Welcome to Katawa Shoujo. Right now, all we’ve got is a thoroughly unremarkable title screen. That will change as time goes on.
Most of the backgrounds in this game are photos taken from unknown sources. Still, it’s not bad in the way that a lot of things that do this with anime characters are.
The one thing I don’t like about the prologue is that Hisao (our protagonist) does not have a portrait, despite the fact that he’s his own character and not just a blank slate.
Just a side note here: this game is a pain to take screenshots from. It was coded in Ren’py and doesn’t hook right with any of the major screenshot programs, so I wound up having to take screenshots from OBS. If anything looks a little weird resolution-wise, it’s because I had to boost the aspect ratio in order to not have ugly borders on every shot.
: “Just how long am I expected to wait out here, anyway? I’m sure the note said 4:00 P.M.”
: “As far as I’m concerned, I’m more a fan of the letter in the locker, but at least this way shows a bit of initiative.”
: “I feel my heart skip a beat. It’s a voice I’ve listened to hundreds of times, but never as more than an eavesdropper to a conversation.”
This is Iwanako, who also does not have a dialog portrait. She’s kind of the one weakness in the plot: later on, Hisao will act like they’d been a couple for years even though this is really the first time they’ve ever properly met.
: “Dammit. I spent all afternoon trying to come up with a good line, and that was the result. Pathetic.”
: “Ahmm.. yes. I asked a friend to give you that note… I’m so glad you got it.”
There’s a heartbeat sound effect that plays here, but obviously I can’t show that in screenshot form.
: “So, ahh.. here we are. Out in the cold…”
And here we encounter Hisao’s disability: the fact that he loses both ears to frostbite. No wait, that’s not it.
Why is it that VN protagonists always have better luck with women than I do? The last one I tried to date told me I was a mistake. I tried to tell her that no, anime is a mistake (let’s dunk on Ni no Kuni 2) but no dice.
: “You see..”
: “I wanted to know if..”
: “You’d go out with me.”
We are now in the midst of what is about to become a major plot point. You see, everyone in Katawa Shoujo (well.. most people) has some kind of physical disability. Right now, we’re witnessing Hisao’s.
The game never confirms it by name, but the writers have confirmed that Hisao has what’s called Long QT Syndrome - it’s a real condition that causes an arrythmia in the heart and renders the afflicted person incredibly vulnerable to heart attacks.
: “Hisao?”
He’s extremely lucky, by the way. My dad went into cardiac arrest due to an arrythmia last year (not caused by Long QT), and didn’t know anything until he was already technically dead. Thankfully, he was surrounded by people who immediately called 911 and performed CPR. The doctors at the hospital told us later that if anyone had hesitated, he’d be dead.
: “Hisao?!”
I read years ago that the writers for this part supposedly looked up a bunch of medical literature on how heart attacks caused by Long QT work. My dad tells me you don’t hear anything, you don’t see anything. One minute you’re there, the next minute.. you’re not.
This whole part is an FMV, and if my internet didn’t absolutely suck I’d have taken a video of it. According to the credits, the team had one person do all of this, and it looks absolutely fucking amazing for amateur CGI.
Apologies for the wall of text. That’s one thing I dislike about VNs is when they do screens like this. There will be a few more of these.
: “Today, the doctor comes in and gives me a smile. He seems excited, but not very. It’s like he is trying to make an effort to be happy on my behalf.”
: “My parents are here. It’s been a few days since I’ve last seen them. Both of them are even sort of dressed up. Is this supposed to be some kind of special occasion? It’s not a party.”
: “Hello, Hisao. How are you today?”
: “I believe that you can go home now. Your heart is stronger, and with some precautions you should be fine.”
: “We have all the medications sorted out. I’ll give the prescriptions to your father.”
There’s no really great stopping point here, but I feel like this update is getting a bit long. Next time, we’ll finish the prologue and move on to the less depressing parts of the game.