Isnt Natsuki like 15 or something?

[MysticCookie]

It said in the game thats she looks like a first year, so i thought she was a freshman, but when i looked it up it said shes like 18, so im confused by this can someone tell me?

[Dusk_Army]

So, the short version is, the creator did not intentionally ever give any of the characters' ages in game. Natsuki was probably intended to be either a 1st or 2nd year student based on that line, her physical description, and so on.

However, this is still a dating sim, and that comes with... let's just call it implications based on the community of "people that play dating sims." So rather than starting debates about the subjects of age and legality, the creator just decided to make it so that all the characters are canonically eighteen, regardless of how they look or any other aspects of the setting. His intentions were good, at least based on the context of DDLC (as opposed to any other dating sim).

This can be a touchy subject for some people, so apologies if my response isn't particularly descriptive. I'm also omitting some details in case you haven't finished the game.

[kwil]

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

So, the short version is, the creator did not intentionally ever give any of the characters' ages in game. Natsuki was probably intended to be either a 1st or 2nd year student based on that line, her physical description, and so on.

However, this is still a dating sim, and that comes with... let's just call it implications based on the community of "people that play dating sims." So rather than starting debates about the subjects of age and legality, the creator just decided to make it so that all the characters are canonically eighteen, regardless of how they look or any other aspects of the setting. His intentions were good, at least based on the context of DDLC (as opposed to any other dating sim).

This can be a touchy subject for some people, so apologies if my response isn't particularly descriptive. I'm also omitting some details in case you haven't finished the game.

How pretentious and snobby can you make an answer to a simple question? DDLC is not "exceptional" in any way, and this is why the community has a reputation for being toxic.

But to answer the question, all characters are 18. Natsuki is the same age as the others, despite what the MC thinks she "appears" to be due to malnutrition. Also, short people exist.

[Dusk_Army]

kwil, I'm not being pretentious. People do, in fact, get up in arms about the idea that a character in a dating sim might be underaged. And, to the best of my knowledge, Dan Salvato intended for the characters to be high school students of varying years, but listed their official ages as 18 as a compromise for people who feel strongly about the ages of fictional characters. If you have evidence to the contrary, by all means, share; but don't act like a jerk because I tried to provide context for the question without also spoiling the game.

Also, for the record, I'm 26 but get frequently mistaken for a teenager, as does my sister who is a full decade older than I am. I know people don't always look their age.

[kwil]

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

However, this is still a dating sim, and that comes with... let's just call it implications based on the community of "people that play dating sims."

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

His intentions were good, at least based on the context of DDLC (as opposed to any other dating sim).

Acting like DDLC is an exception among dating sims is very pretentious, and the exact opposite of the message Salvato was going for, to be an example of what VNs are and encourage people who normally wouldn't read them to give them a shot.

But as for the age thing, I haven't made any claims without evidence. That's all you.

[Dusk_Army]

Originally posted by kwil:

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

However, this is still a dating sim, and that comes with... let's just call it implications based on the community of "people that play dating sims."

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

His intentions were good, at least based on the context of DDLC (as opposed to any other dating sim).

Acting like DDLC is an exception among dating sims is very pretentious, and the exact opposite of the message Salvato was going for, to be an example of what VNs are and encourage people who normally wouldn't read them to give them a shot.

But as for the age thing, I haven't made any claims without evidence. That's all you.

It's an exception among dating sims in the sense that it's not actually a dating sim, but a horror game in which a dating sim is the setting. But I can't say that without spoiling the whole game in the (admittedly unlikely) event that OP hasn't finished it yet. Which is to say that Dan didn't have to consider the implications of character age until after the game got popular.

As far as evidence goes, I distinctly remember reading this elsewhere in the Steam Forums, but admit that I don't have the exact thread on hand. The best I can give you for now is a quote from the TVTropes article on the game: "Due to fanbases waifu-ing particular characters, many fans were concerned about Natsuki, as her younger appearance would be considered Unfortunate Implications and make certain people into lolicons. Dan Salvato himself stated that "all of the characters were 18" (including Natsuki). In Plus, it's outright stated that all of the characters are "over 18"." And while I believe that Dan's statement was made in response to the aforementioned "waifu-ing", I don't have the source for context.

[kwil]

Originally posted by Dusk_Army:

It's an exception among dating sims in the sense that it's not actually a dating sim, but a horror game in which a dating sim is the setting.

Horror isn't even my preferred genre, but even I've read a few dating sims that turn into horror just by browsing my recommended feed. Though they usually don't hide that in promotional materials. Salvato could get away with "false advertising" because he chose to make it free.

My memory of his quote is "For all intents and purposes, all characters are 18." Nothing more, nothing less.

[Tregrenos]

At one point Natsuki brags about being the youngest member of the club, which is something she wouldn't do if the difference was only by a few months. If you want to get into technicalities there's evidence that Yuri is only 17 and since she's portrayed as the most mature member of the club it's arguable that no other member of the club is 18 either.

In one of the hidden files about the "experiments" going on an unknown characters name is mentioned, but a 4 letter characters name is redacted. Given it was a topic about "the third eye" this very much points to the redacted name being "Yuri", which places her at the age of 17 based on the information provided in that document.

However, assuming Yuri is 18 there's still no reason Natsuki would brag about being the youngest unless she was 17 or younger.

[martingolding96]

Originally posted by kwil:

Also, short people exist.

I wish I wasn't as tall as I am . I'm jealous of people who are smaller than me.

[Tregrenos]

Originally posted by martingolding96:

Originally posted by kwil:

Also, short people exist.

I wish I wasn't as tall as I am . I'm jealous of people who are smaller than me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM7J67sOyis

[martingolding96]

Originally posted by Tregrenos:

Originally posted by martingolding96:

I wish I wasn't as tall as I am . I'm jealous of people who are smaller than me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM7J67sOyis

Normally I hate when people do that but I got to say it made me laugh.

[kwil]

Originally posted by martingolding96:

Originally posted by kwil:

Also, short people exist.

I wish I wasn't as tall as I am . I'm jealous of people who are smaller than me.

Yep. 6'4" here. Bumped my head on a few doorways. Also makes food costs more expensive... But at least you get to feel helpful when you can reach things for people.