How far are you willing to suffer for the pleasure of others? We all know people who sacrifice their joy in order to make others happy. Suffer To Please takes it a step further and argues that such people might actually be prey for people who want to abuse them. This is a world in which the good girls rarely win and the bad girls get punished until they learn their lesson.


STORY
The story follows Julie, an ambitious young orphan who is a total people pleaser. After a confusing dream, she decides to face her fears head-on and signs up for an exclusive self-help program for women. Now we all know the internet can be full of dubious ads, but this decision will take her on a journey she never in her life expected.

Without spoiling the story angle, Julie descends down a path of giving up control and accepting a new outlook on life. Suffer To Please is mainly a story game, so expect to read mostly text for most of the 2+ hrs experience. You will see Julie suffer, but it’s entirely up to you if she actually pleases.

As a story-heavy game, the developer takes a good amount of time setting the stage for events to unfold in. Although I can’t shake the feeling that I would want to learn more about the organization that pushes Julie to become a different woman. They all seem very organized which means they run a large scale operation. It’s only hinted at, but we seldom get to see it in full glory.

PRESENTATION
Suffer To Please isn’t about graphics at all. Earlier versions had silhouette scenes and in this new version, the developer reworked the game with color graphics. Julie is a dashing young woman and most of the interiors are actually complimentary to the story now. That said, some art is rough around the edges. Things can look washed, out of style or even a bit empty at times. Remember, the graphics are only there to support the text story. This is not a game you will play to gawk at the visual fidelity.

The game does however feature some heavy BDSM, humiliation and intimate scenes. We’re talking restriction, gore and involuntary penetration. If any of those turn you off, this is not your game.

GAMEPLAY
This is your typical VN with dialogue choices. There are two endings over branching paths and about eight choices to make within the game. Scenes play out roughly the same, but the way it’s written pushes Julie in a different direction. In the end, you decide Julie’s character which in turn decides how this story ends.

OVERALL
Suffer To Please is a game that really profits from strong imagination, until you realize it might not be as far off reality for some people in life. It’s a mixed bag, both in emotions and overall quality. If you favor a good story that tends to go in a dark route and can manage to appreciate the graphics as supplemental to the story, there’s a good game and insightful story to experience here.

Rating: 7/10
Developer: Laharl12