Fresh off of finishing Katawa Shoujo, it is obvious that this game needs to be talked about. I have never seen a game that has been put in the same position that this game has
Katawa Shoujo's development began on the /a/ board of (you guessed it) 4Chan. The team shows this by naming their studio "Four leaf Studios", alluding to the four leaf clover that is on 4Chan's logo, as well as thanking anonymous in the game's credits. Now, tasking people from 4Chan to make a visual novel about an incredibly controversial and serious subject like disabilities and how it changes your life probably seems like a bad idea. And with that, here we go.
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So in Katawa Shoujo, you play a boy in Japan who has been moved to a school for the disabled after you have a heart attack and learn that you have arrhythmia. At that school, you meet 5 young women, all of whom seem to take a particular interest in you.
I had no idea this game was in development till two days before it came out. My friend (who is a total weaboo, /a/ nerd) told me that I had to play it. After MatPat mentioned it on twitter, I downloaded it. With error messages and Valentine's cards with jokes that seem particularly distasteful, I had no hopes for this game. And with some spare time over MLK weekend, I started and finished it.
So, I guess will begin with areas I believe that the game fell flat.
1. Exposition
This might just be a personal point, but I felt kinda disinterested through much of the game's exposition. Now, giving the premise of a game is still something we have yet to master as a medium, and this exposition is still a lot better than many AAA titles I have played. It might also be that I wasn't too fond of many of the characters by first impressions, but as the game goes on, you begin to like them more, just like people in real life. Though, answer all of the questions honestly. Of you do, you will be the most satisfied with your ending.
2. Sexual Content
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Yeah, what would a visual novel/dating sim be without some sex, right? I'll tell you what it would be! It would be (fucking) Clannad, and that story is brilliant. The sex in Katawa Shoujo really seems kinda tacked on for me. I have no problem with sex being used to move a story, but I feel like with the way they used it didn't need to be shown in the way that it was. In fact, I think it takes away from some of the sincerity of the characters. Though, you can turn it off, so if you feel the way I do, then you can switch it off. So there isn't a whole lot of a problem there.
Now for areas where the game was great.
1. Price
It's free…so..yeah
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2. Characters
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Okay, this is a huge par of visual novels since the whole thing is pretty much character interaction. It is no different in Katawa Shoujo. The characters each have their own little quirks and styles. But the thing people always notice first (and, maybe rightly so) are each character's disabilities. Now, I am not here to define each character by their disability, as that goes against the message of the game, but the disabilities do provide moral dilemmas for characters, much like real people. The disabled characters seem to think almost nothing of their disabilities, being able to do things that would seem impossible, like painting with no arms, running with no legs, or even measuring hot water without sight. The disabilities don't define them, but it gives the player a doorway into the soul and personality of the characters. Whether they are determined to over come their disability, completely casual about it, or even sometimes oblivious to it. It peels back the curtain for a glimpse into a characters personality.
3. Handling of the "Disability" subject
Despite the aforementioned hopes for this game, it handles the subject of disability really well. It shows how people can overcome it to the point where it almost feels like second nature to them. Not only that, but it even shows that disabled people are infact that: people. Despite the sometimes awkward feeling we get around disabled people and we try not to bring it up (but I will talk more about this later). Overall, there aren't really any offensive jokes made (or, at least not by any of the sane characters), and some of the things these people do in the game (despite it being a game) truly astound me. It really breaks new ground as to how disabled individuals are presented in games. I think it has actually brought disabled people into a new light for me, and I respect them much more now.
4. How It Portrays Human Nature
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This game literally nails human nature. The first example I would like to bring up is the awkwardness around disabled individuals.
As humans, we have the innate desire to observe. This includes humans, as we often point out, and are even blinded (which was probably a bad word choice) by the differences between us and another. This is especially true for aesthetic or obvious differences, such as disabilities. Often, when we meet someone without an arm, or a leg, or some other disability, we feel awkward, and don't know whether to bring it up, or try to not stare, feeling like we are ignoring the elephant in the room. This is explored in the game as Hisao adjusts to his new school, but doesn't quite know how to interact with those with certain disabilities, but at the same time, doesn't want to appear rude. Though, overtime (much like the disabled individual), we grow ever more comfortable with the situation, and begin to not even notice it at all. It really gets this feeling perfectly, but without it bordering on unnerving for the player.
It also shows humans' ability to adapt. Watching the game's characters overcome their problems is astounding, and might even have you emotionally cheering them on! During a certain cutscene with Emi, I really could only think "when there is a need to learn, there will always be someone there to teach you". Though, sometimes, that person is yourself, and you have to teach yourself over time. Though, sometimes, that also makes the victory that much more triumphant.
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Lastly, it shows exactly that: human nature. Not nature of a tragedy, nature of a human being. I feel like one of the worst things about the portrayal of some disabled characters in today's media is that they are portrayed as tragedies. No, they are people. The fact that they lost a limb, or their hearing might be a tragedy, but the person themselves is not. They don't want people to feel perpetually sorry for them, they just want to move past it and enjoy life. Yes there is some emotional trauma, we all have some, but that doesn't mean they aren't capable of being happy, fun, manic, angry, loud, or any other emotion. Katawa Shoujo shows that disabled individuals aren't always in some state of emotional depression, and that is truly great.
Conclusion
This game has truly touched people's hearts. My friend has told me that people (including himself) have started running for/because of Emi. I have heard that some people have ACTUALLY decided to run for student council because of Shizune. It is really astounding that a truly sincere, profound effect on people can come out of a place like 4Chan. I think this game had truly changed lives for the better, and could maybe even change the industry as we know it.
As for me personally, I will copypasta the same thing I put on Facebook.
So, with that I ask
"Have you seized the day?"
Also, please let me know of any criticism you have! Thanks in advance!