Poll: Katawa Shoujo: Not Sleezy fetish Sim

[Weaver]

In recent news, the game "Katawa Shoujo" A.K.A Disable Girl Dating Sim, has caused a bit of a stir. Well, having pulled an all nighter ((10:30pm-7:31am so that my wife wouldnt catch me playing it Sneaky Huh?)), and i can proudly say, its not sleezy. It doesnt even feel like a "dating sim".

Let me start off saying this isnt a review, and im going to give you my unbiased opinion based on all subjects of the game, and related to it.

The game itself is a "standard" text based, japanese style relationship game ((Notice how i didnt say dating)), in which you can form ((complex)) relationships with one of the several female characters.

While im not an expert in Japanese dating sims, having only played 3 in the past ((and getting no more then 30mins-2hours into them because they made me feel to much like a perverted freak of nature)), but this one feels quite a bit different from the others. The characters in this game feel like real people, and the actual deal of "sexual relations with a handicapped person" is very minimal as a whole.

This is not a game about romancing and boinking the female you think is most attractive, so much as it is about forging a stable relationship with the person you enjoy being with most, and your character Hisao, coming to the realization that people with disabilities are no different then people without.

I have nothing negative to say about this game. The writing, pacing and characters are VERY well developed, the music ((while a tad bit repetitive at times, but its a Japanese Relationship game, what do you expect?)) is extremely well done, the humor is tasteful, and while the "plot twists" you will see coming a mile away, are always fitting and never feel like they're pandering.

I wont give this a 10/10, a 9/10, nor any other rating. This isnt a review. All i can say is, download and try it yourself. You'll be surprised at what it really it. A game where characters come first, story comes second, and everything else is just gravy.

At the moment, its completely free at the developers site (( http://katawashoujo.blogspot.com/ )).

What are your thoughts on it?
If you've played it, what do you think? Was it what you were expecting?
If you haven't, will you give it a try?

I really want to thank you for bringing this game (?) to my attention . I really never played ( or should i say experience ? ) anything like it. I haven't ever played a dating sim game before. Out of curiosity of your post and thread, i gave this thing a shot, and i am really enjoying it. I am about 2 hours in, and i find the story really compelling. I don't know by what criteria a game like this is judged so i won't comment on it specifically, but i really like it . Once again thank you for sharing something i would have most definately missed.

Just brace yourself for a huge case of "the feels".
I really wasn't ready for the huge emotional sucker punch the game gave me.

 

[TilMorrow]

I completed Lilly's Path yesterday. I have to say her good ending is definitely tied with Hanako's as my top favourites.

Oh god, I just realized Lilly's cinematic makes so much more sense after you play her route.

Obvious spoilers, don't watch if you haven't done Lilly yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-uYx3YvpLY&context=C3448c07ADOEgsToPDskIJhp46bvmldyfFUYV9I5yH

After reading your post yesterday before I had completed Lilly's story I knew that I had to rewatch that movie once I got to the end and I have to agree it does make a lot of sense afterwards.

Spoiler

Especially with the way Akira changes to Lilly when they part at the Shanghai in the movie to suggest that she may at one point leave Hisao and that the meaning of the aeroplane flying overhead as well as her anxious/sad face at the time can be understood. And the field scene, I cannot forget the field scene.

But I kinda think that with Lilly's story, you have to play it before Hanako's as if you play Hanako's beforehand then you know that Lilly will definitely leave at one point. But I guess you don't realise the full reprecussions of that event unless you play Hisao through Lilly's story when he develops more intimate feelings for her than Hanako. ... AH THIS GAME HURTS MY BRAIN! Continuity doesn't work well with multiple paths.

I'm doing Rin's now and Lilly's was very good. It had a fantastic sense of... completeness.

I have to say it felt like the best but at the same time worst (health wise) relationship for Hisao was Lilly's. And I have to say once I completed her story I felt that I should have actually done hers last due to its sense of, as you say, completeness as a short of, I dunno, proper ending?

Currently working through Shizune's story and marveling at how Hisao never realised how similar both Misha and her are when I was playing through the other stories though I can hardly blame him. He was ingrossed in other peoples' lives at the time.

Also, this may seem like a shallow statement but I am aiming for 100% completion. Which means seeing all the endings to each of the characters as well as all of Act one's scenes. Of course the majority of the scenes that I haven't seen involve Shizune's whole story as well as, I think, Rin's worst ending (is it the worst ending that you get if you say the wrong thing outside the art gallery after she falls to the floor from being overwhelmed?) and also Hanako's worse ending [sub][sub]I'm scared[/sub][/sub]. The main reason I want 100% is to see if the game's creators had included something extra for the people who were prepared to see each of the characters to the end. Something like an Epilogue perhaps? Probably not but it can't hurt [sub][sub](Oh but it will)[/sub][/sub] to check.

I feel though in a month or two's time I'm going to come back to this game and smile at the collage on the main menu and play through it again in order to re-experience the characters again once I've finished. Damn you, Four Leaf Studios you really made a beautifully, memorable game.

Edit:..... I got Hanako's bad ending....[sub]/cry[/sub] [sub]...I advise new players to not aim for this ending...[/sub]

 

[rvbnut]

4 Leaf Studios. Thank you for opening my eyes to a new aspect of storytelling and video game design

Just make sure to try out some similar Visual Novels. They are not all that rare.

Like what?

 

[rvbnut]

I am in love with the music in Katawa Shoujo!!!!! <3

 

[kouriichi]

What are your thoughts on it?
If you've played it, what do you think? Was it what you were expecting?
If you haven't, will you give it a try?

I really want to thank you for bringing this game (?) to my attention . I really never played ( or should i say experience ? ) anything like it. I haven't ever played a dating sim game before. Out of curiosity of your post and thread, i gave this thing a shot, and i am really enjoying it. I am about 2 hours in, and i find the story really compelling. I don't know by what criteria a game like this is judged so i won't comment on it specifically, but i really like it . Once again thank you for sharing something i would have most definately missed.

Yeah, that really seems to be the general opinion right now.

I even talked my friend into trying it. Now he knows why i had to say the phrase ((which really made me feel bad)) "Katawa Shoujo might be my game of the year". Its sad in a world where millions of dollars are spent on a single game, things like "Minecraft" and "Katawa Shoujo" come out of the wood work, and makes me realize where the whole videogaming industry went. Its lost its real heart.

And story wise, Katawa Shoujo hit mine straight up. Its rare in any game these days i WANT to actively care about the characters. ((No offence to Tali, but as far as shy women in gaming go, Hanako is the the #1 best written of the group. Didnt even get the "good ending". Got the one where shes a sister figure. Completely fine with it. And how often can you say that? ))

Anyway, glad your enjoying it. This game deserves all the good press it can get.

 

[kouriichi]

I am in love with the music in Katawa Shoujo!!!!! <3

I have to agree. Alot of the time, when music gets repeated over and over, i get the "RPG headache" as my mom used to call it. ((Because id play RPG's all day and give her one when i was younger))

But it always seems to just stick. It almost reminds me of "Harvest Moon" music, which has always been some of my favorite.

 

[Alterego-X]

4 Leaf Studios. Thank you for opening my eyes to a new aspect of storytelling and video game design

Just make sure to try out some similar Visual Novels. They are not all that rare.

Like what?

Romantic slice-of-life/drama stories:

Ef: A fairy tale of the two *
Clannad *
Kira Kira


Ones that also touch other genre themes. (e.g.:mystery, fantasy, adventure) :

G-Senjou no Maou *
Ever 17
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni
Fate/Stay Night *


* The ones marked with "*" are not formally translated or published in the west. You can only download fan-translated copies, that might technically be considered piracy, depending on your definition.

 

[dimensional]

I downloaded and played this game just finished Emis good ending and I really enjoyed myself despite my initial scepticism and the fact that this game is definitely not the kind I usually (or ever in this case) play (but if its free ill give it a shot).

May take a look at some other VNs now but ill do some research first I dont want to end up with one thats full of porn and flimsy pretences or/and crap writing. But first there are the other endings in katawa shoujo to obtain.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I just finished Hanako's good ending. After getting both her bad and neutral endings. I cried. And I don't do that often.

Man, this game is good.

 

[tsb247]

Hi there tsb247. I'm home and I found a site with mirrors on it for direct download, you can go here to get it.

http://easymodo.net/KatawaShoujo/

I hope you enjoy! Please post back here with your thoughts on the game.

Thanks! I will download and install it today. I will probably get to play it tomorrow. I will post my reaction(s) soon!

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Just finished Rin's good route. I got the good ending for everyone, I have no interest in seeing the others.

Enh... I've 100% it and to be honest what Hisao goes through to get the good endings is far more of an emotional shit-wringer than the neutral or bad endings.

 

[scorptatious]

Just finished Rin's route:

Spoiler

I have to say, she is a pretty interesting character. It's kind of hard to describe her really. The way she's so aloof and out there kind of makes her unique among the girls. Although considering how well characterized each of the characters are, I guess the same could be said for all of them.

I can also feel for her when she talks about how she's afraid of becoming change and how she's afraid she won't live up to people's expectations. I can relate to that. I'm glad that in the end she was able to accept the way she it.

All there's left is Lilly's route. After that I've explored every single one of the characters in this game.

 

[xdiesp]

Count me in.

Learned Braille. ^^

 

[scorptatious]

So I've finished Lilly's route:

Spoiler

In my opinion, I'm glad I've saved this one for last. As it was the best out of all of them. There's just so much to say about it.

One thing I really liked about it is that it seems that some of the other girls actually developed somewhat along Hisao and Lilly. Rather than take the sidelines like they mostly did in the other paths. For example, Hanako actually became more sociable around other people and ended up joining with the newspaper club and is now travelling with one of them. (She actually turned out better than she did in her path in my opinion)

Shizune, despite not always getting along with Lilly actually seemed somewhat remorseful about her leaving. And when she got Lilly some documents she needed, they shared a special moment that sort of made up for everything.

And I was also really absorbed into the ending. With Hisao chasing after Lilly just as she was entering the airport, and then ending up in the hospital like he did in the very beginning of the story. I really like games that have plots that make it so that everything goes full circle.

This route also seemed to have a sort of finality to it. Considering the way it's set up, I probably suspect that the makers of this game intended for people to go for Lilly's route last. Especially considering it is the only route that I've found to have an epilogue. This may not be the case. But to me it sort of feels like it, considering that I have now done all the routes in Katawa Shoujo.

Games like this don't come very often. In fact it's not even really a game in the traditional sense considering how little control you have. However, in terms of story, characters, and writing, I think a lot of people can learn from this game. I'm very fortunate to have found this game through that news article announcing it's release.

Cheers everyone!

 

[lacktheknack]

I had to replay a part of it, but I got Lilly's good ending.

ALL MY MANLY TEARS. ALL OF THEM.

 

[ChupathingyX]

So I've finished Lilly's route:

Spoiler

In my opinion, I'm glad I've saved this one for last. As it was the best out of all of them. There's just so much to say about it.

One thing I really liked about it is that it seems that some of the other girls actually developed somewhat along Hisao and Lilly. Rather than take the sidelines like they mostly did in the other paths. For example, Hanako actually became more sociable around other people and ended up joining with the newspaper club and is now travelling with one of them. (She actually turned out better than she did in her path in my opinion)

Shizune, despite not always getting along with Lilly actually seemed somewhat remorseful about her leaving. And when she got Lilly some documents she needed, they shared a special moment that sort of made up for everything.

And I was also really absorbed into the ending. With Hisao chasing after Lilly just as she was entering the airport, and then ending up in the hospital like he did in the very beginning of the story. I really like games that have plots that make it so that everything goes full circle.

This route also seemed to have a sort of finality to it. Considering the way it's set up, I probably suspect that the makers of this game intended for people to go for Lilly's route last. Especially considering it is the only route that I've found to have an epilogue. This may not be the case. But to me it sort of feels like it, considering that I have now done all the routes in Katawa Shoujo.

Games like this don't come very often. In fact it's not even really a game in the traditional sense considering how little control you have. However, in terms of story, characters, and writing, I think a lot of people can learn from this game. I'm very fortunate to have found this game through that news article announcing it's release.

Cheers everyone!

Yeah, that's how I felt about Lilly's path too.

Spoiler

Not only did Hisao and Lilly end up happy together, but most of the other characters also ended up improving, particulary Hanako.

Even in Shizune's good ending path she never seems to reconcile with Lilly, unlike Lilly's path.

I had to replay a part of it, but I got Lilly's good ending.

ALL MY MANLY TEARS. ALL OF THEM.

Don't worry, you're not the only one.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I did feel towards the end things got a bit messy in terms of how Shizune was written. I had to re-read certain parts of her story in order to understand what the story was trying to tell me about her character.

I still liked Shizune's path overall. Not quite as much as Hanako's though.

I think the problem with Shizune's path is that there is no overall theme or lesson apart from maybe

Spoiler

don't root your girlfriend's bestfriend.

whereas all the other girls' paths did.

Hanako's path is about compassion
Lilly's path is about honesty
Emi's path is about patience/perserverance
Rin's path is about acceptance

Okay, you could argue that Shizune's path is about loyalty but the way it's written makes it seem at times like it's 'putting up with bitches'. It's a good story in it's interactions and so forth but comes across as rather aimless most of the time.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Okay, you could argue that Shizune's path is about loyalty but the way it's written makes it seem at times like it's 'putting up with bitches'. It's a good story in it's interactions and so forth but comes across as rather aimless most of the time.

Yeah, I think the overall theme was friendship/loyalty.

Spoiler

There are numerous times that characters bring up Shizune forcing people to be friends with her and then pushing them away. Even Misha, her closest friend, began to resent her and in the end Shizune had realised how much better you can feel about yourself when you make others feel happy instead of putting yourself first.

I agree that it seemed to go up and down at times and didn't seem as focused as the others, but it still had its charm. I found it to be the funniest path, with the encounter between Shizune and Kenji (which could've been so much more funny but was still good) and Misha's constant "wahahahaha"-ing.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Okay, you could argue that Shizune's path is about loyalty but the way it's written makes it seem at times like it's 'putting up with bitches'. It's a good story in it's interactions and so forth but comes across as rather aimless most of the time.

Yeah, I think the overall theme was friendship/loyalty.

Hmmm... I think the lesson was friendship and the overarching theme revolved around Shizune being the most stereotypical 'loyalty and duty' Japanese of the characters. Her attitudes and actions are framed in terms of responsibility and obligation, even of service.

Spoiler

There are numerous times that characters bring up Shizune forcing people to be friends with her and then pushing them away. Even Misha, her closest friend, began to resent her and in the end Shizune had realised ho much better you can feel about yourself when yu make others feel happy instead of putting yourself first.

Spoiler

The theme between Shizune and Misha is about taking friends for granted... in the end both see that Shizune hasn't been treating Misha as a person but as an extension of herself, her means for communication with the wider world, and Misha enabling this behaviour to her own detriment.

Shizune's manipulation of people is another issue, though tangentially related. She goes into what she wants - people in her life, people energised and passionate about things but the difficulty she has in communicating with others, in giving her no medium for spontenaiety has resulted in a more calculating mindset. By 18 she's pretty much forgotten how not to manipulate people because so few people are able to directly communicate with her. It's become habit.

Then there's Hisao's influence on Shizune. First, he resents all attempts at manipulation and is forthright about it... and then goes on to learn how to better communicate with Shizune, something she deeply desires - another person she can 'talk' to without going through a third person or resorting to writing on a notepad. Hisao also tries to smooth over trouble, acting as something of a governor on her attitudes insofar as interacting with others goes. Third, Hisao's learning to sign leaves Shizune less reliant on Misha in order to communicate with others... which results in Misha reassessing her actions.

I agree that it seemed to go up and down at times and didn't seem as focused as the others, but it still had its charm. I found it to be the funniest pah, with the encounter between Shizune and Kenji (which could've been so much more funny but was still good) and Misha's constant "wahahahaha"-ing.

Probably the most consistently amusing path... but the first half of Rin's path is hilarious in parts.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Hmmm... I think the lesson was friendship and the overarching theme revolved around Shizune being the most stereotypical 'loyalty and duty' Japanese of the characters. Her attitudes and actions are framed in terms of responsibility and obligation, even of service.

Spoiler

The theme between Shizune and Misha is about taking friends for granted... in the end both see that Shizune hasn't been treating Misha as a person but as an extension of herself, her means for communication with the wider world, and Misha enabling this behaviour to her own detriment.

Shizune's manipulation of people is another issue, though tangentially related. She goes into what she wants - people in her life, people energised and passionate about things but the difficulty she has in communicating with others, in giving her no medium for spontenaiety has resulted in a more calculating mindset. By 18 she's pretty much forgotten how not to manipulate people because so few people are able to directly communicate with her. It's become habit.

Then there's Hisao's influence on Shizune. First, he resents all attempts at manipulation and is forthright about it... and then goes on to learn how to better communicate with Shizune, something she deeply desires - another person she can 'talk' to without going through a third person or resorting to writing on a notepad. Hisao also tries to smooth over trouble, acting as something of a governor on her attitudes insofar as interacting with others goes. Third, Hisao's learning to sign leaves Shizune less reliant on Misha in order to communicate with others... which results in Misha reassessing her actions.

Very well put!

Only one question remains...Misha's political views...