I got up until 94.7 completion but left it at that. I enjoyed all aspects of the game.
Each heroine was unique (in body type, personality and disability)
The H-scenes were tasteful. It was worth all of the text and decision making. The decisions presented are extremely subtle as one wrong move can trigger the 'Bad End' flag.
The plot itself was actually believable. It ranks up with the ToraDora and OreImo PSP games.
Katawa Shoujo is actually a goddamn good time considering it was made by 4channers. it's simple story is actually told beautifully that hell you can introduce this vn to everyone and not be ashamed that it's a "porn game".
Also, I like Hanako as a character followed by Lily. While I liked the Lily route more than Hanako's but both are good and my faves.
Shout out to Emi's adventurous spirit if you know what I mean.
It's been a long time and I don't remember much. I cam't judge the quality now but remember liking it quite a bit. I only read the lily and hanako routes, then got bored with another one and stopped reading.
Lily was the best route, Hanako was the best character (imo). Shame her route was a bit disappointing. Worst character is probably between Shizune and Rin. Lets just say comforting Misha was probably the correct option.
But yeah, this was the piece of media that could be responsible for me getting into japanese entertainment, and the ironic thing it wasn't even japanese, just japanese inspired.
I played Lily's route, which was pretty good... She is easily best girl. The only problem I had with the game was that you had an extremely high chance of getting the bad ending if you went into it blind, because even the slightest of mistakes or the most random choices would take you off the good ending's path for some reason.
It's cute but I only got through Emi's route before my HDD had issues that happened around same time installed so I wasn't sure I should keep going because it made me suspicious.
On a serious note, KS one of the best VS out there in considering it's origin and price point. Made my 4channers and it's free to play; WHO WOULD OF THUNK?
I haven't thought about this for a long time. I can't remember how I found out about it, but when I first encountered it, I figured out that it would be a piece of trash but perhaps so bad that it would be funny, so I had to download it. Considering its subject matter, which could have easily become an offensive train wreck, and its origin (people who came from the bowels of 4chan), I think my initial bias was not without merit.
When I started exploring it, I was shocked. The subject matter was treated with sensitivity, and the characters and setting were well constructed. For a team effort by amateurs, it is incredibly well done. I have read all of the story lines, and I have even taken advantage of the French translation to help keep my limited skill in that language from deteriorating. I probably identify most strongly with Rin, as I have always been the sort to live inside of my head (and I am often misunderstood as a result). All of the main characters are complex; their physical handicaps are merely part of a whole. Even the sex scenes are better than I thought they would be; some of them capture the awkwardness that results when inexperienced teenagers decide to have sex and don't really know what they are doing.
All in all, Katawa Shoujo could have been an utter disaster, but it ended up being quite successful - definitely a pleasant surprise.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
I read the VN a few years ago. I think my order was Emi, Hanako, Lily, Rin, Shizune.
Emi was a cool girl. Definitely the most fun of the four. Her story was pretty straightforward, but it was good. The Chemistry between her and Rin was fun to watch as well. She had the most upbeat attitude of the five and had the most comfortable route to play through. Second best girl IMO.
Hanako is certainly one of the more compelling characters where you want to see how you get her to open up. She has a pretty tragic though not uncommon story among the five, so I can see why many would be most attracted to her. Her ending is pretty memorable too, both the good and the bad one. 3rd best girl IMO.
Lily's route has the best romance is my definite favorite in the game, although I am pretty biased towards her since I can relate to her experience with
being separated from a significant other due to circumstances beyond your control.
And while her backstory may not be as bad as Hanako's, Lily still had a pretty unfortunate past. Speaking of Hanako, I personally liked her in Lily's route more than her own route. Lily's route is the one I remember the most, but I think the writers were really biased towards Lily since she's the only one who got an extended ending. She's classy, modest, and is not afraid to speak about her sex drive. Best girl IMO.
Rin was....interesting. She's not as romantic as the other four, but her thought process and perspective of the world was pretty intriguing. You had to put yourself in her shoes to understand her.
And man, the scene with the table rubbing. I mean it might sound awkward at first, but the girl's got no arms. How can she relieve herself if she can't touch herself? That's frustrating as hell!
Rin may be quirky compared to the others, but that's what made her so appealing. 4th best girl IMO.
And Shizune? *sigh* Shizune had the potential to be the best of the five, but her route just didn't have any impact. I like Misha and all, but she just had to ruin the fun. Despite being mute, Shizune was probably the most normal character in the game, which means boring. The only things she had going for her was that she was the most well-endowed of the five and had the most graphic H-scene as well. Maybe she wins in the H-scenes, but the story itself was mediocre. Worst best girl IMO.