[Game Review] Doki Doki Literature Club! - A "Unique" Visual Novel


Wazzup Everybody? It's been a long.. long.. while since I written a review of any kind. So a fair share of warning about this game review: IT CONTAIN SPOILERS (I would recommend to play it first since it's free to download on their website and Steam.)

I'm a closet Visual Novel fan before, no one knew I read VNs until this day and for a good reason; Because this game can be enjoyed even if you're not some crazy "Otaku." Going back to the review, I came across to this game by Team Salvato called "Doki Doki Literature Club!" It's a free game that you can download today on their website or Steam and it's available on PC, Mac, and Linux (and we're seeing some unofficial Android port too!) So what makes this Visual Novel so special in the hearts of Ero-games today? Check it all out after this break.



Doki Doki Literature Club is a Visual Novel based on ren.Py (a Python-based Engine) which makes no sense at first since it looks like a "very simple" Visual Novel where your objective is to get close to one (or even all) of the Girls in the game. Controls are as is for a Visual Novel genre, nothing special but stay on me with this one because this is just a tip of the iceberg; As you go down and down with this review, you'll know what's all the ruckus about this game.
(from left to right) Sayori, Yuri, Monika, and Natsuki: Main characters of the Visual Novel.
You'll be starting off with the first character named Sayori which is a childhood friend of "Mc-kun" (or You, or whatever you entered as your name there.) A clumsy-type character in the game, also a Vice-President of the Literature Club, and the most cheerful and hyper (or mostly known as Deredere) among the four characters, but that just the surface when you just started the game. 

 Second one is Yuri which is Dandere-type character in the game (in non-"otaku's" vocabulary: quiet, harmless and mostly shy.) She likes to read mysterious and mature novels.

The Pink-haired and the shortest character is Natsuki, this appears to be the most known "Tsundere" (tend to verbally and physically abuse their object of desire, get embarrassed when complimented.) type of character in the game. She likes baking and manga where she believes that "Manga is Literature" (which I would agree by the way.)

And lastly, Monika, the President of the Literature Club, I can't tell you what kind of "dere" she is yet but the surface about the character, according to the protagonist (Mc-kun,) She's the most popular girl in her last year's class.
At the end of every day, you'll "write a poem" and pick words that will appeal one of the Literature Club members. Nothing special but since the appeal of "literature" is written all over it, it makes sense.


Now to think about the game so far, what's the appeal of this so-called "Unique Visual Novel" you're talking about? If you recall on the Steam Store Page of this game, there's a tag labeled as "Psychological Horror," remember that? Yes, they aren't lying. But don't get me wrong, there's a lot of Japanese Horror VNs before but as far as I can understand Dan Salvato's creation, this kind of VN isn't that popular yet and this game is like Nichijou (Animation)-type of Visual Novel because of its Plot Twists. (here comes the spoiler part of the review.)

(This is one of my favorite scene of the last act, the game scans for your Username in your PC
and mentions it that if you're not aware, you'll surely creep out.
Also if you're recording/streaming with OBS/X-split, she'll find it out and throw a little prank.)
When you proceed to the latter part of the game after Sayori (sadly) committed suicide even if you confessed or not, you'll think the game is broken, But that just the first part of the whole story. As you proceed with the game, Sayori doesn't exist and the story gets crazier until you realized why Monika isn't appearing as a route, and she proceeds with sabotaging Yuri by making her "Yandere" even we all know the real yandere as Monika herself. Monika realizes that she was programmed to be only a "side character" than giving her routes like the three other characters in the game.

Okay, that ends the spoiler part of the game and why it's appealing to both Eroge and non-Eroge fans. (even it's clear there are no erotic scenes on the game.) Doki Doki Literature Club is a VN that had the developers thinking out of the box. I mean sure, as an Erogamer, you won't get tired of reading and planning routes to win someone (or everyone's) hearts. Visual Novels are not that popular for the Western Culture (except for the "Otakus,")  but Dan Salvato and his team pioneer this kind of idea of telling a story (given this is a "Visual Novel.") but in a unique way. Although it won't be unique anymore for western culture, you'll see this kind of game often in the future. And as for the Ren.Py implementation, we usually interact a game inside the program, right? with the mentioned engine, it goes beyond with "File Manipulation."

To Conclude this game, Doki Doki Literature Club is something everyone needs to try. You don't need to be an "Otaku" to enjoy this Visual Novel despite being seen that will only appeal for "Otakus" Although the main downside of this game is lacking context especially on different characters I understand the appeal of a Free Visual Novel. Music is immersive and at the same time catchy, the story is interesting and fourth-wall breaking amount is too high, this is a game that you must play for the Story. (and not just for the cute girls.)

Despite being free, you can support Team Salvato for expanding this game or even for their future games at their website by donating and/or buying merchandise and Fan Pack that is full of digital content!

And Always Remember...

RATING


Game Title: Doki Doki Literature Club
Platform: PC / Mac / Linux
Price: Free (Name your price)
Developer: Team Salvato

Story: 8 / 10
Interface: 7 / 10
Character Design: 9 / 10
Music: 10 / 10
Average: 8.5 / 10 (Highly Recommended)

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