visual novel – Yuki The Snowman

How Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Got Me into Old School Hip-Hop

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (lit. When The Cicadas Cry) is a fantastic, intense horror anime, manga, and visual novel series filled with nerve-wracking suspense, psychological terror, bloody brutality, and relentless ultra-violence written by Japanese author Ryukishi07. Higurashi is beloved by both anime and visual novel fans globally and is considered by many as Ryukishi07’s best work, and for many great reasons.

By crafting a cocktail of classic narrative themes/conflicts, traditional Japanese folklore, and supernatural elements with real-world topics/issues (such as mental illness, child abuse/neglect, ethics in scientific research, citizens vs. government, etc.), Ryukishi07 delivered to the world of anime and visual novel a powerful and thought-provoking masterpiece. A masterpiece that ’s still respected and celebrated in anime and visual novel circles today; despite the visual novel ending in 2006 (not counting remakes, ports, remasters, etc. after 2006), and five years after the run of the anime (with Higurashi Outbreak in 2013).

2735493-ryukishi07-2015 — Series creator Ryukishi07

With Halloween drawing near, I figured that it now would be the best time to talk about this marvelous series – but not in a way you may expect. Yes. The spooky holiday is almost here. Higurashi is a spooky anime. You would think that logically, I would talk about the spooky and horror themes of the series.

But, I’m going to take different approach.
A much different approach.

Would you call me crazy if I say that Higurashi, a Japanese otaku series, helped me get into old school Hip-Hop; a beloved urban American music artform?
Imagine that!

Life…
I wonder…
Will it take me under?
I don’t know.
-Rika Furude probably

Yes. As wild as it may sound, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni got me into old-school hip-hop. Out of anything and everything that is a possibility in the world, it took a Japanese horror series for me to not only get into old-school hip-hop but have a strong love for it. You may be wondering how is that ’s even possible.

Well, in order for me to tell you this tale, we need to go back to the Summer of 2010.

I’ve been a fan of Higurashi for almost a year after discovering the series on YouTube (I was actually aware of it back in high school, but that’s for another tale). And by a fan, I was fucking obsessed with it. I spent most of that summer looking up anything Higurashi; in efforts to gain knowledge about it. The official manga. The Fan doujins. The voice actors. Video games. Ryukishi07 himself even. And of course, it’s music.

Goddamn, the music.

One night, I was bumpin’ Dear You: Destructive, one of many remixes of Shion’s image song You from the Higurashi visual novel. As the song was ending, there was a video in the suggestion bar of YouTube that made me a bit curious thanks to its thumbnail.

The thumbnail featured a transparent face of Rena in the foreground of a New York City borough with the word “You” in the top right corner in Old English font. The title of the video was in Japanese, sans one single word: “HIPHOP”. I merely assumed that a Japanese doujin music producer created a hip-hop sample beat of the song and was excited to hear a hip-hop version of the song.

Being ever so curious and my attention grabbed, I clicked on the link.

The song starts to play. A lone piano playing arpeggios rang out for four bars. The piano version of You no doubt. A drumbeat sample from Shing02 and Nujabee’s Luv Sic Pt. 1 played on the fifth beat and throughout the song, along with a woman (Lauryn Hill) vocalizing “ooo ooo ooooo”, and an East Coast hip-hop legend spitting.

‘Imagine smokin’ weed in the streets without cops harassin’
Imagine going to court with no trial…’

‘This is Nas! This is Nas rapping over a Higurashi song!’ I was in both awe and disbelief. Some visual novel otaku fuck in Japan mashed up Nas’s If I Ruled The World with You! Not only did he do that, but he also threw in the drum track from Luv Sic as an added bonus! Granted, I knew who Nas was thanks to a friend who’s a fan of his works – I just wasn’t a fan of him until I heard this mashup.

I instantly fell in love with both the mashup and the lyrics of If I Ruled The World, even if it wasn’t the original song itself. I let the song repeat itself for about seven times. Upon Hearing the sorrowful piano notes of You in unison of Nas’s speaking on of his vision of utopia for Black America, along with Lauryn Hill’s breathtaking vocals, and the cries of the summer cicadas, Goosebumps hit me hard.

I grew ever more curious about If I Ruled The World and the lyrics.

‘It’s elementary: they want us all gone eventually’.
‘Why does this fit well with how the Japanese government wants to wipe out Hinamizawa and the villagers in it?!’ I asked myself.

‘If I ruled the world (imagine that), I’d free all my sons!’.
‘I wonder; did the dude who made this thought about how Rika wanted to free herself from her tragic fate ?’ I pondered.

‘Strictly living longevity to the destiny
I thought I’d never see it, but reality struck
Better find out before your time’s out, what the fuck?’

‘I can see this for Rika and how she is desperately trying to find a way to cheat death for good before fate closes in on her.’

All Wild theories; but it made sense (in my head).
I had to let it marinate.

Hanyuu of Higurashi fulfilling her dreams of being an NYC DJ after defeating fate

Even if the mashup creator didn’t mean to make certain lyrics relate to Higurashi, I couldn’t help but reflect. I let the song stop playing and decide to listen to the original version of Nas’s classic. There’s no denying that the beat was soaked in that definitive New York City hip-hop vibe. That electro notes playing up and down the scale. The simple yet deep pulse of the bass. The quiet layered strings.

I craved for more information.

Acting on a gut instinct that the beat for If I Ruled the World was a sample, I went on Google to see if my gut was correct – and it was. Not only was my gut was correct, but the sampled was also from Whodini’s 1984 classic Friends.

‘Friends…
How many of us have them?
Friends…
Ones we can depend on.’

It was like if the universe knew I was searching for a connection for the Higurashi mash up. The overarching theme of Higurashi is the power of friendship and there I was; listening to a classic hip-hop song with the hook asking if we have friends we can depend on.

‘Friends…Ones we can depend on.’
God. That’s powerful.

NDVD_038 — Some are ok, and they treat you real cool
But some mistake your kindness for bein’ a fool

Satoko depended on her friends to save her from her abusive uncle – including her new friends; who were once her enemies (the villagers who once hated her and her family). Rena realized that no matter what, her friends love her: even if Rena was having a mental breakdown and couldn’t trust the friends she loved. Rika learned that how it was okay to open up to her friends about her depression and fear that Satoko – her best friend – was going to be taken away from her (by said abusive uncle mentioned earlier). Keiichi, like Rena, learned the value of trusting and opening up to his friends.

Was it all a coincidence that I would find a hip-hop song that has a famous hook that could relate to Higurashi? Perhaps. But there was no denying the fact by me researching the source of Nas’s If I Ruled The World sample, it opened an entirely new world of music for me. Sure, I was aware of classic 80s hip-hop legends such as KRS-One, N.W.A, Public Enemy, and Grandmaster Flash, but I never went out of my way to listen to them.

Until then.

At the time, my mind only focused on listening to modern artists who were on the real shit (J. Cole for example) and 90s rappers such as Tupac. I thought I didn’t need to listen to classic rappers; I foolishly believed they were outdated! Nobody, sans OGs (original gangstas) and oldheads, went out their way to listen to the classic MCs. I was ignorant! Stupid even! For years, I allowed myself to miss out on what hip-hop legends of the past had to offer to the art form. My jaded attitude caused me to miss out.

You can even say it was a shame that it took some weeaboo bullshit to get me into the classics.
But, it did.

As I’m finishing up this little insight of my world for you guys, I am reflecting on how hip-hop has a lot in common with not only Higurashi but with anime in general.
Two completely art forms.
Many endless similarities.

Let’s start with Higurashi, of course. Both Higurashi and Hip-Hop share a common birth month: August. In fact, the first Higurashi game, Onikakushi-Hen (lit. Spirited Away By The Demon Chapter) dropped on August 10^th, 2002. The official birthday of hip-hop? August 11^th, 1973. A mere 29 years and a day apart, but it’s amazing on how they have back-to-back birthdays.

Hip-Hop, for generations, has been used as a platform to speak out against government oppression and corruption with hits such as N.W.A.’s Fuck The Police, Public Enemy’s By The Time I Get To Arizona, and Childish Gambino’s This is America. One could say that hip-hop inspires Black Americans to rise up and fight against the oppressive forces that threaten our quality of life.

During the second half of Higurashi (The Answer Arcs), the series switch from a supernatural, psychological thriller tale, to a story of the people of Hinamizawa rising up against the corrupt Japanese government (that was trying to wipe out the town and its people).

When it comes to the realm of anime in general, you can’t tell me there aren’t any hip-hop songs that can be used for anime and the characters and stories that make up this beloved art medium. Listen to Sky’s The Limit by Biggie Smalls: A song about the hustler’s rise to riches and achieving his dreams. After you listen to that go watch Gainax’s classic OVA Otaku no Video: an anime about an otaku becoming a hustler, to a businessman, to the world’s richest man.

Or maybe Tech N9ne’s Pyscho Bitch may persuade you. Listen to it and think about your classic psychotic yandere characters such as Yuno Gasai (The Future Diary), Kotonoha Katsura (School Days), Kaede Fuyou (Shuffle!), and since we’re talking about Higurashi, the series best girl Shion Sonozaki.

To end my tale, let’s go back to my previous question: Would you, after reading all of this, call me crazy for the fact that it took Higurashi no Naku Koro ni – a classic otaku horror series, to get me into hip-hop? I can understand if you say yes. Of course, it is. It shouldn’t even make sense.

But, without that You x If I Ruled The World mash up I discovered nearly ten years ago, I would have gone through life never knowing about timeless artists that paved that path for talented, iconic wordsmiths such as J. Cole, Logic, Tupac, KRS-One, Kendrick Lamar, and many more.

That would have been much, much crazier.

-Yuki The Snowman

P.S.

Somebody on Wiz Khalifa’s team is a fucking weeaboo and sampled Main Theme Ai from the Higurashi anime for him to rap over:

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on October 30, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Path to DDLC’s Good End: Round 2: Natsuki (Freewrite)

Disclaimer: Possible spelling and grammar error below I’m just knocking this out of my way so I can work on this Hi-Score Girl review.

Round 1: https://yukithesnowman.com/2018/05/15/yukis-path-to-doki-doki-literature-clubs-good-ending-round-1-sayori/

Continuing from where I left off, I was able to obtain the CGs for Sayori’s route in order to unlock the true ending. Re-playing her route gave me a new insight into her accurate portrayal of people suffering from depression (such as feeling numb, hopelessness, lack of desire, etc.) made me appreciate her character. I want to see more educated takes of characters struggling with mental health in fiction –because done right, it can hit hard.

Since I’ve “completed ” Sayori’s route, I’m going after Natsuki’s next. I haven’t done her route since my first run through, which is perfect given I need to go through her route before replaying Yuri’s. Going through Yuri’s route in Act 1 requires me to witness Sayori’s death scene; therefore ruining my plans to get the game’s true ending.

For cut down on time, any previous read dialogues are being skipped unless I find something interesting and worthy of being talked about.

I like Natsuki. She’s slowly becoming a favorite character of mines. I’ve said this many times, but I hate the tsundere trope in anime – unless a writer puts realism to the trope (as we see with Natsuki). She’s a “tsundere” but her aggressive, angry nature is a resulted of her being physically and emotionally abused by her father. It’s common for victims of child abuse to struggle with anger issues and develop an inferiority complex. Obviously, Natsuki hides her insecure nature (from the abuse) by acting tough and hard-hearted (but of course, she secretly cares about other people and don’t wanna see them down or hurt).

Playing Act 1 again, I couldn’t help but laugh at MC’s awareness of overused anime archetypes as Natsuki did her little “tsundere” bullshit such as “It’s isn’t like I did this for you” and hiding her love for cute things through acting hard and tough. It almost made me forget that DDLC was a psychological horror VN. Almost. With that said, I can’t help but find some parts of my personality in her (as weird as it might sound). There are some things I do enjoy that I’m kinda shy to admit (some moe’ blob anime like Lucky Star, classical music, reading about heart-warming stories , and shedding a tear or two at emotional scenes in anime to name a few).

…that’s as far as my softer side y’all gonna get from me.

The first night of the poem homework for Natsuki went smoothly. And by smoothly, I cheated and save scummed because I accidentally got a few reactons from Yuri and Sayori that completely override my goal to have MC romance Natsuki. Eh. I dunno what cute shit fictional girls like. Or real ones at that. I suck at the romance thing.

After starting over I got MC to interact with Natsuki,. There’s a hint for shadowing/mockery here as Natsuki talks about her favorite manga,“Parfait Girl” MC makes fun of the cover, which offends Natsuki telling him the old adage of never judging a book by its cover and how things may have more layers than it appears. A subtle jab at the true nature of the game.

I can’t help to think how Natsuki’s character mirrors that of the otaku. Otakus are quick to defend their passions – may they be anime, manga, gaming, etc.. Sometimes, they find inspiration in them (such as with Natsuki becoming a baker and a cook from reading her manga) and opening up to those who also share their passion. Natsuki struggles to share her love of manga with her friends. Every attempt has been met with ridicule by them (since they believe she’s still childish for not growing out of her manga phase).

I’m sure you guys had to deal with this in the past (maybe even today as adults for the older people reading this). With nerd culture growing ever popular by the day the stereotype of nerds and anime fans being childish and immature is dying. The stigma is still there, but it wasn’t as bad as it was decades ago.

I was able to have MC make Natsuki fluttered with the poem with him writing something that matches her style. Guess she’s not used to people appreciating and sharing her passion. I know that feeling. Doesn’t excuse her from acting goofy about it but I get it. As Natsuki share her poem with Monika Monika tells MC how Natsuki’s writing style is similar to late author Shel Silverstein: “childish”, but with adult themes and straight to the point by using fewer words than necessary. I like that lowkey. I believe that you can say more by saying less and the more you talk and ramble, the less interesting you are to people.

Make people think about what you say and keep them in wonder by saying less.

Everything goes per normal so let’s skip ahead to Natsuki and Yuri’s fight. Stated in an earlier post (I think, it’s been a while and I don’t feel like searching for it), I went to Yuri because she’s my favorite character and I like her character archetype, but for this one, I went for Natsuki. She gets happy, proud that somebody like her childish, but blunt writing style. Real shit, I get her. It gets annoying when people talk down about your style (without any advice to improve it, mind you). When somebody sees the beauty of your style, it reminds you that it is not bad.

You do get a little egotistical, however.

Following the second poem writing, there’s a funny scene where Natsuki is struggling to get her manga collection from the top shelf of the clubroom’s closet. Natsuki, dealing with her short complex, tries to reach for them but fails. MC tries to help out, but couldn’t, as he was put in an awkward situation – either hold the step ladder that Natsuki had (while innocently looking up her skirt), or let her fall in which she hits head hard against something, crack it open, bleed out and die; thus ending her route and the game . The two fall down and shit scatters, with one of her manga being damaged.

(…okay so she didn’t fall to her death.)

Natsuki gets upset, snaps off on MC, but then starts to cry, saying things like “I’m just having bad day” and “every day, it just gets harder”. Subtle hints to Natsuki’s homelife and being abused by her dad. Of course, you won’t catch it on your first run (unless you read the spoilers). You assume that Natsuki acting childish or overreacting, not knowing that her acting out is a result of her stressful home life. Over time, it’s going to take a toll on any child dealing with abuse.

There was an interesting theory I came across on a DDLC Facebook group months back that not only Natsuki’s dad belittles her for reading manga, it’s possible that he may have destroyed a few from her collections. It’s not uncommon for abusive parents to destroy their children’s personal items. I have friends who during childhood, their parents would break their things as a form of “punishment”.

Natsuki could be hiding her manga at the clubroom to avoid any further damage from her dad. Monika fucking with her collection adding to how horrible her home life is only fueled by Natsuki’s paranoia that she may lose her manga – her way out of reality for a little bit. Really wish Dan did more with Natsuki character. There are layers about her that need to be explored.

Continued in Round 2 Part 2.

(before I go I gotta say some of you Natsuki fans need Jesus)

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on August 13, 2018

Fate 2

How a Fate/Grand Order Poster Inspired Me (FREEWRITE)

Note: This is a raw, unedited, freeform post.

I love my trip to Los Angeles and attending Anime Expo. It was a life-changing experience of consuming and getting involved in local and global cultures that I’ll never experience in my hometown. While I foolhardy limited my travels to Downtown L.A. and Little Tokyo, the drive to go back to the West Coast is eating me up (in fact, limiting myself is the reason why I must go back because there’s more of L.A. I want to see). The trip sparked a fire within me to better myself finically (through having multiple sources of incomes) and improve my creative talents so I can justify visiting L.A. in order to growth (or better yet – if I decide to live in L.A. for a few years)

While wandering around the Downtown area searching for a CVS, I encounter a massive fate/grand order towering above the Wells Frago bank in the area. A huge smile came across my face for two reasons. One, because I am a bit of a casual fan of the series and that I’m happy on how the series has come this far. Two, it served as a reminder (to me) that even the titans of the industry I am a consumer of had to start at the bottom to reach the top. The creators behind the fate series were just people like you and me who had the vision to breathe life into something they felt could change their industry, the world, and their lives.

As my eyes focused and analyzed the mighty fate poster, I started reflecting on my own goals and dreams in life (and how I want to create something that will be loved by many). My mind brought up the struggles it took me to get to not only Los Angeles and Anime Expo, but my current level of life and how I persevere to push forward with my goals despite the pitfalls, doubters, haters, etc..

‘I wonder what sacrifices these fate dudes had to make to get to where they at today? How hard and smart did they work in order to become icons in the otaku niche.’ I asked myself. The poster spawned endless questions in my mind. Questions of hard work, sacrifice, brand building. I became a curious child who was given a brand new toy and was obsessed with what the toy can do. At that moment, I started planning on what should I do with my own goals and desires and how in order to bring them to life.

Me posing in front of one of the Fate/Grand Order posters in Downtown L.A.

The people who created the fate series were given the same two hands, two eyes, two feet, two legs, and a similar creative brain like me at birth. The difference between those guys and me is that they got off their asses and bust them to bring their vision to the world. Yeah, they were met with problems, haters, doubters, and people telling them to give up on their dreams. Yet they push through the noise. That’s the struggle every creative person will face. I am no exception to this law.

If we wanna reach the real shit, we must go through the bullshit. That’s the only way our dreams can come true.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on July 27, 2018

Current Events 6

History Repeating Itself: Doki Doki Literature Club Blamed For A Teen’s Suicide

What’s the best way to generate an increase in sales and downloads for your product? It’s simple: controversy. This effective yet infamous trick has worked well for the video game industry for 30+ years. Mortal Kombat came under fire by the U.S. Government for its high level of gore and violence (at the time). Middle-Class suburban parent groups demanded that the game should be removed from arcades and stores; as they believed children would become influenced by the game’s brutally Their anger and protests only generated more support and sales for Mortal Kombat.

Rockstar used this trick as well with the Grand Theft Auto series. As with Mortal Kombat before it, parents and government groups were horrified by the pixeled violence and sexual acts displayed in Rockstar’s landmark series. They demanded the video game company to cease production. Guess what? Their crusade against it only helped increase sales, support, and popularity for the series. Rockstar knew the controversy would work in their favor.

On June 25^th, 2018, the Manchester Coroner’s office issued a warning to school officials in the United Kingdom after the suicide of 15-year-old child back in February 2018. Prior to the suicide, the child was playing the popular free-to-play visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club (DDLC). The coroner and the child’s father suspected that the mental health themes of DDLC played a part in the death.

I gotta say: history is repeating itself.

It’s unfortunate that the child killed himself. He needed therapy. However, it’s funny to blame DDLC (for triggering the child’s death). Are we really going to do that again (blamming video games)? Shit’s played out. Then again, it’s easy to play the blame game as opposed to be more open to the struggles of mental health illnesses and finding support for those suffering from. We are quick to shun anyone with it. We are quick to shun video games. But we aren’t quick to help people. We only use people with mental health issues for selfish gains.

Take that as you will.

DDLC being linked to this latest video game controversy will only generate more popularity, support, and downloads. People love negativity. Humans are a curious lot. That warning will make can children curcious about the game, share it with their peers, and of course, produce an expansion of its populairty and downloads. History is repeating itself.

To the Manchester Coroner’s office: Congrulations on helping Team Salvato net furhter attention and support. Ya did well.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on June 26, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Monika and Taking Advantage of the Game of Power (Drunken Freewrite)

Disclaimer: Wrote this when I was drunk.

Just imagine: You’re a normal schoolgirl living a normal life in Japan, America, or whatever the fuck you’re from. You do normal schoolgirl things like homework, talk about boys, join clubs, and worrying about if the beta incel loser who think women owes him pussy will finally snap and shoot up the school. You live an average life with you and your friends having fun and thinking about the future after high school.

One day, you have an epiphany: Everything you know about your life was a complete lie.

You’re not a real person – you’re a computer game character trapped in a visual novel made by some computer nerd who used to make mods for a children party game that was ruined by a bunch of sad, loser ass manchildren who turned it into a “fighting” game. Your peers are nothing more but data. The school you love? It’s a simulation. Your friends? Programmed to fall in love with some sad virgin weeaboo jacking off to hentai of said friends after the finished playing the game while you sit on the sidelines questioning your existence. So what you going to do with your new Godlike self-aware powers?

Brainwash and Kill your friends, disrupt the game and force the player to fall in love with you of course!

Monika gets a lot of shit in the DDLC fandom. People claim that she’s a sociopath. People hate on her because she killed their cliche’ waifu. Fans of Monika (like myself) are accused of being morally bankrupt and corrupt. Me personally? I think Monika is a power player and was a G for taking advantage of her situation. If you had absolute power, or seek it, wouldn’t you do anything by any means to get what you want?

Monika was simply playing the game of power to her advantage. She understood that her friends were nothing more but lines of data. She wasn’t killing anyone real. Besides, what would have happened if one of them became self-aware? Surely they would have tried to take out Monika and anyone else in their way. Knowing this, I can’t fault Monika for her actions.

She had to do everything within her power to ensure victory.

What are the goals for dealing with rivals in sports, business, the workplace, what have you? Take out anyone in your way, dominate and intimidate them all. You take them out by sheer force and superior skills. You dominate by being better, maintaining your number spot, and being innovating. Finally, you intimidate through brutal, savage actions – making sure nobody else tries to step up to you and knock you out of first place. Monika did all three. Screwing with the game’s programming was intimidation. She made Sayori hang herself, Natsuki snap her neck, and Yuri stab herself to death: taking out the competition. And finally, she dominated the system. Simple power plays if you ask me.

Don’t hate the player or the game. Be the player and take advantage of the game.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on June 25, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Path to Doki Doki Literature Club’s Good Ending – Round 1: Sayori

You know, I truly believe that you can earn your happy ending in life – but only if you work and grind your ass off for it. Video games (with multiple endings) drive this point home hard. If you truly want that happy ending, then you have to go through hell to obtain it. Doki Doki Literature Club is no expectation. In order to get the game’s true/golden ending, we gotta go through hell first. Well, okay we already went through hell once. Let’s do it again.

‘Paradise starts in hell.’
-Tim Grover

To start, I’m going to tackle Sayori’s route first. There’s a CG I have yet to obtain (at the time of this writing) from her route. Plus, her cheerful attitude grown on me. The too pure cinnamon bun thing, ya know? Also, gonna name myself after my PC (“OWNER) to see if Monika detects that lol.

Let me say this: Thank god for the skip text option. Because fuck; I ain’t spending another two hours of my life reading all that bullshit in her route. For some situations, I did read some of her lines and what others have to say about Sayori. It’s strange: when you consume media for the first time, you do not pick up on the subtle clues the creator(s) hid within the art. It’s only when you consume and experience it multiple times is when you start to pick up on the things that were once hidden. Seeing how Sayori wanted to cheer everyone up to hide her depression and pain not only made sense, it was heartbreaking.

Monika mentioned that it was surprising to read Sayori’s poems on the topic of sadness as it was opposite to her normal cheerful personality. Saying the obvious (Sayori conceals her depression from the club) is stupid so I won’t go into those details. It does make you think about the people in your lives who are always happy and want to cheer everyone up.

Are they truly happy, or is their happiness a mask to hide their pain to make people not worry about them?

DDLC 2018-03-22 02-08-20-49.png — “I could sleep forever.” That was the first clue.

Skipping through the dialogue I came across one of the two most important choices I need to make for this route: Would I rather walk back home with Sayori or Yuri. In my original walkthrough, I selected Yuri (personal bias). That was one of the catalyze that worsen Sayori’s depression. In retrospect, I can understand how that fucked with Sayori’s head. I am not a mental health expert or anything, but seeing how Sayori reacted to that, I can only guess that she felt that she was a burden to the MC as well as her feeling worthless. She probably started to overthink the situation and believed MC was pushing her away to hang out with Yuri (or any other club member). Again, I do not know if that how depression works.

If anyone could be kind enough to correct me let me know.

I went with the “I’d still walk with Sayori” option. I think I’m doing well. I hope. The third round of poem writing seems to get harder. The dark and depressing words seem to relate to Yuri more than Sayori, but I still got reactions from Sayori. I’m starting to think the game knows I’m save scumming lol. The day after, the club starts to prep for the festival. Sayori is sitting alone as normal with her head bury in her desk.

At this point, you can sense that her depression is hitting harder as she once again does her façade of trying to make her crew not worry about her. Perhaps it is because I am more in tune with my emotional/creative side of my brain, but I can’t help but feel bad about her and think about my friends who are battling depression. Honestly, that shit breaks my heart and I feel helpless when I can’t help my friends feel better about themselves because of how cruel mental health illnesses are.

Maybe that’s why her character has grown on me on this second playthrough. Ha.

You know you’re dedicated to getting a good end when you panic and freak out thinking you fucked up. When the MC goes to Sayori house to check up on her, I started to think “Oh shit I made a mistake this is the suicide scene!”. Then I remember that scene came a little bit later in the game so I still have time to do my save scum shit. But nah, the first time MC goes over to Sayori’s house, she reveals that she has lifelong depression.

This could be fate or just by chance, but I had my hip-hop instrumental playlist playing in the background. The next song in the cycle was 2pac’s Pain from the movie Above The Rim. Fitting. Sayori dealt with (mental) pain all her life. We’re now seeing her tell her best friend about it. There’s a sample from one of the Star Trek movies that are used in Pain. I think it goes: “‘I couldn’t help but noticed your pain!’” “’My pain?’” “’It runs deep – share it with me!’”

(If I could get away with it, I would make a music mod of DDLC that uses 90s hip-hop music. Pain would be perfect for Sayori revealing her depression to MC).

‘Why do we die at an early age?
‘Why there’s so much pain?’
‘Tired of the strain and the pain’

Yea. Those lines work well with DDLC.

For preparations for the festival, I selected Natsuki to help me out . I have yet to have any interactions with me from my first run through so I thought it would be best to check her shit out. But since this is a Sayori-centric path, I’m gonna save my notes/thoughts on Natsuki for her path. I do like Natsuki’s softer side though and she seems mellower than what she puts out on the surface. Mellow Natsuki best Natsuki.

(I will like to say that the instrumental of Drake’s “Pound Cake” goes well with the baking scene between MC and Natsuki. Yes. Puns were intended.)

Now, finally, I arrived at the single most important point of this path; Telling Sayori if I love her or if I should put her in the friend zone. In a normal run-through (without a guide), either decision led to Sayori’s suicide. In that regard, telling Sayori you love her only to have her kill herself the next day hurts harder than simply telling her that she is your best friend. Pretty fucked honestly. In any case, I manage to unlock two CGs I needed for this path for the golden ending so I’m gonna dip out.

Next: Natsuki.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on May 15, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Doki Literature Club Adventures: Act 4 – Bad Ending (Freewrite)

‘This game will not have a happy ending.’
-Bernkastel, Umineko no Naku Koro ni

Major Spoilers: I lied. Sayori is the final boss.
Warning: You should already know by now I play this game and write about it drunk.

I was warned that DDLC wouldn’t have a happy ending. I shouldn’t sweat it too much; given I’m a fan of Umineko no Naku Koro ni: A 07^th Expansion visual novel that too didn’t end happily. The first half of my favorite Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem 4: Genealogy of the Holy War, also didn’t end well. And my favorite Persona game, Persona 3, had a depressing ending. (Jesus fuck, maybe I’m secretly sad that’s why I like downer endings) Did I spoil myself on the bad ending for DDLC? Yes. But, I think by spoiling it, it drove me to finish the game (to see how sad and depressing the game ending is). To tell the truth, I love it when consumer media concludes with a downer ending. The happy ending thing is played out. Fuck that happier ever happy shit.

Sometimes, you need a reminder of how brutal and unfair life can be.

The movie been out for almost a month. Don’t bitch about this spoiler.

After killing Monika I restarted the game. It started as normal, expect Monika isn’t on the title screen. Yay! The wicked bitch is dead! The game resume starting with act 1 like nothing happened expect the recently revived Sayori is now the president….Shes’ gonna be self-aware like Monika, isn’t she?

In any case, MC — rather, the player – joins the Literature Club. Given Sayori’s position on the screen, she is the club’s president. Yuri is on her left, so I’m assuming she retains her vice-president role. The BGM is the title screen music. Ya know, with the piano playing the melody. Didn’t Monika play the piano? Hold up…

Sayori gets all happy that the MC has joined her club. You know, it’s kinda depressing: Sayori is happy Everyone is acting normal like they didn’t go through the chaos from Monika. Yet, we the players knew what these girls went through. We know what is to come. And there’s nothing we can do about it.

Sucks, doesn’t it?

As the girls celebrate the formation of the club, I couldn’t help but notice how more friendly Natsuki and Yuri are towards each other. In Act 2 they were at each other throats, belittling one another and judging their hobbies. In Act 4 however, they seem to respect one another, with Yuri wanting to learn more about manga and Natsuki wanting to learn about novel through Yuri. What did I say in my Act 2 Part 2 writings? Natsuki and Yuri could get along and become close friends – best friends even.

(To tell the truth, I’d love to see a mod or a non-h doujin with Natsuki and Yuri as they form a powerful bond. Natsuki could help Yuri overcome her fears, become more confident with herself, and fight her bullies. Yuri could help Natsuki learning about the arts.)

As MC and Sayori speak about how fun the club will become, Sayori thanks me (not MC), for getting rid of Monika. I start to freak out as I’m still drunk from writing my Act 3 shit and the music becomes creepy and distorted. Doesn’t help that I’m wearing earbuds that are programmed to be bass boasted.

I made a terrible mistake, haven’t I?

I’m prepping myself for any jump scares or freaky shit so I may become sober as we get deep into this post. Which probably is a catch 22 because Sayori revealed that she knew Monika did all the horrible things she did to the girls and the player. She talks about how MCI made her the happiest girl in the world…hold up, didn’t Monika said some shit like this as well? Please don’t tell me I gotta deal with another murderous nutjob girl who trying to get with the MC. I already had enough of that bullshit for one play through.

Sigh…do I have to delete another yandere bitch? To quote a 90s Nickelodeon co-star “Awww here it goes!”

I’m sure the game knows I don’t wanna go through this bullshit again because the first choice of this act is “No.” Thank you game, I appreciate you. Sayori’s spelling out “FOREVER” was creeping me the fuck out. Hold up, the game isn’t saving me…it’s Monika.

Even this game was like “Yea no let’s not go through any more bullshit.”

Monika starts to hakai Sayori, the club, and the entire game. After that, she starts to sing the game’s ending theme and the credits roll. Apparently, I’m missing a few CG shots (given I have yet to tackle the Natsuki route and I didn’t fucking save scum). Sigh…fuckin’ bad endings.

Continued in Yuki’s Revenge Against This Fuckin’ Entry Level VN.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on May 14, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Doki Doki Literature Club Adventures Act 3 (Freewrite)

Warning: Major spoilers for the finale of Act 2 and 3. Yuri dies. Natsuki’s dad uses her as a punching bag. Sayori comes back to life. Monika is the final boss. Gory imagery of your dead visual novel waifu decaying below. Adult themes. Written under the influence of alcohol.

To my fellow Yuri fans; we got shitted on. Boy, we got shitted on. Bad enough she got brainwashed by Monika and was driven to “suicide” by her Bad enough we gotta see her bloody body. But did Dan really have to make us watch her body decay for three days (in game)? Real nigga shit, for 5-10 minutes we see Yuri body fuckin’ decay while Monika basically taunts us talkin’ about how happy she is to have friends in her club and shit. I mean, me personally, my fucked up in the head ass would made Yuri body bloated and do the whole rigor mortis super realistically with the CG art, so I can’t really talk shit. But still, I didn’t wanna see that shit.

…okay I actually didn’t see most of the decaying scene. I got bored and decided to roll up a blunt cuz that shit was taking too long.

I do have a few questions though. How the fuck did MC survive 2-3 days without food or water while he was trapped in the classroom with Yuri’s body? How did this nigga not go insane? He watched his homegirl kill herself and rot in front of his eyes. I’m sure anyone would had gone crazy seeing that shit. Also why didn’t he call anyone up and tell them what happened? I understand he was in shock but after a while you would figure he could made a few phone calls.

Eh, it’s video game logic let me not think about it too much.

The weekend came and gone and MC is still trapped in the school with Yuri’s body. I wonder if he started to eat parts of her body to live. I mean, when you need to survive and there’s no other source of food… Okay, that’s fucked up. Natsuki come up to the club room to prep for the festivial with the reminidng living crew. She spots MC and is surprise that he arrived earlier than her. A few days earlier but still early. As Natsuki is about to prep (for the festival) she sees Yuri’s body and starts to freak out. She also starts to vomit because…yeah, rotting dead body.

Now, I ain’t a forensic nigga, but wouldn’t you think Natsuki would had smelt Yuri’s body before she got into the classroom? She goes in the clasrom carefree and doesn’t smell anything until she hits the classroom. I ain’t gonna look that shit up cuz I don’t want Google to think I’m some serial killer or anything but still, science and everything. Natsuki starts to run away and Monika enters the classroom. She wonders why Natsuki was screaming and runnin’, sees Yuri’s body and put two and two together. Instead of freaking out and/or asking questions Monika simply says “Well, that’s a shame.”

Monika is a fuckin’ psychopath. Or sociopath. Whatever. I ain’t a psychologist.

Monika admits that she was screwing around with the game’s script and by doing so, she forgot to let MC escape the room. Thanks. Your jealously and murderous intent caused this man to have irrssevial psychological damage. Good job. As Monika conitutne to brag about her failure she erased Natsuki and the remains of Yuri like she’s a Dragon Ball Super God of Destruction. You know, I wanna see Monika dressed like a God of Destruction. She’ll be a perfect fit for Universe 3 given it’s an universe heavily focoued on the advancement of technology (with her being an AI program).

Monika talks about how it’s the last time she’ll get to fuck around with the script or something and things get weird. The game glitches out. The classroom changes to this sinster shit in outer space or something I don’t know I’m too drunk to describe it. Monika is happy to see me – not the MC – me. I tried to save the game but Monika doesn’t allow it because she ain’t going anywhere. Joy.

Is this consider the end game? Did I beat the game? I was hoping so cuz I had to work in a few hours (at the time I played this act) and I didn’t wanna deal with this jealous murderous chick and her trying to get into my personal life. First, she asked if my name was really “YourName”. In my head, I’m thinking “no you goofy bitch I was trying to see if the game would pick up on me dicking around and naming myself ‘Your Name” when it asked me to enter your name. Then she asked if I go by “Owner”.

Monika, look. I get you’re in love with the player/me. I get that you may have some kinks like any other normal person. But I am not into pet play or that owner shit. If you’re trying to find a someone to entertain your fetishes I ain’t the one cuz that’s some white people shit. I mean it’s cool to like guys older than you. I myself have a thing for older women. Older women who won’t fuckin’ kill people out of jealously, mind you.

Then I remember that my my laptop is named “Owner”. Whelp!

Monika starts to admit that she made the other girls go crazy in an attempt to get in the player’s pants. She brags about making Sayori’s depression worse in order to make the poor girl commit suicide. Monika didn’t mean to, but shit happens. I understand. But real shit that’s fucked up. She also brags aboutt corrupting Yuri’s obbessive personality. Therefore, it lead her to kill herself. The girls starts to bitch about how lonely she is (you’re a murderer I can see why nobody wanna be around you) and how much it sucked that the other girls were programmed to fall in love with me while she just sit and watched.

Okay. Real nigga shit: If you were Monika and you know you were an AI who could control their fate, wouldn’t you just went ahead and make yourself known in the first place? Make yourself the perfect girl for the player. So perfect that he would have to choose you over the other girls.

Oh wait, Monika’s a fuckin’ idiot nevermind.

I almost feel bad for Monika. Almost. She didn’t chose to be born a program. She didn’t choose to live in an artifical world. Then again, she is also manipulative as fuck so I don’t truly feel sorry for her. She show me a poem she wrote about an happy ending which would had been sweet and cute but you know: the whole trapped in the room of inifinty thing. Monika then asks if I know any artists who could draw her in some casual clothes (given she only wear her school clothes).

Well, there are artist out there but they usually draw Monika without any clothes. You can go search for that I ain’t gonna help you out,

After showing me her poem and her talkin’ she ask that she should look into each other eyes since we have nothing better do to in her world. That’s really fuckin’ boring. For real, I ain’t gonna fuckin’ stare at a fuckin’ piece of anime art for horus on end.

Apperently if you wait a while Monika reveals a few things about herself (she loves animals), the girls (such as Yuri sneaking wine into the school through her purse), and the world she lives in. But like I said, I had money to make and I doubt my boss would be happy that I cameo work late over a fuckin’ video game so I had to delete Monika.

So I did. I closed the game, deleted Monika and restarted it. Monika gets all mad and everything like I did something wrong (because erasing her was a worse crime than her murdering three innocent people). She confessed that she loved me and will always love me. To show her love, she brought the other girls back to life. Yay.

Me personally? I don’t love Monika. Fuck Monika.

“She said ‘do you love me?’ I tell her ‘only partly’ I only love my bed and my momma, I’m sorry.”

-Drake, God’s Plan

Continued in Act 4.

AFTERWORD

Me: “Man, fuck Monika!”
Also me:

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on May 14, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Doki Doki Literature Club Adventures: Act 2 Part 2 (Freewrite)

Warning: Major spoilers for Act 2. Gory imagery of your dead, entry-level visual novel waifu below. Adult themes. Written while under the influence of alcohol.

I dunno if I mentioned this yet, but Yuri is my favorite character in DDLC. I can to relate to her issues (overthinking, worrying about what others think about me, etc). I used to find it hard to open myself to others due to my own problems of being bullied for being weird (took me years to overcome this). I can talk about the things I love with strong passion for hours. I get happy when I find people who appreciate me and my work.

Now, with that out of the way, can I say that Yuri is fucking crazy as fuck? Did this bitch forgot to take her meds before coming to school? Why does she need to carry a pocket knife around school for? Why did she felt the need to bring up Natsuki’s abuse; all because she wouldn’t win an argument against her? And if she couldn’t be even lower, she tells Monika to kill herself to reveal her stress.

Bitch got issues.

I don’t think that’s how that works, Yuri.

Today’s Yuki Adventures in DDLC won’t have much substance. Been lackin’ due to work. Therefore, this post is based off my ever fading memories (thanks to alcohol and weed). There won’t be as much excitement as my past DDLC adventure posts.

I left off with Monika telling MC that Yuri likes to cut herself (to deal with her emotions) and that I saw something he shouldn’t see. Now, my thing is this: If Monika knows Yuri cuts herself, why doesn’t she help her friend out? Tell her to seek a therapist or somethin’ fam. Ah well. After that, Monika theorizes that Yuri may be cutting herself for sexual pleasure.

Alright, Yuri is into some things. I remember my homegirl telling me that Yuri is freaky. But I didn’t know she was that freaky. Knifeplay is one thing (since you [usually] have to use a dull knife for such acts – don’t ask how I know I just know). But cutting yourself to get off? Yea, no that’s crazy.

Yuri, stop it. Get some help.

Monika concludes with that I should spend more time with her because she’s sane. Monika, sane people don’t call themselves sane. They especially don’t tell their friends to delete their other friends. Oh yea, Monika wanted me to delete Yuri and that it’ll be a difficult decision. Nah, what’s difficult is dealing with a crazy girl who’s plotting against her friends because she can’t get her crush to fuck her. That, and actually deciding if I wanna delete Yuri just to see if I unlocked a path. Of course, the game has a habit of deleting your saved files (because being annoyed that you lost your files when you need to take notes for your blog is true psychological horror…) so I decided against Monika’s wishes.

Monika rants about how much she cares about the MC/me/whatever I don’t care anymore and how we’re the only real people in the club (lazy foreshadowing). She’s not doing a great job at hiding the fact she’s the villain and wants to kill her digital friends. She may have many talents, but hiding her intentions ain’t one of them.

Nah, you’re faker than them Jordans you find at those dirty ass flea markets.

Yuri pops up and pulls MC to the side to ask him some stupid questions. First, she asks him if he noticed Monika’s recent strange behavior. I wanted to say “Yes, you fucking idiot she’s been plottin’ against all y’all since day 1 she is actin’ strange!” but I doubt she could hear me (despite DDLC’s genius level fourth wall breaking gameplay). But yes Yuri, to answer your question Monika has been acting strangely lately. Next, she asked if she’s not crazy or anything.

Well, Yuri, here some things thing:
1. You did lick and suck the MC’s finger clean of blood (after he cut himself on your knife).
2. You’re into knives. Not only that, you get off to the danger of knives.
3. When you were reading with the MC, you started to breath heavy.
4. You touched yourself to MC’s poem and did things to your own poem that I can’t go into full details because this isn’t an adult WordPress site (more on that later)
5. You made Natsuki cry.
5B. You said that nobody would cry or miss her if Natsuki killed herself.
6. You told Monika to kill herself.

Bitch. You’re fuckin’ crazy.

If I was the MC, I’d tell her she is, but that would run the risk of being stabbed to death by her. Yanderes don’t like being called what they are. As the two talk about how much of a fake, slimy snake Monika is guess who pop up a totally heard MC and Yuri’s conversation (because these two idiots didn’t just go further down the hall away from the club to talk shit)? Monika! Personally, I was hoping Monika would grab Yuri by her hair and start beating the shit outta her (for talking that shit behind her) but I didn’t make the game. Look: if you’re gonna talk shit about somebody, make sure they can’t hear you.

Kids: This is how people wind up on World Star Hip Hop fight compilations.

Some shit happen that I don’t remember so let’s pretend something happen between that scene and the next poem review scene. Natsuki comes up to MC with her “poem”. Strange, given she hates the poems I make the MC write (because I’m not a weeaboo like her) but MC accepted anyway. Here, we’re are given a look at Natsuki’s softer side. Instead of a poem, Natsuki gives dude a note about Yuri’s strange behavior. It’s revealed that Natsuki secretly cares for Yuri and it hurts her to see Yuri acting abnormally. She wants to help and befriend Yuri but fears Yuri will snap on her (due to their conflicting history).

I’m not shock by this. Yea, Natsuki is a tsundere and that was tsundere do. However, Natsuki’s concerns for Yuri make sense if you compare the two. They’re relentless about their passions. They’re often misunderstood. They will fight to the bitter end in what they believe in. The two tend to hide their issues from others. They will only reveal their true, softer side to those who they can trust.

I can totally see them being close, if not, best friends.

Natsuki and Yuri reading manga together.

But they won’t. Because Just Fuckin’ Monika. After Natsuki snitched on herself that she actually cares about people, the game starts glitching madly. The text box is spam with the words “Just Monika” over and over until the game “reset” to the title screen. Then, I’m greeted with more “Just Monika” text.

The game resumed per “normal”. MC gave his poem to Yuri and she reads over. Yuri starts to praise it. She loves it. Loves it so much that she tells MC that she’s gonna take it home and fuck herself while reading it. For real, the fuck is wrong with Yuri? After gushing (probably literally) over MC’s poem, she gives him her poem – which is covered in her blood and what I can only guess is either urine or dried up female ejaculatory fluids. And said poem is endowed it with her scent.

I am pretty sure Yuri may have sexually harassed the MC.

Following that, Monika speaks to MC about spending the weekend with her instead of the other girls. Yuri (obviously) didn’t like that idea and goes off on Monika. Yuri calls the kettle black and accuses Monika of being jealous. Then she asks her if she taking her anger and jealously out on the club because she hates herself and if so, she should kill herself (to benefit her mental health).

Boys and girls, this is why Yuri has no friends.

Once that died down, Natsuki and Monika leave school and Yuri is all alone with the MC. Great. The crazy bitch has the boy she wants all by himself. The yandere with the knife collection is alone with the MC. Again, the crazy ass, nutty ass, yandere ass knife lover is alone with the boy she crushin’ on hardcore. What could go wrong?

Yuri confesses to the MC that she’s in love with him. Clearly. Then she reveals that she stole his pen and fucked herself with it. Okay. That’s creepy, but still ain’t that bad. Next, she was like “You love me too, right? You accept my love?”. I’m presented a choice to tell her if I do or not. I said yes: only because I am a fucking idiot who have a thing for smart, quiet, shy girls. And I also have a thing for anime girls with purple hair. Yuri gets excited. Super excited. So excited that she starts to breathe heavy, laughs, and whips out her knife to stab herself to death.

At was at that moment, I knew, I fucked up. Continued in Act 3.

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on May 13, 2018

Real Talk 0

Don’t Lose Your Head By Letting Victories Get to Your Head (Freewrite)

Matoko Itou of School Days thought he was a player. He was able to court the alluring yet quiet Kotonoha; a girl many in their school deemed unobtainable (due to her wealth and lack of social skills). The two started dating, although it was one-sided as Matoko only wanted her for sexual reasons. Bored with Kotonoha, Matoko went after her best friend, Sekai. Sekai went ahead with his advances despite the fact that her homegirl was dating the man. One would think that a man would be satisfied with sleeping with two girls (who both happened to be best friends), but this is Matoko Itou. After screwing around with Sekai multiple times, the kid set his sights on different girls; including Kotonoha’s bullies the mutual friends of Kotonoha, Matoko, and Sekai.

From left-to-right: Kotonoha, Matoko, and Sekai.

Matoko could have stopped right then and there. He already slept with multiple girls but he wanted more. He got more than what he wanted when Sekai winded up becoming pregnant with his child. Upon knowing he would become a father, Matoko decided to stop his player shit – but it was far too late. Sekai, anger by the selfish actions of Matoko, murdered him.

Kotonoha then finds Matoko’s body and severed his head. She then killed Sekai out of jealousy.

When it comes to victories, many men let the results of their actions get to their head. They are ignorant of the dangers of that lies ahead of victories. Error, pitfalls, and downfall lie in wait for foolish people who push past their mark. You need to learn how to be happy with your results from your victories and check yourself so that you won’t be consumed by the greed of wanting more than you can handle. It will cost you more than what it is worth.

Yes, Matoko earned the right to be happy and celebrate his success of courting a girl such as Kotonoha. Yes, it was normal for him to feel great about it. But to pursue other young women when he had Kotonoha was foolish.

Seducing her went to his head. He lost it as a result – figuratively and literally.

Can’t show gore here so here’s a nice boat.

‘The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat.

Do not let success go to your head.’
–Law 47 of the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

(Now, use your head and do NOT watch School Days. It is a dumpster fire of poor production quality and writing)

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 26, 2018

Real Talk 0

Be Careful: There Might Be a Monika in Your Circle

They smilin’ in your face
All the time, they wanna take your place
The Backstabbers

–The Backstabbers by The O’Jays (1972 soul song)

Monika of Doki Doki Literature Club is one fake ass bitch. First off, she tricked everyone with her smile, charming personality, and warm appearance. She made you think that she’s friendly and cool. Yet, she winds up murdering her friends and kidnapping the main character (MC) out of jealousy. Rather than celebrating her friends for getting with the MC, she manipulated their personalities and had them killed. Kinda like how the fake people in our lives act. They see you winning or making moves and rather than to clap for your victories, they be on some passive aggressive shit. They love to talk ill of your achievements. They love to plot against you over what you have (because you have what they don’t). They run their mouths to others about your flaws and spread rumors to discredit you. Seems bad, right?

Nope. It gets worse.

Some fake friends you dead! They wanna see you die! They might even kill you themselves! You don’t even know it. Just like how Sayori, Natsuki, and Yuri were unaware that their “friend” Monika was planning to kill them, you just might have a friend in your circle who wants you dead. They want to kill you because they can’t stand the fact you have more than them. They can’t stand it that you – somebody who wasn’t supposed to be something – became something.

How do you know if you might have a Monika in your circle? Let’s find out.

__monika_natsuki_sayori_and_yuri_doki_doki_literature_club_drawn_by_glamist__sample-722cc11fa9e79f2d43748ce718b8d0b4.jpg — Source: https://glamist.deviantart.com/art/Lonely-songbird-DDLC-728241599

In order to detect the Monika, we gotta break down what is and what makes a Monika. In short, a Monika is that friend who’s super jealous, insecure, and angry at everyone winning. They see everyone gaining success and that makes them bitter. Because of that, they come up with schemes to bring you down. You ever did something that’s worthy of praise and everyone clapped and celebrate for you it but one of your friends didn’t? Or they say some slick shit about it without any advice to improve and better yourself?

That’s your Monika.

Monika didn’t celebrate any of her friends for getting close to MC. In fact, what makes her pathetic is that Monika had the nerve to talk shit about her friends behind their back. When the MC catches Yuri cutting herself, Monika takes him back to the classroom and the two have a little talk. Monika mentions that Yuri self-harms as an outlet to express her emotions – in addition to possible sexual reasons. Then, she wanna ask you if that kinda messed up.

Nah, what’s mess up is that this bitch knows her homegirl cuts herself and ran her mouth about her friend’s private mental health issues to another friend. A real friend would have been like “Let’s help our homegirl out. Let’s have her talk to a therapist so she can get the help she needs. We need to be there for her and love her regardless of what’s going on in her life.” A real friend would have confronted their friend about their self-harm habits – not spread that information to others.

See, you gotta be careful about telling your flaws and issues to some friends. You may think they care about your issues, but in reality, they don’t. And they will spread that information to others just to make you look and feel bad. Reflect on a time when you told a “friend” about a situation that was personal and private. You thought you did right in telling that friend such information but they turned around and told others. And you only found out after a 3^rd party informed you of such details (who wasn’t supposed to have that information).

That’s that Monika shit.

This brings me to my final point. The fake friend – the Monika – will overexaggerate your flaws around others to make you seem like a horrible person. In DDLC, Monika admitted that she manipulated her friends’ negative traits to extreme levels in hopes that she could trick the MC to fall in love with her instead. Sayori was battling life-long depression. Rather than helping her homegirl out, Monika drove Sayori to suicide. Yuri may have been a little passionate about the things she loves. Monika decided to turn Yuri’s passionate personality into that of an aggressive, obsessive love-struck girl. Monika made Natsuki low-ley said some shit about a possible abusive homelife and use it against Natsuki. All of this, just to make her friends looks bad in the MC’s eyes.

In the real world, fake friends will make your negative flaws and traits seem worse than what they already are. If they want to make a villain or somebody that nobody should associate with, they will do it. Fake people love to use your flaws in order to get ahead in life or reach their goals. A real friend will say something about your flaws and help you improve on them. A fake friend stays quiet about your flaws in order to screw you over.

The Monika in your circle will use your flaws against you.

While Monika is a fictional character in a fake world, the dangers of fake, backstabbing friends are real. They let their insecure nature get to their head: driving them to do horrible things to their “friends”. They do not praise the success of their friends. Rather, they talk ill about such things. They see your flaws and errors as a chance to bring you down. They don’t care about improving their own flaws or helping you with yours. They just want to be on top by any selfish means.

If you have a Monika in your circle cut them off now.

Fake friends: When they done talking to you, they start talking about you.

-Nino Brown (from his audiobook Mackin’ and Stackin’ Vol. 2)

FURTHER TOOL ON DEALING WITH FAKE FRIENDS:

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 26, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

My Favorite Things (Fan Poem)

*My Favorite Things*

Today I want to share a few of my favorite things.
I must warn you, I am enthusiastic about my loves.
An overt fanatic even.

What are my favorite things you may ask?

Well, I am infatuated with books.
The epic tales of brave, flamboyant heroes overcoming impossible odds.
Unexplainable horrors of the unknown violating your psyche.
Immense, multiple worlds anyone can journey through.
I don’t think about the tales I emerged myself in too much.
I just let the tales lead me.
Characters exhibiting their own unique personality
Mirroring the characters of our own world.
I love to sink into them naturally – exploring the world the author invited me to.

That’s why books are just a few of my favorite things.

Are you still curious about my loves? My favorite things?
Good.
I feel comfortable with me telling you about them.
Don’t worry; my loves aren’t too outlandish, hopefully.

What else do I love?
I adore tea.
Black. Green. Herbal.
An abundance of selections for your needs.
Need relaxation? Chamomile.
Want an energy boost? Eary Gray.
Tea for all occasions, for all needs.

That’s why I love tea.

May I tell you one more thing I love?
Oh, but if I do tell, it might drive you away
Scare you even.
But I can’t contain myself – I must tell you!

I love knives.

The alluring danger from their unforgiving sharp edge.
The beauty of the silver blade, irresistible.
I want to resist the urge of touching my skin with them.
But I can’t!
My heart’s beat assaults my chest, my slow breath deepens the blade kisses my skin.
Fresh cuts joining scars from kisses long since passed.
Blood dip, sliding along my skin.
I fill the silence of my room with a blissful, perverted sigh.

Oh! I’m sorry. Was that too much for you?
Perhaps one of my loves was too intense for you after all.
I hope you don’t find me strange or obsessive towards my loves.
I just wanted to share with you
Just a few of my favorite things with you…

AFTERWORD:
Free form poetry isn’t hard. What’s hard is writing that shit for a character you only have a few things in common with. Might do poems focused on Monika and Sayori next I dunno.

Also, i can’t believe I originally played DDLC to make fun of the fans and the game but it inspired me to get back into writing poems lmfao

Art source:

소심하고 비밀스러운 부원의 나이프 컬렉션#DokiDokiLiteratureClub pic.twitter.com/VVUzerkOnq

— まきあっと@ティアE29b (@MacciattoS2) January 10, 2018

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 12, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

I’m Angry (Fan Fic/Poem)

I’m angry
Angry because he hurt me again
He hit me before school began
I should tell my friend
But she has her own problems
To worry about my problems
So I guess I’ll be angry

I’m angry
Angry because he ate all my food
I ask him why, but he got in a mood
I should tell my friend
Maybe she can make me feel good
But why would she waste her time on me
I should just be quiet and let her be
So I guess I’ll be angry
I’m angry
Angry because he yelled at me
Told me to shut my mouth
Or he’ll shut it for me
I should tell my friend
Maybe if I do,
It will finally end
But I doubt I can
So I guess I’ll be angry

I’m angry
I’m angry because it won’t stop
I’m angry because I’m scared
I’m angry because it hurts
I’m angry because I’m such a coward
So I guess I’ll be angry

AFTERWORD:

This is perhaps the only fan poem I’ll do in my lifetime. Got bored today on my day off and I have nothing better to do but to write this for a DDLC fan group and do weeaboo shit. Maybe I’ll write and share an original poem one day.

Art Source:
https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=68015564

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 10, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Yuki’s Doki Doki Literature Club Adventures: Act 2 Part 1 (Freewrite)

Warning: Minor and major spoilers for Act 2. If you read this and get mad at me for spoiling things you ’re stupid. This may or may not had been written under the influence of alcohol.

First off, rest in peace Sayori you was a real one. I’ll save you or download a mod where you don’t die after I’ve completed my first run through.

Actually nah, not really. You can stay dead.

After a crazy day at work I decided to go to the liquor store near my house for another large can of Miller Beer (and some Jim Beam shot bottles), head to a park near my crib, rolled up a blunt, and smoke it while drinking (the beer) to get my mind right for Act 2. After that, I headed home and opened up my DDLC folder. Upon opening it I’m greeted with a file: “hxppy thxughts.png”. For a second, I thought I had downloaded while drunk/high (given I like to download weird fanart and hentai when I’m high/drunk), and place the image in the DDLC folder out of pure laziness. Then I remember that as you process in the game you unlock secret shit.

Ah well.

I booted up a new game. The MC made a wisecrack about some genki girl running down the street with bread in her mouth (replacing Sayori). I kinda laughed since this game does make fun of tired anime and visual novel tropes. However, I did stop laughing once the girl’s sprite started glitching. I was more annoyed than shocked through.

The game continued per normal as Act 1; expect Hanako 2.0 is the Vice President. Monika and Moe Fang Tsundere Otaku Girl (forgot her name) reprised their roles. Actually, I lied. The game doesn’t truly continue as normal. Natsuki started doing that Za Warudo shit off Jojo while Yuri’s sprite and the background went into a Dutch Angle; making me think I was playing one of my early 2000s ero-games. Yuri said something like how it’s amazing a writer can take advantage of your lack of imagination and throw you out of a loop.

Thanks Yuri. I thought it was the weed and beer that made me thought I was seeing things and not the game fucking with my head.

Following that, Yuri said something like how the world is full of evil people and how we all worthless at the end. Cool. After the first round of Poem Writing in act 2, I managed to romance Yuri. I was informed earlier that Yuri is a yandere and that she does some crazy shit with knives. Not something like tying up a little girl to a cross and stabbing her to death crazy shit, but somewhere close.

For some reason (for my notes possibly) I took a screenshot of the game from my FRAPS – or so I thought. I pressed “S” on my keyboard thinking I mapped the screenshot hotkey there. My game froze up for a bit and a message popped up: “Screenshot saved to blah blah blah folder”.

“Hold up, does the game know I’m recording and taking screenshots now?” I started to freak out. Yea, the Sayori suicide thing was a bit fucked up. The glitches and jump scare got me a little bit. But the game knowing I’m taking screenshots? That’s too much man. Then I remember: This game was made with that Ren’py engine. The screenshot key is automatically mapped to S.

This game isn’t fucking with me I’m just drunk.

Anyways, I resumed gameplay as normal. Everyone starts to read their poems. Natsuki and Yuri start to form a beautiful friendship/rivalry/a future yuri hentai scene over their poems by cussing each other out and starting a fight. Natsuki hurls some insults towards Yuri; calling her an edgy bitch and a cutter. Yuri claps back, telling Natsuki that she needs to stop acting cute. Me personally, I’m just waiting for Monika to pull out her phone, start recording, and yelling “World Staaaaarrrrrr!”.

Shit if I was the MC, I would instigate the fight further and egg both girls on until one of them snaps and beat the other girl’s ass.

DDLC 2018-03-26 21-43-25-28 — How friendships start

And it looks like I could actually make them fight. The game made me choose between the Yuri and Natsuki. I went for Yuri of course. But the game was like “Nah”. Then I was like “Fuck you I’m picking best girl Yuri.” Despite my wish to do so, the camera kept zooming in towards the Natsuki choice. I tried a few more times until Monika popped up and was like “Nigga you gonna pick Natsuki.”

DDLC 2018-03-26 22-02-29-99.png — “Sup.”

Monika steps in between the player and the girls and things chilled out. And by chill out, I guess Yuri made a crack about Natsuki’s dad abusing her – causing Natsuki to burst out in tears and leaving the school. Yuri, you should be proud of yourself for making fun of Natsuki’s suffering. I’m kinda glad you did kill yourself.

Yea, Hanako 2.0 winds up stabbing herself to death at the end of Act 2. I’ll come back to that later though. I wanna talk about on how the fuck Yuri found Dagger of Time from The Prince of Persia. Because I think she’s cutting herself with it.

After the fight scene, Yuri decides to make tea for her and the MC. Lovely. Tea is great. I love tea. I’m always down for some tea. Yuri runs off for some water or some shit. I wasn’t paying attention. The MC notices Yuri hasn’t come back and decides to go after her out of concern.
Yea, I don’t blame dude. Yuri’s both a cutter and a yandere. I’ve seen enough shit tier anime featuring yanderes to know that you shouldn’t trust them with food products. Yuri could have been cutting her wrists to put blood in the tea. But yea, dude catches her cutting herself with her knife. As dude tries to talk to her, the screen gets distorted and time’s reversed. Rather than being spooked, I started laughin’ again.

“Yuri has the Dagger of Time and she cuts herself with it!” I said to myself. Not really, it was just Monika fucking around. She explains how when she gets overly excited she starts cutting herself – and how she may do it for sexual reasons.

Yuri’s fucking weird. This game is fucking weird. Monika is the fucking villain and the game doesn’t hide it well. More in part 2.

DDLC 2018-03-27 11-09-45-09 — “They pen ain’t mightia than my pistol.” – Viper The Rapper

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 7, 2018

visual novel 0

The Leaders of Visual Emblem: Novel 776 (Fire Emblem, but with visual novel characters).

Ayumi
Origins: Famicom Detective Club
Replaces: Leaf
Class: Princess > Lady Lord (Automatic game over if she dies)
Weapons: Sword (C), Staff (D), Light Magic (E) (Earns E rank in Fire/Wind/Thunder upon promotion)
Personal Weapon: Light Blade (Sword, heals 5-10HP if used as an item, casts Lighting from afar)
Skills: Adept (Strike twice if faster)
Pursuit/Critical Coefficient: 2/5
Re-move Chance: 2/5
Leadership: 2/5 (10% to the army’s hit and evade)

Stat Growths
HP: 30%
Strength: 40%
Magic: 70%
Skill: 30%
Speed: 50%
Luck: 50%
Defense: 10%
Build: 10%
Movement: 5%

Ayumi’s Lady Lord class is basically the Mage Knight class from FE4 and FE5 on steroids. Her high growths in Magic suggests the player to focus on building up her Light Magic ranking (as well as Fire/Wind/Thunder upon promotion). Her biggest flaw is her defense and HP as she cannot take heavy blows. Since Ayumi replaces Leaf, you need to baby her and focus on her weakness in to ensure she’ll become a solid leader by the end of the game.

Keiichi Maebera
Origins: Higurashi: When They Cry
Class: Mercenary > Hero
Replaces: Dagar
Weapons: Sword (C Rank) (Earns E rank in Axes upon promotion)
Personal Weapon: Satoshi’s Bat (Sword, 3x damage vs. armored units)
Skills: Charm (provides 15% hit and evade to nearby units), Miracle (Luck*3% chance of evading fatal blows)
Pursuit/Critical Coefficient: 3/5
Re-move Chance: 1/5
Leadership: 1/5 (5% to his army’s hit and evades)
Supports: Mion (Bow Fighter>Sniper), Shion (Sword Master), Rika (Mage>Dark Bishop), Rena (Myrmidon>Sword Master), Satoko (Shaman>Sage)

Stat Growths
HP: 70%
Strength: 60%
Magic: 5%
Skill: 40%
Speed: 30%
Luck: 20%
Defense: 45%
Build: 30%
Movement: 5%

Keiichi’s main strength lies in his abilities to hit hard and survive otherwise fatal blows thanks to his defense and HP. He can support the Higurashi girls thanks to his leadership star and units outside of his army due to his Charm skill. Upon promotion, he will gain access to axes (which you will need to focus on building his Axe rank up due to indoor lance users). Don’t waste Satoshi’s Bat on any enemies, however. You’ll need it for troublesome Generals and Barons.

Beatrice/Beato
Origins: Umineko: When They Cry
Replaces: Machua
Class: Mage > Mage Knight
Weapons: Fire/Wind/Thunder (C Rank) (Earns D rank in Sword and A rank in Dark Magic upon promotion)
Personal Weapon: Red Truth (Dark Magic, Bestows Nihil skill, 3x damge to horseback and armored units)
Skills: Vantage (Always strike first)
Pursuit/Critical Coefficient: 1/5
Re-move Chance: 4/5
Leadership: 2/5 (5% to her army’s hit and evades)
Supports: Battler (Mage Fighter), Ange (Mage>Mage Knight), Lucifer (Social Knight>Duke Knight)
Stat Growths
HP: 25%
Strength: 30%
Magic: 70%
Skill: 30%
Speed: 30%
Luck: 5%
Defense: 20%
Build: 5%
Movement: 1%

Beatrice (as much as I love her), won’t shine unless you baby her and work on her flaws (and once you gain her personal weapon near the end of the game). She gains access to swords upon promotion but with her weak build and low strength it may not be worth giving her such weaponry.

Monika
Origins: Doki Doki Lit. Club
Replaces: Selphina
Class: Female Paladin
Weapons: Sword (A Rank), Lance (E Rank) Staff (A Rank), Light Magic (C Rank)
Personal Weapon: Your Reality (Lance, bestows Pavsie and Luna skill. 3x damage vs. horseback units)
Skills: Nihil (Disables Sword Skills), Charge (Prolongs battle)
Pursuit/Critical Coefficient: 1/5
Re-move Chance: 0/5
Leadership: 4/5 (20% to her army’s hit and evades)
Supports: Yuri (Dragon Rider>Dragon Master), Sayori (Thief>Theif Fighter OR Dancer), Natsuki (Axe Fighter >Great Knight)
Stat Growths
HP: 5%
Strength: 50%
Magic: 50%
Skill: 50%
Speed: 10%
Luck: 50%
Defense: 5%
Build: 5%
Movement: 10%

Using Monika is a gamble. She excels in Strength, Magic, Luck, Skill and Leadership making her a viable physical and support character. With Your Reality, Monika can block attacks, do incredible damage to horseback (especially if Luna activates). Sadly, this comes with a price. She has shit Build, HP, and defense. She can not take blows against powerful units. Many of the weaponry Female Paladins have access to are heavy — which will weight Monika down (and she will wind up being attacked twice by faster enemies). Her PCC is low so any chance of her landing a second attack or dealing critical damage against her enemies are slim. Oh, and she has Charge — the worse skill to have in Thracia 776 due to the long-range units you’ll face in the game.

Use her for situational combat.

Shizune
Origins: Katawa Shoujo
Replaces: Olwen
Class: Paladin > Master Knight
Weapons: Sword (A Rank), Lances (C Rank) (Gains usage of every weapon upon promotion)
Personal Weapon: Hakamichi (Sword, increases critical attack bonus, strike twice)
Skills: Vantage (always strike first), Sol (restore health equal to the damage inflicted on an enemy), Pavise (may block attacks)
Pursuit/Critical Coefficient: 3/5
Re-move Chance: 4/5
Leadership: 5/5 (25% to her army’s hit and evades)
Supports: Lilly (Priestess> High Preist ), Hanako (Mage>Mage Knight), Misha (Armored Lancer >General), Hisao (Duke Knight)

Stat Growths
HP: 20%
Strength: 80%
Magic: 5%
Skill: 60%
Speed: 10%
Luck: 5%
Defense: 30%
Build: 25%
Movement: 5%

Shizune is perhaps the most broken Leader so far (in my game notes). I mean just look at her skill set, class promotion, and personal weapon! That screams “I’M CHEAP!” lol. Since Shizune is a powerful leader I’m going to make it hard for the player to recruit her but trust me – it’s going to be worth it.

MORE LEADERS TO COME AND UPDATES COME NEXT APRIL FOOLS LMFAO!!!!

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on April 1, 2018

Doki Doki Literature Club 0

Is Monika From Doki Doki Literature Club Machiavellian? (VIDEO)

Doki Doki Political Club!

But real shit is Monika Machiavellian? She did use power and fear to control the game. She also tricked Sayori and Yuri to kill themselves just so she can get closer to the main character. In addition, she used fear to get her way by fucking with the player’s head AND deleting Sayori before Sayori became self-aware. What ya think?

By Yuki The Snowman Posted on March 28, 2018