Leah Looks at Doki Doki Literature Club
Doki Doki Literature Club
Release Date: Sep 22, 2017
Developer/Publisher: Team Salvato
Free to Play (Currently)
There are High School Girls that want to learn more about the art and craft of writing?! What could possibly go wrong? They appear so carefree, young and vibrant. I remember my own high school years being the polar opposite.
But, I digress. Let’s see what’s in store for this band of literary explorers. It’s always good to broaden your horizons.
The game begins! Wake and step outside to greet the new day. A lifelong friend approaches to mention the topic of extracurricular activities. It serves to remind us all of that terrible habit of blind agreement with the speaker instead of paying attention to what has actually been said. You know how it goes, you get lulled into a rhythm and the agreements come forth. Yeah, yeah. Next thing you know, you’ve been roped into something you have no intention of doing. Who cares about MY desire to just sit back, play games, watch movies, you know – passive consumption of entertainment?
“And thus, today marks the day that I sold my soul for a cupcake.”
Now pissed at my friend, I let myself get dragged to this group meeting.
Ok! Monika, huh? Now I can’t stop thinking about that story, “Monica and Me,” featured Here. (Warning, might be NSFW.)
(So charming, both the podcast – and the tale! It is a shame that I continue to freeze when I work toward completion of any item in that genre.)
This is working out more like a writing group – I am waiting, though – as many of these lovely Visual Novel Dating Simulators have a much darker fate lurking about – I am not yet far enough for the underbelly to expose itself.
Second day playing, much more thoroughly this time, and all I have to say is WOW.
My first choice was Yuri, and I’ve stuck with her through a second run, too. I find that my hand is on the F12 button to try and catch those fuzzy moments. A pen is held at the ready to both scribble down some words and their accompanying screenshots. (Prepare for some sleuthing on Google.) I have not played this one on my laptop yet. I fully intend on giving it another playthrough with different choices. Get comfortable with the traceback file. I know the option I’ve taken seems to not be one that the game wants me to make. A few topics have been addressed that I must refrain from repeating as I do not want to drop any spoilers. Familiarity with local content storage is a plus, as this game so delightfully breaks the 4th wall.
I no longer want to continue with the first choice through the second run, but Ride or Die. The selection I have made violently waves a brilliant red flag along every step of this cursed path.
Ride and die, I suppose. This dating sim is beautifully dark and I look forward to cosplaying Yuri at Naka-Kon in March. I am afraid to make the selections that I know I must make. Ride or die. Ride and die. Die die die.
Doki Doki Literature Club scratches every sinister, hair-raising itch.
Every last one of them.
I recommend this exceptional experience.