Katawa Shoujo finally released!

K.O.Kiki

Only took this rag-tag band of indies 4+ years to make, too.

Inb4 complaints of "what is this shít" etc.

Download link

N.B. This final game is 18+

(description cribbed from another forum):

A quick summary for those of you who are unaware of what Katawa Shoujo is:

Quote:
Originally Posted by KS Blog

Katawa Shoujo is a bishoujo-style visual novel set in the fictional Yamaku High School for disabled children, located somewhere in modern Japan. Hisao Nakai, who has had a congenital heart disorder diagnosed just a few months ago, finds his life turned upside down when he moves to a new town and school after a long hospitalization. Despite his difficulties, Hisao is able to find friends and eventually have romantic relationships with one of five main female characters.
It is a freeware (meaning completely free of charge to download,) visual novel, created by 21 independent programmers, artists, writers and musicians in response to popular approval of a single doujin page released onto 4chan in 2009.

4Leaf Studios was created just to create that game, and over the period of 5 years this game was developed by them, completely free of charge.

It is a visual novel, a popular genre of game in Japan, which tells a story using illustrations, text and music, whilst having the user make crucial decisions at branching points in the story.

This story is about a boy who suffers from a dangerous heart disorder, and is sent to a specialist highschool for the remainder of his highschool year. In that highschool, he will meet many interesting people.

This game is not for under-18s, as it contains sexually explicit content at certain points, so please be aware of that. However, if you are over 18, but do not wish to view this explicit content, there is an option to disable this in the options menu before starting the game.

I highly recommend trying out the free demo if you are unsure of what to expect, which covers the first act of the game.

I think it is a remarkable independent piece of work by a talented group of people who honestly cared about what the internet wanted and banded together to create the game.

Retr0gamer

So this is what my girlfriend and her friends were laughing their asses off about. Must try it out.

SeantheMan

"what is this shít" ?

There are no screenshots or gameplay vids, just a link to a torrent.
Is this interactive Hentai or something ?

hooradiation

SeantheMan wrote: »

"what is this shít" ?

fucking weeaboo bullshit.
That's what it is.

Kiith

Kotaku talk about it today. It's a dating sim, which is kind of like a graphic novel with choices, and some...graphic scenes with girls suffering from various disabilities. Sounds weird, but it wouldn't be my kind of thing anyway.

http://kotaku.com/5872886/that-game-about-dating-disabled-girls-is-finished-ready-for-download

o1s1n

hooradiation wrote: »

fucking weeaboo bullshit.
That's what it is.

Weeaboo? Sounds like a word hipsters use.

penev10

Is this eroge? I haven't played an eroge game before. I'd feel a bit like the bloke from Welcome to the NHK! (but will probably try it out anyway :P)

hooradiation

o1s1n wrote: »

Weeaboo? Sounds like a word hipsters use.

Lrn2google

o1s1n

hooradiation wrote: »

Lrn2google

I never said I didn't know what it meant. I insinuated you were a hipster.

Now that I see you are getting your vocabulary from 'urban dictionary', I see I was correct.

hooradiation

o1s1n wrote: »

I never said I didn't know what it meant. I insinuated you were a hipster.

Now that I see you are getting your vocabulary from 'urban dictionary', I see I was correct.

Yes, that's exactly it. Because a site dedicated to the listing of various pop culture references the internet over is also, clearly, the place it came from and the place I first encountered it and in no way the first result back from google.

Well done kid.

o1s1n

hooradiation wrote: »

Yes, that's exactly it. Because a site dedicated to the listing of various pop culture references the internet over is also, clearly, the place it came from and the place I first encountered it.

Well done kid.

Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of your fedora.

johnny_ultimate

It's no Hatoful Boyfriend.

megaten

Plan on playing it just to see if something started on 4chan can actually work.

hooradiation

o1s1n wrote: »

Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of your fedora.

Well done.
Stirling effort.
You are certainly the master of whatever the fuck you think that was.

Have a fucking medal.

megaten

hooradiation wrote: »

Well done.
Stirling effort.
You are certainly the master of whatever the fuck you think that was.

Have a fucking medal.

You're in no position to give out about someone insulting you. The cheese in my fridge is more mature than you.

hooradiation

megaten wrote: »

You're in no position to give out about someone insulting you. The cheese in my fridge is more mature than you.

Was he insulting me?
Because I've been insulted before and that was no insult.


And clean out your fridge, you're disgusting.

johnny_ultimate

How did a potentially enjoyable thread about comical dating simulators descend into this so quickly Guess it gives me the rare contextually-perfect moment to quote PBF.

SeantheMan

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

How did a potentially enjoyable thread about comical dating simulators descend into this so quickly

I dunno either. This is a complete new genre to me that I never knew about. Where does it fall into ? or who are the fans of these games ?

I don't wanna think of the stereotypical target audience :P

There are no tentacles are there ?

penev10

SeantheMan wrote: »

who are the fans of these games ?

I don't wanna think of the stereotypical target audience :P

YouSavedMyLife

Best game i played so far this year

ShadowHearth

i really fecking confused!

SeantheMan

penev10 wrote: »

I don't feel the above to be an accurate representation, the tissues suggest...but don't make clear, I have therefore amended it

megaten

I really don't understand the point of playing these games for the porn. Far to much effort for a fap.

Retr0gamer

Guys please, keep the conversation civil in this thread. I don't want to ban anyone but the next person that insults a poster after this post is going to take a break from this forum.

Reminds me I really must give Kana Little Sister a playthrough, heard for an eroge game it's pretty damn good.

ShadowHearth

so i presume you play that game only with one hand, so you can use other hand for external joystick?

hooradiation

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

How did a potentially enjoyable thread about comical dating simulators descend into this so quickly Guess it gives me the rare contextually-perfect moment to quote PBF.

Well, mostly because nothing good comes from dating simulators.
They're fucking creepy.

Except maybe encouraging the three people on internet who haven't read The Perry Bible Fellowship to do so.

Retr0gamer

Kind of a gross generalisation there. You won't get two better JRPGs than Persona 3 and 4 yet a lot of the game is taken up by very enjoyable dating sim elements. Sure there's creepy **** like Love Plus but it's not a total cesspit of porn and badly written romance, although the majority of it is. If it wasn't for the genre we wouldn't have Metal Gear Solid either

johnners2981

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Kind of a gross generalisation there. You won't get two better JRPGs than Persona 3 and 4 yet a lot of the game is taken up by very enjoyable dating sim elements. Sure there's creepy **** like Love Plus but it's not a total cesspit of porn and badly written romance, although the majority of it is. If it wasn't for the genre we wouldn't have Metal Gear Solid either

Heard good things about the persona games, so you'd recommend getting Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4? Is it only on the ps2?

megaten

johnners2981 wrote: »

Heard good things about the persona games, so you'd recommend getting Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4? Is it only on the ps2?

It is but a port with extra content is coming to the vita.

Retr0gamer

I'd highly recommend both Persona 3 and 4. Absolutely amazing games. If you plan on playing bought then i'd play Persona 3. Some people find it hard to go back to P3 after playing P4 because of the improvements P4 made. If you only have time for one then make it P4. Both games are on PS2 but you can get Persona 3 Portable for the PSP (PSN or from online stores, not seen a copy in he wild) and Persona 4 is coming to PS Vita soon if you can wait for it.

johnners2981

megaten wrote: »

It is but a port with extra content is coming to the vita.

Can't see myself getting the vita so think I better dust off my ps2 and see if it still works

K.O.Kiki

>start thread
>childish name calling
>flame war
>"lol this is otaku porn BS"


It's like I'm really on /b/ :pac:
(not /a/ though, they kind of like it)

(first post updated with description)

hooradiation

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Kind of a gross generalisation there. You won't get two better JRPGs than Persona 3 and 4 yet a lot of the game is taken up by very enjoyable dating sim elements. Sure there's creepy **** like Love Plus but it's not a total cesspit of porn and badly written romance, although the majority of it is. If it wasn't for the genre we wouldn't have Metal Gear Solid either

I fail to see how having "dating sim elements" in some JRPG I've never heard of and some link somehow to MGS stops the genre from being as creepy as all hell.

Though that tidbit does reinforce my rule never to touch a JRPG with a bargepole.

Retr0gamer

Persona 3 and 4 and pretty much dating sims with JRPG elements and are far from crap. It's well written and not creepy at all.

johnny_ultimate

There's a strong narrative justification for the dating sim elements in Persona 3 and 4, and even then it isn't explicit the way the creepy ones are. Still the best RPGs in a decade by a considerable margin.

And it's not like games focused on innocent social interaction are any more morally reprehensible than repeatedly shooting people in the head. Not that I'm defending the creepier 'erotic' games.

megaten

The thing about Persona 3 and 4 though is that they take the relationship building of dating sims and apply them to all your relationships in the game. I think that that's what makes them so accessible.

johnny_ultimate

And it also radically and directly effects the dungeon crawling aspects of the gameplay: it's two very different gameplay genres working in perfect unison.

hooradiation

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Persona 3 and 4 and pretty much dating sims with JRPG elements and are far from crap. It's well written and not creepy at all.

I really can't take that seriously.

It could be the bestest JRPG ever that manages to deal with every terrible trope and convention of that genre in a manner that isn't horrible but having a significant portion of your game spent trying to date and romancing virtual characters is so goddamn alien and creepy that I want the entire game to die in a fire.

johnny_ultimate

You don't have to 'romance' anyone: plenty of other options like assisting fox spirits, helping out elderly box shop owners or joining the sports team (don't wet yourself with excitement, now!). Only a minority of the available social link options have any romantic elements. There is one about a naughty nurse, but that's a slightly misjudged exception.

By the same logic Skyrim, Mass Effect and Fable are all utterly deplorable pieces of **** without any redeeming features because they offer you romance options. And I still fail to see how virtual romance is any creepier than virtual genocide. Well, graphic sex with disabled children is, but that's an exception.

Retr0gamer

Don't take it seriously if you don't want to. Anyone that I've heard the opinions of that has actually played it seems to agree.

I at least found the portrayal of the romance options in Persona 3 and 4 to be handled realistically and in a mature manner. The romance parts of other games like mass effect and dragon age were embarassing.

K.O.Kiki

I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that the romance portions in KS will be well handled and tasteful.
More Persona than Mass Effect.

(also you can turn off the sex, if you're so inclined)

Potential-Monke

I'm downloading for the craic, just to see what it's about having never played a visual novel style game before. But, before it finishes, can anyone tell me if it is in English? I know Act 1 is, but i haven't been able to find out if the rest it.

K.O.Kiki

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I'm downloading for the craic, just to see what it's about having never played a visual novel style game before. But, before it finishes, can anyone tell me if it is in English? I know Act 1 is, but i haven't been able to find out if the rest it.

It was developed by English-speaking developers, so yes.

Cuddlesworth

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I'm downloading for the craic, just to see what it's about having never played a visual novel style game before. But, before it finishes, can anyone tell me if it is in English? I know Act 1 is, but i haven't been able to find out if the rest it.

Tab and A. Tab and A. Waste of time to be honest. Too much text, not enough interaction. Tastefully done though, which is a big surprise for 4chan.

K.O.Kiki

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Tab and A. Tab and A. Waste of time to be honest. Too much text, not enough interaction. Tastefully done though, which is a big surprise for 4chan.

It would help if people STOP thinking of KS as "that 4chan thing"...

megaten

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that the romance portions in KS will be well handled and tasteful.
More Persona than Mass Effect.

(also you can turn off the sex, if you're so inclined)

I just beat one of the girls routes and can indeed confirm that's it's not as tasteless as the usual stuff. It is quite cheesy though. I'm talking violins. You won't miss anything important if you turn off the adult scene judging from the route I took.

I was fairly shocked though by the quality in general. I never played a visual novel (other than phoenix wright if that counts). It can be a bit generic at times but it not awful which I think is an amazing achievement for something that started from a bunch of people talking about a page of sketches from an artist and 5 years development time.

hooradiation

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

By the same logic Skyrim, Mass Effect and Fable are all utterly deplorable pieces of **** without any redeeming features because they offer you romance options.

That would be a stunning rebuttal, except I explicitly said "a significant portion of your game", so really, your 'logic' falls flat on it's arse. Try comparing like with like, it'll work better.

And FWIW I ignore the ancillary 'romance' in the games you listed as well, because it's also fucking creepy and also because it's only a tiny, wholly optional fragment of the game overall.

Retr0gamer

It's always great to hear such informed opinions from people on the internet that have no experience of what they are moaning about.

Cuddlesworth

Retr0gamer wrote: »

It's always great to hear such informed opinions from people on the internet that have no experience of what they are moaning about.

I suppose your right. Has anybody here actually had sex with a disabled bird?

Myrddin

hooradiation wrote: »

That would be a stunning rebuttal, except I explicitly said "a significant portion of your game", so really, your 'logic' falls flat on it's arse. Try comparing like with like, it'll work better.

And FWIW I ignore the ancillary 'romance' in the games you listed as well, because it's also fucking creepy and also because it's only a tiny, wholly optional fragment of the game overall.

Why do you always have an aggressive, man-against-world type response to everything? You really should lighten up, for your own sake.

Cuddlesworth wrote:

I suppose your right. Has anybody here actually had sex with a disabled bird?

The thread has hit a new low.

johnny_ultimate

hooradiation wrote: »

Try comparing like with like, it'll work better.

And I should also try arguing with someone who obeys polite laws of discourse, but this is the internet, I guess

And FWIW I ignore the ancillary 'romance' in the games you listed as well, because it's also fucking creepy and also because it's only a tiny, wholly optional fragment of the game overall.

As it is a wholly optional portion of Persona 3 and 4. Perhaps 'significant portion' was overemphasisng how much of the game is spent enegaged in romantic interludes rather than the visual novel and general social interaction options - indeed, I'd say one has more romantic options in Mass Effect than they do in Persona

But if you're unwilling to play the game because it's a) Japanese b) a Japanese RPG and c) because retr0gamer likes it and you couldn't possibly be seen agreeing with him, that's cool too.