Thoughts and Analysis of DDLC [SPOILERS]

[f€dor4_m4st€r_666]

Hello, I don't usually post in forums or discussion threads but after playing Doki Doki Literature Club I felt the desire to know more about the characters and to understand the complexes/problems/disorders they may or may not have. I'm doing this for myself and anyone who cares to read this. I just want to type whatever is on my mind and centralize my thoughts to hopefully reach a somewhat fulfilling conclusion. btw, wanted to mention this post is a NOT SPOILER FREE zone so any responses I'm going to assume that everyone has played through the game at least once. I'm not sure where else I'd be able to post this but if it doesn't suit this thread I'll gladly delete it. Alright, so at this point I'm going to assume that anyone who reads this has either completed the game and aren't bored to tears at this point to exit this thread.
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Sayori

So I wanted to first start off with the characters in the game. From previous threads that I've read about characters, particularily Sayori, people seem to empathize with her in a lot of ways including the bright and dark sides of her personality.

I myself can relate to her both on her dark side and slightly on her bright side. I'm not afraid to admit that depression and anxiety is something I haven't had at least once in my life. I don't always see things as being rose coloured or vibrant. When colours fade and things seem dull sometimes the best placebo is to wear a mask (this case being cheerful and carefree) to make people happy.

Now, at the start of the game (lets call it Arc-1), everything plays out normally. You have your universe (somewhere on earth), you got your stock characters (you got your shy, moral compass, cheerful and tsundere girl) and setting (highschool life). This is something you would see right out of an anime show, a highschool RomCom, so the game can instantly capture you and bring you into their world without a backstory because the universe has already been established.

The game hints at Monika's ill intentions in Arc-1 when Sayori starts becoming gloomy and less expressive. One off the top of my head is in the classroom when Sayori cuts herself off when she says, not in verbatim, "I guess Monika was right, maybe I should just-" implying that Monika suggested that she kill herself. I realize I'm stating the obvious because Monika was the catalyst that amplified these emotions in the first place, oh well. I have a good idea on what Monika said to Sayori and I believe that it is laid out pretty black and white.

Yuri

The one problem I have and I would like to get clarification and discussion on is Yuri and her personality because unlike Sayori, I have no idea what her dark side is exactly.
Yuri is very quiet and hesitant to the protagonist. I found Yuri's shyness to be adorable, labelling her as best girl at first but I felt uneasy when I realized the words you picked for her in the poem mini-game were deep and expressive. Mainly negative descriptive words.

Yuri's personality is a mix of red and green lights. A major red light was when you decide to invite Yuri over to make decorations. A foreshadow is at the part where Yuri asks the protagonist to go fetch some containers and water for the capsules and when they come back Yuri pulls her sleeve down over her arm. Later revealing that she cuts herself.
What I'm uncertain with is what Monika said to amplify Yuri's dark motives. What I don't understand is Yuri and her reasoning behind her infatuation with the protagonist in Arc-2. What motive drove her to those measures? Why is she cutting herself for being joyous? Lastly, what decided Yuri's death? Mental illness, love or mind break? It honestly scares me. I don't know what Yuri's complex might be but to put it simply, I want to understand.

Natsuki

I'll edit Natsuki and my thoughts on her later, I neither haven't played her route yet nor know her dark personality.

Monika

I'd never have thought that Monika would have been theYandereand I'm not sure how I feel about her. The epitome of love-hate I guess? She doesn't have any dark side or negative motive in mind. That is unless you want to believe that Sayori, Yuri and Natsuki are more alive than digital files.

In Arc-3 Monika becomes philosophical and expresses her opinions on various topics. I'm guessing Salvato (DDLC Staff) want to create a believable character where readers could sympathize with someone who doesn't actually exist. His thoughts are Monikas thoughts and whichever one helps you sleep at night I'm all for it.
Come to think of it... Monika reminds me of the girl from Carpe Diem (another free VN which shouldn't take and hour and a half max).

Overall

I really enjoyed the game! Now, I'm no VN connoisseur. I haven't read enough VN's to create a top 5, 10, 25 or whatever. Although reading material like this I'm not looking forward to miss. I liked how the effects, music and art style created this type of synergy that pulled everything together. Every glitch caught me off guard and give me this creepy feeling in the back of my head. A tingly feeling as you might call it (located where the cerebellum is). I'm looking forward for something just as great and amazing from Team Salvato. Doki Doki Literature Club made it so that readers could not only relate to but also care for the four characters in their own unique ways. For anyone who read through the entire thing, I absolutely appreciate you and took the time to read what I had to say!

[Laeradr]

Originally posted by XxToughGamerDudexX_666:

I'm looking forward for something just as great and amazing from Team Salvato. Doki Doki Literature Club made it so that readers could not only relate to but also care for the four characters in their own unique ways. For anyone who read through the entire thing, I absolutely appreciate you and took the time to read what I had to say!

sign.
Guess there are a lot of people hoping for more to come from Dan&friends :)
I really enjoyed how DDLC explored the possibilities of storytelling within the VN-genre. While comparing it too classic ways of storytelling (aka books), you could argue how the visualizations could sometimes destroy/damage immersion by not providing the perfect pic for a specific situation. Yet DDLC dodged that bullet and convinced with a fitting symphony of visualization/text/audio/interactivity. Dont get me wrong, I love reading books and I love being able to imagine things myself. Yet sometimes someone comes up with perfect images of what I was thinking. Id say, for example, Peter Jackson did a great job at catching the "spirit" of The Lord of the Rings perfectly (at elast imo). And if this collaboration between visuals, story, interactivity and audio is "fitting", it may even enhance an already great way of storytelling. Thats the great thing about video-games, they allow you to tell an interactive story with a possible grade of immersion, that cant be archieved by just storytelling/visuals/audi/interactivity on their own. I really hope that within the next years stuff like this gets the consideration and esteem it deserves. Its a modern way of art.

[f€dor4_m4st€r_666]

Team Salvato set the bar quite high for a first game that's been in development for two years (let alone in secret!). When expections are that high I could see how that can can mess with the quality and the doubts that would linger around with stepping up.

Originally posted by Laeradr:

I really enjoyed how DDLC explored the possibilities of storytelling within the VN-genre. While comparing it too classic ways of storytelling (aka books), you could argue how the visualizations could sometimes destroy/damage immersion by not providing the perfect pic for a specific situation.

I might have a warped sense of VN's because essentially they are Visual (images) Novels (books). Nothing more, nothing less. With that being said, I base my purchases of VN's on currency (€/$/¥ or whatever) per value, ridiculous I know. Doki Doki Literature Club is free, so what am I losing if I don't like it? Other VN driven series like Steins;Gate are great too but for CDN $38.69 (at the time of typing this) should almost make me transcend dimensions, grant me immortality. Know what I'm saying? The quality of the series should deserve that pricetag but I'm not diving for anything like that.

Originally posted by Laeradr:

Yet sometimes someone comes up with perfect images of what I was thinking. Id say, for example, Peter Jackson did a great job at catching the "spirit" of The Lord of the Rings perfectly (at elast imo). And if this collaboration between visuals, story, interactivity and audio is "fitting", it may even enhance an already great way of storytelling.

For people who've read both source and adapted material, they'll usually say that the source is better which is in most cases books (sorry just an opinion). Books that get movie adaptations or their own television series get the same treatment because how are they able to please everyone when everyone imagines something differently?

[Laeradr]

Originally posted by XxToughGamerDudexX_666:

Dont get me wrong, I love reading books and I love being able to imagine things myself. Yet sometimes someone comes up with perfect images of what I was thinking. Id say, for example, Peter Jackson did a great job at catching the "spirit" of The Lord of the Rings perfectly (at elast imo). And if this collaboration between visuals, story, interactivity and audio is "fitting", it may even enhance an already great way of storytelling. Thats the great thing about video-games, they allow you to tell an interactive story with a possible grade of immersion, that cant be archieved by just storytelling/visuals/audi/interactivity on their own. I really hope that within the next years stuff like this gets the consideration and esteem it deserves. Its a modern way of art.

Originally posted by XxToughGamerDudexX_666:

For people who've read both source and adapted material, they'll usually say that the source is better which is in most cases books (sorry just an opinion). Books that get movie adaptations or their own television series get the same treatment because how are they able to please everyone when everyone imagines something differently?

Maybe you misinterpret my point or i didnt clarify it properly. That was just an highly subjective example for how "fitting" illustrations can provide a good experience, I mean DDLC is its own source anyway ;)
I just wanted to point out how much I welcome new/innovative approaches towards storytelling and immersion! :D

[f€dor4_m4st€r_666]

Originally posted by Laeradr:

Maybe you misinterpret my point or i didnt clarify it properly. That was just an highly subjective example for how "fitting" illustrations can provide a good experience, I mean DDLC is its own source anyway ;)
I just wanted to point out how much I welcome new/innovative approaches towards storytelling and immersion! :D

Haha, I did look at what you posted previously differently (must've added my own thought when I subconsciously typed it out). But yeah, no I agree with incorporating other stimulants (music, illustrations, routes/decision making) as an addition to the narrative.
It's a new type of media that I feel I want more of, but then again I haven't dived too deep into VN's to find that answer myself.

[Dulahan]

Necro alert: but it appears you don't or didn't really understand what was happening. Monika turned up all the other girls flaws to 11, causing Yuri to stab herself, Sayori to hang herself, and Natsukis dad to become really bad. A bad dad. This isn't really supposed to be an actual VN that's graded by the standards of other VN's, instead, look at it more as a horror game. You've probably already figured this out tho. Sorry for necro lol

[f€dor4_m4st€r_666]

Originally posted by Dulahan:

Necro alert

Sorry for my ignorance but what does necro mean in this context? haha.

Originally posted by Dulahan:

Monika turned up all the other girls flaws to 11, causing Yuri to stab herself, Sayori to hang herself, and Natsukis dad to become really bad. A bad dad.

Yeah, I was out of the loop when I finished the game. I didn't get that piece of important information when I made this original post. I later got filled in with Dan's AMA post a while ago, but I do appreciate you reclarifying!

Originally posted by Dulahan:

This isn't really supposed to be an actual VN that's graded by the standards of other VN's, instead, look at it more as a horror game.

It is different indeed and that's why I enjoyed it! I can understand your point about how it goes against how VN plots are usually... expected... In a sense? I'd combine the two and call it a horror VN. A top VN imo!

Originally posted by Dulahan:

You've probably already figured this out tho.

Yup!

Here's an update though: I'm sad to say that I've yet to play through Natsuki's route. My first intentions were to get the true ending route but my mind was on other things. I might have to revisit this again and fulfill my initial promise. That's for another time, maybe when I have a concussion and forget everything about this game so I can replay it again.

[ßRØKΞNH34RT3D]

I like to think Yuri cuts herself to control her emotions as we do know she can be overbearing and over obsessive and to control that craving she cuts herself to get her emotions under control How can cutting yourself control your emotions you may ask well its nice to get your feelings out in general and like Monica said she might actually get some kind of high from it even a sexual pleasure so why not control your emotions as well as pleasure yourself? I'm probably wrong but its what I think