Princess Connect! Re:Dive Season 2 Episode 1 Discussion

SkyLETV said:
By the way, I think this is the first time I've seen that they don't change the opening for a season 2 (no second cour). I love the opening but it's weird xD.

redvelvetdoll said:
I don't think it's that they're not changing the op, but rather that they brought it back just for this episode before they debut the new one. That said, if there's not a new one I won't complain bc S1's was just so good

RobertBobert said:
They will adapt the main story, right? I've been playing the game for a long time, but I've mostly ignored this part.

Takata said:
I doubt we'll be seeing anything vaguely parallel to the game's main story in the anime.

RobertBobert said:


So, is this an alternate plot?

AkeZZZ said:


ํwell.. It could say that the anime is like an alternate universe. There are some similarities like the main concept but most of the anime is different from game. The anime is more focused on a slice of life while the game's plot is more serious. However, it could be like the first season that we will get an actual serious story at the end of the season.

RobertBobert said:


So, is this an alternate plot?

Saku_k said:

The show doesn't really have a plot. Or I should say, it shares the same general setting and universe as the game, but they don't really explore the overall plot that much.
It is more just slice of life adventure of the week, with rotating characters outside the main guild members.
As for changing the lore (I assume you mean the story), it is significantly changed, but again, they never really do much story in the first place so I'm not sure how much that matters.

RobertBobert said:


By lore, I mean the personality and actions of the characters.

Saku_k said:

Outside of the 4 main characters (Peco, Kokkoro, Kyaru, Yuuki) their personalities and actions are pretty much the same as in the game. Their relation/story with the main character (Yuuki) is significantly changed though.
Regarding the 4 main characters, they are kind of caricatures of their versions from the game. Their personalities aren't wrong necessarily, but they are kind of exaggerated versions of the game. As for actions, Kyaru is the only one that sticks out as being different from the game.

RobertBobert said:


I'm worried about this because I don't like when prominent waifu bait gacha being adapted as either strictly all-female with all that it implies, or the MC from chad turns into an ordinary observer who does not affect the lives of female characters in any way.

Nieznajomy43 said:
I really missed this anime, especially since it isn't reusing about ~6 character designs and VAs for NPCs and monsters aren't literally just the same shadow looking things (in stories) like in the game.

Also game Where is Ayumi is back!
(5:32)




I don't know how much of stories from the game you played but personally I would say anime is opposite of what you described, in anime Yuuki have bigger impact especially since he isn't faceless and voiceless "personification" of the player and male characters in the game are just NPC in stories that will have a few voice lines.
Like in the game player have barely any dialogue options (90% of dialogue come from female chars, 9% from NPC and 1% from "player") and if there are they only effecting reaction of female characters.

RobertBobert said:
-snip-
Well, I often hear jokes or even complaints that he is useless and that the show would be much better as an all-female with Pecorine as MC.

Takata said:
I read a joke somewhere that Pecorine's the one with the harem, not Yuuki, since Kyaru was calling her "baka" in the last episode last season.
I find Yuuki kindof interesting, partly as a unique take on a character with amnesia.

RobertBobert said:


Well, I often hear jokes or even complaints that he is useless and that the show would be much better as an all-female with Pecorine as MC.

Nieznajomy43 said:

I don't know how much of stories from the game you played but personally I would say anime is opposite of what you described, in anime Yuuki have bigger impact especially since he isn't faceless and voiceless "personification" of the player and male characters in the game are just NPC in stories that will have a few voice lines.
Like in the game player have barely any dialogue options (90% of dialogue come from female chars, 9% from NPC and 1% from "player") and if there are they only effecting reaction of female characters.

Nieznajomy43 said:


I can understand this POV, (retaking her kingdom, learning why everyone forgot about her, etc.) Pecorine story itself would easily make good plot for anime.
But if you consider game's main story then it is somewhat short-sighted interpretation because Yuuki is integral part of the story (for spoiler related reasons).
And Yuuki have full amnesia so it shouldn't be surprising that he will not be as useful as other characters but even still his union burst (power up'ing other characters) is useful during battles, his amnesia is often used for comedic and "cute"/wholesome moments, and he is also moving story forward so I wouldn't call him useless.

And personally I'm not a fan of "all-female" series (and "all-boy" too). I don't think they are inherently bad but often "all-female" anime are a "yuri bait" and/or designed to "sell" those females, making them overly cute, "one trope" type, etc. while story is secondary.

Saku_k said:

Nah.
How does Yuuki have a bigger impact in the anime? In the game it is true that you only speak through dialogue choices. But... that's still like just as much dialogue as Yuuki in the anime, because he rarely talks. If anything, the anime has kind of screwed up Yuuki. He is a silent protagonist like the main characters in Persona games, or other gacha games like FGO. That doesn't mean he can't talk properly, it is just a way of story telling for a game. There is no reason for him to be the way he is in the anime. Yuuki can actually speak normally and hold a conversation. He is only a "baby" in the beginning of the game.
He is hardly faceless in the game either, as he is frequently in cutscenes. He even has voiced lines in them time to time.

I would argue anime Yuuki is more useless than game Yuuki. In the game, the majority of characters are actually pretty weak and struggle fighting basic monsters without his buff. Meanwhile in the anime, for almost the entirety of the first season he is incapable of even buffing people until getting the ability back at the end (never happens in game btw he can do it from the beginning). His presence isn't even needed for most encounters.

As for the girls, in the game Yuuki is the one who knows everybody and is friends with everybody. Most characters are at best, just acquaintances of the rest of his guild, or straight up don't even know them. In fact it is a kind of a running gag how he seems to already be friends with every new girl they meet.
Just look at Little Lyrical. In the game, Yuuki has already individually met all of them and had his own stories with them, forming friendships with them, before Peco, Kokkoro-chan, and Kyaru even know of their existence. Whereas in the anime, the girls meet Bishokuden and form a bond with them as a whole, and as such have no real special relationship with Yuuki. Is Yuuki even really necessary for that to happen in the anime?

He is most definitely more of an observer in the anime, and I'm not sure I understand how you can say he has more of an impact than in the game.

Just look at Little Lyrical. In the game, Yuuki has already individually met all of them and had his own stories with them[...]

Nieznajomy43 said:


Sorry but I think you misunderstood me, for me being useful isn't always the same as impacting story. So yes, Yuuki in the game is more useful than in anime but now in just this episode he used UB a few times so now can be as useful as in the game.

And by impact I meant by actually interacting with characters and environment and not just listening how others describing what he is doing and saying.

Only if Gacha gods looked with favor at you and was able to get all of them and sacrificed enough amulets, coins and stamina to get them to at least 3⭐. Hehehehe :P

Also because of what anime is doing allows them to make more consistent story, like in the game every female have feelings for Yuuki, wants to marry him or be in some relationship with him.
Yuuki in the game is ultimate harem protagonist. xD

In the end I can be biased because at this point I'm annoyed and tired by the fact how much game is reusing assets and VAs for NPC in their stories.
Game is really successful, they should have money to hire more VAs and create more assets (especialy for monsters).

Saku_k said:

Sure but how does he really interact with the characters in the anime?
He just randomly throws short lines like "Nice" and stuff. It isn't really that different from the game. It's still Peco and friends doing all the heavy lifting story/dialogue wise. This is what I'm saying, since they are doing an anime they have the opportunity to make him into more of an active character and stuff, but instead they just go with the "he is a baby" characterization of him and have him barely talk or anything.





I definitely understand why they are going for a different approach, the format of the game would not be suited for the anime to introduce other characters and their story. I just think there are better ways to go about it. Make Yuuki more important for the other characters. Hell, he never even really has one on one conversations with the other members of his guild, it feels like they are all just talking around him most of the time.
Take this episode. Rather than have the guild go on an ultimately meaningless adventure, with some random old guy, how about they are on an adventure that also ends up tying into the overall story? Rather than this old guy, maybe Yuuki could split up from the group for a bit, and end up meeting a character they didn't introduce yet, and we can have 10 minutes of him building a bond with her, then rejoining the group or something. Kind of like how in the first season he met with Aoi-chan, but with actually more content and story rather than some 1 minute encounter.
I think the characterization of him as an observer is pretty accurate. It is true that he is buffing people now finally, but even then, it's still not even really made clear what effect it is having or if it is even necessary. Peco was already blasting off crazy Princess Strikes and stuff in the first season. One of my favourite scenes from the first season was that fight with Christina (even though it was kinda lore inaccurate) because it felt like he was actually important and doing stuff. I want to see more of that.

Funny you should mention reusing assets and VA, when half the mob characters in the anime are voiced by the guy who does Kazuma's voice xD
The monster asset reuse in the game is pretty funny though. It is literally the same black shadow blob thing every single time for every single monster.

Don't get me wrong, I love Princess Connect, and I'm not asking for a 1 to 1 retelling of the game, I just wish the anime had more meat to it.

go1d1eaf said:
is it me or does their face reactions give off similar vibes to konosuba?