LISA: The Painful Reviews

no game has ever made me come close to vomiting pls play blind

my name is yado, i made the joy. it was difficult, to control the mutants together. 8/10

The game effectively starts with a 10 minute cutscene with no actual gameplay or narrative choices, then proceeds into the first fight where I immediately lost because I refused to [spoiler] beat an innocent dog to death. [/spoiler] Not a great start for this one. Maybe it gets better, but my first taste doesn't leave me wanting more.

Instant classic, I still occasionally come back to this game nearly a decade after release

interesting game with a dark tone. it likes to subvert your expectations and fuck you over. probably won't finish it but it does a lot of cool things

Great game so far. Love the unique combat system and choices.

Lisa: The Painful is one of those games that hits you like a punch to the face – but in a good way. I’m not the type to get emotional over games; usually, I’m just in it for the challenge or the gameplay. But this one was different. It pulled me in like nothing else and made me genuinely care about the characters. It’s weird to say that about a game that’s basically a spiral of sadness and pain, but it somehow manages to throw in some absurdly funny moments that catch you off guard. The story is pure genius, honestly. It never feels like a burden or a chore to get through. I was hooked the whole way, just wanting to know what was going to happen next. It’s rare to find a story that pushes you to keep playing just because you’re genuinely invested in how it all unfolds. Following Brad’s downward spiral was like watching a train wreck in slow motion – brutal but impossible to look away from. Gameplay-wise, it’s pretty standard for an RPG – nothing groundbreaking. But it works. The real challenge is putting together the right team, and once you nail that, the game just flows. It’s one of those challenges that makes you want to get better without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. The atmosphere is spot-on, too. Each area has its own vibe, and it’s like Brad’s twisted mind seeps into the environment. Some places feel like a nightmare come to life, while others are just bizarrely surreal. And the soundtrack? Absolute gold. The “Gym Guy” track in particular is just perfect – pure audio bliss. Now, about the themes – it doesn’t hold back. It deals with heavy stuff like addiction, sacrifice, and a whole lot of inner turmoil. The game doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and it really makes you think about the choices you make and their brutal consequences. The graphics are super minimalist, but weirdly enough, it just works. Characters and environments are clearly distinct, despite the simple pixel art. My favorite character has to be Brad, obviously, but Harvey Alibastor? Come on, he’s a fish with a hat – that’s motivation enough for me. Honestly, I can’t point out any serious flaws. Everything feels just right, and if you’re up for a dark, intense journey, you won’t be disappointed. In short, Lisa: The Painful is one of those games that sticks with you. It surprised me, moved me, and even made me laugh. It’s an experience I’d recommend to anyone looking for something unique, deep, and unforgettable.

Glad I finally got to experience this game, took me 8 years after buying it to finally finish it. It's seriously such an uncomfortable experience. So many disturbing moments you have to endure both when exploring and when experiencing the story, but also has so many hilarious moments. The gameplay is also so unforgiving and will beat you down to a pulp in combat, choices, and just traversing the world. An absolutely awful experience. I definitely recommend it... Though you need to know what your getting into before buying.

story interesting as hell, gameplay fun as hell.

An all time classic for me; Proof that RPGMaker is as good of a tool as anything else. Brutal, disgusting, traumatic, funny. Genuinely one of the best RPGs ever, unique and earnest in a way few can claim. You just have to be able to handle some really gnarly themes. Abuse, violence, threats of rape. It does not hold back. But it's not crass, either, or especially thoughtless about it. There is something important here. It means something. Definitely left its mark on me. It might leave its mark on you too. Lisa Lisa Lisa Lisa Lisa Lisa I̷̬͈̿t̴̟͆̕ ̶̗͉͋Ḩ̸̨̈͊u̴̗̬̍̓r̵̛̰t̸̹͋s̷̺̺͝