To everyone: if you have time and the will to write more, let us know *why* you like these specific characters. Do you identify with them? Do you consider them inspiring? Do you find them attractive? Do they add anything to the gameplay of a complex game?
Dramspringfeald, I don't recognize any of the characters you mentioned. (I guess it's because I haven't been paying much attention to translated VNs lately...) Where are they from?
Some of my favorites:
Hibiya Wataru from Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 1. A guy who's not exactly cool or smart. Unlike Sakuya Morimura (who I almost mentioned in this list), the other girls in the game don't show interest in him. Why do I mention Wataru? Because he puts extra effort into becoming a better athlete, and because he keeps looking for a positive role model. It also helps that winning him requires balanced stats, rather than min/maxing like crazy.
Sagiitta Weinberg from Sakura Wars 5. This woman has achieved a *lot*. When the story begins, she is already an accomplished lawyer and Broadway actress. As events in the game happen, she makes amends with the people of Harlem and the Centaur gang. (This game isn't realistic at all... it includes things like steam powered mechs and Pneuma energy. That said, in a less fantastical world, her age would more likely be 31 rather than 21.)
Oko San from Hatoful Boyfriend. Even though the VN is mostly comedy and nonsense, this character stands out as the most absurd of all of them. Makes ridiculous, funny statements on a regular basis, and has a
in-character blog dedicated to pudding.
Yeonji from Tears 9, 10. Warning, major spoilers ahead:
I almost mentioned Taehyeok, the main character, since most of his actions in the game are efforts to save Yeonji from her life in a ghetto. But no matter what Taehyeok does, it just isn't enough. So my nomination goes to Yeonji instead. She is a high-tier woobie: she doesn't have adequate heating in winter, she's working in a factory just to survive, she lost a finger in an accident, at least one of her parents is definitely dead, and she might become a rape victim. Despite all of this, she's trying to become a pianist, and she tries to stay positive.
Yumi Kashima had a major role in Kana Little Sister, which was another depressing VN. I know that the title character is meant to be sympathetic, but I liked Yumi more. Read on for some opinions and spoilers:
I thought the way in which Takamichi began to dislike Yumi showed his immaturity, and made Yumi more sympathetic by comparison. All of the characters mature during the story. But I thought that Taka was lagging at times, and that he had trouble accepting that Yumi liked him. During one ending, Taka fell into complete despair... but guess who swooped in to help him? Yeah, it was Yumi.
While much of the story is about Kana's loneliness and despair, she didn't seem to be a proactive character. Her role seemed limited to suffering and expressing her frustration.
Clara from Flower Shop: Summer. I wanted to mention at least one character from the WVN scene, and this is the first one that came to mind. While I wasn't sure if I liked the challenge in the computer game version of Summer in Fairbrook, I definitely like the cast. Clara stands out because of her interesting conflict. She's stuck in a small town, and she knows that she can't leave it just yet. I like how she's presented as a tomboy: neither trying to assert her femininity, nor trying to prove she's just as talented as some guy. Clara seems like someone who could motivate Steve, and who might stay with him in a long term relationship. (Note: I had trouble finding a picture of just Clara. The most relevant image on VNDB is too large for this forum.)
Tohko from Elven Relations. I wanted to mention a character from the freeware scene as well. Tohko seems the most like an adventurer in the group. She has been the main character's friend, and the two reunite on good terms. It appears that she's been achieving quite a bit over the years, namely learning how to be a better magician. Finally, a path with Tohko can end on a good note, depending quite a bit on how the main character responds when she brings up a secret from the past. (Again, had trouble finding a relevant image that fit.)
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... for me, this guy is the perfect VN character that can fit in "almost" any genre... if only he were a bit younger, he could be a main protagonist in an eroge VN where all endings are harem endings...
