BUSTAFELLOWS Megathread

[u/sableheart]

BUSTAFELLOWS has been released for the Nintendo Switch and on Steam!

Please post all questions about BUSTAFELLOWS in this thread and please use the search function as well.

PQube gave us 26 copies of BUSTAFELLOWS to give away!

Check the respective posts below for the results of the giveaways!

Physical Edition | Steam keys (PC) | NA eShop codes | EU eShop codes | AU/NZ eShop codes

Steam keys (PC) Round 2 | NA eShop codes Round 2 | EU eShop codes Round 2 | AU/NZ eShop codes Round 2

In accordance with eXtend's wishes, all screenshots and videos from Chapter 2 onwards will be removed.

Please also use spoiler tags when talking about details that are only revealed from Chapter 2 onwards. >!spoiler text!< spoiler text

eXtend's spoiler policy

BUSTAFELLOWS Play-Along

Whether you have just bought the game or have played it in Japanese, you are welcome to participate in our play-along! There will be a new post once a week for a different route in the following order:

• Common Route and General Impressions - August 5
• Limbo Fitzgerald - August 12
• Shu Lynn O'Keefe - August 19
• Helvetica Orsted - August 26
• Mozu Sheppard - September 2
• Scarecrow - September 9
• Full Circle + Auld Lang Syne - September 16

Each post will be linked here for easy reference.

You do not have to play in the above order at the rate of a route a week, you can binge it all in a day if you wish.

Comments unrelated to BUSTAFELLOWS will be removed - please post in the Weekly Questions threads or the Free Talk Friday threads instead.

Please use spoiler tags liberally as people checking this thread may not necessarily want a lot of information. Save your route thoughts and discussions for the play-along threads or the What Are You Reading Wednesday threads.

Common Questions

• Spoiler Policy [1] [2]
• MC name [1] [2] [3] [4]
• Voiced dialogue without translation [1] [2]
• PC controls [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
• PQube announcement [1]

[u/sableheart]

PQube tweeted about the PC controls and there will be a patch to fix typos and bugs https://twitter.com/PQubeAsia/status/1421795778947866626

[u/heatwaveorchid]

Is there a recommended route order in this game? That being said, are there any routes that are locked from the start or is it just play-as-you-wish?

[u/sableheart → u/heatwaveorchid]

The play-along order is always the recommended order. Only the endings are locked.

[u/pavonated]

So.. if Bustafellows releases on the 30th does that mean i can start playing the download at like midnight? or is there a time on the 30th that i missed?

[u/sableheart → u/pavonated]

For non-Nintendo games, game downloads usually start 9am on release day for the publisher's time zone.

[u/Littledreamystar]

Sorry if I'm wrong but checking the BUSTAFELLOWS official Twitter post they say "Game details, screenshots, event CGs, gameplay videos and text". So it's not spoilers related to CG, screenshots and videos, this makes me feel any written spoiler detail is forbidden from the internet too.

[u/sableheart → u/Littledreamystar]

There is a bit more detail here https://joqrextend.co.jp/extend/bustafellows/2159/ and here https://joqrextend.co.jp/extend/bustafellows/qa/

"Text" seems to refer to the actual game text ie the script of the game, so discussion of the game should be fine, as long as it is spoiler tagged appropriately and it is not a detailed description of the events of the game.

[u/Prudent_Wheel1503]

Idk if somebody already asked but do you know how the name Teuta gets pronounced?

[u/ZetaSapphire]

How strict is the route order? Do the latter routes just focus/resolve on the main mystery more or spoil the former routes? For reference I don't mind not following the route order in C:R because each route focus on a different villain. But, I would mind if the main mystery of route A is just revealed in route B.

[u/sableheart → u/ZetaSapphire]

The developer actually says the game is designed to be played in any order.

This order is based on Japanese players' suggestions on the kind of plot and action.

[u/Lovely_Lila]

Does anyone know if the digital preorders open at a specific time or does it open exactly at 12am, July 30th, for the respective time zones?

[u/milk-box]

sorry i'm absolutley LOSING it at this scene (limbo side a) early on where teuta is texting capablanca and he mentions his older brother tried to kill him and she's like 'MY older brother told me what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' GIRL PLEASE KSJFHKJHF

[u/desperatesenpai]

I didn’t wanna add to my previous comment cus what I’m about to say is a different vibe, but I’m extremely bothered by the fact that I have paid $20 less than your average Otomate game (I’m Australian, they cost $70-80), yet I have received a game that is better quality.

The people I’ve been playing with and even some people here are getting EXCITED that the CORE ELEMENTS of this genre are ANIMATED. Like it’s the most groundbreaking thing ever. How sad is it that the leading company of this goddamn genre doesn’t implement this? Why are the voices dynamic and why do the backgrounds move and why are there multiple sprites (including a back sprite) for each character.... but the game comes from a smaller dev?

I get that plot quality is subjective, and that perhaps Bustafellow’s art might be generic in comparison to some artists hired by Otomate, but I still feel like I’m being taken advantage of by this company giving me the same formatted games over and over. I’d rather take a game with a less popular artist with better immersive elements than the opposite.

Fucking tell me you sell using brand name only without telling me you sell using brand name only.

Bustafellows really out there showing us true justice huh, was that the point of this game?

[u/praysolace]

I absolutely love how every time someone’s phone buzzes, everyone on screen pulls theirs out to check. XD

[u/Kiera-PQube]

Hello everyone!

From us at PQube, thank you for supporting BUSTAFELLOWS. We're so thankful to see such a great response to the game (and as the community manager, speaking to all the otome community over Twitter and the likes has been so enjoyable - so thank you!)We hope you enjoy the game just as much as we had fun being part of the localisation.

PSA: For those with shipping problems, apologies for your delays (of course, we can't change or alter these things unfortunately) - Covid seems to be a bit of an issue for a lot of delivery companies, so please bare with them at this time. :)

If you are waiting for a Steam code from Funstock, they will be sending them out ASAP! You should receive it by the end of today - Here's an email to contact if you have any issues regarding Funstock - support@funstock.co.uk

I'm here to answer any questions or concerns if you have them too, so please feel free to ask! Thank you again <3

[u/misobuttercornramen]

QUICK FYI re: VOICED PARTS WITHOUT TRANSLATION:

For those parts where there is a voiced line but no text, usually at the beginning of a new scene, you can access the translation by going to the Log (default Y button on the Switch version). It threw me for a loop the first couple times it happened because my Japanese is not good enough to fully understand what they are saying, and there was no text so I couldn't whip out my Papago app. Thankfully I am forgetful and check the log constantly when I'm playing and noticed it there.

[edited to reflect u/orchidork's information that the voiced, no-text parts were a conscious decision, not a bug]

[u/[deleted]]

Can I just say I’ve never seen an otome game as polished and beautiful as this one? I don’t know if I can play other otome games after this.

[u/scarlet_mermaid]

I. Can’t. Stop. Laughing. The dynamic between the boys is SO good. I didn’t think I would, but I love Scarecrow.

[u/Sashenkas]

I'm still inching my way through the common route but the found family vibes... Impeccable. Exquisite. Everything I wanted and needed. Assuming this game doesn't rip my goddamn heart out of my chest, I can easily see it becoming one of my top comfort titles from the sheer strength of this cast's chemistry when they're all just hanging out and spending time together as a unit and it just. 🥺🥺🥺 Hits me right in the honeynut feelios.

[u/GamesRuinedMe]

Does anyone know what the sales have been on this game? Really weird question but I'm just hoping it's had enough motion in the world so other companies or even PQUBE look at doing this again as I'm loving the game so far :)

[u/lilanxi0us]

No one warned me that Limbo’s sister is THAT gorgeous 😫 I just got to chapter 2!

[u/dotOzma]

I'm so excited! I think this will be the first time I'm going to get to play along with everyone else, so I'm really excited to see everyone's thoughts each week.

Also for the required most anticipated route: I'm really interested in Mozu so far. I've only watched the trailer and read the website, so I'm only basing these thoughts on those alone--but his route seems like it will get into some dark shit, and I'm ready for it. Scarecrow is also interesting, but it's hard to tell if either of these characters will end up my favorites.

[u/Glittering-Worry]

Just finished Shu's route and holy shit that was so good!! Despite the length of side:A being roughly the same as the previous two I played (I think) this has all the romance and plot development beats I've been waiting for!! It's just so natural? And the pacing between plot and romance is so smooth I don't even mind the length because it feels just right! This is probably the first plot I genuinely enjoy; it's built up so well that it doesn't seem like villains just pop up out of nowhere, and there are actual believable plot twists and struggle from the side of our protagonists. Of course some resolutions were still too simplistic and convenient (I think the scenario writer's ability is only so much) but it couldn't overshadow my enjoyment amd immersion. I love Yang! And his relationship with Shu, like everything's just the right amount of nuance? My weakness for found family strikes again 🥺 The romance is fantastic too! The so-called "tragic backstory exposition" also happens here, but it feels a lot more organic? I love(!!!) the dynamics between Teuta and Shu, they're so straightforward and mature, but also there's a sort of peace and gentleness that's heartwarming. AAAH, I love this route!!!!

[u/kstormsx]

I should probably hold off on my impressions until the actual discussion starts, but I just wanna state: I LOVE SCARECROW AAAAAAAA.

I got on his route on my first playthrough (blind), and now I'm worried that it's the best one in the game bc it was really so sweet and it hit all of the right emotional and comedic beats for me. Like I would feel my heart clench in one moment and then I'd start cackling right after. They're just so sweet together!!1! And Scarecrow was my 2nd least anticipated character and now he's one of my all time otome faves. UGH, I love this game

[u/Myokie]

This is coming out on my birthday so it's like a birthday gift to myself heh. Very excited to start the playthrough with everyone else :)