Katawa Shoujo – Final Thoughts

          Spoilers ahead.
          With ninety-nine percent completion I am confidently ready to pass a final assessment on Katawa Shoujo. But before I do that, I want to cover a glaring omission in my impressions of each route, and to answer likely questions one may ask of me.
          Of course, a relationship affects two (or more) individuals, and while I have given due discourse to the girls and their respective stories, I have not addressed at all Hisao’s own character development. It is clear that each heroine he pursued has had significantly different effects on himself. Let us establish a baseline portrait of Hisao right at his initial entry to Yamaku High. He is understandably moody, and perhaps depressed, over his grave condition and its consequences. Being introduced to a foreign environment, and disconnected from his old friends, added anxiety and a sense of loneliness that further dragged him deeper into misery. Suffice to say, Hisao was in poor mental and physical health at the onset of the visual novel, and his future unexplored.
          In Shizune’s route, Hisao was constantly dragged into work as a student council member. This has two positive effects on Hisao. When one’s concentrated with work, one isn’t thinking about his or her misfortunes. Secondly, work invariably produces some sort of result, achievement, or impact. And Hisao was able to see the fruit of his labour at the festivals, giving him a sense of usefulness, belonging, and pride that no doubt boosted his morale. By the very end Hisao knew exactly the path and the destination of his future. Hisao became much brighter, assertive, and certain, echoing elements of Shizune’s personality.
          Hisao and Rin were two lost souls, and Rin did little to improve Hisao. After all, how could Rin even begin to help Hisao when her own inner demons were already more than she could handle? Hisao remains moody throughout her story, his spirit was never really lifted. His future (and in the good ending, Rin’s as well) remains unclear. Hisao arguably gained the least benefit in pursuing Rin, although he is able to earn the elusive trust of an eccentric girl.
          In Lilly’s route he was told by the exquisite lady whom he grew to love that he is handsome, that he is a beautiful person, and most importantly, that she loves him dearly just the way he is. All but the most broken men would find himself in happiness. In this story, love itself rescued Hisao out of his blues. He also managed to chart a vague journey somewhere into the sciences in his future, a future with Lilly.
          In Hanako’s route Hisao saw in Hanako just how much the past can devastate a person, and how long it can continue to hurt. Near the end Hisao realized that the way out of his despair was to let go of the past, and move on. Much like in Lilly’s route, Hisao’s recently formed habit of reading was reinforced by hanging around two female bookworms.
          There is little doubt that Hisao is in the best physical shape after running nearly every day with Emi. I believe it is with Emi that Hisao has the best chance of living past thirty. In all other girls’ route Hisao has been negligent of not only exercise, but also of diet. I cannot imagine drinking coffee, tea, and frequently eating junk food such as cake can be any good for his overly fragile heart. Also, with such a serious illness as arrhythmia, shouldn’t the doctors already have prescribed a diet for Hisao before his arrival at Yamaku? Exercise not only ameliorates the body but also the mind. In addition to stress relief and temporary distraction, watching one’s own physical improvement certainly confers the additional mental benefits of achievement and confidence. Hisao once again discovered that his talent lies in the sciences, and has college in his sights after graduation. One could say Emi has had the most positive effects on Hisao’s life, because she has bettered both Hisao’s health and mood.
          Iwanako’s letter that Hisao receives near the middle of each path acts like a psychological probe, and his reaction hinted of his mindset at the time. In Rin’s route he actually replied to the letter, as he was still mired by his condition and his past. In other routes such as Shizune’s and Emi’s, Hisao ignored it, because he has already moved on and was too busy enjoying the present.
          Regarding my favorite girl and story, if one were to present to me only the heroines and their traits, saying nothing of their history and experiences, then my choices would reflect the order in which I have played their routes. If I were to take the girls and their tales as a whole, then Rin is the clear winner.
          I have only played but a scant few visual novels in my life, and to say Katawa Shoujo is one of my favorites means very little. If one wanted to see art, one could visit their local museums or the website of a famous artist to see visual pieces of work that are more dazzling or meaningful to the eyes. If one wanted to listen to music, one could listen to classical or their favorite genre, to hear aural experiences far beyond the melodies here. If one wanted to read literature, one could visit a library or a bookstore, and pull nearly any book off the fiction shelf to find much more elegant prose and narrative. And yet despite the adequate or even subpar components of the visual novel when compared to their native mediums, together in a single package Katawa Shoujo feels much more than the sum of its parts. Maybe this is true for the entire visual novels genre, as they are the amalgamations of all these mediums. Did a shed a single tear in Katawa Shoujo? No. Was I close to? A few times, and I commend the visual novel for that. Perhaps the best praise I can give for Katawa Shoujo is that for the past month and a half or so since its release, it has been my sole focus during my designated gaming time. I have not touched any other game since the New Years. Now, I bid a reluctant farewell to Shizune, Rin, Lilly, Hanako, and Emi. I will dedicate my most persistent neurons in remembering this creation in the years and decades that may come.

Katawa Shoujo – After Emi’s Route

          Spoilers ahead.
          I just finished the last route left for me in Katawa Shoujo. I left Emi Ibarazaki for last because judging from my initial impression of her in act 1, she was the kind of person that I was least likely to like and associate myself with. She is a happy-go-lucky, athletic, and energetic girl that lives in the moment. Delving deeper into her story we learn she is also fiercely independent to a fault, and shields herself in a psychological barrier that no one of her age has yet penetrated…until Hisao comes along.
          Emi’s story is also heavily marked by physical affection, even more so than Lilly’s route. But the manifestation of love that fostered between Hisao and Emi, and Hisao and Lilly are of very different kinds. With Lilly, their romance is of a more mature nature, as it is fitting to Lilly’s classy and refined character. With Emi, they act like their age, with plenty of childish teasing and playful physical contact. They look more like a typical couple in their teenage years. There are also themes common to both Emi’s and Hanako’ routes: the childhood accident that defined both girls’ conditions, and Hisao having to navigate closer to their hearts without looking like he is wearing shiny armor riding upon a steed.
          I wonder about the longevity and stability of this coupling. Ever since her accident Emi says that she lives for the present because she’s afraid to lose the future. Or more specifically, she’s afraid of having a future to lose. Hisao manages to pierce through her mental shield that guards her dearest memories, but has he influenced this particular perspective of hers? If she still only lives in the now, can both tolerate it through the years? Can Emi stand Hisao’s prodding questions about her future? Can Hisao accept constant avoidance or uncommitted answers? It may be a crack in their bond that may grow to a chasm in time. Unless, of course, Emi changes.
          I just have to mention that Emi’s route contains the most amusing scene of the entire visual novel, bar none. Hilarious times in the storage shed.

Black Rock Shooter after episode 02 – First Impressions

           Black Rock Shooter has an interesting concept. There is the regular world where so far a typical junior high slice-of-life drama takes place. Then there is a world of symbols running in parallel, where all the immaterial concepts are given form and function, and presented in a stylistic action packed fashion. I have to say, the metaphoric world is pretty entertaining. What are unseen conflicts of will in the real world are brutal close combat battles in the second. Although, I have this inkling that this interpretation is much too obvious, and that there is a grander scheme at play yet to be revealed.

My Tacoma BM6C Thunderhawk

           Just yesterday I have procured my first baritone acoustic guitar, a Tacoma BM6C Thunderhawk. Tacoma Guitars is, or rather, was a luthier company based in Tacoma Washington, USA. It has since been defunct, a fact that I hope will increase the value of this guitar as the years go by. I am its second owner; the first owner purchased it brand new in 2007. The deal came with the guitar, its soft case, a Tacoma Guitars catalogue, and the soft case’s information card. With its 29 inches scale length (nut to saddle measurement), the Tacoma BM6C is a big guitar, as one can see when compared to the average 25.5 inches scale length of my Taylor 314ce. Tacoma BM6C Thunderhawk has a jumbo-like body, a venetian cutaway, a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, one piece mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard, all covered with a light satin finish. Note the unusual shape and location of its sound hole. A fine piece of woodwork art to be sure.
          It is not without a few dents and scratches on its finish, however. And the less than seamless mating area of the neck and body is the only craftsmanship flaw I could find. I have yet to test its built-in pickup. A trivial detail, as I never plug in my acoustics anyway. I plan to slap on new baritone acoustic strings, and like the guitar itself, it’s not exactly a common item, as my local music shops does not carry any. I will also adjust the action and relief a bit to better suit my liking.
          As for how it sounds, it has a very warm tone. Almost too warm. I suspect new strings will improve this. And as expected of a baritone, the bass has a very strong presence, but yet it doesn’t drown out the higher notes. It is slightly more difficult to play, mainly due to the thicker strings and a longer scale length than what I’m used to.
          I originally had in mind an Alvarez Yairi YB1, but this Tacoma BM6C appeared for sale locally, and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity. A baritone acoustic was a necessity, as for years I have practiced songs such as Heather’s Song, Ebon Coast, and Joyland, all pieces written for the baritone acoustic, using standard guitars. While they sound alright in standard tuning, I cannot help but shake the nagging feeling that I was not playing the music as the artist intended it to be played. I have even tried tuning my standard guitars down to baritone tunings and played those pieces that way. Not a good idea, as I broke numerous strings when I did that, and the playability and sound of the guitar just wasn’t right. Now with my Tacoma BM6C Thunderhawk, I can faithfully reproduce (or try to anyway) these groovy songs in their native tunings; as NVIDIA would say, the way it’s meant to be played.

Katawa Shoujo – After Hanako’s Route

          Spoilers ahead.
          I have reached all three endings of Hanako’s route. A tragic character with a tragic past, her misfortune is immediate reminiscent of American McGee’s Alice, as both girls has had their entire family perish in a fire. As much as Hanako has suffered, at least she keeps her sanity after the trauma. More unfortunately, Mcgee’s Alice doesn’t. If one thinks about it, in American McGee’s Alice and Madness Returns, we players are having fun through Alice’s anguish and hallucinations. It is somewhat of a sad thought.
           Anyways, back to Hanako. Frankly, I prefer Hanako’s character development in Lilly’s path than Hanako’s own. In Lilly’s story, Hanako is akin to a civilized person suddenly stranded in the wilderness and left to fend for herself, growing stronger in the process. Lilly and Hisao, and to a lesser extent, Akira, created a comfortable environment that ensconced Hanako, enabling her to experience at least to some degree, the pleasure and privileges of friendship that she was robbed of after her childhood accident. In Lilly’s path, of course, Lilly and Hisao becomes a pair, and Hanako finds herself being the third wheel. Being the shy and considerate girl that she is, she must have thought it was best to let the two lovers have more time to each other, making it that much more difficult for Hanako to approach and hang out with her only friends. Hanako must’ve felt pangs of loneliness, or even betrayal, once again. She could have failed to cope, and all too easily fall into depression, and perhaps even suicide (which is what I imagined Hanako’s or Lilly’s worst end would be). Fortunately, she adapts, and finds a new circle of friends in the newspaper club. Instead of relying on Hisao she relied on herself, and in that sense I would say Hanako is a more confident and independent character at the end of Lilly’s route than Hanako’s own.
           I am neither stoic nor dejected by Hanako’s story. To sum up my reaction: Aww, poor girl. Her past is quite a bummer. Oh well, at least she finds a boyfriend. And so, the last girl left for me to get to know better is Emi.