Stay! Stay! Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- May 11, 2017
- DEVGRU-P
- 377h median play time
Have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst, but difficult to recommend.
Get on Steam"Stay! Stay! Democratic People's Republic of Korea" is a simulation game where players navigate life in North Korea. They must make decisions related to work, study, and loyalty to the regime while avoiding detection for any subversive activities. The game aims to shed light on the harsh realities of life in the secretive nation. However, it has been criticized for its graphic content and perceived insensitivity towards North Korean defectors' experiences.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features great humor and clever satire, making it an entertaining experience.
- The artwork and character designs are appealing, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- The story includes multiple endings, providing replay value and engaging character interactions.
- The game can feel short and may not justify its price for some players.
- There are inconsistencies in character dialogue and story elements that can break immersion.
- Some players may find the humor repetitive or not to their taste, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- humor115 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and filled with clever, self-referential jokes, particularly for those familiar with North Korean culture and satire. However, some reviewers noted that the humor can be repetitive or underwhelming, with a blend of slapstick and dark comedy that may not resonate with everyone. Overall, while the game has moments of brilliance and charm, its comedic effectiveness varies widely among players.
“The game was very funny though, great humor throughout the story.”
“Whether you are familiar with North Korea and the glorious leader Kim Jong-un or not, there are laughs to be had; obviously, if you are familiar with these things, it makes the game that much more hilarious.”
“It's hilarious at the start mostly, but it left me not wanting it to end and wishing there would be a continuation.”
“Most of the humor is unfunny or repetitive.”
“This game is supposed to be funny, but I guess I have a different kind of humor.”
“I wanted a North Korean waifu, but all I got was unfunny text and a black screen half the time.”
- story107 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a humorous and engaging parody set in North Korea, featuring a mix of lighthearted moments and deeper themes, with multiple endings that enhance replayability. While some inconsistencies and a reliance on familiar tropes may detract from immersion, the character development and witty dialogue keep players invested. Overall, the narrative balances comedy with poignant reflections on the setting, making it a surprisingly rich experience for a visual novel.
“It shows all the problems and is not afraid of mocking it, but aside from the mockery, it has an amazing storyline with multiple endings.”
“The story is funny, tender, and even downright touching when it needs to be.”
“The dynamic between the protagonist and the two sisters works well and aided in drawing me into the story.”
“As a visual novel, the game fails to hit the mark with too few choices and branching paths; mundane and lackluster writing that drags on artificially (half of my playtime on this is sleep time), limited and lazy character art, characters that are not believable and hard to attach to, and a story that's as empty as the pantries of citizens of the DPRK.”
“The storyline is very tedious too.”
“One criticism is that one of the main characters, as a plot point, has terrible English and speaks (text speaks, there is no voice acting) with a heavy accent in the first scene. Then, she magically speaks perfect (mostly) English throughout the rest of the story, even though the other characters continue to reference her 'terrible English'. It kind of breaks the immersion, and I wish they'd have kept the accent throughout the whole story.”
- music28 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its delightful and catchy nature, while others find it decent but lacking in impact. Many appreciate the ability to turn off the music if desired, and the original soundtrack is available for purchase. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, though opinions on its memorability and quality vary.
“+ the intro song is super kawaii, and the BGM is delightful to listen to as well.”
“The music is also a nice treat as it adds to the experience of the game.”
“Even the music is on par with some of the professional VNs from Japan, with the catchy main menu theme sticking out.”
“Music was decent and didn't interfere with storytelling but didn't leave much of an impact.”
“The soundtrack for this game is decent.”
“Music didn’t catch my attention very much, but also never got in the way.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their appealing art style, cute character designs, and beautiful background visuals, which enhance the overall experience. While the character sprites and CGs are noted as particularly impressive, some players express a desire for animated characters to further elevate the visuals. Overall, the artwork is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The artwork is great, the character sprites and CGs are cute and appealing and are overall very nice to look at. The background images are also of note, as they are quite pleasant and show the surprising beauty of the one true Korea.”
“The artwork of this visual novel can only compare to the great works of An Gyeon and Nam Gye-u.”
“Both the writing and artwork are great; I will be looking into previous and future releases from this creator due to its excellent quality.”
“The artwork of this visual novel can only compare to the great works of an gyeon and nam gye-u.”
“There are other characters within the story but they're mostly not displayed in any of the visuals.”
“The background visuals featured in the game share the same type of art style featured in many visual novels.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with players noting its ability to evoke laughter alongside touching scenes. While it features a lighthearted narrative, it also addresses deeper themes, particularly related to dictatorship, resulting in a mix of entertaining and poignant experiences. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth, with multiple endings that can lead to both heartwarming and heartbreaking outcomes.
“I started this expecting it to be a big meme, but it's actually quite sad and touching in places.”
“The story is funny, tender, and even downright touching when it needs to be.”
“10/10 very touching story.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a smooth experience with branching paths and multiple endings, though it may feel limited in content for some players. While the one-handed mode is criticized for being unenjoyable, the overall mechanics are satisfactory, especially for a budget title. The game combines visual novel elements with dating sim mechanics, appealing to fans of the genre despite some minor issues.
“The gameplay was exactly what I expected from this genre I have never dove into, but there are indeed branching paths and four differing endings, each of which have a bleakness to them.”
“It includes beautiful art, and for being 10 dollars, can offer multiple hours of gameplay (depending on how fast you read).”
“The gameplay is nice and smooth, too, and the grammatical errors and bugs I complained about in my Panzermadels review are gone.”
“First for the conclusion: 'one-handed gameplay mode' is not fun at all.”
“There’s still not a lot here as far as gameplay and content is concerned, but what’s there is pretty good.”
“If you're looking for a PG-13 dating visual novel with a few dating sim mechanics thrown in, just play whatever you get from Steam.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a moderate level of replayability, providing enough content and humor to encourage multiple playthroughs, though some users note its replay value may be limited compared to other titles. While it appeals to fans of visual novels, particularly with the promise of additional content, it may not satisfy those seeking extensive replay options.
“So there is some replayability which extends the fun quite a bit.”
“It's funny, it's entertaining, and there is replayability.”
“You can't really argue with this visual novel - it's good value for money and the devs have already confirmed that an h-patch is on its way... so there will be some replayability with a box of tissues to hand too.”
“Limited replayability.”
“It's a great visual novel if you don't only like visual novels for sex scenes and 50 hours of replayability or dialogue easter eggs.”
“You can't really argue with this visual novel - it's good value for money and the devs have already confirmed that an h-patch is on its way... so there will be some 'replayability' with a box of tissues to hand too...”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as a cheap and lazy cash grab, though some players found their experience surprisingly enjoyable despite these concerns.
“This is a cheap and lazy cash grab.”
“I didn’t think it would be much more than a cheap cash grab, but I enjoyed my time more than I thought I would.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, with users expressing concerns about its overall performance.
“The game's optimization is questionable in terms of overall performance.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
“The loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the storyline.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development in the game, highlighting the impressive character designs, well-crafted backgrounds, and high-quality CGs that contribute to a visually engaging experience typical of a professional visual novel.
“The character designs, backgrounds, and CGs are beautifully done, as expected from a professional visual novel.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their backstories adding layers to their personalities.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a captivating blend of humor and tension, effectively balancing comedic elements with a riveting experience that keeps players engaged.
“This game was well worth the risk as it is a side-splitting visual novel that pokes fun at just about everything while still maintaining an atmosphere that can be riveting.”
