Played Character Route Order: Koujaku ◈ Noiz ◈ Clear ◈ Mink ◈ Ren ◈ Virus/Trip

» Read the Full Review Here «

I've bet my butt that DRAMAtical Murder would NEVER release on Steam (don't do that if you are the main character in a Yaoi game for... obvious reasons), so being able to play the most popular title of its genre on this platform still feels surreal. Make sure to give yourself time to get a feel for it and to let everything sink in. You won't pick up on all the nuances scattered throughout the story and endings by rushing through it.

DMMD was the devil that dragged me into Yaoi hell, no other title was able to push it from its well-earned first place in my heart. It strikes a chord unlike most others. I've played this and the fan disk Re:Connect years ago, and I ventured into this without knowing what a wild ride I signed up for. How terribly naive that was! I didn't expect anything in particular but was blown away by the gradual shift in tone and overwhelmed by all the sensations that flowed through me. I'm dying to continue my second playthrough, fully prepared to let it tore the emotional wound back open. But does DMMD measure up to its hype? Definitely. It easily stands out with its complex world-building, excellent storyline, and multifaceted character cast.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452110969

DMMD is a story-driven and character-centric VN set in a world of clashing opposites and takes place in Midorijima, a remote island that the Toue Corporation gained control over. The citizens of the Old Residential District and the luxury resort Platinum Jail are separated by a giant wall that divides both areas and further symbolizes the rift between them. Platinum Jail stands in stark contrast to the slum that is the Old Residential Restrict; void of luxury and stripped of law and order, flamboyant aesthetics collide with muddy colors and run-down alleys. This play of contrasts sets the tone for the rest of the game. The writing puts tension and the abundant usage of contrasts to marvelous use, while it's incredibly strong in its delivery and pacing.

Not only Toue and the yakuza make a living in the Old Residential District much harder on everyone, the competing Rib gangs and Rhyme teams are an additional threat. The members of Rib gangs, called Ribsteez, take pride in battling with their fists. Rhyme on the other hand makes you experience virtual combat in a safe environment by connecting your mind with the net. Measures are taken by a game master to prevent participants from getting physically harmed.

Our protagonist, Aoba Seragaki, is not part of any gang. He works in the Hum-Drum Junkshop, where he takes advantage of the alluring effect his voice has on some of his customers to sell more items than he normally would. Against all odds, Aoba enjoys his peaceful life there. That ought to change when unsettling incidents become more frequent. Rib gangs go missing, people get kidnapped, and no one knows who's responsible for that.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452114314

After someone forces him into a Rhyme match, things only turn worse for him. What starts as an upbeat story slowly unravels into a convoluted narrative loaded with twists and turns. Forced to act, Aoba eventually has to face himself in order to protect the people dear to him... or to seal their fate, whether it leads to doom or salvation.

You can't discuss DMMD without mentioning the stellar OST and sound design. It utilizes each track to amplify the feel of action-packed scenes, fragile moments of serenity, or the sense of ominous dread without ever missing the mark.

But where it really shines is the engaging and expressive character cast. The voice actors brought these characters to life and turned them into believable, vulnerable human beings who really grew on me. There's loads of chemistry between Aoba and the LIs, the romantic tension between them grows in a steady slow way. Chaste moments of affection eventually fade into hot passion, never failing to set your heart aflutter.

Little did I know that the more emotionally invested I got in the characters, the more I was basically begging to dig my own grave, which leads me to the most remarkable and intense part... the endings.

Yaoi veterans know that nonconsensual acts are usually instrumentalized to serve dark, animalistic urges as a form of punishment for not picking the right choices. However, most of these choices are usually so non-causal that you can't blame the protagonist for the turn of events... but not with Aoba. For each bad ending, it's solely Aoba to blame. The writers didn't shy away from relentlessly attacking you, the reader, on a psychological level for messing up and leading all involved characters on a path of destruction. The endings, two in particular, really ruined me.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452114375

The first two of them were more on the bittersweet side, and while they certainly affected me on an emotional level, they didn't prepare me for the fierce whiplash of emotions that ought to follow. The suffering they inflicted on my poor heart was in no way on par with the other bad endings and grew progressively worse.

The third bad ending? It f***ing broke me. Its intensity still haunts me and never ceases to linger in some corner of my mind. There's a cruel, wicked beauty in it that I find morbidly intriguing, depressing, and engrossing simultaneously. It resonated so deeply with me that I had a hard time forgetting that these are fictional characters, making it impossible to get some distance from them. I was so taken aback that I didn't even notice the tears running down my cheeks when the credits rolled. I felt so disconnected from reality and utterly hopeless while that damn ending theme played in the background. I couldn't take it. To agonize over a character's misery even long after finishing the story is what truly makes it captivating and exceptional to me.

The credits barely gave me enough time to finish bawling my eyes out. This damn game didn't give me any time to heal and didn't wait for my pain to subside. I was shocked and disturbed to my very core with the fifth ending. The ruthless portrayal of gore and nauseating sound design were torturous. Watching made me feel physically sick. The composer of the ending theme did a phenomenal job in getting the inner conflict and viciousness across. As for the remaining two bad endings, they weren't any easier to endure.

While you can certainly romanticize it, the symbolism behind most endings is heartbreaking. What hurts the most is to see the dramatic change in personality, how horridly they snap, and watching them fall into an abyss of anguish. My heart ached for them and felt like someone ripped it in two. But what really clung to me are the ending themes that bring forth a lot of emotions.

Thank god that there are also happy outcomes! They really served as an antidote for my wrecked nerves and saved me from reaching the point of near-fatality. They struck me as so affectionate, tender and sensual compared to the bad endings that they made me feel giddy and lighthearted. In the end, I got crushed by the weight of my own feelings, but it was totally worth it!

[h2]DAMN IT CLEAR![/h2] [b]Played Character Route Order: Koujaku ◈ Noiz ◈ Clear ◈ Mink ◈ [spoiler]Ren ◈ Virus/Trip[/spoiler][/b] [url=https://steamproxy.net/groups/OtomeSekai/discussions/7/3163190952010093919/]» Read the Full Review Here «[/url] I've bet my butt that [i][b]DRAMAtical Murder[/b][/i] would NEVER release on Steam (don't do that if you are the main character in a Yaoi game for... [I]obvious reasons[/i]), so being able to play the most popular title of its genre on this platform still feels surreal. Make sure to give yourself time to get a feel for it and to let everything sink in. You won't pick up on all the nuances scattered throughout the story and endings by rushing through it. [i][b]DMMD[/b][/i] was the devil that dragged me into Yaoi hell, no other title was able to push it from its well-earned first place in my heart. It strikes a chord unlike most others. I've played this and the fan disk [i][b]Re:Connect[/b][/i] years ago, and I ventured into this without knowing what a wild ride I signed up for. How terribly naive that was! I didn't expect anything in particular but was blown away by the gradual shift in tone and overwhelmed by all the sensations that flowed through me. I'm dying to continue my second playthrough, fully prepared to let it tore the emotional wound back open. But does [i][b]DMMD[/b][/i] measure up to its hype? Definitely. It easily stands out with its complex world-building, excellent storyline, and multifaceted character cast. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452110969 [i][b]DMMD[/b][/i] is a story-driven and character-centric VN set in a world of clashing opposites and takes place in [i]Midorijima[/i], a remote island that the [i]Toue Corporation[/i] gained control over. The citizens of the [i]Old Residential District[/i] and the luxury resort [i]Platinum Jail[/i] are separated by a giant wall that divides both areas and further symbolizes the rift between them. [i]Platinum Jail[/i] stands in stark contrast to the slum that is the [i]Old Residential Restrict[/i]; void of luxury and stripped of law and order, flamboyant aesthetics collide with muddy colors and run-down alleys. This play of contrasts sets the tone for the rest of the game. The writing puts tension and the abundant usage of contrasts to marvelous use, while it's incredibly strong in its delivery and pacing. Not only [i]Toue[/i] and the yakuza make a living in the [i]Old Residential District[/i] much harder on everyone, the competing [i]Rib[/i] gangs and [i]Rhyme[/i] teams are an additional threat. The members of [i]Rib[/i] gangs, called [i]Ribsteez[/i], take pride in battling with their fists. [i]Rhyme[/i] on the other hand makes you experience virtual combat in a safe environment by connecting your mind with the net. Measures are taken by a game master to prevent participants from getting physically harmed. [h3][i]I will destroy you...[/i][/h3] Our protagonist, [b]Aoba Seragaki[/b], is not part of any gang. He works in the [i]Hum-Drum Junkshop[/i], where he takes advantage of the alluring effect his voice has on some of his customers to sell more items than he normally would. Against all odds, Aoba enjoys his peaceful life there. That ought to change when unsettling incidents become more frequent. [i]Rib[/i] gangs go missing, people get kidnapped, and no one knows who's responsible for that. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452114314 After someone forces him into a [i]Rhyme[/i] match, things only turn worse for him. What starts as an upbeat story slowly unravels into a convoluted narrative loaded with twists and turns. Forced to act, Aoba eventually has to face himself in order to protect the people dear to him... or to seal their fate, whether it leads to doom or salvation. You can't discuss [i][b]DMMD[/b][/i] without mentioning the stellar OST and sound design. It utilizes each track to amplify the feel of action-packed scenes, fragile moments of serenity, or the sense of ominous dread without ever missing the mark. But where it really shines is the engaging and expressive character cast. The voice actors brought these characters to life and turned them into believable, vulnerable human beings who really grew on me. There's loads of chemistry between Aoba and the LIs, the romantic tension between them grows in a steady slow way. Chaste moments of affection eventually fade into hot passion, never failing to set your heart aflutter. Little did I know that the more emotionally invested I got in the characters, the more I was basically begging to dig my own grave, which leads me to the most remarkable and intense part... [i]the endings.[/i] Yaoi veterans know that nonconsensual acts are usually instrumentalized to serve dark, animalistic urges as a form of punishment for not picking the right choices. However, most of these choices are usually so non-causal that you can't blame the protagonist for the turn of events... but not with Aoba. For each bad ending, it's solely Aoba to blame. The writers didn't shy away from relentlessly attacking you, the reader, on a psychological level for messing up and leading all involved characters on a path of destruction. The endings, two in particular, really ruined me. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2452114375 The first two of them were more on the bittersweet side, and while they certainly affected me on an emotional level, they didn't prepare me for the fierce whiplash of emotions that ought to follow. The suffering they inflicted on my poor heart was in no way on par with the other bad endings and grew progressively worse. [h3][i]I craved for more...[/i][/h3] The third bad ending? It f***ing broke me. Its intensity still haunts me and never ceases to linger in some corner of my mind. There's a cruel, wicked beauty in it that I find morbidly intriguing, depressing, and engrossing simultaneously. It resonated so deeply with me that I had a hard time forgetting that these are fictional characters, making it impossible to get some distance from them. I was so taken aback that I didn't even notice the tears running down my cheeks when the credits rolled. I felt so disconnected from reality and utterly hopeless while that damn ending theme played in the background. I couldn't take it. To agonize over a character's misery even long after finishing the story is what truly makes it captivating and exceptional to me. [h3][i]... than nothing[/i][/h3] The credits barely gave me enough time to finish bawling my eyes out. This damn game didn't give me any time to heal and didn't wait for my pain to subside. I was shocked and disturbed to my very core with the fifth ending. The ruthless portrayal of gore and nauseating sound design were torturous. Watching made me feel physically sick. The composer of the ending theme did a phenomenal job in getting the inner conflict and viciousness across. As for the remaining two bad endings, they weren't any easier to endure. While you can certainly romanticize it, the symbolism behind most endings is heartbreaking. What hurts the most is to see the dramatic change in personality, how horridly they snap, and watching them fall into an abyss of anguish. My heart ached for them and felt like someone ripped it in two. But what really clung to me are the ending themes that bring forth a lot of emotions. Thank god that there are also happy outcomes! They really served as an antidote for my wrecked nerves and saved me from reaching the point of near-fatality. They struck me as so affectionate, tender and sensual compared to the bad endings that they made me feel giddy and lighthearted. In the end, I got crushed by the weight of my own feelings, but it was totally worth it! [h3][quote]𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 [url=https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/curator/33853800/]𝐎𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐢[/url] 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐑𝐏𝐆 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬[/quote][/h3]