Disabled Girl Dating Sim Katawa Shoujo Finally Available

[Naleh]

Like a lot of others have said already, I'd prefer it if disabled characters were presented alongside "normal" characters in typical games. Segregation isn't equality.

That said - like a lot of others have also said already, as long as this is properly done and the girls aren't defined by their disabilities, I really cannot see a problem with it. Indeed, it's great to see a step in this direction.

So I have nothing new to say, really.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Played it, loved it. Didn't expect to love it, I just thought it was going to be another desperate attempt to relieve some stigma between disabled people and non-disabled people, and to fill some sort of warped niché in the market. I haven't completed it yet, but there is an option to disable 'adult content' in the options menu... I'm braced for an incredibly awkward paraplegic sex scene. Or at least some ecchi moments.

But it is Japanese, so the story is excellent and very touching, if a little clichéd. I actually ended up literally caring for each of the girls, Hanoko to a greater extent. The game forces you to not date a girl just because that is the aim of the game, it forced me into wanting to date the girl. It was an extremely surreal experience. I haven't played many dating sims, but this one was a real thumbs up from me. I can sort of see why they are so popular in Japan, there are a lot of story elements, and a lot of emotional development. Something I don't think western audiences are keen on as a whole.

Art was superb, I have played other visual novels in the past, with varying levels of artwork, but this was a very good piece by contrast. Music is nice, if a bit basic, but why would it need to be extravagant I suppose? Not as many routes as I'd hoped there'd be, but I knew that when I saw the file size. And the story is rather un-fantastic, so players that don't really care much about the subject matter will probably find it a bit boring.

Other than that, very good Visual Novel.

So there IS adult content in the game?

Let me ask you this question: is it "tasteful" or is it just some good hentai?

Hmmm.... I see an interesting forum topic...

"Can sex in games be used for artistic expression rather than a pornographic ad technique?"

Hmmm... very interesting discussion...

Yes there is plenty of sex. None of it is really distasteful apart from one of the routes.

Spoiler

There is the typical archetype 'small feisty girl' character that seems a little too eager to jump into bed, also she does anal, so I guess that can be put right in the middle of the 'smut' catagory

The rest of the sex scenes are actually very tasteful, dealt with in a very artful way. I actually found myself not wanting to have sex with any of them on a few routes. Which is odd. The sex scenes did seem somewhat out of place, but lets face it, this game was made by members of 4chan.

 

[Alterego-X]

Like a lot of others have said already, I'd prefer it if disabled characters were presented alongside "normal" characters in typical games. Segregation isn't equality.

You're reading too much into it.

It's not that a group of indie developers, urged by the burning desire to make a socially relevant point about disabilites in gaming, decided to make a game about the issue, and THEN decided to make it a Visual Novel, about a disability-themed school's students. It was the other way around.

A bunch of Visual Novel fans with artistic talent saw a poster about a hypothetical disabled VN cast, and decided that yes, this would make an interesting setting for a product of their beloved genre. In the process of writing it, they also happened to present it in a tactful, respectable style.

The rest of the sex scenes are actually very tasteful, dealt with in a very artful way. I actually found myself not wanting to have sex with any of them on a few routes. Which is odd. The sex scenes did seem somewhat out of place, but lets face it, this game was made by members of 4chan.

The sex scenes always feel out of place in Visual Novels. This is because they are usually created with the possibility in mind to publish "clean" versions, or anime adaptations.

KS is just a bit too eager to insist on maintaining that specific tradition.

 

[DeltaEdge]

Very interesting concept. I would play it if it wasn't a hentai game. I know you can probably just not do those parts, but I still just don't want to play a game with hentai in it. But I don't discourage other people from playing it. Looks much better than those standard generic cliche commercials I see for the generic dating sim with big breasted stereo-typical personalities with no real depth. If I was into those kinds of games, I would most definitely play this.

 

[Inkidu]

Just when I thought I could comfortably say Japan has nothing new to give the world gaming community I must eat my words. For a couple of years now I've been criticizing Japans inability to cope with modern game design, the general lack of originality, their need to buy out Western gaming studious just to stay major players in the Western market, and their need to use plain crazy just to make a game appealing. However, a game from Japan that actually deals with difficult subject matter, like a handicapped protagonist, and handicapped love interests?

Kudos, Japan. I've got to give you a tip of the hat.

But, wait? It's porn? Well, crap... nice try, Japan.

 

[ZiggyE]

Just when I thought I could comfortably say Japan has nothing new to give the world gaming community I must eat my words. For a couple of years now I've been criticizing Japans inability to cope with modern game design, the general lack of originality, their need to buy out Western gaming studious just to stay major players in the Western market, and their need to use plain crazy just to make a game appealing. However, a game from Japan that actually deals with difficult subject matter, like a handicapped protagonist, and handicapped love interests?

Kudos, Japan. I've got to give you a tip of the hat.

But, wait? It's porn? Well, crap... nice try, Japan.

So I suppose actually reading the original article is out of the question?

The story of Katawa Shoujo is a long one, spanning over a decade. In December of the year 2000, the doujin Schuppen Harnische was released by the artist RAITA of circle Zettai Shoujo. One of the pages in the extras section of the doujin contained a sketch imagining a game about disabilities set in a Japanese high school. If not for later events, that may well have been the end of it. With the sticky in 4chan's anime board in January of 2007, though, interest was suddenly sparked in the idea within, and the idea of creating this game came about. After months of brainstorming, but little progress, a core development team by the name of Four Leaf Studios was formed in April of the same year. With this, Katawa Shoujo was set on the path to its final creation.

Four Leaf Studios is a volunteer group of twenty-one developers from around the world, having come together for the sole purpose of developing Katawa Shoujo. Hailing from many different countries, backgrounds, and professions, Four Leaf Studios became committed to working towards Katawa Shoujo as an entirely free game, with no money involved in the project.

 

[MetaKnight19]

I just finished one of the routes about 5 minutes ago, it really did take me by surprise (in a good way). This is the first dating sim/visual novel I've played so I was a bit clueless going into it but I did end up enjoying it, I ended up dating the girl with no legs below the knee. Her backstory was really well put together and made her, as a character more believable. All of the main characters are believable and are easy to empathise with, not just because of the disabilities, but because of the personalities they are given by the writers.

 

[Dango]

*Is not sure if they are exploiting a fetish*

If they are, that's creepy, and if they aren't, I wonder why they made the came in the first place.

 

[Tracer Kinship]

One little thing I'd like to mention is that while the initial idea to make the game came from 4chan, that (and the origins of the group name) is about the only affiliation 4 Leaf Studios has with the site - from my understanding, most of the developers rarely, if ever frequent those boards.

TL;DR - 4LS =/= 4chan.

And as for people complaining about the game's mature content bringing the game down, this blog post was a response from one of the writers. [http://katawashoujo.blogspot.com/2011/02/could-be-so-much-more.html]
I'm pretty sure it's not going to change the minds of people already dead set on not playing, but hey, I tried.

 

[Tsukuyomi]

One thing that does come to mind after playing this is that in terms of trying to write it off as porn/eroge, it....doesn't really work to me. Mostly because when I started it, I wasn't put in the shoes of a guy who's out to find a girlfriend or get laid. Sex hasn't even come up and I'm past Act 1. There's nothing you could really call fan-service or anything else so far from what I've seen.

If it really was all about the sex or if that was the elephant in the room or something, you'd be getting to it faster, I think. Or at least there would be breadcrumbs to tease you/urge you to keep playing. The game itself would have the feel of 'you know why you're here, so do we. Let's get down to it fast as possible!'. Or at least that's how I feel about it.

Personally, I've never felt that feeling from this game so far.

Also, I wonder of people who are biased against this game or write it off due to the presence of sex, if those are people who believe games are/can be art. If so, I would point out that art can and does explore and deal with sexuality in various ways including tasteful ones.
So if games are art, and art has the right to explore the topic of sexuality and relationships in a tasteful manner, and if this game genuinely has done those things....why is there an objection again?

Bah, lost track of what I meant to say but you get the idea.

 

[antipunt]

The more I read about this game, the more I want to experience it. Might just be the hype though >_<

 

[tetron]

"At the moment it seems to have been crushed by a flood of traffic."

If you develop it they will come.

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

okay i just finished day 3 in the game and so far its not bad. there really isn't much in the way of choices yet. there just introducing the cast. what i'm liking so far is that the characters are actually characters. theirs a lot more to them then their specific disability. they have their own personalites and while their disabilites help them stand out as characters its not wholey who they are and i like that.

It keeps the game from feeling explotive. In fact the main character has this who hang up about not wanting to linger on a students disability for fear of being rude but at the same time pretending that it isn't there makes him feel like he's being insincere. Its a fairly realistic take on what it might be like to suddenly find your self dealing with disabled people on a day to day basis.

 

[Ersanven]

On the third act and so far the game hasn't been exploitative in the least and I'm frankly very touched by the game. The depiction of the disabled is sensitive without being patronizing. I still need to complete a route but so far I see nothing wrong with it.

I'm also saying this as someone who's worked MRDD. I feel my heart thoroughly warmed.

 

[Paladin Anderson]

I've been playing it with the 18+ option turned off. I'm liking it so far. Better quality and writing than what I was expecting.

 

[Paladin Anderson]

Well isn't this just peachy. No offense, but I cannot think of one normal person who would go out of their way to date someone who is physically disabled. A game that only offers me that choice? No thanks.

The main character is disabled and is going to a school that specializes in catering to the needs of disabled students.

Very interesting concept. I would play it if it wasn't a hentai game. I know you can probably just not do those parts, but I still just don't want to play a game with hentai in it. But I don't discourage other people from playing it. Looks much better than those standard generic cliche commercials I see for the generic dating sim with big breasted stereo-typical personalities with no real depth. If I was into those kinds of games, I would most definitely play this.

You can turn off 18+ content in the options like I did. Without it it's a good visual novel about overcoming one's physical disabilities. It's mature, well written, and thought out I can't image what it would be like with the 18+ content. It would seem very out of place.

 

[Noxshadow]

Not that the cameo by Lelouch on that picture was replaced in the full game.
:|

 

[Noxshadow]

Not that the cameo by Lelouch on that picture was replaced in the full game.
:|