Doctor Hysteria
A downloadable game
TW: misogyny, sexual content, abuse
Doctor Hysteria is an educational game based on the research of medical neglect faced by women in the Victorian era.
This game focuses on western history, based mostly on medical practices of England and France at the time.
The main goal of the game is to show the inability of hysteria doctors of the time (or most Victorian men in general), to recognise the strict social expectations of women as the reason for their uneasiness and mental anguish, instead treating them in roundabout ways and, more often than not, harming them in the process.
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Beautiful artwork, so gorgeous. The game itself has multiple endings. It educates you on medical neglect in the Victorian ages, without reading like a plain history book- it is super immersive, emotional, and interesting. Easy to play and navigate through and you look at beautiful beautiful art- what’s not to love? 10/10 recommend.
The author did a great job portraying the horrors and the doom of women's neglect at that time.
About the gameplay: very clear and easy to follow the instructions. The information provided is also clear and easy to read, informative enough to get the context of each patient who came seeking help. What pleasantly surprised me, is that there were no "black and white" endings, meaning that even if you choose the 'morally correct' option, it does not necessarily mean there will be a happy ending.
Aesthetics: great illustrations, very dynamic and eye-catching. The melancholic music following the gameplay added sadness and eeriness to the overall experience.
For future development: I think it has the potential for a longer version with even more different scenarios and maybe a further possible route (or ending) for the doctor after different endings. Also, as a note, it would be great to be able to engage with the patients by asking them leading questions about their case (which opens up a bigger variety for the story to unfold).
Overall experience: I enjoyed the time spent, especially with my interest and curiosity about the Victorian era. Such a small game makes you think about all the progress we made until the present time as a humanity for womanhood. Other than that, I found no bugs, errors, or any other 'hiccups' and I hope this author will make something else in the future!
A surprising concept of the game as well as the outcomes... Played several times to experience all the possible choices. Liked the atmosphere, game art style, characters design - very creepy and thus exciting. Felt pitty - no, SORROW - for women of that time period and got terrified of understanding the "right" medical choices of those times. Would be great to have the stories of each woman extended as well as more options to choose for the player.
This game is a rather straightforward tale, than a tangled quest. It takes some time to figure out what is requered from the player. The reward comes in unexpected way, not as a personal gain, but as a small but still real victory for humanism and hope. Overall, an esteticaly pleasing and enriching cultural experience.