holy fuck
Not As Good As I Remember
That was... Something. It was my first time experience with DDLC and somehow I managed to avoid everything that this game was about except that it's visual novel with some really weird and unique stuff and holy crap does it took me by surprise.
My only complaint is that some of the character interactions, psychological revelations etc was so good it almost made me regret that whole game turns out to be huge fourth-wall-breaker rather than something more down-to-earth with main character trying to cope with some tragic events that he encountered.
Still, DDLC is incredible experience that is really hard to explain with words, you have to, duh, play it. Even if you're not into VN.
My only complaint is that some of the character interactions, psychological revelations etc was so good it almost made me regret that whole game turns out to be huge fourth-wall-breaker rather than something more down-to-earth with main character trying to cope with some tragic events that he encountered.
Still, DDLC is incredible experience that is really hard to explain with words, you have to, duh, play it. Even if you're not into VN.
If you enjoyed the original DDLC this is a pretty good addition, it surprisingly focuses less on trying to up the meta horror elements of the first game and instead adds a bunch of content that fleshes out the characters, plus adding some improvements like a nice image gallery
I also hope that this makes certain people don't be so harsh on DDLC because what this adds is, in my eyes, proof enough that it was never meant to be some sort of indictment of visual novels
I also hope that this makes certain people don't be so harsh on DDLC because what this adds is, in my eyes, proof enough that it was never meant to be some sort of indictment of visual novels
some happiness in literature club
sayori best waifu.
Monika best girl
This review contains spoilers
Was very surprised reading the side stories in this expanded VN as they flesh out the otherwise very flat cast of characters. These side stories alone improve the game so much, as the base game is quite lackluster. Some might complain that the "meta" element in the story is lost by the way DDLC+ recontextualizes the original game, but as someone that didn't care for the 4th wall breaks and shock value horror in the first place, it was a nice surprise to see genuine and straightforward character introspection. I think DDLC as a whole could have been even better if it ditched the gimmick element and focused on conveying a grounded message about mental health.
Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the Twitter bait game
I enjoy the creativity of this visual novel so much. It's definitely full of disturbing content (which it thankfully warns about several times before you start) but the direction the story takes and how it blends a dating sim with horror and another of my favorite genres in a really intriguing way is extremely interesting. I'm so glad that I got to experience it without being spoiled! Reading up on how this version differs from the original, though, and I am confident it would be soooooo much more effective on Steam for a couple of reasons in particular that I can't mention. It's still a solid port that translates the experience as best it can, though, and there is some additional side content there for those who want to dive in further. Now that I've finished the game and understand its twists and turns, I'm not sure that I care about anything more myself, but always cool for it to exist.
I mean, it's Doki Doki but with more stuff to it, so obviously it's gonna be better. The original was already a really good story but I feel like this version adds to it in interesting, if kinda sparse ways. I do not really think this is enough to justify not just watching a let's play or playing the original 2017 version, but by and large, it's still doki doki and that's good for it!
That Trigger Warning feature is broken as fuck tho. Please fix it lmao.
That Trigger Warning feature is broken as fuck tho. Please fix it lmao.
this is just a bad smartass visual novel that treats people with mental illness as uncontrollable maniacs with boring 4th wall nonsense and another not very good but at least respectful visual novel alongside it (side stories)
i actually think this vn may have helped me when thinking about why is it bad so be positive people!
i actually think this vn may have helped me when thinking about why is it bad so be positive people!
This game should have sold as a DLC. There isn't anything new worth buying. There are very minor new additions but thats it. The new ui also sucks. Go play the original one. This one isn't worth your purchase.
Game was fun to revisit and even though 100% was a pain in the ass it was a blast looking through all the secrets
This has more substance than any trails game will ever
I loved the direction that Doki Doki Literature Club when it first came out. I noticed it getting popular amongst YouTube channels and I decided to see what it was about. I heard it was a visual novel disguised as a horror game but I turned my brain off on that knowledge just to go in with a bit more surprise.
I have never seen anything like it. A character A.I. taking control of the story just to have you choose her as your true love that she's willing to delete her friends' files to do so.
This game takes control of your actual files which I have never seen done before and I loved that we finally got something new in the horror genre. Nowadays it's nothing but jumpscares, creepy atmospheres, disgusting monster creatures but the direction of DDLC was a type of genius that I loved with how unique it was.
Now it's being re-released today as DDLC Plus which includes new side stories which overall, comes as a prequel to the base game.
Now I won't waste time talking about the base game because I wanna focus more on the bonus content. If you know the original game, it's pretty much the exact same thing. If you know the secrets, if you know the mechanics, then you know how to beat it.
The side stories give you different chapters and you'll only unlock them all if you're able to unlock all the CG scenes in the whole game. Quick tip: If you know how to get the GOOD ENDING, then that'll save you a lot of time.
Each chapter focuses on two specific characters interacting with each other. Now this I like because you get more character development and relationship building between all of them without the trouble of you trying to win their love since they don't meet you yet.
I loved every chapter. Some got emotional. Like it can make you tear up by how deep some of the topics get regarding depression, trying to fit in, controlling emotions. The whole game really tackles the topics pretty well. As somehow who has some of these problems myself, I can relate which is what I love about these characters.
Now this game is on consoles as well which was weird at first because I was thinking "You have to go in your computer files to beat the game, how is it gonna work on consoles?" I then realized that it makes a new menu which looks like a desktop screen. I was weirded out at first but when I got to the moment to beat the game, I then realized that they built a custom desktop. And honestly it's less of a hassle because it took a while for me to locate the game's file through my computer.
There's bonus stuff, you can look at pictures which contains the CG art of the game, the poems, even some concept art and promo art that you probably saw on Twitter at some point.
Overall, I thought this was a nice extension edition to DDLC. I still love it today. I know there are people out there who are sick of hearing about it since it's a "trendy" game like Bendy or FNAF or Baldi but I still love it. I still love the characters, I still love the uniqueness, and I also love the prequel story. I say it's worth the purchase.
Side note: Sayori is best girl.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus gets a 9/10.
I have never seen anything like it. A character A.I. taking control of the story just to have you choose her as your true love that she's willing to delete her friends' files to do so.
This game takes control of your actual files which I have never seen done before and I loved that we finally got something new in the horror genre. Nowadays it's nothing but jumpscares, creepy atmospheres, disgusting monster creatures but the direction of DDLC was a type of genius that I loved with how unique it was.
Now it's being re-released today as DDLC Plus which includes new side stories which overall, comes as a prequel to the base game.
Now I won't waste time talking about the base game because I wanna focus more on the bonus content. If you know the original game, it's pretty much the exact same thing. If you know the secrets, if you know the mechanics, then you know how to beat it.
The side stories give you different chapters and you'll only unlock them all if you're able to unlock all the CG scenes in the whole game. Quick tip: If you know how to get the GOOD ENDING, then that'll save you a lot of time.
Each chapter focuses on two specific characters interacting with each other. Now this I like because you get more character development and relationship building between all of them without the trouble of you trying to win their love since they don't meet you yet.
I loved every chapter. Some got emotional. Like it can make you tear up by how deep some of the topics get regarding depression, trying to fit in, controlling emotions. The whole game really tackles the topics pretty well. As somehow who has some of these problems myself, I can relate which is what I love about these characters.
Now this game is on consoles as well which was weird at first because I was thinking "You have to go in your computer files to beat the game, how is it gonna work on consoles?" I then realized that it makes a new menu which looks like a desktop screen. I was weirded out at first but when I got to the moment to beat the game, I then realized that they built a custom desktop. And honestly it's less of a hassle because it took a while for me to locate the game's file through my computer.
There's bonus stuff, you can look at pictures which contains the CG art of the game, the poems, even some concept art and promo art that you probably saw on Twitter at some point.
Overall, I thought this was a nice extension edition to DDLC. I still love it today. I know there are people out there who are sick of hearing about it since it's a "trendy" game like Bendy or FNAF or Baldi but I still love it. I still love the characters, I still love the uniqueness, and I also love the prequel story. I say it's worth the purchase.
Side note: Sayori is best girl.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus gets a 9/10.
This review contains spoilers
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is the definitive version of a work that was already very important to me.
The base game is a great, if a bit flawed, experience, but made with love through and through; how it acts as both a critique of and a tribute to the visual novel genre throughout, with things like dialogue that reads like a translation of a Japanese work. And while the characters didn't get to be as fleshed out as they could be in the base game — for understandable reasons, given the length and goals of the game — the very, very real experiences the cast goes through were portrayed with incredible care.
This care is brought over to this version's main new feature, the Side Stories, and made even greater. In this combination of prequel and alternate universe, you get to see how the four girls met each other, became friends, and learned to slowly, but surely, love themselves a bit more. These stories and their characters are true to life (and not in a meta sense) and crafted with utmost diligence. Having gone through the things some of them have, it was catharsis in the truest sense of the word, and I'm sure it is so for many others.
The best part of Doki Doki Literature Club! has always been the relationship between the members of the cast, and Plus! has gone beyond when it comes to that. Combined with the additional lore found in Plus and some very welcome new features such as content warnings and a picture gallery, this game has everything you could want as both an old fan revisiting the VN and someone trying to experience it for the first time.
The base game is a great, if a bit flawed, experience, but made with love through and through; how it acts as both a critique of and a tribute to the visual novel genre throughout, with things like dialogue that reads like a translation of a Japanese work. And while the characters didn't get to be as fleshed out as they could be in the base game — for understandable reasons, given the length and goals of the game — the very, very real experiences the cast goes through were portrayed with incredible care.
This care is brought over to this version's main new feature, the Side Stories, and made even greater. In this combination of prequel and alternate universe, you get to see how the four girls met each other, became friends, and learned to slowly, but surely, love themselves a bit more. These stories and their characters are true to life (and not in a meta sense) and crafted with utmost diligence. Having gone through the things some of them have, it was catharsis in the truest sense of the word, and I'm sure it is so for many others.
The best part of Doki Doki Literature Club! has always been the relationship between the members of the cast, and Plus! has gone beyond when it comes to that. Combined with the additional lore found in Plus and some very welcome new features such as content warnings and a picture gallery, this game has everything you could want as both an old fan revisiting the VN and someone trying to experience it for the first time.
extra half-star compared to orig because the side stories are actually decent
paula what the fuck
Not that bad honestly. It's enjoyable if you go in with an open mind and the side stories are actually decent and add some legitimate depth that was needed to make the characters more than walking tropes and themes. I don't think this was ever supposed to be some damming deconstruction of VNs like some argued, but I see how it could hurt perception of the medium for first time readers (of which Doki Doki had many of).
For a first foray into the medium, I think Dan Salvato did a pretty solid job. The writing can be a little too tongue-in-cheek but it never REALLY tries to hide or act like something different than what it is despite the cute veneer; a short story with some meta horror aspects and a slight focus on mental health. Honestly, I do still think it would have been a much better story if the meta stuff never kicked in and it stayed a genuine story on handling grief and recognizing mental illness.
For a first foray into the medium, I think Dan Salvato did a pretty solid job. The writing can be a little too tongue-in-cheek but it never REALLY tries to hide or act like something different than what it is despite the cute veneer; a short story with some meta horror aspects and a slight focus on mental health. Honestly, I do still think it would have been a much better story if the meta stuff never kicked in and it stayed a genuine story on handling grief and recognizing mental illness.
DDLC+ is the little push that DDLC needed to achieve that glory they were so close of getting. The base game is already very good, enough to be worth it alone, but adding 7 side stories (6 which have 2 parts) which adds around 5-6 hours more of gameplay + all the unlockable pictures/music, makes this a really great experience.
The side stories dive deeper into the 4 characters (not including the main character, but giving him some references every now and then) and show a lot more of their personalities and...you could call it a ''new side'' of them? i guess?
The way the side stories are written, the conflicts they show, and how they resolve them, along with new OST and CG's make it a really enjoyable experience.
It's a 10/10 for me, and i hope everyone else who plays this game gets to enjoy it as much as i did!
The side stories dive deeper into the 4 characters (not including the main character, but giving him some references every now and then) and show a lot more of their personalities and...you could call it a ''new side'' of them? i guess?
The way the side stories are written, the conflicts they show, and how they resolve them, along with new OST and CG's make it a really enjoyable experience.
It's a 10/10 for me, and i hope everyone else who plays this game gets to enjoy it as much as i did!
Great premise, great character writing that slyly and appropriately subverts genre tropes.
DDLC Plus took the already superb DDLC and added more story for all 4 girls and gave us more well hidden nuggets to dig for. Dan Salvado made one of the greatest and most unique gaming experiences of all time. This game surprised me more than any game ever has before. I can’t wait for what he does next.. most likely Project Libatina! Literally the only reason this doesn’t get a five star is it isn’t something that is replayable. As far as a one time experience it is easily a 5 star game.
based dlc i'm honestly glad it stayed so true to the original
This review contains spoilers
Uh, well, that was dark as fudge.
I started the game with knowledge that this wasn’t going to be a game where you get to date girls while playing a visual novel.
I do believe that the game does work better on PC; while there have been done some fun things to make it a console game you can’t hide its PC roots with all the files and stuff.
Still… the game went places, hard. While I picked up on Monika being evil and the poems being cries for help, the disturbing nature of the other Literature Club ladies is scary. At times I felt the game was pushing my boundries just for the sake of it, especially with all the death.
However I do respect the twist with Monika being sentient and in love with the player. That was a cool swerve and pushed the game for. All the brutal murders though, that was a bit too much.
I started the game with knowledge that this wasn’t going to be a game where you get to date girls while playing a visual novel.
I do believe that the game does work better on PC; while there have been done some fun things to make it a console game you can’t hide its PC roots with all the files and stuff.
Still… the game went places, hard. While I picked up on Monika being evil and the poems being cries for help, the disturbing nature of the other Literature Club ladies is scary. At times I felt the game was pushing my boundries just for the sake of it, especially with all the death.
However I do respect the twist with Monika being sentient and in love with the player. That was a cool swerve and pushed the game for. All the brutal murders though, that was a bit too much.
This review contains spoilers
Probably would have liked this more if it wasn't so leery at the girls. The twist is a lot of fun which really saves the whole thing for me.
Because all of the characters are "programmed" but are also reacting to Monika's interferences it is hard to see what the game is trying to say is weird dating sim sexual politics compared to what are the results of an evil character's tampering. Maybe I'm overthinking it, and it's just a mildly interesting game with some well executed shock value
Because all of the characters are "programmed" but are also reacting to Monika's interferences it is hard to see what the game is trying to say is weird dating sim sexual politics compared to what are the results of an evil character's tampering. Maybe I'm overthinking it, and it's just a mildly interesting game with some well executed shock value
Hours of boring dialogues until it drops its „ye olde lovey dovey visual novel uwu“ facade. The tiny font size in the Switch version made my eyes hurt after a few minutes, making it even more draining to play.
I admit I got a tiny bit spooped here and there but overall it was a meh-ish experience and I don‘t have any drive to complete the other endings.
I admit I got a tiny bit spooped here and there but overall it was a meh-ish experience and I don‘t have any drive to complete the other endings.
Yay, more DDLC content!
I really enjoyed the base game, and was glad to replay it. God, the memories that come with it!
What's new is more lore (in a meta form), and side stories on a timeline where Monika DOESN'T have her knowledge of our world, and this being a game.
The side stories kicked me hard, btw. Sure, it had some preachy moments, but they were genuine nonetheless and you could really feel the connection and warmth the characters had for one another.
I really enjoyed the base game, and was glad to replay it. God, the memories that come with it!
What's new is more lore (in a meta form), and side stories on a timeline where Monika DOESN'T have her knowledge of our world, and this being a game.
The side stories kicked me hard, btw. Sure, it had some preachy moments, but they were genuine nonetheless and you could really feel the connection and warmth the characters had for one another.
For a paid version of a free game it's fine I guess, my only problem is that unless you're a console exclusive player there is no reason for you to play this, it's just the same game but with a few new neat features, and a slightly better UI, if you want to play this game just get the free version.
the base game is alright, the side stories are genuinely very good and i almost cried a lot