Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

About

In "Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos," you play as a mediator tasked with resolving conflicts in complex, often chaotic societies. Though the game boasts a richly developed world, the gameplay primarily revolves around visual novel-style dialogue choices. The narrative tackles themes of social justice and societal inequality, but its impact is limited due to the game's simplistic mechanics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos screenshot

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,314 reviews

story516 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The story is intriguing and thought-provoking, exploring complex themes of morality and chaos.
The characters are well-written and relatable, particularly the protagonist Winter, whose journey is compelling.

The game is very short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
There are very few choices that significantly impact the story, leading to a feeling of linearity.
The series has been abandoned by the developers, meaning players will not see a continuation of the story.

story
1,402 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The story of "Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos" is described as intriguing and well-written, featuring a unique premise centered around a young mediator named Winter and her mentor navigating political conflicts across different worlds. However, many reviewers express disappointment over its brevity and the fact that it serves primarily as a prologue to a larger narrative that will likely never be completed due to the developer's discontinuation. While the art and music are praised, the lack of meaningful choices and the unfinished nature of the story leave players feeling unsatisfied and wanting more.
- “A very well written story featuring a student and their mentor counselor from another dimension - descending to this planet to prevent fatal conflicts stemming from political issues.”
- “The worldbuilding is really well made, the interactions between characters feel realistic so you feel dragged into the story; you live with Winter what happens to her, you feel what she feels.”
- “The story is intriguing and the writing is far from the typical awkwardness that tends to occur in visual novel dialogue.”
- “Unfortunately, it is merely a prologue to what should have been a bigger story, and the story will probably never come to be because the studio is no more.”
- “The story took so long to actually kick in, and through that beginning you don't get any choices, not even smaller ones affecting just the dialogue.”
- “I didn't like the characters at all, and didn't feel invested in the story, so I just don't think I'll be finishing this, even if it's just the first episode (will there even be any more?).”
music
642 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The music in "Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos" has received widespread acclaim for its quality and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as one of the game's strongest features. The inclusion of the soundtrack in both MP3 and FLAC formats adds significant value, allowing players to enjoy the music outside of the game. Overall, the atmospheric and well-composed tracks enhance the storytelling experience, making it a standout element of this visual novel.
- “The music is beautiful, the story is engaging, the characters are interesting, the art is great.”
- “The soundtrack is comprised of amazing songs, and each one perfectly captures the emotion of the game at the time it is played.”
- “The art and music are simply beautiful, and the storyline and characters are engaging.”
- “The music is not really good, and there's no voice acting.”
- “A lot of the music is forgettable, and you may not want to listen to it in your car or on an iPod.”
- “First off, let's get the music out of the way.”
graphics
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The graphics of this visual novel are widely praised for their beautiful artwork and engaging art style, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the high quality of the visuals, noting that they are well-drawn and complement the story effectively, although some mention that the graphics can be sparse in certain areas. Overall, the art and soundtrack are considered standout features, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The artwork had a lot of detail and depicted each scene exquisitely, which really helped with putting yourself into the setting of the story.”
- “The art style is excellent, and is quite more creative and cinematic than some budget visual novels where the majority of the scenes are just a background image and two character sprites.”
- “Beautiful artwork, fun interactions, an intriguing setting, immersive soundtrack, and nifty extras.”
- “The graphics are anime looking and the story is clever and well done.”
- “It's got lazy artwork; there were only a handful of backgrounds used, and only 5 characters drawn (a few others had lines but the conversations took place out in a hall or something, so you are left staring at an empty background for 10 minutes).”
- “It disrupts the finality the episode originally ends with, and itself feels rather unpolished, with an abundance of useless dialogue and very limited artwork (most of the epilogue takes place in a sort of text-only terminal).”
gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
74%
7%
The gameplay in this visual novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through dialogue with very few decision points, often leading to a lack of engagement. While the story, art, and music are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay is limited and may not meet the expectations of those seeking traditional interactive elements. Overall, it is a narrative-driven experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, but it lacks substantial gameplay mechanics.
- “A good story is something that I truly appreciate, but you have a good story with great gameplay, and I'm in heaven!”
- “I felt like I could really submerge myself into the gameplay and enjoy this for hours.”
- “Dysfunctional systems: learning to manage chaos is one of the most engaging games I've played in a long time, despite there being little 'gameplay' in the conventional sense.”
- “Beyond the lack of any actual gameplay in this game, I can't even recommend it as a visual novel.”
- “The gameplay isn't much: you spend most of the game clicking through dialogue, with only a few decisions (can be as few as one depending on your first choice), and one instance of accessing the codex.”
- “Over an hour of 'gameplay' and I made one choice through it all.”
emotional
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke deep feelings through well-written characters and a compelling narrative. The story, while somewhat linear, offers different emotional outcomes based on player choices, creating a strong connection to the protagonist's journey. The combination of engaging art, music, and thoughtful themes enhances the overall emotional impact, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “I still recommend this though because it's a very thought-provoking and emotional journey of a little girl who just wasn't prepared.”
- “The story leaves me emotionally involved and wanting more.”
- “The quality of writing in this visual novel is its primary strength, bringing the characters' thoughts and feelings to life in a way that is touching, humorous, and fun.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the exceptional music and sound design that enhance the narrative and create an immersive experience. The combination of ambient and electronica tracks contributes to a compelling dystopian feel, while the art and overall attention to detail reflect the developers' care. Despite some minor critiques regarding tonal shifts in certain endings, the overall atmosphere is described as engaging and evocative, earning a perfect score from many reviewers.
- “The music is atmospheric; it doesn’t stand in the way though does its job well to enhance the mood at key moments.”
- “Wonderfully atmospheric sound design makes you feel the mood of every scene.”
- “The music is immensely atmospheric and envelops the reader in the narrative.”
- “Waverly came as a welcome surprise--I did not expect the game to continue for so long after the big climax, but I liked that it did. My only complaint is that the atmosphere got weirdly jovial in one ending, but the other one was much better.”
- “This is pointless on his part as the bomb causes a reaction that ends up burning the atmosphere and killing everyone.”
- “The problem is, the nuke became self-sustaining and became a star and blew up the atmosphere, killing everyone.”
character development
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
26%
9%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and effectiveness, with many reviewers noting that it successfully engages players despite a relatively simple plot. While some characters, like the mentor, lack sufficient backstory to foster empathy, the overall character arcs are compelling and well-executed, making the game a strong choice for those who prioritize character-driven narratives. The art style and character designs further enhance the experience, contributing to a polished and immersive storytelling environment.
- “The core plot holds no great weight in all of this, being a tool to spark conversation but without much depth in and of itself, but it’s a short outing that manages a great amount of character development before then closing in a scene that, while not perfectly finite, feels complete.”
- “The storyline is well done and spread out wonderfully, and the character development is very interesting throughout the playthrough.”
- “The mentor seems to have a dark past, but there is a lack of proper character development for us to really empathize with him.”
- “Yeah, if you like visual novel style games, I highly recommend it, especially in hopes of getting the next episode someday. Good visual novels are always welcome, and I can't deny that I'm curious about what's going to happen next, since the story is basically set in a sort of suspension, making us wonder what's going to happen next, and perhaps we will get some proper backstory and character development.”
- “This medium is a very intricate work of character development and storytelling.”
humor
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and engaging dialogue that balances light-hearted moments with serious themes, particularly around war and nuclear issues. While some players appreciate the humorous interactions between characters, others feel that the humor can be inconsistent and overshadowed by the story's darker elements. Overall, the writing is praised for its ability to evoke both laughter and thoughtfulness, though some critiques highlight a lack of sustained humor throughout the narrative.
- “Their dialogues can get heated, but developer dischan media does a fantastic job leveraging this between brief moments of humor (such as Winter trying her first bear) to create a very personal, relatable feeling to every interaction.”
- “The quality of writing in LTMC is its primary strength, bringing Winter and Cyrus's thoughts and feelings to life in a way that is touching, humorous, and fun.”
- “If you like that, or any sci-fi visual novels, this is sure to be a treat, delivering both short bursts of light-hearted humor and thick layers of rather dark concepts, settings, and events.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the potential to explore different endings typical of visual novels, many find the overall experience too short and lacking in meaningful choices. Although there are routes to unlock achievements that can extend playtime, the reliance on guides and the limited depth of the narrative diminish the incentive for multiple playthroughs. Overall, while there is some replay value, it may not be enough to satisfy all players.
- “Replay value: it's a visual novel, of course there is replay value to see all the endings!”
- “You can get more playtime by going through all the routes for the achievements for a little extra replayability, but there's a guide on the game's community hub that'll tell you exactly what routes you need to go through to unlock all the achievements.”
- “It's able to squeak out 7 hours after multiple replays; the story is good enough to call replayable but unfortunately never lifts off the ground despite much promise.”
- “I genuinely liked this game, but it was very, very short, and as far as I can tell, there is little replayability since there was only one real choice to make.”
- “This story is short, probably only an hour and a half or two in length, depending on how fast you rush through it, and there’s not much in the way of replay value.”
- “Too short and lacks much replayability.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's grinding aspect is characterized by lengthy, tedious dialogue and unengaging characters, leading to a frustrating experience for players. While some appreciate the intricate coding behind the narrative choices, many find the overall pacing and lack of meaningful engagement to be a significant drawback. However, the absence of traditional grinding mechanics like inventory management is noted as a positive aspect, allowing for a more streamlined experience.
- “Spend 15 minutes only with text and long discussions about tedious topics and uninteresting characters.”
- “The ratio of number of choices to length of story was horribly skewed in the wrong direction, but I can respect the amount of tedious coding it would've taken to link everything together the way it was done.”
- “Finally, the episode ends on a particularly weak note, where you switch to someone else's experience, and have their experience of hallway conversations that are just tedious and meaningless.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with users reporting only two minor glitches, indicating a smooth gameplay experience.
- “I only saw two actual game glitches.”
- “Not bad, as far as glitches go!”

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

3-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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