Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

At first it felt like a deadend street in a bad part of town. It was my first visual novel and I was ready to toss it aside thinking I’d wandered into the wrong neighborhood but I stuck with it, trudging through the mundane facade and then it hit me like a bullet to the chest.

The midsection of the game hit me hard.It went from boring to brilliant in no time and the way it breaks the rules is genius. It’s a psychological gut punch that stays with you long after. If you’re ready for a story that’ll mess with your head, this one delivers.

I’d recommend it but only if you’ve got the grit to survive the slow bleed at the start.Trust me, the payoff is worth it.

I can fix her.

"For years I have been enamored by the ability of visual novels, and games in general, to tell stories in ways not possible using traditional media. Doki Doki Literature Club is my love letter to that. Games are an interactive art. Some let you explore new worlds. Some challenge your mind in brand new ways. Some make you feel like a hero or a friend, even when life is hard on you. Some games are just plain fun - and that's okay, too. Everyone likes different kinds of games. People who enjoy dating sims may have a heightened empathy for fictional characters, or they might be experiencing feelings that life has not been kind enough to offer them. If they are enjoying themselves, then that's all that matters. That goes for shooting games, casual games, sandbox games, anything. Preferences are preferences, and our differences are the reason we have a thriving video game industry..."

I wasn't anticipating enjoying this game more than the original version, but I did. The game has 2 parts: The original game (psychological horror/dating sim) and the side stories (wholesome and inspiring graphic novels).

The dating sim is incredible, chipping away the exterior piece by piece until the utter madness within finally comes to the surface. I might be crazy, but I think I enjoyed the side stories even more. The stories fall into the category of media that seeps into your soul and genuinely makes you want to be a better person to everyone around you. Watching the recipients of that kind of positivity be the girls you've just watched be subjected to horrific and nightmarish scenarios truly makes it chicken noodle soup for the soul. They tackle pretty heavy (and unfortunately relatable) subject matter that begs you to try to see life from the perspective of others and to extend mercy and kindness whenever possible.

Not many pieces of media (in any form) can REALLY make me feel in a way that sticks with me, but this game sure did. I can't recommend DDLC+ enough to absolutely everyone, even if visual novels/dating sims aren't typically your thing, I think you'll enjoy it.

Ummmmmmmm..... I swear it's good

SPOILER ALERT

Plot - This game's story is a masterclass in subtle and unsettling horror. What starts off as a cute dating game slowly morphs into a story that tackles deep themes such as suicide and existentialism. = 5/5

Characters - Each character have their own charm and flaws. Monika's descent into sentience is disturbing and yet by the end, she proves herself to be selfless and strong. = 5/5

Visuals - A cute anime art style that utilises the features of the game such as text boxes and character designs to push the horror themes further = 5/5

Entertainment - At first, I was a little disappointed by the lack of proper gameplay but that feeling immediately went away as the game continued. Everything about it is done perfectly and I was on the edge of my seat and deeply disturbed by the end of act 1 and that feeling only got worse with act 2 and 3. = 5/5

Total = 20/20

I love how the cutesy art style and the innocent look of the game make the story look sweet and innocent. I don't want to give anything away. The only thing that really held the game back was that it was very very short. I would have loved to spend more time with each of the girls. The little bonus items in the case when you buy the physical edition are rather cute/cool.