Fools for Love: A Date to Die For is the midpoint of a planned trilogy stemming from indie developer Akabaka’s 2020 submission to Dread X Collection 2. The second edition of the Lockdown Game Jam, overseen by indie horror publisher DreadXP, is themed “Lovecrafting,” with which Akabaka has created a dating sim in which you fall in love with anime-style tramps who are also A terrifying goddess inspired by the gods described in the Cthulhu Mythos. Our intention was to create a horror dating sim where romantic monsters are as sexy as they are terrifying, and they pull no punches when it comes to showcasing the horrific and often disgusting things humans must do to attract the romantic attention of an incomprehensible universe. Show mercy. exist.
This irresistible concept quickly led to a three-game collaboration between Akabaka and DreadXP, starting with Sucker for Love: First Date, an expanded version of the original stand-alone game released in 2022. The second game, Date to Die For, is technically a prequel to First Date rather than a sequel; I say “technically” because timeline chronology doesn’t have much importance in a reality-bending cosmic horror story , and the fact that it definitely takes place before its predecessor is only haphazardly revealed near the end.
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It’s not necessary to be familiar with the first game to enjoy this game, although playing them in release order will give you some useful background information on the characters and mechanics in the original game, which are featured in Date to Die For Got duplicates. However, the focus of the prequel is on an almost entirely new cast, with cameos from returning characters kept fairly low-key — a wise choice, given that Date to Die has the potential to garner more critical acclaim than its predecessor, which was well-received in niche circles. Broad appeal. of horror dating sims, but never really got past that point.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For isn’t necessarily a better game than the first, but it’s a more polished experience. Much of the hype surrounding it has incorporated ’90s anime inspirations, cranking up the stylistic glam to 11 and making the nostalgic homages more prominent than ever — something that’s oversaturated in a dating sim filled with anime-style visuals. crucial in the market. When you sort through the VHS tapes of Episodes 1, 2, 999 and 1000 of a long-running series, there are hints of meta-narrative even in the way the chapters are selected (Episode 1000 is clearly a much-loved bootleg copy). This also ties in tightly with the narrative, helping to convey the idea that despite the relatively short time you’re playing in the real world, an epic story (again, classic ’90s anime) is already taking place in the universe medium, but often repeated. game.
Despite the shared universe and premise, it also exists in a slightly different genre than the original: I would describe Date to Die For as a survival horror game with dating mechanics, rather than a dating sim with survival horror elements . While the original game only turned to true survival in the relatively short final chapter, Date to Die For has always been more or less a survival horror experience, and considering this is still a visual novel, some of its mechanics Taken from “Date to Die For,” this one is especially impressive. An easier ending to a point-and-click adventure game.
But while Date to Die strives to be more than a rehash of the original—perhaps in an effort to free the series from some of the baggage of being categorized as a “dating sim”—it doesn’t quite do that. It feels like you are saying no to a first date in any way. Sucker for Love has always been a dark comedy, and with the release of its second full game, the series is also able to bring back some of its satire of dating sim tropes from its previous entries.
What struck me most this time around was the asexual protagonist – do you see that often in movies? any Games, let alone dating sims? Stardust’s asexuality is essentially treated as a superpower in a world crumbling under the influence of cosmic desire, and ironically, it’s her ability to keep her head above water in the face of supernaturally amplified temptations that strengthens her relationship with Rockzan. A fertility goddess imprisoned by her human followers.
It’s a sweet love story where opposites attract, and while there’s a comedy of etiquette as their sexual desires often don’t match up, you can’t help but agree with Stardust that flirting should probably take a back seat when they’re having sex. Hunted by a murderous cultist. The best part, though, is that—even though it functions as a plot point—Stardust’s sexuality is handled with sensitivity, intelligence, and humor.The game even includes an option to stop any interactions that are too sexually suggestive for the player, adding to the overall impression that this is a game to enjoy for a-spec person about one.
Speaking of adapting to the various comfort levels of the player base, there’s also a feature that lets you get a warning before you panic. There are quite a few of them, but I found that those brief alarm jolts pale in comparison to the constant feeling of dread I experienced, thanks to the major new mechanic introduced this time around: the need to manually click and drag to open each door – thus reacting appropriately to whatever might be behind it. It’s a simple yet effective way to build tension as you repeatedly navigate the cramped surroundings of an eerily abandoned family home in the game, and while it may not be entirely original, it’s certainly the first time I’ve seen it Done within visual constraints. novel.
I completed Date to Die For in six hours, during which time I saw all of the major results for each route (according to the handy checkpoint tracker in the loading menu). Like most DreadXP games, this one is quite popular. And, like most DreadXP games, it left me wanting more in a basically good way. Most plot points didn’t linger, allowing me to figure out the importance of the game’s events to the overall series’ story in my own time; but everything I needed to know was there, and nothing felt rushed – the only exception being during the credits Two final endings appear in the subtitles. None of this satisfies me as much as the end credits, which to be honest I could have done if they hadn’t tried to inject the ending into a proper open ending.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For doesn’t do anything completely groundbreaking, but it’s probably one of the best examples yes Doing so, it would be a shame to see it buried among the dating sims on Steam of varying quality. This is a stylish and well-written visual novel that finds a balance between a horror story and a love story while managing to maintain both throughout. But there’s more to admire.It’s also a great example of how a darkly comedic dating sim can simultaneously be an irreverent vehicle for appreciating the assets of anime women and An inclusive experience that not only makes players who don’t typically belong to the genre feel welcome, but elegantly and authentically centers underserved perspectives.
Fools for Love: A Date to Die For Reviewed on PC using code provided by the publisher. It releases today, April 23, on PC via Steam.
