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MisterTambourineMan Unbeugsame Klinge Since: Jun, 2017
Unbeugsame Klinge
08/28/2020 00:53:52 •••

Soos and the Real Girl, or writing about something you don't understand and still making a good episode.

I'll start by saying that, in spite of any complaints I have, that I like this episode. It may even be my favorite of the show. Giffany is a good blend of being adorable and a disturbing example of psychological abuse. Soos' trouble with dating and socializing were relatable, and I say that as someone who's general ambivalent to his character. The episode's climax works well and is dramatically satisfying.

My complaint is that the episode's portrayal of dating sims is pretty far off the mark. There's a single character instead of multiple routes. The character interacts directly with the player instead of having a player character. When presented with dialogue options, picking on other than the "correct" option results in the player being chastised and told to pick again, even though a big part of the fun of any game with dialogue options is picking the weird or outlandish choices. Not to mention that it would mean the game would have no actual interactivity. The game has an "undo" button, even though the matter with the dialogue options should eliminate the need for it. Even the erroneous english doesn't seem right, since it's improper spelling and capitalization when grammatical errors would be more common (and amusing)

And this is to the episode's detriment, since it takes a condemnatory view of dating sims, showing as something losers play in lieu of having actual romantic relationships. Due to the aforementioned issues, it comes off as just repeating stereotypes without really understanding what they're talking about. It's more or less the equivalent of an episode about how playing FPS games will make you into a violent psycho while showing the game as nothing but pulling a virtual trigger on enemies who were already restrained.

But, to reiterate, I think that the episode's story is good overall, and that this is just one aspect that's weak.

Sunnycadence Since: Apr, 2019
08/27/2020 00:00:00

(Spoilers ahead) I think this episode intends to use known aspects of dating sims to highlight the characters rather than portray this specific gaming genre accurately. In showing the gameplay with Giffany\'s direct interaction with Soos, her super specific control of the dialogue, and her role as the game\'s sole dating option, her psychologically abusive and controlling nature is hinted at before we see her full wrath in action. We\'re also told that her programming is abnormal especially considering the way she \"deletes\" her programmer), so I don\'t think the episode itself claims to represent the genre accurately.

megagutsman (Seven Years' War)
08/28/2020 00:00:00

I would say that, like in DDLC, Giffany may have modified her game. After all, as you said, an undo button wouldn\'t fit in her game, yet she wants every player to get her best ending, so said button would help her here. The same reason could be given for her basically not accepting a wrong option and basically telling her player (Soos) what the correct option is.

As for there only being one girl? (Spoilers for DDLC) Well... ...maybe she pulled a Monika and deleted everybody? Only that this time around she didn\'t undo her actions, ergo, her friends remained deleted. I mean, eliminating the competition would fit somebody like her.


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