping, possession

Content Warnings: It's a gory game with a grim atmosphere and a bunch of hyperdevoted cultists around. Comments contain warnings with spoilers.

Access Notes: Available on X-box Series and One, Playstation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Epic Games, and GOG.

Audio is English only, but subtitles and interface are available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Russian.

Due to the nature of the bodyhopping gameplay, I haven't found a total completionist Let's Play, but Lotus Prince has a pretty thorough series with unobtrusive commentary:
Misc Notes: A review of the game is here. And just so you know, you can pet the shopkeeper's cat.
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
"The Blight may have taken them, but they are still watching over us. And... I will never leave your side."

Blurb: A young girl wakes to a land blighted by an unceasing rain that steals the sanity and mortality of everyone it touches. Unable to fight as herself, she relies on the spirits of bosses and enemies that she befriends to protect her, fight for her, and help her explore and traverse the environment, so she can lay the dead to rest and end the cycle of horror.

Why is it worth your time?: It's good! Elegiac and bittersweet about flawed people at the end of the world trying to make things better. Nobody shares a body, per se, but the spirits who make up the members of your party can only manifest in the girl's vicinity, they all rely on her survival to continue, and she relies on them to progress through the game. Also, as a multiple whose system is stuffed with upset, hostile ghosts, the mechanics of soothing the dead, befriending them, and building strength through alliance with them rang true! This is a game about generation upon generation of horror finally being laid to rest. Also, the soundtrack is really nice!

Plural Tags: abuse low-focus, cofronting, teamwork, friendship, the dead

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One, Series X, and Series S. The game has no spoken dialogue, only written, and languages available are English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese. A completionist Let's Play with unobtrusive commentary and almost all text read out loud is here.

Misc Notes:
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
Submitted by [personal profile] packbat!

“Not too busy after all, I see,” Esther says when she opens the door.

“No.”

Cat Eleanor stands up on her hind legs, balancing her front paws on his knees, and says hello in cat. Esther smiles.

“She wants you to pick her up.”

REFUSE

Higher likelihood of claw holes from picking up or not picking up.

DANGER

Eleanor makes holes in his kneecaps. He picks her up and drapes her on his shoulder, where she purrs into his neck and presses her cold, wet nose against his ear. Barnes learns that the area around his ear is extremely ticklish.

The mission imperative is a sound in the back of his mind a little like “eeeeeee.”


Blurb: Following on from the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), brainwashed assassin James Buchanan Barnes, his mission imperative, and his mission briefing try to protect Steve Rogers while dealing with assassins, criminals, trauma, memory issues, and becoming a part of a community again.

Why is it worth your time?: This is a story about small victories, supportive friends, and finding your own solutions to problems. Barnes' system configuration is repeatedly affirmed and celebrated as functional and good. It also has a lot of good humor, and the fight scenes are well-integrated into the arc of the plot.

Plural Tags: memory work, nonswitching, relationships: teamwork, voices. fusion/integration is discussed but does not occur.

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments!

Accessibility Notes: screenreadable, audio/dubbing (almost all the stories have at least one linked podfic). Every work in the series has been translated into Русский, although some of the translations are only available to logged-in AO3 users. (An account is free but it might take a day or two to get an invitation.) Some fics in the series have also been translated into Russian, Magyar, Français, 한국어, and/or 中文-普通话 國語. The translations are linked at the top of each fic. Also, at times the HTML is poor so might be a pain on screenreader.

Misc. Notes (if any): The author retcons a number of things over the course of the series and Barnes is an unreliable narrator due to memory issues, so the work is internally contradictory in a number of parts.

Also, URL = https://archiveofourown.org/series/195689 Back-up links:
lb_lee: A happy little brain with a bandage on it, enclosed within a circle with the words LB Lee. (Default)
[personal profile] lb_lee
Recced by Janusz of [personal profile] talewisefellowship !

"Sai... I guess the one and only way to see you... is for me to play go. Sai, is it... is it all right for me to play?"

Blurb: When average 6th grader Shindō Hikaru finds an old Go board in his grandfather's warehouse, he is possessed by the spirit of Fujiwara no Sai, a master Go player who lived about a thousand years ago, and from that moment his life changed forever. Although Hikaru originally had no interest in the old board game, through spending time with Sai he gradually comes to appreciate the game and Sai becomes his guardian mentor and teaches the game to him. Thanks to Sai's actions, Hikaru manages to catch the attention of a young go prodigy his own age, Tōya Akira. The two develop a mutual interest in each other and Hikaru dedicates himself to studying the game so that he may become a player worthy of Akira.

Why is it worth your time?:
Because only Hikaru can see and hear Sai and they talk to each other in his head, the way the two live together is very similar to the experiences of many plural systems, especially the "host and soulbond" type. The story portrays their relationship and their struggles in a very human way that a lot of systems might find relatable. It was this story that first motivated me to get in touch with my system.

Also the gay subtext between Hikaru and Akira is so strong it might as well just be considered text. Since it's early 2000's Shōnen Jump there is no official confirmation of the nature of their feelings for each other, but I wouldn't consider it queerbaiting either; it is what it is.

Plural Tags: Spirit possession, the dead

Content Warnings: Contains spoilers, in comments below

Accessibility Notes: Available in English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and French, as comics and anime, digital and analog. Quoth Janusz, "Unfortunately the anime doesn't cover the entire manga and the english voice acting is not very good, so if you listen to the dub I recommend listening to the original Japanese voice acting to get a sense of how everyone actually sounds." Also, apparently it got remade into a Chinese live-action remake a while back! No clue if it's any good though.

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