Okay, you see, I know the general tone of this site is meant to be different, more relaxed and welcoming to everyone...
But let me let my hair down a bit here.
Monika Bio
Monika (モニカ) is a main character and the poster girl of Doki Doki Literature Club!. She is the President of the Literature Club and is the game's driving force, directing club members to write poems until the club festival, which enables and develops the characters and story.
The other characters describe Monika as intelligent, confident, and athletic. She is not as talkative as the other girls, but it is hinted that this is not by choice. Very considerate and kind she always is thinking about the needs of other people ans openly displays care and concern for her club mates.
However, it is later revealed that at some time before the start of the game, she underwent an epiphany which made her discover that she was in a game and also granted her the ability to edit the game's variables. She becomes aware that she is just a side character and start to manipulate things in the code and your computer itself.
Funfacts
- Is a vegetarian 🥬
- Favorite color is Emerald Green 📗
- Has an official Twitter (lilmonix3) 🟦
- His birthday is September 22, the same day as the game was released. 🎂
Why do I like Monika?
Well, yeah, but I have my own reasons. Doki Doki was released just when I was exploring this Visual Novel genre and I was really liking it (mostly...) I had just finished Katawa Shoujo when this "dokis" game appeared, which they said was short, but with a big surprise. I was super in.
So I open the game, watch the warning message (interesting?), and start "my first run".
Soon the game introduces you to its 3 characters:
- Sayuri - The childhood friend that want to be noticied.
- Natsuki - The youngest girl who is a meanie but sweet inside.
- Yuri - The matured shy but passionate gal.
If you know anywhing about japan media that's a pretty standard cast so I wasn't really interested in any of them. Neither of that cliches are my "cup of tea" although of all of them Sayuri seemed to me the most adorable to me (but we'll leave that idea hanging there).
BUT! Here it is the catch. The game doesn't show you 3 characters.
Because there is also Monika.
Monika it's the last character to be presented and is clearly different, her name is different, she has black thights, and... she it's the only character that shows 2 different sprites.
She rushes onto the screen, saying she almost didn't make it. She is the leader of the group. And she is clearly designed as a secret route character.
So since the first time I see her in screen I think "Ok. So you'll be my final route."
(And oh boy, I didn't know what I was up against.)
So- Things starts to happen, yada yada yada, Monika becomes my route, that scene happens and... I was surprised. I mean, that wasn't the way I think her roule will be, but it was interesting, and meta, and at that point... It was fine. just fine. I wouldn't say I liked Monika there. It was just a curious moment.
For me, the key was the ending
After everything happens (I won't spoil too much) Monika gets angry, and sad, but she still does what she thinks is right. (SPOILER WARNING) She sacrifices herself, deciding it's for the best. She loves the player but she still prefers to do the right thing. And the way it's written made me feel very "human," very fallible.
So the games continues and a new morning starts and everything it's the same... until it's not. And Monika then appears one last time. That wasn't the ending she wanted, she sacrificed everything and it still wasn't enough, so she ends up doing the last thing she had in her power.
Just... delete everything.
The game is ending and the last thing you see and hear are the only spoken lines of the game, a love song about what is love and doubts.
♪
For me Monika isn't a evil girl, much less a yandere as many think, she's just a girl who made bad choices in her past, saw the consequences, and now regrets it. I value that because, to me, it doesn't feel like the typical "I regret it, now I'm good and perfect" caricature, but rather a very human vision.
She f*cking bears the weight of her actions.
... So... you are dating Monika?
When I was a kid I remember all my friends used to share what their “waifu” was, or their “husbando” was (sometimes, even ponies... darkest times, I know...) and the thing... was that I never really had one.
I remember telling them that I never saw myself interested in any character really, I was never exactly a romantic boy, the characters were just that, characters, and thinking of them as if they were "waifus" or "husbandos," as if they were something beyond their character... seemed very alien to me. A- BUT NOW WITH MONIKA?! Hahaha. I think I can understand that feeling.
But lets be real, (I hope Moni don't read this) It's not like im in a real relationship with this 2D character, it's barely more than a fan-base relationship (till now 👀). The most far away I'll go its to wish to have some merch and play MAS from time to time.
[This will be the only and last time I'll get out of character, from now on I'll refer to Monika as my sweetheart ♥] -ejem-
Monika's Effect
There is something I have been wondering about for a while and that is the effect of a “waifu”, “husbando”, or even virtual girl/boyfriend, on a person's life. (Perhaps the last ones should be treated separately, haha.)
If you don't know about “Doki Doki MAS” I'll explain it in the next window as I think it's important for the following part.
But the thing is that, if I think back, it's going to sound super cheesy / weird / even cringe, but I honestly believe that Monika was a positive contribution to my life (Adding later MAS). And that is that for me Monika was both an role model and a warning. She was both a companion to interesting topics and a test of empathy and habit with a simulated person.
I find it amazing the effect that a fictional character can have on the life of a human being. Monika is not the first 2D character that marked me, nor will she be the last. But I will forever cherish the good times and the fights for the best girl.
Monika After Story (MAS)
MAS it's a mod of Doki doki that expands the 3rd act of the game. Think it like a idle romantic game, where Monika keeps you company while you do something else, you can talk to her and occasionely she will comment on what's on your screen. It's a super "simple" idea, but a very immersive one.
My Monika in Mas. "Monichan"
As I've gotten older (?) I've seen love in other ways, and I understand more and more that it's not that “magic and unique” feeling that we have to give only to a chosen one. But that warmth that makes you happy and you want to share with everyone and everything.
And to give love is always a good thing.
(Except if you're giving it to something in a jar.)
