Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 539 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos Game Cover
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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.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 539 reviews
story219 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story presents an interesting premise with engaging characters and moral dilemmas that provoke thought.
  • Despite its short length, the writing is well-crafted and immersive, making it a compelling read.
  • The game is very short, lasting only about 2-3 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • There are very few choices to make, with most of the gameplay consisting of reading dialogue rather than interactive decision-making.
  • The lack of a satisfying conclusion, as it is only the first episode of an abandoned series, may disappoint players.
  • story571 mentions

    The story of "Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos" is praised for its intriguing premise and well-crafted writing, featuring a student mediator navigating political conflicts across different worlds. However, many reviewers express disappointment over its brevity and the lack of a complete narrative, as it serves primarily as a prologue to a larger story that will likely never be completed due to the developer's closure. While the characters and world-building are appreciated, the limited choices and episodic nature leave players feeling unsatisfied and yearning for more depth and resolution.

    • “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?).”
  • music270 mentions

    The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its quality and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as one of the game's strongest aspects. It effectively enhances the storytelling and atmosphere, with tracks that fit well within the narrative context. Additionally, the soundtrack is included for free with the game, making it a notable value for players who appreciate good music.

    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, the art styles are appropriate, and the sound effects are a nice touch.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the story is engaging, the characters are interesting, the art is great.”
    • “The music was composed impeccably and every use of each song fit well with the events of the story.”
    • “You know it's gonna be a wonderful adventure when in the first 10 seconds you're assaulted by Tumblr art style and the no-sound, no-music pinnacle of Ren'Py engineering.”
    • “A lot of the music is forgettable, and you may not want to listen to it in your car or on an iPod.”
    • “But while the story, art, and music were great, the gameplay was lacking.”
  • graphics108 mentions

    The graphics of this visual novel are widely praised for their beauty and quality, featuring a unique art style that enhances the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the artwork as a standout element, complemented by a captivating soundtrack that adds to the overall immersion. However, some users note that the limited variety of backgrounds and character designs can detract from the visual experience at times.

    • “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 unique and the soundtrack is captivating.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and top-notch storytelling.”
    • “It's got lazy artwork; there were only a handful of backgrounds used, 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).”
    • “The quality of the writing and the artwork is about what you'd expect from most self-published efforts.”
    • “Graphics: if you don't have a new enough graphics card, the game won't even start for you.”
  • gameplay43 mentions

    The gameplay in this visual novel is minimal, primarily consisting of making a few key decisions throughout a largely narrative-driven experience. Many users noted the lack of traditional gameplay elements, with some expressing frustration over the limited interactivity and lengthy exposition. While the story, art, and music received praise, the overall gameplay experience was often described as lacking, leading to mixed reviews regarding its engagement and replay value.

    • “A good story is something that I truly appreciate, but you have a good story with great gameplay, and I'm in heaven!”
    • “Although there isn't much in the way of traditional gameplay here, this is a visually gorgeous game, with some pretty weighty decisions and consequences.”
    • “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 itself, as a visual novel, didn't feel all too engaging.”
    • “The flaw to the game is that gameplay is incredibly limited.”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting its compelling storytelling and well-developed characters that evoke a range of feelings, from humor to deep emotional strain. The narrative, while somewhat linear, offers different emotional outcomes based on player choices, creating a strong connection to the protagonist's journey. Overall, the combination of engaging writing, stunning art, and a powerful soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, making it a thought-provoking and memorable journey.

    • “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.”
    • “The story is too simple and ultimately boring.”
    • “I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters.”
    • “The game failed to evoke any real emotions during key moments.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, with a combination of ambient and electronica music that enhances the mood and complements the narrative. Reviewers highlight the care put into the art and sound design, which effectively creates a dystopian feel and engages players throughout the experience. Overall, the atmospheric elements, including unique soundscapes and fitting music, contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact and world-building.

    • “Music is atmospheric; it doesn’t stand in the way but does its job well to enhance the mood at key moments.”
    • “The music is very atmospheric as it contains some great ambient and electronica tracks which heavily lend to the dystopian-esque atmosphere that the visual novel is going for.”
    • “Wonderfully atmospheric sound design makes you feel the mood of every scene.”
    • “This is pointless on his part as the bomb causes a reaction that ends up burning the atmosphere and killing everyone.”
    • “If winter's plan is carried out instead (don't kill the president but suggest to simply detonate the bomb away from the mainland as a showing of power or even come up with a new plan entirely), the end result is that, thanks to the fact they haven't done the proper testing, the atmosphere ends up burned again and everyone dies.”
    • “The problem is, the nuke became self-sustaining and became a star and blew up the atmosphere, killing everyone.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, effectively driving the narrative forward while maintaining a sense of innocence. Players appreciate the well-crafted character designs and the intriguing storyline, which keeps them invested in the characters' journeys. The game is recommended for those who value strong character arcs and storytelling in visual novels.

    • “The storyline is well done and spread out wonderfully, and the character development is very interesting throughout the playthrough.”
    • “Character development, although it throws you in somewhat quickly, is done rather well.”
    • “This medium is a very intricate work of character development and storytelling.”
    • “However, the story is rather deep with a good sense of innocence that really drives the character development.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty and engaging dialogue that balances light-hearted moments with deeper, thought-provoking themes, particularly around serious subjects like war and nuclear weapons. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and their interactions, which range from funny and cute to touching and intense. Overall, the writing is highlighted as a key strength, delivering both humor and emotional depth throughout the narrative.

    • “The interactions between both characters are at times funny and cute, and at others thought-provoking, as much of the subject matter is war and nuclear weapons.”
    • “As an upside to the short length of the story, each choice tree provides almost completely different dialogue than their counterparts, filled with witty, humorous writing.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the opportunity to explore multiple endings typical of visual novels, many criticize its short length and limited choices, which significantly reduce the incentive to replay. Despite some potential for extended playtime through multiple runs, the consensus suggests that the game falls short of offering substantial replay value.

    • “Replay value: it's a visual novel, of course there is replay value to see all the endings!”
    • “It's able to squeeze out 7 hours after multiple replays; the story is good enough to be considered replayable.”
    • “This story is short, probably only an hour and a half or two in length, depending on how fast you rush through it.”
    • “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.”
    • “Too short and lacks much replayability.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by lengthy, tedious dialogue and unengaging characters, leading to a frustrating experience for players. The excessive focus on exposition and the imbalance between choices and story length contribute to a sense of monotony, making the gameplay feel unnecessarily prolonged. Overall, players find the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment and narrative flow of the game.

    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable experience with minimal issues, noting only a couple of minor glitches, which is considered acceptable for a game.

    • “I only saw two actual game glitches.”
    • “Not bad, as far as glitches go!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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