Dead End Aegis | A Horrifyingly Repulsive, Brilliantly Written Visual Novel

[@iwanaga_sensei]

The people who played this game probably made their therapist a multi millionaire

[@usmansubhani7482]

“Call my therapist. Tell him he’s a rich man!”

[@andrewshearsby8125]

Junko Enoshima: ha I've done worse

[@iwanaga_sensei]

@@andrewshearsby8125 trust me I'd rather be burnt alive then to go whatever the hell is going on in this game

[@andrewshearsby8125]

@@iwanaga_sensei I believe you. I was joking because he mentioned Junko Enoshima's favourite word: Despair

[@TsuraraOikawa-chan]

Playing it right now, it is truly ...an experience

[@Trades46]

(spoiler warning) I just 100% DEA myself. The theme of exploiting these poor girls again for humankind's gain reminds of what happens if you take Madoka Magica, added alien tentacle monsters & a corrupt civilization and military power which exploited war economics & politics and turned the dial up to 11. Seriously I'm honestly surprised that we don't see more suicides in the Cathedral in the plot-line. The plot maybe absolutely disgusting to the point where less...ready VN readers should just skip this altogether for their own sanity. The high point for me was the characters - Minori has one of THE most toughest mental fortitude & guts of almost ANY VN I have read so far. The fact there is no route that she succumbs to despair would have made Kyubey or Junko Enoshima mad themselves. Even as I despaired as she look like she has finally given up, she manages to find the strength to stand back up again. I actually cheered during the moments she finds her strength, only to grow every more wanting when she's forced to despair in a roller-coaster of emotions. I also enjoyed the political aspects of this series. The series has GREAT world building with humanity expansion to the Moon and Mars being a backdrop which is very well illustrated along with the war politics & economics behind the Cathedral & the Bagelholm "family of snakes" running the universe. I'm actually reminded a bit of the things that made the live action "The Expanse" show great as well on top of the alien & magical girl aspects of this series. As you pointed out, the music, fight sequences and use of colors and artwork does drive home how powerful the Special Warfare Troopers really are, and the CC aliens are no pushovers themselves as they always keep the Magic Girls on their toes and death always only one mistake away (illustrated by Minori in one unfortunate end). Does it have weaknesses? Certainly - I feel Nana's character is kind of weak and unrealistic; bobbing back between ditzy big chested airhead to the mental pillar of the trio...only to cave in by her clearly cheating on her BF and choose the easy way out. Also, while the series literally uses every imaginable way from tentacles, gang-rape, machinery and everything in between to stick inside Minori, it does eventually come off as repetitive at certain points. The plot is also very linear, with only a few branching points, but given how much effort went into them, I can't complain much about this. I picked up DEA after a long hiatus of VNs and this was one hell of a ride to be back into the genre. If you have the stomach & mental strength as strong as Minori, this is a highly recommended series to pick up.

[@TheAugustHail]

Yup, this amount of thought put into this repulsing eroge was truly one of a kind. It's on track to be the best visual novel of 2022 for me so far. And you know, you bring up a good point. I'm surprised we didn't' see much suicides if at all.

[@petervickers911]

@@TheAugustHail hey august do you know of any female domination eroge at all or good femdom vn at all you can really recommend for me like a dominatrix beating a slave that sort of vn i need a very rough female one sort of like a black lagoon vn

[@Dixiekov]

I despaired before MC-chan. Minori is something else mentally even if she's a B rate special warfare trooper

[@fwarinben7418]

Yeah, I wished Minori the release of death or madness, but hers mental fortitude is too incredible. H-scenes were repetitive tho, yeah Anyway, brilliant VN. When you think that it can't be worse, it worsens. But payoff at the end.....

[@BruceGoneLoose]

I like a lot of the themes in this visual novel from the sounds of it. I love when visual novels talk about stuff like economics or technology as those were my fields of study and it's always fun to seem them applied to a visual novel (though admittedly I've also been annoyed when writers don't do their research and write nonsense, so it works both ways). That being said, if you think this visual novel surpasses Euphoria in darkness I think I'll be staying away. I like happy stories with maybe some mental trauma every now and then but Euphoria was quite a challenge to get through at points. I also have a fear of lovecraftian tentacle monsters, the physical and mental corruption of magical girls, and despair. Solid review though.

[@lordsinister707]

Basically it's an adult Puella Magi on steroids

[@TheAugustHail]

With a lot more men in it lol

[@leviedds9354]

@@TheAugustHailor Madoka magica in space

[@falconom8329]

This game needs a second prequel with Lisette and Circe, so much to explore there.

[@jackmiles612]

I am interested in this game but it's release on steam to me is another kind of funny example of Valve's bizarre relationship with visual novels. The fact that this game got a steam release and kara no shojo 2 didn't bewilders me.....

[@MerlinPrismriver100]

Only the prequel is on Steam if i recall correctly

[@jackmiles612]

Oh no the full uncensored game is on steam too.

[@eyeamthei1801]

*Minor SPOILER warning* Well, for me this is the most traumatic VN I have read so far, and I'm saying this as someone who have suffered trough Maggot Baits :P Yeah, that one is far worse in terms of visual gore. But, and it's a huge BUTT, DEA captures the sense despair trough internal monologues far better. The utter hopelessness is unbareable, exhausting, and extremly draining (if you play trought the space arc, which you definietly should)... Like half of it is about a totally broken, mentally dead girl in delirium faintly clinging on life while wholeheartedly wishing she didn't... Painful to read, and that is why it is a phenomenal psycho horror... Just for reference how cruel and merciless this VN is: There is this scene where Minori gets back her rank as Trooper after she regained some of her power (and with it a tiny-tiny bit of her pride), but the moment she step out the commander's office, she instantly gets caught buy the men, just to show her, she is still nothing more than a doll... For me this was one of the most crushing scenes, since this was the moment when finally sank in that there is no escape from here, and from this point on, I kinda felt that "please just give up. I don't want you to suffer anymore."

[@TheAugustHail]

And yet that's also what made her struggle so much more powerful in the end~

[@eyeamthei1801]

@@TheAugustHail Do you think she was compensated for her suffering though? I mean, the mental damage she suffered is so severe, that she was basically reduced to nothing, so I almost feel like the "dead end" is the happiest one. Although, considering the space ending she will have time to deal with it, but it'll be a long and arduous recovery.

[@TheAugustHail]

@@eyeamthei1801 The space ending has her outright destroy the system, while the Earth ending has her escape the system entirely. She's a stronger person at the end of both, and pretty much achieved her wishes.

[@styjoy]

MG used to be my place to go for darker contents. Now JAST is quickly catching up.

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

By dark you mean Edgelord porn stories right ? because this one has no dark element in it)

[@AoiUsagiOtoko]

i'm so happy JAST is working with cyc and their subsidiaries now! when princess X got localized so long ago i always hoped they'd go for the more horror-flavored games too-- and now we've got gore screaming show in english too! finally...😭💕 political intrigue ain't usually my thing but this game sounds like a wild ride i wanna experience nonetheless! as always the character designs are wonderful, and i know this game is gonna make me sad as hell but in a good way lol minori sounds like a really lovable protagonist, which kinda sucks for her being in a game like this haha. i've only just "met" her and i immediately want to protect her

[@xynester]

Looking at the CGs itself terrifies me, i dont need to play the game to know the girls are in despair

[@antorchowdhury9996]

Good review as always~ but on a serious note are you ok, my dude? Like how is your mental health? Playing games like these would fuck me up for sure so I don't know how you go through all this. On a lighter note, I'm awaiting your next video!

[@TheAugustHail]

I'm actually pretty desensitized to this type of stuff--mostly because it's mostly unrealistic in its anime style. But there are some painfully realistic depictions that do hit hard at times, although I find myself being more impressed by the quality and merits than being horrified at the scene lol

[@antorchowdhury9996]

@@TheAugustHail I understand what you mean lol, still glad to see that you are fine!

[@judesagpang6357]

Great work as always bro! Can you upload soon the "Visual Novel Best Girl Tier List for 2021?"

[@alexey635able]

I love how visual novels have to be absolutely repulsive in order to be “brilliant” these days lol

[@akiradkcn]

They don't NEED but even so, some of them are brilliant indeed

[@alexey635able]

@@akiradkcn Apparently Japanese writers disagree with you because I, for one, can’t think of any visual novel that considered to be kamige/masterpiece and doesn’t have rape in it at the same time (except, maybe, steins gate?)

[@akiradkcn]

@@alexey635able you don't speak for japanese writters, don't misinterpret my comment and put words on their mouth just bcause YOU don't like stuff. You dont need t like, but there is no need to be that dishonest

[@alexey635able]

@@akiradkcn What

[@Zero-qn8mk]

@@alexey635able SENGOKU RANCE!!! oh wait...

[@klyburn4115]

we really got far away from the codex astartes to fight this XENOS

[@yuzumochiyzmt]

Sounds interesting! Will have to look up some CGs to see what it's like (some types of monsters are a bit too far on the horror side for me), but the dark setting and atmosphere certainly seem to make for an interesting VN.

[@Amvdere_backup]

Alright you sold me, it’s nearly impossible to gross be out via art I’ve seen too much already. so I can focus on the writing without being turned off by dark scenes , I’ve been looking for a good Vn that’s related to space and I love dark magical girl series AND ITS POLITICAL🔥, I do hope there are wholesome moments in it too tho even if their overshadowed by the dark ones anyways time to buy

[@sephypantsu]

Playing this right now... and I thought I was pretty good at handling dark themes, but this even made me uncomfortable

[@MM22658]

i managed to 100% starless, i probably can handle this

[@themetronomian7239]

i'll have to check it out...solely cause you said so

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

lol

[@nelsonw9483]

Does this have a happy ending to make up for all the despair at least?

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

Happy ending is bullshit in this type of stories , let's make characters suffer but without any impact because they will end up happy anyway yei

[@TheAugustHail]

I'll say this, there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

Watch Texnolyze instead

[@KNI]

people liked the two endings it has so i would say there will be relief

[@Trades46]

There are two endings but no real "true end". Both are kind to certain characters while being bittersweet to others, so I think they left "happy ending" to your interpretation on purpose.

[@andrewshearsby8125]

I don't fear despair Junko taught me well...

[@Kuusuna]

Sorry I just cannot recommend this to just anyone. I would feel very guilty about just dumping so much emotional trauma onto a random bystander.

[@Sergey__Kazak]

Uh, looking at the VNDB the prequel exists for this one. I don't know if I should start with this game r the prequel...Seems interesting to check out though

[@lilithsmolinski4563]

i read the prequel first and it isnt that long, so you can go for that first if you are interested

[@TheAugustHail]

The prequel is pretty short, only about a couple of hours. It adds more context to some of the supporting characters, but it's not completely necessary

[@Sergey__Kazak]

@@TheAugustHail @Lilith Smolinski Thank you guys for the clerification. I think I'll get both the prequel and this game

[@KNI]

"It is more fulfilling to play the prologue 1st, since you get more context out of characters (mainly Circe, Kinnison, Lisette, and Canxue) who don't appear as much until you get deeper into the game. Also makes it fun to form theories about what happened between the 9 years from the prologue to the main game." -someone who played both

[@TheAugustHail]

And experience pure shock after seeing what Kinnison after 9 years.

[@jedharendstrash]

Really nice and interesting video! I have a question: what are the darkest visual novels that have the least amount of hentai scenes?

[@Dixiekov]

Best part was definitely the soundtrack, unfortunately my brain is too small to rip those files from the game lmao. The game is good at giving you a false sense of hope only to take it away and make it even worse than before

[@ralfsstuff]

Sounds interesting but the only one I can find on steam, in Germany, is Gaiden. Is that one still worth checking out without access to this one?

[@TheAugustHail]

I would highly recommend checking it out on JASTUSA over there~

[@sd-wc9ep]

Damn i need to check it out

[@Ramma10]

Great video, however, I don't agree with your opinion. I thought it was a mediocre story with a brilliantly executed first few chapters and bore toward the end. The HCG devolve into just repeats with one ot two added poses and counting it as a new "scene". The emotional development and character interactions come to a hard stopping point and just become repeated durdling. I love the premise and the world but it wasn't executed with enough finesse to truly make it shine. It felt like a much worse Dead Days to me personally, and I felt if it had a bit more time to bake in the oven it could of been something special. I'm looking forward to there next title as I believe the possibility for something is there for sure.

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

Lilly profile = knows what he is talking about , listen to him)

[@TheAugustHail]

It's the repetition that hurts DEA the most yeah. As much as I "liked" watching Minori suffer, some scenes are really a slight variation of "How will Minori be tortured this time." Any scene with Anthony had me groaning, and the second half of the Space Route could really have been a lot more concise. Overall though, despite the repetitiveness, as a collective whole, I thought DEA did a great job at delivering its world and its points. I haven't read Dead Days but I'm curious in it. Now if only if MangaGamer released more darker CLOCKUP eroge...it's been years...

[@masakihato9486]

This just is a weird piece of artwork. Plain fucked up.

[@donotreadmyprofile9373]

It's reality if there's no fantasy stuff,messed up indeed

[@SuperMiIk]

Agreed. Just torture porn, I fail to see anything good about it

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

Fear for militaristic science fiction politics xDD

[@mangaming1942]

0:53 WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A FROG AND A FISH!!??!??

[@UnravelGhoulx]

So, guys I know people call this an ero guro but does it really have hentai gore scenes? The story sounds interesting, but I can't stomach that crap.

[@TheAugustHail]

It's pretty vicious. Not to the extent of Maggot Baits, but those who don't like tentacles aren't going to enjoy this one..

[@UnravelGhoulx]

@@TheAugustHail thank u as long as it’s not maggot baits level I should be fine (I think).

[@malhasao]

​@@UnravelGhoulx did you play it? how was it? i'm really hyped to play this but i'm afraid of it being maggot baits level as you said. if it's something euphoria/saya no uta it might be tolerable however i can't afford to see vein fucking level shit

[@mintsinee]

@@malhasao I've played this and the worst it gets in terms of guro is the skippable bad ending, some all-the-way through tentacle scenes, and body (AKA breast/genital) modification later on. Saying that there is a LOT more "emotionally" disturbing stuff here then either Maggot Baits or euphoria IMO, like the scenes aren't that bad to look at visually, but with the full context behind what's going on it can get REALLY intense... especially during the last few moments of the Cathedral Route... so keep that in mind.

[@samfisch5988]

maybe im mentaly death but i dont think it is so rough like he describes it was btw. my first vn out of romance vn‘s dont know what that tells about me 😅

[@usmansubhani7482]

I wonder why the cruelty. If you look at the pieces in isolation, it didn’t need sadistic guys torturing the girls until they like being hurt. Then again, predatory guys and ‘nice guys’ being larger than normal guys who see girls as humans is kinda real (and definitely so in the past). I don’t care if people say I’m pro or anti feminism, but it has to be said that they are the more vulnerable group here… and those who have these kinds of weaknesses are exploited. Man or woman doesn’t matter. Some think society is built upon human morals, but they fail to see that the spread of morality has always been for the sake of the society… and not the person. It makes sense why morality would be twisted when humans find the right justifications. Sickening, but true to life.

[@definitelyhuman4510]

Hell na, just watching the UB from review already made me want to punch him so bad. I want messed up but still somewhat fair philosophical story like Subahibi instead.

[@asneakylawngnome5792]

0:58 Do those jellyfish really have Mara sized DONGS!?

[@lMizorel]

it weird to feel that ugly fat commander is reasonable even he does horrible thing. also i love ilyusha she try to protect minori at all cost.

[@TheAugustHail]

If you thought this was repulsive, you should check this horrifying game too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWSkmayDqc9gj6c

[@jkwolf1295]

I bought this game and when I tried to install it my ani virus went off and said there's was there's was a virus from the game I got the game from jast I like to play this but don't want a virus in my computer was anyone who installed this get the same problems ? can I play this ?

[@TheAugustHail]

If you bought it directly from the JAST store, it should be fine. That said, for any technical questions, ask the JAST Support Team on their website

[@jacobjones8396]

Software from Jast frequently won't have a signature, Windows Defender doesn't like that. Don't worry about it.

[@guiltytrinity6016]

ONE TAKE IM NOT A BIG FAN OF THE GOVERNMENT

[@ThatGuy-en2nn]

I like dark stories but with action instead of horny hentai shxt 😂. I'll have to pass on this one. If doesn't have that, I'll read.

[@Mikel9]

ok so this is 40k but with sex.

[@Hatsune-Miku_Fan]

💔

[@ThatGuy-en2nn]

Nvm, he said "H-Scenes"

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

@@smoli Eww

[@ThatGuy-en2nn]

@@smoli Yeah if you're a porn addict 😂

[@Trades46]

No shortage of those in this series. That said, the way H-scenes are framed here...let's just say the mood and ambience does not lend itself to good "fap" material.

[@ThatGuy-en2nn]

@@Trades46 Someone will fap. Also, I regret purchasing this. It wasn't framed like it was just nonstop grape and hscenes. Even the combat scenes are sexual. I was expecting a dark mature story but it's dark in that it's nonstop grape. Worst purchase I'm made in awhile.

[@avea8505]

@@ThatGuy-en2nn I mean it's an eroge, what do you expect?

[@dtl1705]

Chào con chó hlam ấm

[@Kutsushita_yukino]

Second

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

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