The "feels" bazaar.

[SpunkySix]

I'd like to think that it's going to be a very, very long time before I forget about Yamaku and its student body.

Speaking of which, making progress in Act 1; nearing the end, actually. Having to disappoint everybody to get to the manly picnic has sucked. Shizune's disapproval during the Risk scene when taking a defensive stance hit surprisingly hard because of her choice of words, ("Maybe we don't want you in the student council after all" or something along those lines) and Hisao's pissy attitude towards it, and refusing to help Lilly in the argument scene hurt too, and came off as extremely weasely. Feeling a tinge guilty about leading a depressed, cynical Hisao to his death as well. Seeing him struggle to find a place to belong and fail miserably because of his emotional issues hurts, especially since it's due to my choices, and because that could very well be Emi or any of the other girls really had they been in a similar position without a VN lead protagonist to reach out and help them. And because I know what it's like to be in a place where reaching out and fitting in seems impossible, so it feels believable too.

As for Emi, I was an ass to the Nurse in the scene before, which apparently triggers Hisao to automatically give up on the track. That sucked really bad, worse than anything else, but not for the reason I expected. I fully thought Emi would chew Hisao out for that, and was prepared for an angry scene. Instead, she continues to be extremely kind to Hisao and supportive of him. Let's back up a second here: This girl hates quitting more than anything in the world, but ends up complimenting a quitter for the small effort he made and encouraging him to push further next time, and then STILL invites him up to lunch to help him out when she sees that he's lonely. That was way worse than her getting mad, especially after Hisao dismisses it with what amounts to an "eh, she'll get over it, it's not like it matters much to either of us". Hisao... worst decision of your life. And kind of a huge dick move.

On the bright side, it does appear that you guys are right. I'm already seeing aspects of the other girls that I like in the altered scenes I've found, and the scene with Rin getting lost in town and totally blanking on what she was doing was hilarious. Something tells me that while this beginning part might be rough, and when Emi shows up it might be odd seeing her as just a side character, I am going to enjoy the experience overall and come away with much more than I had before, not just to talk about here, but for life in general.

[AaronIsCrunchy]

I'd like to think that it's going to be a very, very long time before I forget about Yamaku and its student body.
As for Emi, I was an ass to the Nurse in the scene before, which apparently triggers Hisao to automatically give up on the track. That sucked really bad, worse than anything else, but not for the reason I expected. I fully thought Emi would chew Hisao out for that, and was prepared for an angry scene. Instead, she continues to be extremely kind to Hisao and supportive of him. Let's back up a second here: This girl hates quitting more than anything in the world, but ends up complimenting a quitter for the small effort he made and encouraging him to push further next time, and then STILL invites him up to lunch to help him out when she sees that he's lonely. That was way worse than her getting mad, especially after Hisao dismisses it with what amounts to an "eh, she'll get over it, it's not like it matters much to either of us". Hisao... worst decision of your life. And kind of a huge dick move.

Yeah, this bit sucks. Whenever I do any other route, I know I have to endure that 'I doubt it'd bother her either way thing' and it's just the most infuriating thing - maybe it's worse because hers was the first route I did, and I already know how she comes to feel about him, but it does hit hard.

On seeing her as a side character, as far as memory serves she doesn't pop up a lot in any other route - Lilly's was the second one I did and I don't think she turns up once after the carnival. Made 'moving on' that much easier, I think

[SpunkySix]

I'd like to think that it's going to be a very, very long time before I forget about Yamaku and its student body.
As for Emi, I was an ass to the Nurse in the scene before, which apparently triggers Hisao to automatically give up on the track. That sucked really bad, worse than anything else, but not for the reason I expected. I fully thought Emi would chew Hisao out for that, and was prepared for an angry scene. Instead, she continues to be extremely kind to Hisao and supportive of him. Let's back up a second here: This girl hates quitting more than anything in the world, but ends up complimenting a quitter for the small effort he made and encouraging him to push further next time, and then STILL invites him up to lunch to help him out when she sees that he's lonely. That was way worse than her getting mad, especially after Hisao dismisses it with what amounts to an "eh, she'll get over it, it's not like it matters much to either of us". Hisao... worst decision of your life. And kind of a huge dick move.

On seeing her as a side character, as far as memory serves she doesn't pop up a lot in any other route - Lilly's was the second one I did and I don't think she turns up once after the carnival. Made 'moving on' that much easier, I think

Huh, that's interesting. Not even in Rin's? I guess that makes sense, based on the one route I've played. I'm pretty sure Lilly and Hanako only have one very brief scene with Hisao in Emi's route, and the only one who shows up what I'd consider "a lot" is Rin, who seems to be somewhat aloof anyway, so cool. Good to know.

[Liminaut]

In all of the routes Hisao is pretty badly depressed, and kind of a lump most of the time. Emi's route is I think the least depressed Hisao gets. Get ready to want to shake Hisao repeatedly

[SpunkySix]

In all of the routes Hisao is pretty badly depressed, and kind of a lump most of the time. Emi's route is I think the least depressed Hisao gets. Get ready to want to shake Hisao repeatedly

Mentally prepared for that.

Speaking of depressing, damn, the manly picnic ending. I think the scene where Hisao goes to the festival, realizes he's alone, hates it and wonders what could have been is one of the most real things I've seen depicted in a game of any sort. It's usually how I feel at school events. And that noise they used for hitting the ground was... sickening. Eugh...

The good news is that I am now free to pick up another route, which is much less likely to end in neck-snapping death. Not sure who I'm going for yet, but I'm leaning towards Rin.

[Harlequin13]

It's been more than two years now since I read Katawa Shoujo. I remember making a thread on here back in January 2012 after finishing Hanako's route, saying something like "This game has destroyed my head" (well you can still find it in my profile probably, and I had a stupid troll face avatar back then). Because really, that's sort of what it felt like. It was just unbelievable, and I definitely thought that I could never quite get that same kind of feeling ever again. I've read a lot of visual novels since then (all thanks to KS)... and while they all have their own strengths, I don't think any of them felt similar to KS (this does not mean that I think KS is the best visual novel ever).

What was it like after completing Hanako's route exactly? Unable to sleep. Restlessness. Unable to think clearly. Unable to "let it go". Unable to let HANAKO go, and the story she shared with Hisao. Because... that romance story was just spot on somehow. It felt real. Yea. And Hanako was such a huge interest for someone like me who normally likes shy girls. And because of all that it was extremely difficult to just let go of it, you know? With the good ending, I just wanted to see MORE. More more more more. More Hanako. It was a great ending indeed, but I wanted more regardless. I did manage to let it go in the end however, but for a few days it was really tough. Like I said earlier - the inability to sleep, basically. I remember borderline feeling sick in my stomach. That's how far it went. It's... crazy. No other visual novel has done that for me I think. But again, they have all been very different from KS anyway.

Oh boy...

Now, the main reason I came back here is because I recently watched a portion (Hanako's route) of Millbee's Katawa Shoujo Let's Play. You've probably heard of it, or seen it. It's reeeeally good. Well guess what? It happened again. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I got the same feels AGAIN. I... can't believe it. Literally, the EXACT SAME feeling I had back when I first finished Hanako's route in January 2012. I thought that was impossible somehow. Like that was going to be a "first experience never to happen again". Turns out I was completely wrong. I will admit though that a lot of it is probably thanks to Millbee and his excellent playthrough. If you haven't watched it already, you should. Or someday at least. When you want that first time experience again, watch it.

It blows my mind. Couldn't sleep well at all the day I saw Hanako's good ending in the playthrough. And I've been feeling restless for a few days after that, though it's starting to diminish now... juuuust like the first time around.

Even next to titles such as Muv-Luv Alternative, Ever17, Umineko, Steins;Gate, etc. Katawa Shoujo is something special alright. Very special. I love it. It did something that no other VN has for me. Admittedly... I only read Hanako's and Shizune's routes back then. So I've technically not even finished it... so there's still potential for even more feels . Though I'll probably just go through them in Millbee's let's play.

Think that's all I wanted to say for now.


Edit: Oh yea, THE MUSIC. Damn. Hearing all the songs again made such a huge difference. They make it quite easy to remember what it felt like the first time around, now that I think about it.

[Potato]

Though I'll probably just go through them in Millbee's let's play.

If you want a garbage inferior experience, that is exactly what you should do.

[SpunkySix]

Though I'll probably just go through them in Millbee's let's play.

If you want a garbage inferior experience, that is exactly what you should do.

Yeah, watching an LP for serious games is a bad idea unless you've already played/read them.

[AaronIsCrunchy]

Though I'll probably just go through them in Millbee's let's play.

If you want a garbage inferior experience, that is exactly what you should do.

Yeah, watching an LP for serious games is a bad idea unless you've already played/read them.

And then what you do after that is just shout at your screen at how wrong the narrator is (inevitably) being

[SpunkySix]

There's one guy on Deviantart that drew up horrible disabilities like having legs growing on some girl's back or one girl with two heads because he wanted to show how gross it was when he exposed KS for being cripple porn that perverts use to get off to because they like seeing disabled women get used for sex. I can't imagine what an LP from that guy would be like.

[AaronIsCrunchy]

There's one guy on Deviantart that drew up horrible disabilities like having legs growing on some girl's back or one girl with two heads because he wanted to show how gross it was when he exposed KS for being cripple porn that perverts use to get off to because they like seeing disabled women get used for sex. I can't imagine what an LP from that guy would be like.

Probably horribly missing the point and utterly infuriating, complete with some pretentious socio-political crap thrown in for good measure.

Let's just hope it never happens.

[Potato]

There's one guy on Deviantart that drew up horrible disabilities like having legs growing on some girl's back or one girl with two heads because he wanted to show how gross it was when he exposed KS for being cripple porn that perverts use to get off to because they like seeing disabled women get used for sex. I can't imagine what an LP from that guy would be like.

The only one who even comes close to being "used" for sex is Hisao. What with Misha, arguably Emi, and that bondage thing with Shizune where he's basically reduced to a weird dildo. Honestly, I'd love to see that guy LP something. Kinda like I'd love to see Ghost (of True Capitalist Radio fame and notorious over-user of Cans.wav) LP a Disney Princess game.

[KeiichiO]

There's one guy on Deviantart that drew up horrible disabilities like having legs growing on some girl's back or one girl with two heads because he wanted to show how gross it was when he exposed KS for being cripple porn that perverts use to get off to because they like seeing disabled women get used for sex. I can't imagine what an LP from that guy would be like.

The only one who even comes close to being "used" for sex is Hisao. What with Misha, arguably Emi, and that bondage thing with Shizune where he's basically reduced to a weird dildo. Honestly, I'd love to see that guy LP something. Kinda like I'd love to see Ghost (of True Capitalist Radio fame and notorious over-user of Cans.wav) LP a Disney Princess game.

He's too manly to play such a game.

[SpunkySix]

There's one guy on Deviantart that drew up horrible disabilities like having legs growing on some girl's back or one girl with two heads because he wanted to show how gross it was when he exposed KS for being cripple porn that perverts use to get off to because they like seeing disabled women get used for sex. I can't imagine what an LP from that guy would be like.

The only one who even comes close to being "used" for sex is Hisao. What with Misha, arguably Emi, and that bondage thing with Shizune where he's basically reduced to a weird dildo. Honestly, I'd love to see that guy LP something. Kinda like I'd love to see Ghost (of True Capitalist Radio fame and notorious over-user of Cans.wav) LP a Disney Princess game.

He's too manly to play such a game.

Manly is being used as a synonym for ignorant, yeah?

Aaaaaand I have to admit you guys were right. Darn. I just got through Rin's Act 1 ending, (despite actually aiming for Lilly's) and am starting up her Act 2 now. The whole experience at the carnival was very different this time, and I absolutely loved the fireworks. RIn falling asleep on Hisao was adorable, and I think I'm going to like this route too, even if the romantic connection with Rin doesn't feel quite as strong.

Gotta say, the metaphor with the fireworks hit me pretty hard though. Rin's thoughts on the matter stung a bit too. As a "realist" myself, seeing that being referred to as "just what cynics call themselves" kind of bites, especially from a character I like quite a bit.

[AaronIsCrunchy]

Gotta say, the metaphor with the fireworks hit me pretty hard though. Rin's thoughts on the matter stung a bit too. As a "realist" myself, seeing that being referred to as "just what cynics call themselves" kind of bites, especially from a character I like quite a bit.

I know that feeling :/ I don't like fireworks anyway (they're loud and therefore terrifying) but it's a kinda nihilistic view of life she takes. Sadly for the reader, this doesn't improve through her route.