Developers warn players of potential emotional trauma while fans praise dating simulator’s realism.
The best thing about mobile game development is that low production and distribution costs enable designers to craft products for extremely specific niches, even within a specific genre. In the realm of romance games, for example, we’ve seen titles that allow you to pursue relationships with sushi, turtles, or even a pair of stylish eyeglasses.
Now, developer SEEC is ready to toss its hat into the ring of dating simulators featuring an unusual cast, with Anata no Koto ga Kirai Desu –Seishun Bishojo Renai Adventure–, or I Hate You –A Youthful Love Adventure with Beautiful Girls–.
From the title, you might be expecting this to be a game about winning over the hearts and minds of a group of tsundere, a time-honored anime character archetype of someone who appears outwardly hostile and combative as a way of hiding a deep, yearning affection. That’s not what I Hate You has in store for players, though, as it greets you with the following screen upon starting the game.
Warning!
In this game, you will not be able to make the girls like you.
People who are not mentally resilient should not play this game under any circumstances.
We accept no responsibility for those who suffer ill effects to mind or body after playing. Thank you for you understanding.
After the game has washed its hands of all responsibility, you’re given a choice between three schoolgirls to initially approach.
As you progresses you’ll eventually encounter all of them, though, so this decision doesn’t seem to make much difference on the gameplay. And, just like the disclaimer so clearly states, none of them will ever like you, as previewed in their promotional character quotes.
▼ “Do you have bugs in your brain?”
“You smell like a pile of garbage❤”
“You’re just trying so hard…it scares me.”
Other sweet nothings you might here during the game:
● “Instead of listening to you apologize, I’d have been happier if you’d never talked to me in the first place!”
● “You’re sooooo gross!”
● “Eat dirt!”
● “Die!”
It’s all a far cry from the more run-of-the-mill wish-fulfillment offered by most other romance games, but that seems to be exactly what’s earning the game satisfied reviews from gamers of a certain mindset.
“This feels more human than those games with ditzy girls who appreciate and praise you just because you helped them out a little.”
“Yeah, this is more realistic than a poorly made romance game (no, I’m not crying!).”
“This has helped me reexamine myself.”
If you think you’ve got the emotional fortitude to take these girls’ verbal abuse, I Hate You is available as a free download for iOS devices here and in Android format here.
Source: IT Media
Images: Google Play (edited by RocketNews24)
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he promises not to say anything as mean as these girls.