Board 8 > Raka plays Doki Doki Literature Club *progressive spoilers, major ones marked*

(+) Yeah! (+)

So this game is making waves on the internet
http://store.steampowered.com/app/698780/

It's outwardly about a visual novel set in a literature club full of cute girls, yet...supposedly it's very disturbing (as the game and trailer continuously warn potential players).

I've managed to only get hinted about the nature of how it becomes disturbing (reading/modifying local save files a la Undertale).

So here it goes!
---

nah
---

Very cute title screen and UI and music.
We meet this Sayori who's supposedly our childhood friend. Okay!

I am a loner who's ~ 2 cool 4 school ~ ...or at least too cool for clubs. She forcefully makes us promise to join a club, since she wants us to make memories in high school. Well, fine, as long as you promise psychological and existential horror in tow!

I'll join...the anime club!

...dammit, she already signed us up for literature club, bribing us with cupcakes. So we sold our soul for cupcakes...getting some Cuphead vibes here. Maybe the other members have sold their soul to Sayori as well and I have to shoot them to submission.

Anyway, good bye Boruto, hello Wuthering Heights.

At least the club is populated solely by cute girls. Let's see, we got Sayori, the loli one (Natsuki), the shy buxom one (Yuri), and the cutest one, Monika. Hey, that's not a Japanese name!
---

Cats cupcakes hell yeah. Bonus points for Natuski.

"Well, Raka, what kinds of things do you like to read?"
"Manga..."
The game KNOWS!

Yuri likes her Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. And Umineko.

Natsuki likes to write cute poems about friendship and ponies and flowers and...

I remember that I haven't actually committed to joining anything. It's not too late for me to join the anime club or swimming club or massage therapy club! Ta-ta ladies!

...aaaand it's official, I'm joining this sorry little club for life. What have I gotten myself into?!

Our first assignment: write a poem.

Well, writing a poem is not a steep price to pay for being horrible tortured psychologically, as Undertale has proven.

Let's pick some words...hmm. I want to woo and wed Monica first. What words does she like?
---

Oh no...seemingly we can only get the other three girls (a.k.a. the 'rejects') this time around. Well, I'll settle for Yuri.
---

Now I have to pick 20 words to compose the poem. Here goes!

Vivacious
(I forgot the second word I picked, it was something related to fantasy)
Crimson
...there's a 'massacre' option? What? I guess that's what Yuri would like...massacre it is
Frightening
Tragedy (first point for Sayori)
Nightgown (first point for Natsuki)
Aura
Suicide
Analysis

Ambient
Disarray
Horror
Graveyard
Death (second point for Sayori)
Fantasy (second point for Natsuki)
Empty (third point for Sayori...dammit)
Dark (fourth...)
Fantasy? Something to that effect (fifth...)
Fear

Aw yeah, call me 'Edgar Allan' Raka.
---

Alright, another day, another meeting.

Oh hey Yuri already brought me something! My mad charm skills is already working!

It's a book! Sweet, thanks! This is cute.

"Portrait of Markov" It's an incest lesbian X-Men story, basically. Whelp.
---

I choose to show my poem to...Sayori first. She's my childhood friend, so she's the best guinea pig.

This...might be a bad idea. I have a feeling we're triggering her flags.

Time to look at her poem. Huh. Very cute. It's about waking up in the morning.

Alright, I'm safe. I can still show it to Yuri.

She likes it! Yay! She basically called us an amateur noob though...

Time to read hers. ...it's very otherworldly, but not scary. I like it!

Onwards to Natsuki.

Wow, she's a harsh critic. But we'll survive.

Time to see what she's made of. Oh. Simple, but fun. I like how diverse the girls' writing styles are.

Finally, Monika. She's so nice.

And her poem is very...it's like a short story with certain elements of poetry in it.
---

Damn Yuri and Natsuki are practically scratching each other's face off!! Because of...artistic differences.
---

Sorry Natsuki I'm throwing you under the bus have fun
---

Okay, time to write another poem. I won't jot down all my picked words, just how well I do.

Actually, there were words I could've picked if I wanted to go all-out Yuri, but I threw some for Natsuki and Sayori too...for safety measure I guess.
---

So what I get from this so far is...
Monika is perfect.
Sayori is highly disturbed.
Natsuki is childish.
Yuri is pretentious.
---

AAah Monika's missing Monika's missing Monika's missing!

Oh is this Monika? Yay.

Yuri wants me to fill the water pitcher with her. Monika asks where we're going and...Yuri completely told her off. Wow. Is she secretly a bitch? D:
---

can't wait for the english localization of this game, Super Mario Book Club 2
---

"I like being friends with you too!"
How smooth, me.

More reading time together with Yuri! Yay! Time to pretend we're reading and not actually play 'avoid the boobs'.

And now, the second chance to show off each other's poems!

...Natsuki is hella pissed that we're trying to impress Yuri. Hahahaha. Sore loser.

Sayori is being her ditzy self and can't be sure if she liked this poem better than yesterday's. She shows us hers and it's oddly...somber and macabre. About her trying to share her happy feelings to help her friends but they shatter instead.

Monika can sense that we're trying to get into Yuri's pants and seems ok with it. She warns that Yuri seems to have a boyfriend already! Or rather, a husbando. lol.

Her poem today...yeah, it's even more abstract. WTF. It ends with 'Load me'.

Monika gives us a writing tip: 'Don't forget to save your game!"

Wait what.
---

WazzupGenius00 posted...

can't wait for the english localization of this game, Super Mario Book Club 2

Ha, good one.
---

For the festival, we're gonna do poetry reading! How 'exciting'. And it'll be open for public too, so strangers can join in.

Yuri and Natsuki understandably had some reservations, but they agreed to give it a try, especially to help other people appreciate and enjoy literature more!

Now it's time to practice. Each member has to choose a poem of theirs to read in front of the club.

Monika goes first, just as a good club president should.

Monika is good at it just like at everything she does.
Sayori was supposed to go next but Yuri interjected and wanted to go next, oookay.
She gave an overwhelmingly fierce performance that stunned everyone.

Sayori is cheerful yet the poem is bittersweet. We note the contrast.

I read my poem as well. It was Mediocrity Hour in Mediocrity Town.

Last and probably least, Natsuki. Hers had a good rhythm to it.

And that's that. We walked home with Sayori.

Time to prepare our third poem. Alas, it's 1 AM here and I have work later. Good night y'all.
---

Alright, here goes nothing.
Welp, I still haven't gotten perfect 20/20 Yuri points for the poem. W/e.

Monika is breaking the fourth wall again.

Sayori looks sad, which is very unusual for her.

Let's show today's poem to Yuri first for a change. She's in awe of m awesome poemability. And her poem is basically...a confession.

Hahaha Natsuki didn't even read ours.

Monika is best girl as usual. And she only barely breaks the fourth wall today, so that's good.

Sayori feels like she's forcing her smile...
Poor girl, she's even leaving early.
---

Noow I have to pick someone to spend the weekend with. Yuri will be making decorations. Natsuki will bake cupcakes. Monika will...do whatever she does. And Sayori is not even accounted for! This is hard.
Well, of course, I've come this far. No other way to go but Yuri.

She'll come to our house on Sunday! Jiggity whoop-de-doo! Time for some premarital action! /jk

Of course being the superb friend that I am, I worry about Sayori. It's Sunday. But we have some time to visit her first.

...this girl has problems.

"It just wants to torture me. Ehehe~"

...welp. We promised to spend the day of the festival together with her and she seems to be cheering up a bit.

Time to some noogie and decoratie' with Yuri.
---

Heh.
---

We're now licking each other's hands like dogs dying of thirst.

After we managed to put our carnal desires on the side, we prepared some decorations and a banner for tomorrow.

As Yuri was leaving...disaster strikes! Sayori saw us. Poor girl.

"Monika was right...I should just..."

Wait, what?! What did she say?!

Anyway, we try to comfort her. It was between saying I love her or She'll always be my dearest friend.

I know the second choice hurts more now, but it'll be even worse if I tell her the first one, so...
---

Can't stop now.
---

I saw something about this today, I might try it.
---

Monika says that she knows more than I think. Truly she's The Lady Who Knows Everything.

Sayori's poem for the festival...it's basically "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." angsty rip off. It's scary.

So I'm concerned and try to fetch her from her home.

But...well. I got a bad ending.
---

You didn't. Be sure to keep playing.
---

Yeah, the title screen is slightly different now. And my load file didn't work cause I was missing an asset. So I guess it's time for a new game.

It's morning as usual and...
Oh damn.

Okay... Time to go to work, sadly. Can't wait to play some more.
---

haha you just hit the start of the real game :D

this is nuts. I haven't played it myself yet but I can't wait to do it
---

Sure seems like so!

Well, here's some remaining mysteries to tide us over and my speculation.

#1. Who's Monika?
A sinister AI/god/the devil himself. a.k.a. 'The Literature Club in Don't Deal with the Devil!'
It's insidious how they design her to be the most interesting (and, arguably, attractive) girl. They lampshade it as well in dialogues, especially the one where you choose who to help during the festival preparation.
And her 'taking piano lessons'...yeah...I don't buy it.

#2. Can we save Sayori?
Probably not until the Golden Ending. Or we can but by sacrificing other people.

#3. Who else (other than Monika) is dangerous OR in danger?
Obviously, Yuri due to her fascination with knives, though that is very on-the-nose, so she might be a red herring.
Then, of course, me a.k.a. the main character. (I've also heard that the game can know our real name, but I already use my real name anyway. >_>). Playing with girl's feelings can end very badly.
Natsuki seems neither dangerous nor in danger so far...though she might be the target of Yuri's ire in some routes.

#4. What did Yuri write on the banner?
Probably something very heartwarming that'll only be revealed in the best ending. Otherwise, it might get corrupted and say something like "Die you fake mental bitch" >_>

#5. What'll happen on the second playthrough...and onwards?
We'll try to save Sayori but fails. Probably someone else will die.

At some point the fourth wall will disappear completely I think, with the main character getting full awareness of the situation....and Monika will address the player directly.
---

This topic inspired me to play this. Then I played it. Now I'm following along!

I enjoyed it a lot though so thanks for letting me know it existed

(This also reminds me that I should finally get around to playing that Amplitude VN you helped work on!)
---

Hey you're welcome! It's practically all my FB friends talk about these couple days lol, so I'm joining in before I get spoiled.

And yeah, no worries! Hope you'll like Amplitude as well.
---

Sooo guess who's back and ready to start this mutha' up?! Yep it's me, c'est moi! I'm pumped to play more so...here goes nothing!
---

Yep, just a normal morning. Walking to school by myself as I always do. All is well.

Clubs huh...no use attending if there are no girls. Girls girls girls. Dammit you hetero fiend main character.

Oh hey Monika, you should probably see a doctor for that glitchy skin.

Hey, she's starting a new club...a literature club. In this day and age? So boring. But maybe they'll have bobs and vagene!

So I sold my soul to King Dice and now I have to check her club out. Sure, no harm no foul.

Wow, cute girls alert! A loli and a buxom beauty. And, of course, Monika. This is looking good. Three is a pretty small number for a dating sim though...

And apparently too few to form a club as well. Oh well. It's time to be the hero. We'll form an idol group and save the club from disbandment!
---

Special poem!

Stare at the dot...

...not sure if that is a good idea.
---

Oh okay, that was not a jumpscare.

Now, time to write a poem! Since we went for Yuri last time let's see what'll happen if we try to appeal to Natsuki instead.

Wow okay the glitches are coming. Monika is standing in front of the dialogue box now. Shoo!

Oh hey, we notice Natsuki is rummaging in the closet. Let's see what's happening.
---

"fucking monicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
ookay

"don't judge a bo o o o k"
right. gotcha.

o.o
"ooo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o"
uh there's something on your face
---

Ah she was just hungry. Understandable, have a nice day.

So Natsuki and Yuri fought. Again. Some things never change huh. I want to pick Natsuki this time but was cockblocked by Monika. Damn ya.

Yuri wants to discuss her book with me but...again, Monika forbids it. >_> That was surprising.

Aaand now we have to make a poem. There's a weird word that I don't recognize due to being an ESL, so I picked it but now the display is a bit glitchy...again...

Then there was a shitty drawing of a girl with a ribbon in her hair. Weird.
---

Natsuki forgot about everything (that happened yesterday). Man, that is one great trick to maintain peace.

"Don't think about her so much. She's used to being ignored."
huh, jeez, ok

Also this Portrait of Markov...I think it had a slightly different premise. Wasn't it about sisters? Now it's a gorefest in a research facility. Eh okay we'll roll with it.

Yuri is rambling lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Oh no another CG.
---

Phew, nothing scary happened.

Huh, Yuri is out of commission and I can only show my masterpiece of poetry to Monika or Natsuki.

...Yuri likes my kind of writing? Really? I just use simple words.

Wow, Monika...you forgot to write some letters in your poem.

I read the 'gearbox' in Yuri's poem as 'gearboy' and was confused for a bit.

Yuri stole my pen? What?
You know what they say..."A pen today, a penis tomorrow."
---

Wow, Natsuki...your poem is terrible. Do you even English?

Read with you today? Sorry, I don't remember making that promise...

Oh geez lady no need to lose your head over it. And don't be such a dependent loser.

Oh hey a new special poem. This one is very experimental as well.
---

Time for the festival talk. Natsuki told Monika off...welp, RIP Natsuki.

"Nobody would cry if she killed herself." Eh...maybe.

HAHAHA cockblocked by screen transition.

"Why don't you go look for some coins under the vending machine or something?" is hilarious.

Damn Yuri get off me -_- you're suffocating me

Hey she went to fetch the water on herself this time around.

...were you cutting yourself? And no rewinding time to hide it!
---

So we were just reading a book together on the floor like Nubians, then Yuri jerked me off...my feet and she's...confessing to me?

Err and now she's just staring at me. Whatever floats your boat.

Monika to the rescue, phew.

Time to exchange poems. Natsuki's is...very verbose. She wants us to nudge Yuri into seeing a therapist. Hey, Natsuki is actually pretty cool.

But...she changed her mind already, she said just ignore everything I read. And just spend time with Monika. Mixed signals here.

To be fair, I have barely spent any time with Monika so that's a pretty good advice anyway, thanks creepy glitchboi.

Uh hese girls are kinda losing it on the poem-making lately. You're not gonna win any Pullitzer this way lol, step up your game.
---

Yuri is pretty enthusiastic about my poem! Glad to see someone so appreciative.

She'll masturbate while reading it? Awwww...TMI but thanks.

Uhh seriously dudettes your poems kinda...suck. Collectively. And Yuri in particular, I would've thought you'd know how to take care of your things better.

Oh another special poem. It's that same mysterious ribbon girl...hanging herself. With some blood on here hands as well?

Festival prep. You know, I always find it funny and kinda heartwarming when someone says they agree with a person they don't like, like how Yuri agrees with Natsuki that me helping Monika is preposterous...but I'mma do it anyway.

And yeah, Monika IS pretty delusional and self-important. But your yandere eyes are showing, Yuri, lol.
---

You're madly in love with me? Oh no who coulda guessed.

You're doing what with my pen now

Do you accept my confession?
> No

Oh hey where'd the menu buttons go.

Wait a second, that's not even a pocket knife, that's just a regular knife. I guess if she was carrying it in her pocket, it would make it a pocket knife, but still... >_>

btw she stabbed herself

Goddammit what do you want me to do game?! I can't load or go to the main menu.
---

Okay I try quitting the game and now restarting it.

It's not working.

...trying the delete firstrun thing. Let's see if I did it correctly.
---

Not sure if you want help or to figure it out yourself and I'm hardly an expert but I just kept loading saves at that part and stuff happened eventually
---

Oh.

...welp.

...okay.

Shouldn't have done that then. >_>

At least we got a Sayori CG.
---

Okay. So I made three Sayori poems in a row. Go me!

But now that it's time for the prep...I try picking Sayori, then Monika...welp both are dead ends. The game railroads you into betraying Sayori's feelings.
---

Oh hey it's nice that either Yuri or Natsuki tries to cheer the other, unpicked girl up.
---

I'm not a lolicon, but Natsuki is very cute in her casual clothing.
---

Also I try saying that I love Sayori. Buuuut I know it's just a foregone conclusion that she'll kill herself.
---