Fatal Twelve Debrief

This article has not been completed and is not scheduled for updates. However, all content at present is considered final and will likely remain unchanged.

I wanted this to be an archive of all my crap, but I've not really gotten around to it and now I'm going to make even more trash. I did want to archive a bunch of reviews of various pieces of media. Alright, I'm going to go over Fatal Twelve (FT). And like every debrief to follow will adhere to the Road-Trip Model, wherein the debrief is a post-completion spoiler-full impression.

I just finished it 10 minutes ago. Or, in other words, I got the endings I wanted and I really don't want to see the others. Then I went and read a good review and then a goddess-awful one by some pompous ass in... whatever. Two things you won't see here: Any negative comments about the graphics, the aesthetic (dwarf fortress is great), excluding some funny stuff. And, two, complaints about "fluff" or "padding". Maybe you find these important, so I'll just say, "you do you, unless you're an ass about it."

My short-term memory's completely shot, so I'm going to have a hard time remembering names even though I just finished it. If you're going to write about something, you've got to write. See you in 2000 words.

Introduction

Oh dear lord, it took me 25 hours to get through this. I, of course, pretty much binged the whole novel in three days and I had to study for and take a test in the middle of it. I only had, maybe, two or three emotional breakdowns during this time, too. And like the person who brought FT to my attention, it was all worth it. So, take that how ever you want.

I sat on FT for a few days after I got it. I was hesitant since I never finished Highway Blossoms or Heart of the Woods. I did finish Butterfly Soup, the name of which got lost in a black hole, so there's some hope. (Not to show off my fictional lesbian bonafides or lack thereof) Despite that, I got through this.

Anyway, I went in expecting English voice over, not sure why, but it's in Japanese like normal. I don't know what to say either way about Japanese vs. English VO. I'll say that English VO is, obviously, an indulgence, a luxury, there's no reason to expect it for a Japanese product. I can pay a little less attention or stop reading for a second with English. Also, I can't really play the VO very loud since I don't want my roommates er... parents to assume anything. What? I don't know, I'm just uncomfortable with everything.

Music

I found the background music to be fairly lackluster, par for the course for me and visual novels, I'm afraid. I want to apologize to the artist who worked hard to make the soundtrack, but I just can't help myself. I used two songs for general sections, both loop-able, one fairly appropriate and the other not at all. They were "watercooler memories 96" by JASPERX and "Productivity Tango" by Kyle Gabler.

Then for the down and out portions of the story I listened to the three saddest tracks from Nick Jaina's ancient album, The 7 Stations. In addition, I went with "Mina's Theme" and, sometimes, "The Silent Shuffle", both by Daniel Knox for some of the fraught parts with Miharu.

Absolutely perfect for the fireworks ending, "Orange Colored Sky" by King Cole Trio. Finally, like the end of every gay thing I read or watch and extremely appropriate for the best/true ending, Auld Lang Syne by Guy Lombardo. (Ever since someone said some stores in Japan use the song to signal to customers that its closing time, I can't help but play it at the end of anything. And supposedly it's annoying? I don't remember the reasoning.)

Destination

The first ending came because I wasn't paying attention. I'd call it the Game Over ending, since it's essentially losing Divine Selection and poof. Next, I made the decision to refuse the cake, you'll see why soon. As in, I rejected Miharu and, of course, you don't get your cake (Parca takes over Rinka) and you surely don't eat it (Miharu gets erased). So goes the "Fated Ending" ending.

Well, that was depressing, let's try that again. Alright, let's delay the confession then, save the Cake for later. Here comes the "Future" ending or, what I like to call, the Fireworks ending. I felt good about this ending in particular since Miharu sees a change for the better, away from her infatuation with Rinka and there's a nice ambiguous conclusion to boot. You get to have your Cake and probably eat it, too.

But, wait! Not only can you have your Cake (Rinka survives), all your friends (and everyone else) can, too, with the "Like a Dream" ending. Albeit, Rinka and Miharu lose their memories, but whatever I'm sure it'll work out. You even get some dating fluff and an emotional betrayal beforehand. Now, combine outsmarting Parca with this ending and you've got the perfect ending.

There's an elephant in the room, the implied true ending. The "Fatal Twelve" ending probably is the true ending, given its name and its being the most narratively consistent. However, it's probably the most unsatisfying ending. The narrative seemed to imply that memories took precedent over life itself. Take what Naomi and Rinka said throughout the story, paraphrasing, "Losing your memories is the same as dying" and "I want to save all the good times I've had." And the heavy themes about memories, Parca appeared because Dianna lost her memories, Yu changed when he got his memory back. In the end, I'll just pretend that this ending was never written.

Miharu

I struggled and still struggle to come to a conclusion about Miharu. I need to be careful after the Bloom into You debacle showed how dense I am regarding literary analysis.

Negatives

Generally, I felt Miharu was an infatuated manipulative ass who didn't deserve all that suffering. In other words, she's me in high school. I would say her 'love' for Rinka was often not true.

Infatuation entails the creation of a false one-sided relationship with an idealized, fake version of another, the reduction of another to a mere object of affection. Monopolizing their attention and feeling jealous about things you refuse to do. Believing your imagined relationship with them is deep and unique, while they know nothing. I hated when she acted like she owned Rinka, that she could only hang out with Naomi with Miharu's permission.

I disliked the lying, the withholding of information, doing what you think is best for Rinka, and the attitude that your desires matter more than who you supposedly love. I guess you've seen what answer I gave to the confession. Miharu should But, the fireworks ending showed a meaningful change in Miharu, that given the choice, I might have hesitated before ruining everybody's day.

I'm realizing after rereading what I just wrote that I'm a judgy asshole. Apparently, I just immediately attach to the protagonist without thinking and judge away. Yes, the best way to read any story is to judge the romantic interest immediately. I'll tell you I didn't like Touko at first, too. But, I completely misjudged her and, now, I like her character somewhat.

Positives

So, now, let's talk positives. We will have balance! And Miharu will be redeemed! (I hope…) First, with all of my criticism, Miharu is obviously a realistic character. As I said, Miharu's just like me in high school, thus a real person. Second, as provided by the fireworks ending, there's some potential for some real character development given enough time. I do hope it's all par for the course in becoming an adult.

Anyway, they're only characters in a visual novel and I'm projecting like a lighthouse on a clear night, so forget everything I just wrote. Instead, think about good times you had with friends

Naomi

Ah, I almost forget. Naomi cannot escape my wrathful projection either. Had you only read the English subtitles Anxy, maybe you wouldn't risk being culturally insensitive. I'm an American, so I might as well act the part of the opinionated bull-in-a-china-shop American trouncing through foreign customs. I get it, seniority's important in Japan, though I'm sure plenty of Japanese women would prefer it not to be. Whatever, Rinka's one year older than Naomi and it's nothing but senpai this, senpai that (only in the Japanese VO). Please just call Rinka, Rinka, or at the very least and the very awkward, Rinka Senpai. Rinka's not a walking, talking honorific.

Extra

Maybe I'll make this easier with a walk through some more controversial stuff. Didn't you read Netsuzuo Trap? Yes, it was difficult for me and probably not worth it. What about Citrus? Nope, no thanks. And If I Could Reach You? Oh god, much to my chagrin, I did like it, but that's a topic for a different time. And other stories are completely fucked, I mean child exploitative, fetishistic, N*zi-sympathizing fucked. Now, with that exercise, I feel Miharu isn't too bad.

Great, I've done a comparison that doesn't lead anywhere. I'll just leave it all in, so you can see me drive down a dead-end road, pop my tire on the curb, abandon my car, and just walk back home. I've got a second car and we're going the opposite direction this time.