HanaKare Review: Cute & steamy romance with florists!
- Translator
- Review, Translated
- 14 Aug, 2024
I quickly pre-ordered this on the last day before release! Managed to get the limited edition copy from Animate! Was a fan of the original drama CDs this game is based on but didn't ever hear Tenya's CD so I was looking forward to his route the most! AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT! AHHH!
Note
This game comes with English translated option, it is not localized so there are some punctuation, spelling and minor grammar mistakes
TLDR:
- Game about 4 different MCs dating 4 different LIs who are florists
- No common route, only shared prologue which takes only 5 mins to read
- Each route is 14 chapters to Best End + Special Short Story unlocked
- Each route gets 2 good ends and 1 bad end (the bad end is usually bittwersweet, portrayed by a realistic and natural progression)
- Simply read about the pair's relationship blossoming into lovers
- Rec route order is: Wataru -> Gin -> Hokuto -> Tenya
LI's Route Reviews
Hokuto
- Childhood friend turned lover trope DONE WELL
- I find him quite frustrating at first but he has become a loveable dork now
- First route I played and had zero expectations but was immediately sold
- Furukawa Makoto AKA CupidPara Allan 💖
- the MC is soooo devoted, straightforward and adorable!
- After they're official, there are 3 chapters of nothing but sweet and spicy moments! I LOVE IT!! Feels like a satisfying FD after the happy end~ Plus, a special short story too! AHHH SO MUCH CONTENT!
- The man becomes so dangerous for my and MC's heart
Ginnosuke
- That one coworker that you banter with
- I LOVE THE BANTER SOO MUCH! !They're so cute!
- He's straightforward and tease a lot but is tsun when it comes to expressing his affection
- SUCH A CUTIE WHEN DRUNK I CANT!!!
- Quite a steamy route too
- Romance development is ON POINT!!
- Voice actor is Tengoku Struggle Yona and 9 RIP Kouyou! Gin is like the best of both worlds of Yona and Kouyou, and more steamy!
Wataru
- Golden retriever junior who works at the same place
- VERY LOUD and hyper most of the time
- Not my favourite route but still adorable bc of KinuRyo's voice acting
- Has steamy moments
- Bad end is kinda heartbreaking tho
Tenya
- That high school popular boy crush who secretly crushed back
- I LOVE HIM. PERIOD.
- He's gentle, cute, sexy, HOT and everything
- He's like a cat!! Can be cutely possessive, jealous and super devoted
- He's quite sly and likes to tease too! SO UNFAIR!! ZURUII
- Most of the time poker face and calm but not when it comes to MC!
- Best love story in the whole game!!
- Love the MC in this route!! Super relatable and funny!
- Once again, WHY ARE they sO CuTE? Ahhhh
- Only his route gets 15 chapters (1 extra chapter) YAYYY
- Route ranking: Tenya > Gin > Hokuto > Wataru
- LI Ranking: Tenya = Gin > Hokuto >>>>>> Wataru
Pros:
- All the characters are LOVEABLE. In the main LI's route, the other 3 would be the chaotic wingmen which is such a delight to see!
- Because all the MCs are different, NONE of the routes felt repetitive at all! And all the MCs personalities are all distinct and great!
- The chemistry between each LI and MC are all great! Like they really compliment each other so well!
- Quite realistic and cute everydayblossoming romance with great writing. I usually like games with overarching deep plots but this game is done so well, I enjoyed the simplicity but great execution of the writing
- Excellent voice cast! As expected from top tier voice actors!
- GORGEOUS ART by Yuuya!! I have no complaints other than I WANT MOREEEE
- Each LI gets 11 CGs but there's so many variations in each CG that there's like about > 60 total for each LI
- I love all the flower languages and symbolism sprinkled throughout every route like... the game makes me appreciate flowers more!
- Ahhh TENYA 💖💖💖
Cons:
- MCs not voiced..
- No MC sprite... Like why? In CupidPara, Lynette gets one..
- English can be quite awkward at times and does not accurately translate the meaning in JP
- Punctuations errors (like they forgot to add in quotation marks when the person is talking or the brackets when the MC is thinking to herself)
- No option to replay scene from Log (i really tried pressing every button...)
- Mild gripe but I wished the MCs all knew each other and were acquiatances/friends of some sort like how all the 4 guys knew each other. So it's like everything is connected. But they are all not voiced so they can't appear in the route that's not theirs as a side character... or at least have them meet each other but no... or at least have them appear in other routes... In one LI route, the other LI's MC would be mentioned but she does not appear at all
- Very mild gripe but none of the characters in the game would call the MCs' names even though the default is used
Conclusion
JUST. PLAY. THIS. GAME. Because no matter how many words I type, it can't describe the cute, sweet, spicy, chaos, wonderful and hilarious of a game this is!!
But WARNING! THIS GAME WILL MAKE U FEEL SOOOO SINGLE T^T Like because it's really high on sugar content and romance... You'll start wishing your local florists are that HOT and CUTE!
Donate ❤Overall rating; 8.5/10