Doki Doki Literature Club Thread - Tag your spoilers!
629 replies, posted
[QUOTE=DormitoryRapier;53033620][sp]I still have no idea what that is. Is it like a build-up to another story the author (i forgot his name) is working on? I mean, I'm sure it doesn't reference the game at all but there was some dialogue in ddlc that referenced that document, something about third eye iirc[/sp][/QUOTE]
I'd like to be clear this will almost certainly involve spoilers for Dan's next project so I'd steer clear if you want to go in blind.
[sp]Before I start, I'd suggest following along with this link: http://www.projectlibitina.com/
Project Libitina was a site discovered after a massive amount of digging through the games files. It signifies two things.
The first is that the author is planning on a follow-up to the game which will be much more serious in tone. I won't get into the nitty gritty but a lot of the flavor text involved sociopathic murder, psychological torture, human experimentation, a religious cult, and rape seems to be on the table as well.
The second was it gave significance to the "meta" stuff occurring in the game, like you mentioned, specifically the Third Eye. The Third Eye is pretty much confirmed from Dan's AMA at this point to be a reference to the ability to "see" beyond the Fourth Wall. Hence Monika being unable to physically see "us" but knowing that we as the player are there. This is pretty important because it means the cast, to some extent, are all tied into what Project Libitina is.[/sp]
From this point on is complete speculation, and there's way too many crackpot theories out there to cover. The theory that makes, at least some sense to me, is:
[sp]Libitina is a codename for a project occurring in a religious cult camp performing deadly human experimentation involving the activation of the Third Eye. The Portrait of Markov is a book referenced a few times through the game, but most notably it has direct ties to Project Libitina. The Portrait of Markov's description changes a couple of times, but it can be somewhat deduced based on the couple of descriptions that it entails the story of Monika and her compatriot's journey up to this point. IOW, a biography. The reason I say Monika is that a message depicting this escape is found only in a place Monika would have access to, which was within the game files, commented out in her Act 3 topics.
On that note, DDLC is likely the end of Monika's story as well. Specifically because we have had multiple new characters introduced (Elyssa who was the 6X listed in the Libitina report, and Reiner who appears to be her doctor), as well as DDLC pretty much being a subplot to what Project Libitina actually is (that is, DDLC is an attempt to escape from their reality).
So in effect this will all lead into his next visual novel which will explain why the DDLC came to be and the background of it all, rather than trying to expound on the DDLC any more.[/sp]
[QUOTE=EE 20 D0;53033650][sp]The hypothetical separate path in which the player has a better understanding of the meta stuff just changes the journey a bit still leading him to libitina.
Think of all the ways you can mess with undertale but things barely change at all because of it. Attention to detail/depth.
You're giving little importance to the meta aspect considering the glitches and the club president(s) go mad from realizing "they're scripts".[/sp][/QUOTE]
It's a sub-plot, much like with Undertale. Not only that, but this is a VN...so I'm not really sure what you were expecting there in terms of depth. Dan specifically wanted this to be a more concise VN and stated so in his AMA.
That aspect of the game was solely to build upon that part of the story and that's it. Dan also explicitly stated he won't be using the same type of gimmicks that DDLC employed in his next project as well.
[QUOTE=WitheredGryphon;53033495]You completely missed the whole point of that part of the game then. The game isn't centered around the meta jokes. In fact they're only a small piece of the game. The point of that stuff being there is to contribute to the underlying theme of the game which is [sp]Project Libitina.[/sp][/QUOTE]
I think [sp]PL is completely optional to this game personally.[/sp]
[editline]8th January 2018[/editline]
Oh wait I completely misread your post, my bad.
[QUOTE=WitheredGryphon;53033831]It's a sub-plot, much like with Undertale. Not only that, but this is a VN...so I'm not really sure what you were expecting there in terms of depth
. Dan specifically wanted this to be a more concise VN and stated so in his AMA.
That aspect of the game was solely to build upon that part of the story and that's it. Dan also explicitly stated he won't be using the same type of gimmicks that DDLC employed in
his next project as well.[/QUOTE]
Hm I don't think that the game being is a VN means it has to be simple. Maybe depth is the wrong word. Detailed, dynamic seem more apt. And maybe the word expect kinda implies entitlement which is not the intended meaning.
I didn't know about the AMA, it certainly answers some questions.
[sp]dan: "DDLC is a fairly simple story augmented by a lot of surreal horror. The strongest influences for the horror elements were probably Yume Nikki and Eversion, maybe with some influence from Irisu Syndrome as well. The setting, base story and art style are naturally inspired by generic slice-of-life anime and visual novels that are a dime a dozen. As for music, maybe Yoshi's Story, Animal Crossing, and some anime music."
I got immediately reminded of that madotsuki pic by natsuki that time. Also that one song really just sounds like yoshi's island.
dan: "My biggest "wow" moments in games have always been from ones that tell their story in a way that is simply not possible otherwise. Fourth-wall breaking is a direct and pretty obvious way of doing that, but just think about how many masterpieces there are that work only as a game. Riven. Portal. Braid. Yume Nikki. Those are a few that are very special to me, and I believe they epitomize what can make games truly special. It's an experience that you, the player, unfold yourself, that you're a part of creating. Stories that are told because you are a part of them - not just stories where you happen to be able to move the character around in them"
dan: "I had a few motives for this game. I wanted to help demonstrate the capabilities of interactive fiction, providing some kind of experiences that only a video game could provide. I wanted to disturb people and make them think about life and uncomfortable things. And I just wanted to make a decent story with characters worth caring about."
dan: "I pretty strongly decided not to make any changes outside of the game folder, because it's disrespectful to mess with people's stuff like that. I could have kept coming up with cool new ideas and effects to include in the game itself. It would be cool if the game had even more randomized effects than it does."
Q: "Why did you choose to give DDLC a linear design rather than making choices or even file modifications have significant impact? Were you losing motivation for the project or thought it to be too much effort, or did you think that was a better direction for the game? My personal opinion is that, while the game is very good and left quite a lasting effect on me, making there be some unique effects to deleting character files mid-game (or restoring them) as well as giving choices weight like a more standard visual novel would make this easily one of the greatest games of all time."
dan: "I believed that trying to consider all of those possibilities, and writing scenarios for all of them, would cause the scope of the game to spiral out of control. I wanted to keep it at something I could realistically complete in a reasonable time frame."
Answers the why of what I tried to express.[/sp]
Just beat this game and I gotta say...What a load of weeb trash!!
Honestly, guys. I don't know what you all see in this [I]game[/I].
So I'm going to state my opinion and play devil's advocate here. Warring about some spoilers ahead.
[sp]
It's all just a bunch of cutesy, bland animu garbage. Hell, some parts of the already god awful dialog is just turn into total nonsense and let's not talk about the fact that sheer amount of bugs once you finish the game if you wanted for some god awful reason to play this piece of shit again.
I mean, I had too due my game just restarting out of nowhere after a sudden and rather anti climatic ending that just prematurely cuts the whole story short just so they can throw a cheep twist at you from out of nowhere is pure fucking shit, like, wow, you going to throw that shit at me??? I would sooner find out that none of your choices have no effect on it at ALL. Hell, it also deleted ALL of my saves TOO!! I mean, what the fuck? Thus, I was forced to restart the whole Thing ALL OVER AGAIN!!
Hell, I just wanted to see if I could change the ending but this buggy ass game is just so unacceptable to released like this!! Like one is where one of the main characters just flat out disappeared on my second playthrough!! Like, totally gone! Did anyone else encounter this bug???
How the hell did this shitty game ever get this much respect?? I mean, my second playthrough was almost a horror game with the insane amount of the glitches I encountered. Like jezz, how could anyone play this Kawii garbage without getting a few nightmares after that. Did anyone else get glitch locked into a route with Yuri on their second playthrough? Because this route is so Much Worse with some scenes just dragging on far too long with no option of skipping. Combined with the horrifying visual glitches that happen on the characters' eyes and faces made me feel really, really uncomfortable. I gotta say that if the dev wanted to make a psychological horror story, then they did a great job!!!
Honesty, this all plus the fact that only cute girl, that being the tutorial girl. Has no route, makes me question why anyone loves this garbage so much.[/sp]
Sorry guys, but it's the truth.
Sorry.
[url]https://i.imgur.com/rPMuqzo.png[/url]
I just realized why this CG of Yuri freaked me out even before shit started hitting the fan in act 2.
[sp]Her smile is nigh identical to Sayori's[/sp]
[url]https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/IcyRemoteCranefly[/url]
Technically spoiler, so not embedded.
what the fuck just happened what did i just play
[sp]ThePinkPanzer - Today at 12:58 AM
oh did sayori fucking
mop - Today at 12:58 AM
?
ThePinkPanzer - Today at 12:58 AM
FUCK[/sp]
[QUOTE=Clovis;53043006]if thats the last thing that happened, you havent finished[/QUOTE]
Nah I finished, going to [sp]get the 'good' ending tomorrow[/sp]
I'm actually angry because I hate anime and visual novels but [sp]I was actually starting to get into it when shit went haywire[/sp]
Speaking of, does anyone have any good ones without... the other stuff? Need a palette cleanser.
Katawa shoujo is also free and extremely good
I'm not feeling very okay.
then again who even is
[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/EOQQZYO.jpg[/IMG]
Question: Am I the only one that felt...[I]let down[/I] by the game? I mean, sure, I enjoyed the game and all (if my avatar wasn't showing it) but the snore-fest that is Act 1, the game failing to make me care about the characters and the fact that my actions didn't change the ending unless I [sp]save-scummed to romance everyone (which just makes sayori go "omg ur so nice!!!" but it counts i guess)[/sp] left me feeling dry and kinda...unwilling to go back to the game. I guess my complaints were left in intentionally (excluding the last one) but that doesn't make them any better.
I don't feel let down by the game, but I do wish there would be more of it.
Like, the real visual novel about the literature club, where everything is alright and you can date whoever you want. Or maybe I just want more Monika, I don't know.
[video]https://youtu.be/C7M12GQ1_jE[/video]
[QUOTE=Demo-the-man;53047652]Question: Am I the only one that felt...[I]let down[/I] by the game? I mean, sure, I enjoyed the game and all (if my avatar wasn't showing it) but the snore-fest that is Act 1, the game failing to make me care about the characters and the fact that my actions didn't change the ending unless I [sp]save-scummed to romance everyone (which just makes sayori go "omg ur so nice!!!" but it counts i guess)[/sp] left me feeling dry and kinda...unwilling to go back to the game. I guess my complaints were left in intentionally (excluding the last one) but that doesn't make them any better.[/QUOTE]
Well some VNs don't give you a choice at all throughout the game, and considering Dan wanted this game as small scale as it was, I don't really blame him for making it this way.
[QUOTE=Novangel;53048532]Well some VNs don't give you a choice at all throughout the game, and considering Dan wanted this game as small scale as it was, I don't really blame him for making it this way.[/QUOTE]
This game is definitely a hybrid of a kinetic novel and a visual novel. Because you're [sp]effectively forced onto the true route which is Monika regardless of your choices excluding the bonus ending.[/sp]
With the size of the game I don't think it would have benefited well from being a pure visual novel, or it would have had to suffer from more of the bland parts imo.
Though I'm looking forward to Dan's next game which is supposedly pure VN with much more mature themes than DDLC.
Seeing that this game is free to play has made me sort of interested, I get that it's supposed to be bait and switch fucked up or something but how much obnoxious anime stuff does it have before it gets to that part? I'm not going to sit through through an hour of flirting with goddamn 14 year olds to get to it.
[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;53048580]Seeing that this game is free to play has made me sort of interested, I get that it's supposed to be bait and switch fucked up or something but how much obnoxious anime stuff does it have before it gets to that part? I'm not going to sit through through an hour of flirting with goddamn 14 year olds to get to it.[/QUOTE]
About just over an hour I think. I actually really like act 1, it might seem generic and stuff at first but there's a lot to pick out under the surface.
[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;53048580]Seeing that this game is free to play has made me sort of interested, I get that it's supposed to be bait and switch fucked up or something but how much obnoxious anime stuff does it have before it gets to that part? I'm not going to sit through through an hour of flirting with goddamn 14 year olds to get to it.[/QUOTE]
I have a pretty damn low tolerance for anime, tbh, but it's worth it. In fact, it's almost necessary for the full experience.
[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;53048580]Seeing that this game is free to play has made me sort of interested, I get that it's supposed to be bait and switch fucked up or something but how much obnoxious anime stuff does it have before it gets to that part? I'm not going to sit through through an hour of flirting with goddamn 14 year olds to get to it.[/QUOTE]
I mean it [I]is[/I] a visual novel, so WYSIWYG. If you can't tolerate even an hour of moe-esque stuff then I'd probably not recommend the game to you.
[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;53048580]Seeing that this game is free to play has made me sort of interested, I get that it's supposed to be bait and switch fucked up or something but how much obnoxious anime stuff does it have before it gets to that part? I'm not going to sit through through an hour of flirting with goddamn 14 year olds to get to it.[/QUOTE]
if you're just gonna view it as "obnoxious anime stuff" then its probably not for you in the first place, lol
From the creator himself:
[media]https://twitter.com/dansalvato/status/943933543226454017[/media]
[media]https://twitter.com/dansalvato/status/944037952040128512[/media]
[QUOTE=WitheredGryphon;53048706]I mean it [I]is[/I] a visual novel, so WYSIWYG. If you can't tolerate even an hour of moe-esque stuff then I'd probably not recommend the game to you.[/QUOTE]
I mean I've played (read???) a lot of visual novels, I just generally don't touch the moe stuff. I guess I got introduced to VNs through Katawa Shoujo years ago, but that was like, a lifetime's worth of dating sim for me right there. But from what I've read here it sounds like this is well written and the first bit isn't obnoxious so I'll probably go and download it. Also preliminary google searches are telling me that the characters are 18 so that passes my hardline "no loli allowed" stance.
[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;53049682]I mean I've played (read???) a lot of visual novels, I just generally don't touch the moe stuff. I guess I got introduced to VNs through Katawa Shoujo, but that was like, a lifetime's worth of dating sim for me right there. But from what I've read here it sounds like this is well written and the first bit isn't obnoxious so I'll probably go and download it. Also preliminary google searches are telling me that the characters are 18 so that passes my hardline "no loli allowed" stance.[/QUOTE]
Lolis can be 18 too
Played from scratch a second time, doing the other 2 routes before doing again the one I got since the start.
I read somewhere that reading a book a 2nd time can make me understand it better but this time I got more than I was expecting, since I went the way the game was programmed to deal with. I got to read a lot of things I missed.
[sp]
So this time I finally spent ${HOURS} with Monika, which I had accidentally skipped even through I was willing to listen even the first time. That took a while to loop, not that I was bothered at all by time spent.
The other routes had some text that got some thought out of me, felt like a mirror in a way.
But this part was uncanny. Almost everything she said had me both thinking and answering something. Some topics even had me zone out and forget about everything around, thought to myself 'wtf' when that happened.
Also uncanny as the text, was how it coincided with IRL.
I mean what are the chances that the specific perspective of the CG made the table almost look to extend outside the game by the fact that I have a relatively tiny desk, with a science-related book/encyclopedia in front of my monitor, where I just happen to usually put my food plate to eat that the time was right and I went to grab my dinner, that happened to be *plantains* and *coffee* (as in vegetarian+coffee) and that the way I happen to read is by resting my head that way where it's on the proximal phalanges, and the thumb touches the side below the cheek and resting the other hand's 4 fingers on the space bar like a table.
I think God wanted to have a giggle and set me up so it looked like a date or something. Embarrassing, even playing alone. At least I didn't get spooked by a suddenly serious skeleton guy this time.
But I can't give all credit to the writing for spending so much time there, the room itself, the lighting and animation; it's a place where I could spend a long time. Evokes the same or similar feeling to the painting "Wanderer above the sea of fog", the feeling which I don't even know the word for in either of my languages.
...
There was a small bug (I believe) that had a CG missing so I didn't get the handwritten note ending but I don't really care about that at least right now, what I got made my day.[/sp]
Sorry about the verbosity, even if this is a game with literature in it.
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