Recent reviews by Big Strap

I've been playing Katawa Shoujo on and off since its release in 2012, clocking in well over 100 hours. It’s no exaggeration to say this visual novel has genuinely changed my life, perhaps more than any other work of fiction.

If you haven't played it yet, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to do yourself a favor and dive in immediately. Among a sea of poorly written Ren'Py schlock and outright porn games, Katawa Shoujo stands out as a profound work of fiction. It’s influenced me to volunteer for a charity supporting the disabled, became the subject of multiple undergraduate and postgraduate papers I've written, and has offered me countless quotes for both humorous and deep reflections. Plus, it’s free—what more could you ask for?

What makes this visual novel exceptional is how it handles the subject of disabilities with nuance, respect, and empathy. Hisao’s journey through the game isn’t just about finding romance; it’s about coming to terms with his new identity and challenging societal assumptions about disabilities. Each of the five main female characters has a unique story that beautifully explores how their personalities are shaped by, but not limited to, their disabilities.

For instance, Emi exemplifies resilience and optimism, while Rin navigates life with a confounding but deep philosophical perspective that will leave you reflecting long after her route ends. Characters like Lilly (my pick for best girl), Shizune, and Hanako further enrich the narrative with their own compelling stories.

Each route offers deep moral lessons without being preachy, focusing instead on the universal experiences of love, struggle, and personal growth. One thing that the game’s writing consistently encourages players to confront is the harmful notion of “white knighting”—trying to 'save' someone instead of understanding and supporting them as equals.

Katawa Shoujo is a work of art that defies the odds and expectations at every turn. Despite its origins on 4chan, a place often associated with... let's just call it "internet mischief," the game is a heartfelt exploration of human relationships and the complexities of living with disabilities. It’s a story that anyone can relate to, and it handles its themes with grace, making it a must-play.

In the words of author Sam Keen: “We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.”

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A patch to re-enable the (tasteful) adult content can be found at www[dot]katawa-shoujo[dot]com/download

A fun game overall that has fallen victim to one of the classic balancing blunders- nerf everything fun instead of buffing the alternatives.

Sony listened, and the Helldivers are victorious once again. Now we can continue to be the galaxy's last line of offense.

DID I HEAR A ROCK AND STONE?!

Killing Astarion when he tries to bite me is the thing I look forward to most, every playthrough.

I get it... I get why people like fighting games now...

One of the core essentials. There's not much to complain about 'cause there's not much to it- but it does its job briliantly.

's pretty good I guess

Welcome back. It's just as you remember it.

Formerly this review read: Unprecedented destructability and nigh-infinite fun rolled up into a fantastic value of a package.

None of that has changed, but there is now a EULA you must accept before playing the game. I wholeheartedly reject the very idea that you can add an EULA to a product AFTER IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED. It's an unconscionable decision and I can unfortunately no longer recommend this game to anyone.