How to Read Dies Irae All-Ages and 18+ content all on your first readthrough

NOTE: This guide is assuming you're supporting the version directly from Steam. If you get this VN from somewhere else, I can't help you there.

Many people will tell you to just read the All Ages/Steam version for the story related purposes and since the H-scenes aren't necessary. That's not bad advice if that's all you care about.

However, if you want both the story stuff AND are interested in the 18+ content that's locked away in a secondary 'patch' (or you one of those anti-censorship of any kind people), it can be complex/annoying to figure out the correct way to view all the content on a first playthrough. It could take lots of guessing given how Light released the content, especially of the original way you had to even access the 18+ content.

For those who want a straightforward guide on how to read all the content and you haven't read Dies yet, never fear for I AM HERE.

If you gonna be one of those peeps that comment to JUST READ THE ALL AGES VERSION, get that noise outta here and into some other thread.

If you have constructive criticism or something I need to add/edit/delete to this list I'm all for that.

Anyway, hope this guide is helpful to some people.

Amentes Amentes [All Ages] vs Acta Est Fablua [18+] differences

Now for those who don't know the differences between 18+ and AA versions:

Amentes Amentes/All-Ages version

• Rea route 1st ending has an additional scene at the end
  
• Rea's route has a 2nd ending
  
• Has side stories that unlock after completing Chapter 1, Chapter 6, Kei's route, Marie's route, and Rea's 2nd Ending
  
• There's an option to have the game auto put you on a route through a 'route selection' when clicking New Game.
  
• Different title screen BGM

Acta est Fabula/18+ version

• H-Scenes
  
• Different title screen BGM
  
• Extra choice in the common route that locks you onto Kasumi's route no matter what if you choose it

For what it's worth, the 18+ version was released first in Japan. The All-Ages version came after with additional content that expands on things that weren't covered as much in the original.

H-scene Information

For people who've already read the AA version, or for anyone who just wants to know where they're put in the VN... you may know that in addition to the usual vanilla H scene dialogue we all know and love... there's a small handful of H-scenes that are bit darker, uncomfortable, or just straight up "well ok then" ones. I pointed them all out for people to watch out for if you want to actually know.

I separated the vanilla vs the weird stuff if you want to look for either specifically.


Vanilla H scenes

• Common Route Chapter 3 Choose "....a woman who meant a lot to me" (make sure to choose Kasumi favorable choices) - Towards the end
  
• Kasumi Route Chapter 11 - Middle/End
  
• Kei Route Chapter 7 - Towards the End after a choice
  
• Kei Route Chapter 10- In the middle
  
• Marie Route Chapter 11- Middle/End
  
• Rea Chapter 11- In the middle

Potentially Uncomfortable H-scenes

• Kasumi/Kei Route Chapter 7 (It's the same exact chapter but only for these two and NOT for Marie/Rea) - In the middle
  
• Kasumi Route Chapter 8 - Towards the end?
  
• Kasumi Route Chapter 9 - In the middle
  
• Marie Route Chapter 7 - Way beginning
  
• Rea Route Chapter 7- Way beginning

18+ CGs that aren't H-scenes

• Rea Chapter 10 - Towards beginning?
  
• Rea Chapter 11 - At the way beginning?

Main Guide

For making sure you get all the endings/routes, it's quite helpful for following the main walkthrough on Steam.

Preliminary Steps

• Buy all Amantes Amantes routes on Steam. This is important for getting the most up to date 18+ patch to work.
  
• Install All-Ages version (Amentes Amentes). In Amantes Amantes version go to Menu > Text Settings, change Skip Settings = "All"
  
• Install 'patch' for Acta Est Fabula. You can find it in the Kickstarter page for Dies Irae localization by Light. A "malie_fabla.exe" should've been copied to \steamapps\common\Dies irae ~Amantes amentes~. This is how you access the 18+ version of the game. Make sure to make a shortcut or something since you can't open this .exe directly through Steam.
  
• For Acta Est Fabula, we will always have Menu > Text Settings, Skip Settings = "Pre-read Only"
  
• One of the issues with Acta Est Fablua release through Steam is that it's likely you can't open malie_fabla.exe until you read at least 1 route in Amentes Amentes. If you can't, open Amentes Amentes, press skip and finish Kasumi's route.

Kasumi Route

• Open up Acta Est Fabula
  
• Finish Kasumis route
  
• Open up Amentes Amentes
  
• Press Skip and finish Kasumi's route
  
• Go to "Other Story" on title screen and read Side Story "Wehrwolf"

Kei route

• Open up Acta Est Fabula
  
• Finish Keis route
  
• Open up Amentes Amentes
  
• Press Skip and finish Keis route
  
• Go to "Other Story" on title screen and read Side Story "Die Morgendammerung"
  
• Go to "Other Story" on title screen and read Side Story "Verfaulender segen"

Marie route

• Open up Acta Est Fabula
  
• Finish Marie's route
  
• Open up Amentes Amentes
  
• Press Skip and finish Marie's route
  
• Go to "Other Story" on title screen and read Side Story "Omnia vincit Amor"

Rea route

• Open Up Acta Est Fabula
  
• Finish Rea's route
  
• Open up Amentes Amentes
  
• Press Skip
  
• Reach the "…danced to the mercurial tune" vs. "…sought the truth" choice option
  
• Save at Choice
  
• Choose "…danced to the mercurial tune"
  
• Continue Skip until you reach the Ending Credits
  
• Do NOT press Skip after Credits finish rolling. Read the last scenes.
  
• Load the Save at the above choice
  
• Open Settings
  
• In Menu > Text Settings, change Skip Settings = "Pre-Read Only"
  
• Choose "…sought the truth"
  
• Press Skip until you get to the unread text
  
• Finish Rea's Second Ending
  
• Go to "Other Story" on title screen and read Side Story "Nihil difficile amanti"

[FedelxTTV]

Is the file just locked for anyone who wasn't a backer?

[.]

rope

[$P€CT0R]

Ayoubssj if i read the all ages version(steam version)then I can read the "main story"?
Do I need this 18+ content?

[Limitless Mind]

Can you do this if you aren't a backer on Kickstarter?

[FlynnMegamiTensei]

what a cultured fellow

[Zanameth]

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. Together with the other guide, this should be all I need to make sure I don't miss on anything.

[Ruxoco]

Just read the all ages version