Rin…just Rin is all I have to say about this sir.
It’s cool that there’s a thread for this. We’ve been discussing this game almost non-stop in Tech Talk for a good 2-3 weeks now. I’ll do some copy-pasta on my thoughts in a moment.
edit:
Really, I didn’t expect to get into the game so much. I was going to play it just to see if Rin (the girl with no arms) gave me a footjob (and stop playing it immediately thereafter, because that’s just disturbing) but the writing is just SO FUCKING GOOD. Her story also turned out to be my favorite, which is very ironic.
I do have to say that the game had some very realistic choices to make, and your success in each path is based on how you treat them as people.
Spoiler for Emi and Hanako
[details=Spoiler]While playing Emi’s path, the choice that leads to her bad ending initially had me thinking “wait, what? That’s how I would have though it’d go based on what I see in dramas…” and then I make the choice that leads to her good ending and say “Oh… I guess I wasn’t respecting her space. That would probably apply to real life situations as well.” Same thing happened during Hanako’s path. Some people just don’t need or want a white knight. I guess leaving them alone could show you respect them enough to sort their own messes out, instead of constantly swooping in to “rescue” them.
These girls aren’t doormats like too many girls in VNs (especially harem ones) would lead you to believe. They all have very realistic mannerisms, save for maybe Lilly, who is a little cliched in the initial spirit of the project.[/details]
It’s cool that people are enjoying Shizune’s route, but it’s just so fucking poorly written that I want to hack the writer’s computer and uninstall his writing app.
Why?
I’ll tell you why
Spoiler
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Too many damn loose ends. Her father is a jackass. Where do they go with that? Nowhere. My sister is an interpreter for the deaf. She says the biggest blow to a deaf child’s confidence and development of their ego is a parent refusing to learn to communicate with their child. He’s been nothing but abusive to her, such as hiring tutors to teach her how to speak, buying her a cell phone and forcing her to use it without email or texting, and berating her constantly for “ignoring” him. She’s not ignoring you – she can’t HEAR you, you fucking nimrod… and on the subject of loose ends…
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Misha plotline goes NOWHERE. Absolutely NOWHERE. Shizune flat-out refuses Misha’s feelings towards her and acts insensitive to her to the point where Misha contemplates suicide (which also irritates me, because a subject so dramatic and heady was only address for two, maybe three sentences before Misha suddenly starts acting like her normal self, a gesture which shows some DEEEEEEEEEEEEP mental instability), and refuses to acknowledge her as anything more than a friend, never even bringing up the subject of Misha’s feelings to anyone, including the guy she’s fucking (which really, at that point was just molestation on her part). However, this does bring up the idea that Shizune is just as horrible to people as her dad is to her (and everyone else, for that matter). Realistically, the best choice would have been to continue the path where Hisao and Misha sleep together, forcing Shizune to contemplate her treatment of other people. Wouldn’t have been a happy ending, but it’d be an ending where I just don’t feel so bad for Hisao’s future.
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Even more loose ends… resolution of the Lilly/Shizune feud is nil. It doesn’t happen. Granted, it’s realistic in the fact that life itself never has closure in any form, but it’s a loose end that (at least in the context of Shizune’s path) is brought up many times with the idea of a resolution being possible, but just suddenly stops at the end.
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Really… what’s the point of the little brother? He adds nothing to the story except in freaking players out who went “Awwww! Little sister! She’s adorable! Wait… a guy?”
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Shizune herself never really grows as a character. There’s no transformation or moment of sudden clarity in her that shows any form of growth, except in the very brief moment she reveals that she knows she’s a bitch and tells you why she’s a bitch, and then says she’s pretty much going to keep acting like a bitch. She probably needs therapy more than Hanako does.
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Don’t even get me started on the woman’s sexual appetite. Seriously, who wants to lose their virginity by tying someone up in a chair and then climbing up on them? She at least acted guilty about it, but it only dragged the story out. It might have been a little more beautiful (if I can use the word to call it that) if she hadn’t completely spazzed out on Hisao, though.
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Speaking of the story dragging, it was way too long. It could have been condensed into one chapter. And there was really only one choice to be made in the entire thing, which really affected NOTHING aside from giving players some fanservice in getting to bang Misha, but there’s no regret made in this decision aside from the fact that it prevents the player from advancing the plot. The dialogue changes after this choice are almost barely noticeable, leading to a bad ending that carries nearly no weight or consequence besides a confusing breakup over hardly anything.
Now, having said all that… the H-scenes with her were fucking hot. Shame there’s no threesome with her and Misha, but that would have just been too cheap, given the spirit of the game. Would have been better than the crap story they gave us, though.
I know the project had multiple writers, and I’m convinced the person who wrote Rin and Shizune’s paths are not the same person. Rin’s story is BRILLIANT, and rivals most full-length novels. They should win some kind of writing award. (note: I later found out that Shizune’s writer left halfway through, and the new writer they brought on for her didn’t like her, which explains a LOT.)
However, I can say without hesitation that Lilly’s story was the most moving out of all of them, for one reason and one reason alone:
that reason
[details=Spoiler]It’s moving because Hisao’s Arrhythmia finally became an issue of conflict.
One of my favorite literary concepts is Chekhov’s gun, which basically states that if you have a gun on a wall in a scene, it must eventually be fired in a later scene, else you should remove it from the story entirely. Basically, nothing important is decoration or meant to be carelessly mentioned without a purpose. In this case, it’s mentioned early on that Hisao has Arrhythmia, and how it affects his life. Most of the storylines forgot about it, aside from mentioning the pills he has to take, or his aversion towards talking about it, or it his scar being used as a method of getting Hanako to open up. Yet the condition itself is never really dealt with in other paths after act 1, and it’s nearly forgotten about. However in Lilly’s path, it becomes a strong issue, driving their relationship in both good and bad ways. Hisao nearly has a heart attack while having sex with Lilly, and does have a second heart attack when he’s trying to chase after her during the climax when she’s leaving.
On a note related to my earlier rant, Lilly’s story also takes care of a LOT of the problems I had with Shizune’s path, namely a resolution between Lilly and Shizune. However it has a large flaw in it in that it’s very difficult to fail. You have to be terrible with relationships to mess it up because it involves completely disrespecting her and shutting her out.[/details]
Overall, I’d have to rank Lilly’s path just above Hanako’s for its masterful writing and resolution of several gripes I had about the story, but it’s still not as good as Rin’s story. That one still blows my mind.
Here’s my rankings on the storylines:
- Rin (amazingly complex story)
- Lilly (very touching story, great writing, amazing character development for Hisao and Lilly)
- Hanako (just sweet)
- Eri (the “experimentation” scene was hilarious, very inspiring story)
- Kenji (laughed my ass off)
- Shizune (who oddly enough is last despite having the best h-scenes, but her story is so fucking infuriating…)
That said, I’d have to say I have the highest degree of affection towards Lilly, and this single picture sums up my entire feelings about Katawa Shoujo:
[spoiler=]
[/details]
I just couldn’t stand Hanako, that was just me. I also didn’t play for the H-scenes btw, but I really checked it out mostly because of a curiousity when I first heard of it on Reddit. At the time I was like, “okay this seems kinda dumb, but what the hell.”
All I have to say is, fuck this game, in the sweetest most tender way possible.
Like I really can’t explain the conflict of emotions I was feeling just on Shizune’s route (then again that kinda girl is my personal preference).
And then I hit Rin’s route. As an artist, I felt her pain. Like I have been there, where it is damn near impossible to communicate, and all you have is your art to tell your story. The thing is when you finally realize what she is actually trying to say, is when that realization had occured to me. It hit a nerve for sure. Such a beautiful story in my opinion in more than one way.
lmao I dont understand it, but every night I continually find myself playing this instead of finishing Skyward Sword. Also, thanks for TOTALLY SPOILING THAT FOOTJOB for me Duckie. I’m not into that, but I hadn’t gotten there yet, so.
Also, I love how in Rin’s storyline, you can see Hisao’s thoughts continually become more artistically minded, as he noticed the colors and lights of his surroundings. It is VERY cool.
Also, I liked Misha way more than Shizune. And I know somebody just like her in real life. It’s hard to believe, but she “Wahaha’d” me the other day and I just stared at her like I couldn’t believe this was my life.
Also, I want to date a blind girl now. That heightened tactile sensuality is totally up my alley.
I think she might be hard of hearing to a certain degree, hence why she learned sin language. I like how the game doesnt immediately tell you everything about everyone, and you’re left to put the pieces together yourself. I like when a game doesnt baby me.
iirc, she doesnt give hisao a footjob lol
Actually, there’s not 1 fellatio scene either. If there is I haven’t unlocked it lol.
I agree on Shizune as a whole. I also feel the same way about her sex scenes. I also agree with your placement (as mine is pretty much the same 
).
Though, the whole blind experimentation in Lilly’s route was damn good. Hisao did ask and say a lot of dumb questions at times but none of the other girls really ever made it their business to made Hisao understand their disability like Lilly did. Though in their defense, Lilly would have the easiest time doing it.
And yes Rin… fucking Rin.
Hanako’s image and acting as a whole can really give off the wrong impression of how she is, specially since it’s based off bad anime cliches. Sad thing is that while she’s probably the one that has the most issues in general, it doesn’t seem to affect her nearly as much as you’d expect. She really is a strong girl, there is no doubt about that. Hanako’s route handles her growth in a romantic way, but Lilly’s route handles it differently. It’s probably even more significant as a whole compared to her own route too.
emotional “scars”
Spoiler
Though the whole having Hanako willingly showing off her scars (and nude nonetheless) is probably one of the stronger points in the game. The game masks this by making Hanako cute, shy and overall a hermit but then you take it all in and you realize how strong her feelings were, not just for Hisao but her own desire to grow as a person and being able to face her fears. So her scars not only represent a physical disability but also a mental and emotional hurdle that she has to get past.
And despite all that she will still have to live the rest of her life at people looking at her in disgust, out of curiosity and all that. Fucking humanity. >:(
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3963/625fefb264c22f5f3015a36.png
Found this nice piece of fanart.
Didn’t you know?
[details=Spoiler] she is a lesbian
It wasn’t Lilly or Hanako. But then again, I did Lilly 2nd, and Hanako 3rd, with Emi being first. I liked the other routes a little less after this, because they lacked Lilly and Hanako.
<----Likes Shizune’s route second best (Comeatmebro.jpg)
Why? The more I compare it to others more I just keep thinking about how bleh it is.
No pictures but in Lilly’s route the text says she does some. You don’t get images because Hisao was blind-folded. Honestly, that’s probably the only adult scene that I felt actually had some weight to the story except maybe Hanako’s.
Hanako’s was only important because of why she did it and the whole exposing her physical and mental self to Hisao. The metaphor of her physical appearance displaying her inward emotions is actually quite good when you consider every time she really starts moving forward she is dressed up in her street clothes rather than her school uniform. Hadn’t thought about that before.
Half way through Emi’s last night and I like it so far.
Spoiler
Kinda thought her whole take on sex was kinda interesting as it seemed to just be her way to not think about her accident / limb pains. Seems like the kinda person who has to do stuff in excess just to not feel. She seems to be developing into the character that has some stereotype daddy issues. I don’t know what happens afterwards but it seems she immediately started pushing Hisao away the moment she was able to run again, but he needs to stop trying to be the “fix it” guy. Chicks get really annoyed about that, but pretty sure every guy has done that at some level before … damn how the realism annoys me.
Also Hisao’s reaction to finding out she wasn’t a virgin was kinda funny.
where the hell is the imouto route
and don’t tell me Hisao doesn’t have one, all Japanese highschool boys have imoutos
Does imouto mean little-sister or does little-sister like work? Had to google it. If it could be little-sister like, Hanako kinda gives that feel, but the whole arc is mainly about how that is fucked up and moving past that … well … if you want the good end.
little sister
I was just joking though. I’m doing Hanako’s now, I think I’ll finish it instead of going to sleep that seems like a good idea.
I’ve heard somewhere that the reason Shizune’s route is the way it is is because of a revolt by the person writing the Shizune route. Something about not being able to be in charge of the Hanako route or something.
I want an Akira route.
Yeah, Lilly and her “healthy adolescent sex drive”.
Yeah and this becomes even more obvious in the very last scene.
Hanako good ending spoilers
Spoiler
Where she kisses Hisao in the street with everyone else around, her scars are clearly visible to everyone passing by, perhaps to show that she isn’t going to let her physical appearance stop her from being happy.
You will probably like how it ends most likely, Hisao isn’t your average male lead fortunately. :woot:
Speaking of imoutos. Sunohara Mei.
Enough said.
Well, that would be pretty funny actually. Just don’t ask for a Hideaki route. Bunch of sick, sick bastards. :lol:
[/details]
Spoiler
I was actually go say this at one point. She’s more bi than anything, just favors girls.
Interesting tidbit about Misha, out of all the girls (other than Hanako) she’s the only one that seems to have physical appearance issues (her only flaw is just eating that extra large parfait). Which makes me sad because 1) this is something that I wanted to see more of in general and 2) there is no Misha route to build on this.
I also wanted to see more of the classmates. You see Miki a bit, and the girl in the newspaper club gets mentioned but there’s a few others that you don’t seem to even know their names (despite having official names).
Really enjoyed playing this VN. I am an Hanako fan myself since she more of my “type”, and she was the first route I have went though.
Also loved Lilly’s route. As for that, she gets a new template for my HRAP1.
I really like that but think the chibi’s used in the extra menu would make for cooler buttons.I just don’t remember if there’s a misha chibi as you need 6 buttons lol.
I was curious about burn scarring thinking that the anime look may have given Hanako a more appealing look than the scarring than she would have in reality. Found out there actually is a pretty severe burn victim who became a model. Thought it was pretty cool.
Shame Hisao and Kenji can’t be on the button plugs to represent the 8-buttons [/TT Inside Joke].