Doki Doki Literature Club: Write to the Heart of Your Girl

Player(s): 1
Platforms: PC (via Steam)

"Will you write the way into her heart?"
​That kind of question is a typical start to most generic visual novels. In fact those who haven’t played it yet can probably already figure out what personality each girl has, their roles, and how to please them. You wouldn’t be too far off either, or so you would think at the start of the game. Strangely enough, this game has ways of taking strange turns, so before you go to check it out or read the rest of this, bear in mind that this game has disturbing images not suitable for everyone.

So, you start off with your given name and are thrust into a typical high school world. Of course, your childhood friend is the first girl you meet. Sayori is going to be your clumsy, dull-headed-but-full-of-sunshine, girl that you walk to and from school with. The sunshine may or may not be true, but that’s for the player to find out.
 
After a few scenes and story building, Sayori asks you to join a club she belongs to. You accept. Like any harem dreamer, the club is filled with a total of four girls. Sayori, who is the Vice President that you already know. Yuri, the quiet and shy one that takes reading and writing very seriously. Natsuki, the baker and "jerk" of the group. And the President of the Literature Club, Monika. Just Monika.

Just Monika.

Not sure what happened there, so let’s continue.
 
You go through the game like normal, though there are bits of interesting interaction. Rather than make a choice that leads towards a path, the president tells you to write a poem, which is almost what you do. You’re taken to a screen where you get to select ten different words. In this, the girls on the left side of the screen will jump with happiness if you use a word that they like. While you’re not actually writing a poem, you’re appealing to them with the use of literary skills.

Using intellect to appeal to a girl? Are you mad!?

You do this a few times and start to get close to a girl of your choice. As it seems to get more and more colorful, that is when the game decides to take a grim turn for the worse. One wishes to tell you the story sequences, but it is not one’s wishing to ruin it for those seeking to play this. However, it is quite interesting if not disturbing.
 
For anyone thinking they can’t afford it, it is free on Steam. How is that for a kicker? A free game that challenges the way Visual Novels are played and it’s free. The sad part is, it is also a very short game. While many visual novels are known for dragging themselves out, this one ends quickly, though at a key point in which it’s supposed to.

Let’s talk about Team Salvato.
 
Team Salvato is manned by three people. Dan Salvato, Lead Developer. Satchely, Character Artist. Velinquent, Background Artist. One can claim these are not likely their real names and you could be right, but these people are the creative geniuses behind Doki Doki Literature Club. It is unknown where they plan to go from here, but the best wishes to these creative people.
 
And let’s not forget that the game itself has won a few Awards. That’s right, a free game got a lot of votes from people and was a part of IGN’s video game awards. Doki Doki Literature Club won IGN People’s Choice (most player votes) for every category it was nominated for: Best PC Game, Best Adventure Game, Best Story, and Most Innovative.
 
Now while you can argue a visual novel being an Adventure Game, it seems IGN has a threaded reasoning for such. You should investigate that yourself. But either way, there is no denying that it was a huge success for even such a short game.

-MCV Driver

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Story: A+
Graphics: B
Sound: B
Value: A++

OVERALL: A

Pros:
+Free!!
+Creative Storytelling
+Innovative Interaction

Cons:
-Very Short Game
-Slow moving gameplay can be a turn off
-A Slow Start

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Sources:
http://teamsalvato.com/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/698780/Doki_Doki_Literature_Club