Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
Overview
This is a game I have been anticipating since 2023 or 2022 even. The art showcased in the announcement trailer was just absolutely stunning. It took my breath away.
However, sadly, the CGs in this game were quite underwhelming. Thankfully, to make up for that, all the character sprites are immaculate. Sometimes, I can’t help but stare… (iykyk).
The boys
The order of mentions are as per my playthrough order. I don’t think there is any particular recommended order of playthrough for this game. Don’t take my words for it though.
Toushuusai Sharaku
Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
- Appearance
- 8.0
- Personality
- 4.0
- Storyline
- 5.0
The one I love in every other route but his own.
- Cat
- Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🥵
- Sassy
- Really interesting at first with his cleaning obsession.
- Seemed really mature and cool-headed.
- Was good at reading people.
- Was very cynical.
- I was turned off by how often he brought up sex. It was almost like he was pressuring Rin into having sex with him. Even with his background story, it feels too much.
- I was disappointed by the CGs in his route. They just look so underwhelming.
Murakami Yona
Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
- Appearance
- 8.5
- Personality
- 8.0
- Storyline
- 5.0
- Idiot 1
- The red head guy 🌞
- Muscular ✨
- I was surprised a lot in his route. I was expecting him to be a genki character but he was quite the mellow guy. He enjoys reading. I feel him so much.
- He unlocked some kind of twisted desires in Rin. There is always one person who is horny as heck. Last one was Sharaku.
Uga Kikunosuke
Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
- Appearance
- 7.0
- Personality
- 7.0
- Storyline
- 6.5
- Innocent and pure
- Must protect at all cost
Right of the bat, his route already has better CGs than the other 2 routes I’ve played so far. The story is also more interesting with minimum cringy moments in my opinion. If you enjoy a Rin who doesn’t act unimaginably silly and makes stupid mistakes, this route is for you.
JacK
Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
- Appearance
- 6.5
- Personality
- 7.0
- Storyline
- 9.0
The best route for the wrong reason.
- Mysterious
- Crazy (yep)
- Silly
- The amount of time I snorted at the beginning of this route is surreal. I like how all the boys are so against the idea of her having tea with this guy like me. It’s so obviously a trap. But she knows it can be a trap, too.
- I love how all the Hell boys hated this guy.
- Honestly, this route is the best route so far, not because of JacK but because of how the four boys acted in the route.
Ishikawa Goemon
Tengoku Struggle -strayside-
Though I can count all the sand in the sea, I cannot count the many ways I love you.
- Appearance
- 8.0
- Personality
- 9.0
- Storyline
- 7.5
- Man of the hour, the one we’ve all been waiting, the one I climbed 4 mountains to meet
- Lover boy, just my type
- Quote generator
- This route is like teaser and tragedy opening for Goemon’s route. It’s hyping up the route so much with his involvement in Rin and Jack’s interaction.
- From playing his route, I realised my favourite “troupe” in visual novels. Or perhaps any media types. I thoroughly love the “I love you through space and time, through life and death. I will always love you” or the super simp trope.
- He was alcoholic. This part of him wasn’t addressed though which was a shame. I love when characters have flaws that are well developed.
- This route uncovered some really really dark content.