01-17-2012, 03:06 AM | #101 |
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Hanako route is finished! I'm glad my judgment was right on these paths. I thought Hanako's route was the best. I found how Hanako so easily opened up to the main character during the common route was a bit hard to believe and probably forced. Also, what was up with the incomplete stumpy? She came off like she'd end up being a villain of the path, but they never gave her a direction. However, those happens to be my only real complaint. Even if the entire path is lead-up for the moment of truth (I guess you call it?) in act 4, and what happened was easy to see from a mile away, it was still a pretty powerful scene. Hell, after spending so much time with her, I couldn't help but get attached to her (which I couldn't bring myself to do in the other paths.) Like in every other path, I like the lesson given in this path, and the character's mindset was well fleshed out.
With me finishing Katawa Shoujo comes with an overall review, I guess. Well, I'm only sitting at 94%, and haven't done the non-Kenji bad endings. Overall, I did enjoy KS, however, most of it was a tad on the dull side. I mean, compared to other harem VNs, not that much really happened. The "problems" in the paths are often solved pretty easily or anticlimactic. Obviously there was exceptions. I'd say overall, I'd give Katawa Shoujo a 7.5. It was a bit on the dull side, but had good lessons, and fleshed out everyone's mind sets really well. |
01-17-2012, 03:46 PM | #102 |
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I've heard so much about this and with all of these positive reviews it makes me want to play it really badly. Which after reading about some of it I probably will.
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01-17-2012, 09:35 PM | #103 |
我が名は勇者王!
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I'm curious, but how did you hear about it?
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01-18-2012, 05:30 AM | #104 |
我が名は勇者王!
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Did somebody say thoroughbred retard?
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01-18-2012, 09:23 AM | #105 | |
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Quote:
Anyway, fake. Try going to the main page of the site you linked. (One of my friends had a wolf shirt like that...)
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01-18-2012, 01:09 PM | #106 |
時の彼方へ
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I may try and finish this VN off in one go (a personal first) rather than put it down and resume it at a later date. We'll see. It's never too late to quit! But with that stated, I went ahead and started my fourth playthrough last night.
I decided to go for Shizune this time. This is because:
Shizune Path - Initial Thoughts: Well, I'm not quite on it yet. I actually went ahead and re-played Act 1 at a real-live pace (the third time I've done this in as many weeks ^^; ) and so, two hours into the game, I still haven't reached the f______l yet. It's coming up fairly shortly, though, and it's pretty clear that I've docked (or at least pre-docked) onto Shizune's path this time. I've seen more Shizune and Misha scenes than I ever thought could have possibly existed in Act 1 and, while I have met all five girls and have done activities with them (like jog with Emi or paint with Rin), this Act 1 experience is surreally the Shizune & Misha Show. I really like both Shizune and Misha. Shizune is very cute (inside, though also out) and Misha's a riot (not to mention outwardly very cute). I don't know what it is that ends up sinking this route for so many players, but I guess I'll find out in due time.
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01-18-2012, 03:45 PM | #107 |
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01-20-2012, 11:14 AM | #108 |
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I've been making slow but steady progress with Shizune's Path. I'm nearing the end of Act 2, I believe -- it's the evening of the special day the exploration of which appears to be unique to this path -- and I've been enjoying it. I would say that, so far, the Shizune path compares well with the Emi path. I enjoyed the Emi path well enough -- it was about the same level of overall goodness for me as was the Hanako path, which in turn I liked more than the Rin path by quite a fair margin -- so if the Shizune path can keep this momentum up, then I don't see what all the disappointment and fuss is about. But I've still got two acts to go, so anything could happen in the meantime to dampen my enthusiasm. Spoiler: show I've got some logical inconsistencies with Shizune's path -- inconsistencies which I suspect may be one part of why people are disappointed with the path -- but since this post is already much too long, I'll save that discussion for next time.
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01-22-2012, 06:11 PM | #109 |
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I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. |
01-23-2012, 01:50 AM | #110 |
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I'm on the cusp between Acts 3 and 4, I think, having seen quite a large number of events in Act 3 and having just witnessed what is one of the biggest "HOLY COW " decision moments in the game thus far. I saved at that decision point and will discuss it briefly in the spoiler box below but will probably discuss it in much greater detail next time. Suffice to say, this spoiler box will be safe for you to click on if you've seen a little bit past the point where Misha orders a particularly large dessert at the Shanghai. Spoiler: show Now, there were a lot of details I skipped over in that spoiler box and said I would address later. That time is now. And that's because I decided to organize these thoughts together (rather than doing them chronologically like the above). What am I talking about? I'm talking about a list of reasons why I suspect people may not like the Shizune path as much as the other paths. This was true of bbb. This was true of those guys on P-O. And this seems to be true of the folks on the official KS webforum. I don't know the details (having avoided all spoilers, of course), but I get the impression that a lot of people felt that the Shizune path just didn't live up to the standards set by the four other paths. So, here's a list of some of the grievances I've had with the path myself and which I think may be why people are saying that the Shizune path is a stinker. (you can click on this if you could click on the above spoiler box too) Spoiler: show Now, I realize that this list seems pretty long, but let me just say two quick things about it: First off, I'm still enjoying the Shizune Path okay. Is it my favorite? No. Is it my least favorite? No. I'm enjoying it more than I enjoyed the Rin path, and even the Rin path was okay. I'm not trying to rag on the Shizune path or its writer here. What I am trying to do is keep my eyes peeled and figure out, as I play through the path myself, what could have been the possible reasons people seemed to dislike it. Second, I want to say that I don't think any of the above reasons are why people hated it. I suspect the real reason people hated it will turn out to be something I have yet to see. Could be wrong about that, but that's my feeling right now. In any event, I have a big choice to make. And then ... it's probably either a Bad End or else it's onward to Act 4!
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02-23-2012, 09:14 PM | #111 |
大事なのは自分らしいくある事
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So. Xander recommended this game to me.
This is my first ever VA, so... I'll try to refrain from the 'OMG WHY IS THIS SO EPIC AND AMAZING AND OMGWOW' I want to say. Don't want to annoy any hardcore fans! ^_^ ;_; |
02-24-2012, 12:06 AM | #112 |
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Alright, I'm downloading it. We'll give it a go.
Impressions (continuously updated for the night): I started freaking out about my mortality IRL right away, oh gosh, I don't want to have a heart attack.... Gah, I feel my mortality slipping through my fingers just playing this. I don't like it I quite enjoy this music. Very relaxing and calming. My favorite so far is the classroom, at least when you first walk in. Last edited by deoxys; 02-24-2012 at 01:08 AM. |
02-24-2012, 12:57 AM | #113 |
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Eek, I know what you mean. That opening scene really threw me for a loop. Luckily, I didn't start worrying about my mortality, as I spent most of either grade eight or nine doing that.
May as well say something about my progress. When I started playing the game, I decided to listen to 'my heart's voice' for my first play-through, as clique as that sounds. Then, when my inner voice was freaking screaming to play offensively in the risk game... I laughed it off. "I play defensive at everything! There's no way I can lose at stall!" ...Yeah. Kin, Semistall=/=Stall. :/ Currently visiting Emi's place. That will have meaning to those who should know what it means. XD |
02-24-2012, 01:08 AM | #114 |
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@Kind: Wait, when you say "visiting Emi's place," what do you mean? I'll eat my proverbial hat if you're as far in the game as I think you are.
@Deoxys: You don't like the game as a result of it making you think about your own mortality? ^_^; Or you just don't like thinking about your own mortality? Well, in any event, the game is less about thinking about the inevitability of death and is more about thinking about the opportunity of life. @Both: Would be interested to see who each of you docked onto for your first playthroughs. From the sound of things, Kind may have docked onto Emi's path. She seems to be the path the largest minority of players docks onto. I think there's a poll somewhere on the KS forums that backs this theory up. Just from rough memory with conversations with people and reading forum posts and such, I feel like ~30-40% of all players start off with Emi first, with as few as 60% total starting off with any of the other possibilities. I'll throw out there that if either of you managed to dock onto Rin's path, it's a very unique path that reads more like an avant-garde novella and less like a traditional VN path. Not an easy read imo, but apparently very rewarding for those with whom Rin really resonates.
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02-24-2012, 01:23 AM | #115 | ||
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Quote:
I'm kind of picking up that vibe, by the way, that this is more about a 'new beginning' than anything. Quote:
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02-24-2012, 01:29 AM | #116 |
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"Docking" refers to landing on one of several possible branching paths and usually, in these sorts of games, refers more specifically to landing on a character-specific path, hence "which girl['s path] have you docked onto?"
There are five main girls in Katawa Shoujo -- Emi, Hanako, Lilly, Rin, and Shizune -- and five different paths for you to explore. All the paths share in common the early events of Act 1. However, as you play through Act 1, you will craft your own story by making choices and will eventually wind up opening doors to some girls' paths while closing doors to others'. By the end of Act 1, it should become clear which girl's path you have docked onto. From that point forward (Acts 2 thru 4), you will be on that girl's path or route (hence phrases like "the Emi route" or "the Hanako path"). It'll become clearer, I think, once you actually play through the game for a second time. It may even become clearer before then.
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02-24-2012, 01:54 AM | #117 | |
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Wow. Thought I had replied to this ages ago. Guess not. Just found this reply sitting in one of my many open browser tabs. ^_^; It's a bit late, but here goes ...
Quote:
~end late reply~ So ... while I'm double-posting, I may as well add these words of wisdom: 1. Just play your natural path. Whether you get Emi, Rin, Hanako, whomever, run with it and have fun. 2. If any of you should happen to get the Day of Despair ... don't freak out, and search this thread for posts containing those words. (There should be a search thread feature somewhere. If not, just search the forum for the phrase "Day of Despair" in quotes and tell it to show results as posts.) You'll find your explanation of what just happened to you waiting there. 3. You'll know for an absolute fact that you've docked onto a girl's path when you see ... well, you'll know it when you see it. It comes directly before the start of Act 2 for each girl.
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02-24-2012, 02:38 AM | #118 |
大事なのは自分らしいくある事
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I finished Emi's path!
I think? Um. That's what the credits rolling means, right? And I only just realized the irony of 'listening to my heart' in a game where the main character has heart issues. >_> Would say more, but I gotta get up in the morning. XD |
02-24-2012, 04:51 AM | #119 |
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Wait, is one character path really only 5 hours?
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02-24-2012, 10:38 AM | #120 |
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On average, I've taken eight hours. Kind is either just a really fast reader or else he mad-quickly clicked through text. I was kinda
... Go at your own pace. It's not a race.
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02-24-2012, 11:25 AM | #121 |
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It was actually six hours- I played a little bit last night. ;^_^
Err. Though, that includes the time I simply left my computer sitting without doing anything. 0_o Didn't even think about how quickly I did it 'till I finished. ;_; |
02-24-2012, 11:42 AM | #122 |
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I take it you enjoyed it though. In which case ...
(1) Go back through this thread and look for all the posts that have to do with the Emi path. You might have fun reading others' thoughts. (2) Share your own thoughts! (Be sure to put in a spoiler box anything that occurs past Act 1. Even some Act 1 stuff, if you like.)
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03-06-2012, 08:57 PM | #123 |
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Played through Act 1 last night. I decided to throw all planning to the wind and just play as I normally would. ...Which ended me up on the loli's path. Lol. Guess it was to be expected though, given the established explanation of how one often docks onto her route first. After all, who can resist such a challenge?
Spoiler: show Talon, I bet you wouldn't like Kei from Muv-Luv. She's very similar to Rin, and she was also my favorite character from the game. ^^; Current Rankings in Order of Interest: Rin >> Shizune > Hanako = Lilly >> Emi Reasons for liking Rin explained above. I still find Shizune the cutest, especially her subtle or uncertain gestures. Though her commander qualities turned out to be a bit much for me to handle. Hanako and Lilly I'm equally curious about at this point. I wasn't particularly for or against Emi, nor did I mind her loli-ness too much... Until the last quarter of her OP movie sequence. That really turned me off, so I'm not exactly gearing to progress with her path anytime soon. Will probably set the game aside for a few days while I work on FB Updates or something (which was my original plan anyway). Oh, and Kenji is indeed a very, very odd boy. Spoiler: show In somewhat seriousness, I actually wish I could meet crazy characters like that at my school. Would make the education environment much more interesting. *nod nod* I think I'd learn more about the world from him than in a classroom anyway. XP
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03-07-2012, 08:36 PM | #124 |
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I really liked Hanako's route, it was moving. Shizune felt like a time wasted, at least Misha turned out to be interesting, despite certain annoyance factor hanging around her. Rin was better but now looking back I can't say I've enjoyed her very much. Not because I had to actually pay attention to what she's saying but because it somehow seemed pointless most of the time. Ending was unsatisfying too. Emi and Lilly are both nice but I'd be willing to trade them for Akira anyday. Almost makes me want to say "too bad she was wasn't broken somehow"
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03-09-2012, 05:09 PM | #125 | |
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Finished Emi's path. Not much to say about it really. Pretty predictable, as I came to the exact same conclusions as Talon while playing, even factoring in the science-y aspect.
Spoiler: show As they kept building up to the big reveal, I started almost wondering/hoping that... Spoiler: show Something more surprising and not glaringly obvious. Although I guess like Talon pointed out, the aim of the game is to be realistic, not shocking blow-your-head-out-of-the-water. Although one theory of yours I'm not sure where you got it from is the idea that... Spoiler: show I did accidentally click on a small spoiler left by BBB though regarding a revelation from Shizune's route: Spoiler: show Quote:
Spoiler: show I felt like this scene wasn't near as inappropriate as what happened at the end of Chizuru's route in Muv-Luv though. >>; Spoiler: show
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