Katawa Shoujo anyone?

Cutter John · January 22 2013, 11:19 AM

Curious if anyone else out there has tried this game.

Actually it's less a game than a 'visual novel'. A cross between a Japanese 'dating sim', and a graphical version of one of those old 'choose your own adventure' books.
The wiki goes into more detail, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katawa_Shoujo , but basically it involves a high school boy who after a heart attack, is sent to a special school for disabled teens. Along the way, you hve the choice of meeting five different young women, who, if you make the right choices, can become friends, and with any luck, even lovers. Its all painfully emotional, with both highs and lows, and most will have a hard time not shedding a few tears. If you're the sort who cried at the end of the Walking Dead game, then this might be for you.

The one thing I love about this game is that the girls actually have fairly deep personalities, and aren't just "cute anime girls who need protecting". If you treat them like that, you're sure to get a bad ending. So far I've played through two story arcs, over about a week, and its worn me out emotionally. Its pretty rough going.

Theres a nice review with screenshots here: http://deluscar.wordpress.com/2012/0...shoujo-review/

Since its a 400mb freeware game, you can get it via bittorrent at http://www.katawa-shoujo.com/download.php

Also theres a direct download at http://100-free-games.com/download-katawa-shoujo/ Though I'm not sure how secure it is.

Konata Izumi · January 22 2013, 12:10 PM

I ****ing love Rin actually so much I couldn't bear to play again beyond getting the alright ending after getting bad end on my first try o_o

**** that Hisao ****** **** you. I had it under control, it was going to be fine. I'm not emotionally ******* incompetent like that ******* life-destroying **** for ***** sake.

Hey might you be that Shizune dude from Gallifrey Base? No wait you just started playing right

Cutter John · January 22 2013, 02:05 PM

Well not exactly how I'd put it, but okay...

I've had the game for about and have only played through Emi and Hanako so far, and both have been great. I'm definitely a Hanako fan though. I've never been able to resist, shy, quiet girls.

Been browsing Google. Its amazing how many KS fan sites there are out there. Facebook pages, DeviantArt, the official forum...
Currently sitting here listening to the soundtrack I downloaded from the official website and getting all misty eyed.

OdoWanKenobi · January 22 2013, 08:29 PM

Wow, how funny. I just got done playing through this last week, getting all of the endings.

Hanako's bad ending wrecked my shit entirely. That was shocking and devastating.

Rin affected me pretty hard, too. I had to read a bit outside to understand her story completely, but once I did, I realized just how deep it is, and exactly why certain choices get you worse endings.

My favorite I think was Lily, though. That scene in the field where she confesses her love for Hisao...so many feels! Though, playing Lily's story right after Hanako's, I kinda felt like a jerk, leaving her and going to her best friend. There's an indication in one scene that Hanako still develops some feelings for Hisao even in Lily's path.

After playing this, I really wish I had a group of friends I could become as close to as Hisao does to Lily and Hanako, or Misha and Shizune.

Cutter John · January 23 2013, 01:53 AM

Oh I'm the same way. I'd like to get 100% because I've heard there's an unlock of some kind, but I don't think I could handle any of the bad endings.

And of course, knowing one girls story makes it so much harder to play through another. Especially when she turns up in the main story. How the heck am I supposed to go off with Lilly and leave Emi alone, for example?

OdoWanKenobi · January 23 2013, 02:29 AM

The bad endings are really worth getting, though. They make the good endings all the more rewarding when you understand just how the relationships could have failed. Rin, Shizune, and Hanako especially benefit from seeing their bad endings. Shizune's bad ending is really Misha's story in a way.

Konata Izumi · January 23 2013, 12:33 PM

OdoWanKenobi wrote:

Rin affected me pretty hard, too. I had to read a bit outside to understand her story completely, but once I did, I realized just how deep it is, and exactly why certain choices get you worse endings.

Choices of Hisao's.

OdoWanKenobi · January 23 2013, 06:24 PM

Not sure what you're getting at. Hisao is the player character, and you make certain key decisions for him which determine success or failure in his romantic pursuits.

Konata Izumi · January 23 2013, 07:52 PM

I think it the other way around.

OdoWanKenobi · January 24 2013, 01:58 AM

As in Hisao is controlling your actions?

You need to stop hanging around with Rin. She's messing with your mind.

Cutter John · January 24 2013, 07:56 AM

I'm confused.

OdoWanKenobi · January 24 2013, 12:09 PM

Me too. This must be part of some nefarious feminist plot to throw us off balance. Stay vigilant, my brothers!

Cutter John · January 24 2013, 05:14 PM

Can I borrow 500 yen?

OdoWanKenobi · January 24 2013, 10:48 PM

You still haven't paid me back from the last time! And what do you need my money for? I can see your wallet. It's loaded!

Kenji is hilarious.

trekkiebaggio · January 25 2013, 06:59 PM

Hmm I don't really play that many computer games but this sounds really interesting so I might give it a go over the weekend.

January 22 2013, 11:19 AM	#1
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Katawa Shoujo anyone? Curious if anyone else out there has tried this game. Actually it's less a game than a 'visual novel'. A cross between a Japanese 'dating sim', and a graphical version of one of those old 'choose your own adventure' books. The wiki goes into more detail, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katawa_Shoujo , but basically it involves a high school boy who after a heart attack, is sent to a special school for disabled teens. Along the way, you hve the choice of meeting five different young women, who, if you make the right choices, can become friends, and with any luck, even lovers. Its all painfully emotional, with both highs and lows, and most will have a hard time not shedding a few tears. If you're the sort who cried at the end of the Walking Dead game, then this might be for you. The one thing I love about this game is that the girls actually have fairly deep personalities, and aren't just "cute anime girls who need protecting". If you treat them like that, you're sure to get a bad ending. So far I've played through two story arcs, over about a week, and its worn me out emotionally. Its pretty rough going. Theres a nice review with screenshots here: http://deluscar.wordpress.com/2012/0...shoujo-review/ Since its a 400mb freeware game, you can get it via bittorrent at http://www.katawa-shoujo.com/download.php Also theres a direct download at http://100-free-games.com/download-katawa-shoujo/ Though I'm not sure how secure it is. __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

January 22 2013, 12:10 PM	#2
Konata Izumi Lieutenant Commander Location: Helsinki, Finland	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? I **ing love Rin actually so much I couldn't bear to play again beyond getting the alright ending after getting bad end on my first try o_o that Hisao ** you. I had it under control, it was going to be fine. I'm not emotionally *** incompetent like that *** life-destroying for *** sake. Hey might you be that Shizune dude from Gallifrey Base? No wait you just started playing right

January 22 2013, 02:05 PM	#3
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Well not exactly how I'd put it, but okay... I've had the game for about and have only played through Emi and Hanako so far, and both have been great. I'm definitely a Hanako fan though. I've never been able to resist, shy, quiet girls. Been browsing Google. Its amazing how many KS fan sites there are out there. Facebook pages, DeviantArt, the official forum... Currently sitting here listening to the soundtrack I downloaded from the official website and getting all misty eyed. __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

January 22 2013, 08:29 PM	#4
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Wow, how funny. I just got done playing through this last week, getting all of the endings. Hanako's bad ending wrecked my shit entirely. That was shocking and devastating. Rin affected me pretty hard, too. I had to read a bit outside to understand her story completely, but once I did, I realized just how deep it is, and exactly why certain choices get you worse endings. My favorite I think was Lily, though. That scene in the field where she confesses her love for Hisao...so many feels! Though, playing Lily's story right after Hanako's, I kinda felt like a jerk, leaving her and going to her best friend. There's an indication in one scene that Hanako still develops some feelings for Hisao even in Lily's path. After playing this, I really wish I had a group of friends I could become as close to as Hisao does to Lily and Hanako, or Misha and Shizune. __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 23 2013, 01:53 AM	#5
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Oh I'm the same way. I'd like to get 100% because I've heard there's an unlock of some kind, but I don't think I could handle any of the bad endings. And of course, knowing one girls story makes it so much harder to play through another. Especially when she turns up in the main story. How the heck am I supposed to go off with Lilly and leave Emi alone, for example? __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

January 23 2013, 02:29 AM	#6
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? The bad endings are really worth getting, though. They make the good endings all the more rewarding when you understand just how the relationships could have failed. Rin, Shizune, and Hanako especially benefit from seeing their bad endings. Shizune's bad ending is really Misha's story in a way. __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 23 2013, 06:24 PM	#8
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Not sure what you're getting at. Hisao is the player character, and you make certain key decisions for him which determine success or failure in his romantic pursuits. __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 23 2013, 07:52 PM	#9
Konata Izumi Lieutenant Commander Location: Helsinki, Finland	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? I think it the other way around.

January 24 2013, 01:58 AM	#10
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? As in Hisao is controlling your actions? You need to stop hanging around with Rin. She's messing with your mind. __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 24 2013, 07:56 AM	#11
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? I'm confused. __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

January 24 2013, 12:09 PM	#12
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Me too. This must be part of some nefarious feminist plot to throw us off balance. Stay vigilant, my brothers! __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 24 2013, 05:14 PM	#13
Cutter John Rear Admiral Location: Beyond the wall of sleep, just south of Seattle.	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Can I borrow 500 yen? __________________ "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things. But vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."

January 24 2013, 10:48 PM	#14
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? You still haven't paid me back from the last time! And what do you need my money for? I can see your wallet. It's loaded! Kenji is hilarious. __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 25 2013, 06:59 PM	#15
trekkiebaggio Vice Admiral Location: Dancing to the Jailhouse Rock	Re: Katawa Shoujo anyone? Hmm I don't really play that many computer games but this sounds really interesting so I might give it a go over the weekend. __________________ Angelic Hellfire - My novel. Man of Yesterday - My blog, in which I'm writing a superhero story.