Ikemen Sengoku is a historical-themed otome that takes place in the the Sengoku era. This particular game is one of many “Ikemen” otome games by Cybrid, and the first Cybrid game I ever tried. After hearing mixed reviews about the game, I decided to jump in and give it a shot myself.
Ikemen Sengoku is a time-travel romance where MC is transported to the Sengoku era.
After she unknowingly prevents the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, she is trapped in an alternate version of the past. MC can return to her time after three months, with the help of a worm-hole, but feelings tend to be a problem in Otome games, so that return trip is up in the air.
(Please note that this game is intended for older audiences. It’s neither graphic nor gratuitous, but I think the recommended age is 17+)
I was torn between Hideyoshi and Nobunaga as my first route, but decided to go with the safer looking option of Hideyoshi.
I assumed at first glance that his route would be a slow burn romance where MC would have to work a little to gain his trust/love. He almost kills you twice before you’re even out of chapter one, so it had all of the warning signs of an angst-ridden-blood-fest sort of route.
As it turned out, Hideyoshi’s route was more “Mom-Friend-Supreme” than it was difficult relationship building.
His ability to worry and scold every other warlord and you at the same time was astounding. MC even thinks of him as her evil-stepmother at the start of his route, and says he’s like a mama-bird in the other warlords’ routes.
Hideyoshi’s story keeps up a steady swing between him trying to maintain peace and order in Nobunaga’s castle to him pulling his hair out because he’s starting to like you a little too much. The cuteness of the first part of the route was well-written and adorable, even though it was a little frustrating that he put MC into the sister-zone. (His thought process was essentially “Come on Hideyoshi, she’s my sister, keep her in the sister zone, she’s my sister, keep her in the – oh no, bad thought – pull it back together Hideyoshi…” and repeat)
As the route goes further, the cuteness starts to wear away as you find yourself in the middle of a war that Hideyoshi is quite likely not come back from. MC and Hideyoshi are then stuck on the same side of the feelings board without realizing it.
MC wants to tell Hideyoshi how she feels, but she doesn’t want that heart-break when she goes back to her time, and she’s afraid he’ll reject her feelings.
Pretty normal MC set-up.
Hideyoshi is taking cold baths, meditating, and considering a pilgrimage to keep his feelings under control. Poor Hide-mama is have an existential crisis and he canonically says that he’s in trouble.
Add that to the threat of impending death and/or being eternally separated by 500 years to the mix and the route starts getting really complicated.
Their approach to romance is both adorable and exasperating to read.
It’s nice to have a cute/bittersweet route from time to time, and Hideyoshi’s route balances both. He’s loyal to a fault when it comes to Nobunaga, and will do anything in his power to see his lord’s ambition fulfilled. That loyalty slowly leaks over to encompass MC as well, but his first priority is Nobunaga.
So long as you don’t mind periodically reminding your dude that his existence has worth (and playing second fiddle to his husband), Hideyoshi’s route is a good choice.
Also, many of the Ikemen games have VERY high farming requirements, and Ikemen Sengoku isn’t an exception. Please brace yourself for long breaks in your story if you remain free-to-play, because it can take days to farm the necessary gold/intimacy to move through the later check-points.
Three stars
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