Katawa-Shoujo

[andrewmeythaler]

Since we talked about it so much in OOC I figured I would make a thread.

[andrewmeythaler]

My personal favorite was Emi. Simply because I started with that one. For some reason it was the one I naturally gravitated towards. Her personality really connected with me. After I finished it, I felt motivated to change my life. I was a scrawny nerd kid who had no reason not to be fit. I had a naturally high metabolism, and a fully functioning body. If this girl with no legs could be a track star, why the fuck couldn't I get in shape. I started running every morning. When I went to the doctors office they checked my heart rate and asked me if I was a track star. I was like, "No. I don't play sports, I do theatre." I was in the best shape of my life and I felt great. I was genuinely happy. I have not been able to match either of those things since. I need to get around to replaying the game. It changed my life for the better. I was a different and better person. If I could wipe my memory of this game and experience it for the first time again I would.

[dontLook]

 

For the uninitiated, Katawa Shoujo is quite possibly the best Visual Novel known to man. It is... no, I can't do that. I can't describe its feels truly. So I'll try with less formal words.

 

OH MY GOD WHY AREN'T YOU PLAYING IT MY EYEBALLS STILL BURN FROM THE TWO YEAR BREAK I'VE TAKEN FROM IT. Jesus Christ it's good. It makes you into a better person.

 

The premise is that you are Hisao, who gets sent to a school for people with problems that make daily life difficult. There are girls. Five of them for you to fall in love with. Each arc fills your heart with a molten ball of pain that, upon its finishing, expands to make your entire heart into a priceless piece of gold.

 

You will fall in love, and you will cry.

 

There are some NSFW scenes, but you can toggle them off via the options menu.

Please, don't deny yourself this amazing experience, people.

http://www.katawa-shoujo.com/download.php

Full version. Go. NOW.

 

EDIT: After reading Andrew's post above... I think I'm going to go get some exercise.

 

[andrewmeythaler]

 

When my friend introduced me to it, the conversation went as follows:

 

Friend: Alright, I will explain it. It is gonna be weird. You have to promise to try it no matter what ok?

 

Me: Sure. I don't understand why. I'm not going to freak out, honestly.

 

Friend: Seriously I thought that too. Then I heard it and flipped. You will too.

 

Me: I think you are exaggerating. But fine I promise.

 

Friend: It is game where you date disabled girls.

 

Me: WHAT THE FUCK

 

Then I played it and balled my eyes out. It tackles it's mature subject matter with a level of sophistication not yet replicated.

 

[dontLook]

 

I went into it blind; I heard that it was good, so I looked it up and played it. I don't think I can thoroughly explain how much it changed my perception of those with disabilities (and indeed, my perception of what makes a person a person). My only problem with it is that sometimes what the protagonist does is out of your control and certainly not what you might want to do, but I think that it's intentional because it's very much the same in real life relationships sometimes - what you do is out of control of your most reasonable thoughts, and is certainly not what you want to do, but you do it anyway in the heat of the moment.

And then you pick up the pieces.

 

EDIT: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. NONONONO. I DID NOT USE THAT METAPHOR IN THE FIRST SENTENCE. IT'S LIKE THE TIME I ASKED A GIRL'S BLIND UNCLE IF HE COULD SEE THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN US. I THOUGHT HE JUST WORE COOL SUNGLASSES AND HAD A CANE.

 

[Regen]

 

I went into it blind; I heard that it was good, so I looked it up and played it. I don't think I can thoroughly explain how much it changed my perception of those with disabilities (and indeed, my perception of what makes a person a person). My only problem with it is that sometimes what the protagonist does is out of your control and certainly not what you might want to do, but I think that it's intentional because it's very much the same in real life relationships sometimes - what you do is out of control of your most reasonable thoughts, and is certainly not what you want to do, but you do it anyway in the heat of the moment.

And then you pick up the pieces.

 

EDIT: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. NONONONO. I DID NOT USE THAT METAPHOR IN THE FIRST SENTENCE. IT'S LIKE THE TIME I ASKED A GIRL'S BLIND UNCLE IF HE COULD SEE THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN US. I THOUGHT HE JUST WORE COOL SUNGLASSES AND HAD A CANE.

I see what you did there

 

[MindLeaker]

 

Good god, Katawa Shoujo, that game did something I thought was beyond impossible with me, it made me think. Since the game has already been explained, I'll skip that intro, I've played it twice now, for my first route, I chose Hanako Ikesawa. Hanako really connected with me in many ways, she was shy, intelligent, and cute. Somehow, even with some of the stupid things Hisao says/does, I developed feelings over an NPC, something that has only happened once before in 14 years of gaming, the ending hit me like a semi-truck. I had my first "Manly Tears" moment, and couldn't sleep for 2 days.

 

Yikes. I didn't play the game for three days, then, mulling over in what I found funny to call "Post-Hanako Depression"

 

My second route was with Rin Tesuka, Rin was the kind of person I would like to get to know, her deadpan and mildly cynical attitude always caught my attention, and often threw me off-guard. Her story was VERY complex, so complex I worried I was going down a bad route with her, thankfully I was not, the ending was nice, it broke the depressing hold the game had previously on me, and it kinda made me realize a bit more about myself. (Something a game has never done for me before)

 

And by the way, since I forgot to mention this back at the start, and can't be bothered mixing around with the text again, I found this through Game Grumps, of all places, on their "Go Go Nippon" play through, I saw people chatting about VN's in the comments section, and the overwhelming reply was "God Dammit Ross, play Katawa Shoujo!". I decided to check the game out for myself. Admittedly, at first glance, I thought it was a fetish porn game, when I saw the Bust/Waist/Hips stat on the characters screen, I decided "You know what? Fuck it, if it's that good, I'll give it a go!". I didn't move from my seat for 6 hours.

 

This game is arguably the most emotional, dramatic, and touching one I've had the pleasure of playing. Even now, I still have it, I always debate clicking on it, experiencing something, but then I always watch the Hanako mid-story animation, and I just close it down, but somehow I feel like I should try again. Huh.

 

EDIT: I tried to explain this without portraying much of my feelings, just because. Sorry if that's what you were looking for.

 

[PokeMoney]

 

You found my favourite game and I often beg twitch streamers to play "Red Velvet" from the Katawa Shoujo soundtrack. I find my self constantly installing it to my android devices (There is an offmarket apk).

 

My first playthrough I went to Lily because she seemed so much like I am in public (And in private). Our personalities clicked so wonderfully it was majestic. I sadly had to cut the playthrough of it short because my little brother spilled water on my laptop (Good thing I was getting a new one for Christmas). I cannot think of much to say anymore.

 

2nd playthrough and on my tablet I ended up with Emi out of luck. She is what motivated this heavly asthmatic out of shape fat kid to get an 82/100 in gym. Although I did not get through much of it the motivation was amazing.

 

This game is my secret pleasure. And slightly relatable (My hearing and vision is getting worse slowly). 9001/10 Senpais

 

[Regen]

[Index]

Good Game, best route = Shizune's, that is all.