Reality and time are constructs that humanity clings to to protect its minds from the incomprehensible horrors that lie beyond the stars. Those willing to look through another person’s eyes may catch a glimpse of love that dances in the mist that separates nightmares from waking terror. Such is the tale of Stardust and Rhok’zan in the 2022 sequel. Sucker for Love: First Date, Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For.
Instead of actively seeking out otherworldly beings to make out with, as Darling did, Stardust becomes an unwilling participant in a love triangle. Drawn back to her childhood home, she searches for her family, who have disappeared along with many of the town’s inhabitants. Heading to her elderly bedroom, she unknowingly summons a timeless being, Rhok’zan, the Black Goat of the Woods. Together, the unlikely duo must escape the clutches of the Rhok’zan cult.
The story is divided into four cyclical chapters that, without giving away much, are a fun and endlessly fascinating twist on our understanding of time and reality. This allows developer Akabaka to introduce up-to-date characters, concepts, and mechanics into the same setting without them feeling out of place. Each chapter has multiple paths and endings, each working together to advance the overall plot. Even death is integral to the larger story. Oh, I guess I should have mentioned that you’ll die a lot.
While I love what’s being done here conceptually, the execution is a bit flawed. The first two chapters are consecutive, while the third and fourth chapters are huge leaps forward. This leads to certain interactions that, without noticing critical character development, feel out of place or forced. Logically, it makes sense, but until you fully understand what’s happening, these moments are confusing.
Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a huge improvement over its predecessor in terms of gameplay. Instead of being confined to an apartment with buttons to move left and right, players explore an entire house with multiple floors. Moving the mouse to either side of the screen moves the camera, and WASD control allows for complete freedom of movement. This, combined with other elements of the presentation, sells the whole 90s anime gaming feel.
Unlike its predecessor, A date worth dying for players are faced with more than just a cosmic horror. Cultists roam the hallways and rooms of Stardust’s house. Staying still, moving slowly, and being careful when opening doors are vital to survival. It plays more like a survival horror than a dating sim, and that’s another tough spot.
I expected A date worth dying for be more in tune with First datebut Akabaka expands on that foundation by introducing up-to-date mechanics. The problem isn’t their execution, but the expectations. It’s like watching a murky comedy and then discovering the sequel is a horror. Both are incredible experiences, but the disconnect is palpable.
A date worth dying for It has a forceful 90s anime feel, from the art style and setting to the TV overlay and stingers in each chapter. It may be playing on my nostalgia, but it works. It certainly brought back memories of watching shows like Trigun AND Tenchi Muyo! in my much younger years and will certainly be equally effective for those interested in the art of that period.
In addition to the phenomenal art design, the sound design, voice acting and music are all incredible. Every song is an absolute hit and I let the credits roll for quite some time just to keep the melodies going. The sound design is top notch as the ambient sounds in the house, the thunder in the distance and the employ of footsteps and clanking as a way to gauge the proximity of an enemy all work together to create a deep sense of unease. I found myself feeling really uneasy as I crept through the house, only to have the tension released by the shock of a cultist unexpectedly grabbing me.
The voice acting is the real cherry on top, as it not only stands out in the genre, but in gaming as a whole. As a visual novel, these performances do a lot to engage the player and carry us from scene to scene. I wish I had enough space to single out every single performance, but suffice it to say that they are all amazing.
Kirsten Candelore’s performance as Rhok’zan is incredible, as she believably sells the range of emotions this cosmic entity experiences throughout the game. You can hear the honey dripping from her voice as she tries to seduce Stardust, the still terror in her hushed tones, and the refreshing honesty as she lets her guard down for Stardust.
While it wasn’t what I expected and had a few quirks, like an incredibly long loading time (30 seconds max at odd moments), Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is an effortless recommendation for anyone. It’s a truly heartwarming tale steeped in horror. The way it takes concepts familiar to Lovecraft fans and makes them its own is inspiring. It’s equal parts flirty, charming, humorous, and terrifying. If Akabaka could make that leap between the first and second book, I can’t wait to see what they do in the third.
