Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling

Overall, Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling ends up being rather unfocused, with both its difficult-to-read UI and the character routes that struggle to find purpose now that the leads are already in committed relationships. It does have its positive moments, with the main character Lynette being one of them, but in the end, it's messy enough that it can be hard to find something to latch onto.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling lures in new fans to the adorable Lynette's love life through balanced backstory telling in this full-length sequel, each route taking a few hours of play depending on reading speed. Returning fans will be ecstatic to see what happens during the happy ever after version of the original tale. The sole difficulty of the game lies in choosing which bachelor story to start with as they are all so interesting. The eye-catching colour palette pairs perfectly with easy-to-use menus and wildly different plot routes. Lynette's married life is not perfect but addresses relatable issues that get solved with humour and make a perfect bedtime read on Nintendo Switch.

There’s not much else I can say, given that any commentary on the story would be a spoiler to the first game, and as much as I can breathlessly enthuse about the aesthetics and presentation, that’s something you’re going to have to see to get a feel for just how well it works despite being so eclectic. Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is a sequel to a game you should play before it. But it’s also a game you really should play, because it is the most artfully unique and downright entertaining otome visual novel out there. Sweet and Spicy Darling is more of the same, and that’s all it needed to be.

Cupid Parasite -Sweet & Spicy Darling.- manages to do exactly what it should: expanding the original narrative and giving us another taste of this rich universe by Ririka Yoshimura under Fumie Tatematsu's direction. It's an easy recommendation for those who have already played the original and both titles are excellent examples of quality works in the genre.

Would I recommend Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling? YES, most definitely. I enjoyed the game very much. Of course, the original game will always be the better one, but if you are in for a laugh and want more spicy and romantic scenes then I would recommend picking this up. At some moments there was some crazy stuff going on, but I didn’t mind it. I actually like that a game can stand out by adding loads of goofy elements. And it had a very decent play time as well, with a lot of content.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is a wonderful take on the Otome genre, but it's hard to get into for people who skipped the original.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is a fantastic addition to the already great Otome game Cupid Parasite. It has a great new character and a lot more steamy situations.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling might be the first fandisc on the Switch that manages to do to the original what Pokemon Platinum did to Diamond and Pearl: the second attempt completely subsumed the original. There are even reminder points as to what happened with each of the suitors in the original six paths, so newcomers - or people like me who played the original at launch 30 months ago - can jump in and quickly pick up what is being laid down. And with the improved text, it's a no brainer to pick up the sequel.

After loving the original Cupid Parasite, I had high expectations for the Cupid Parasite fandisc: Sweet and Spicy Darling. And yes: the developers at Idea Factory have managed to deliver a very entertaining experience, full of funny moments and at the same time, fun to read.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is an excellent way to return to the captivating universe of the original game. The first Cupid Parasite was already a high quality otome game with routes that vary widely in their [polt] developments, and the new title expands its fascinating stories laudably. The only real issue is that, as usual for fandisks, it's impossible to recommend this work for anyone who hasn't [experienced and] enjoyed the original.