Reality and time are constructs to which humanity clings, to shelter their minds from the incomprehensible horror that lies beyond the stars. Those willing to gaze through the eyes of another may catch a glimpse of a love that dances in the mist separating nightmares and waking terror. Such is the tale of Stardust and Rhok’zan in the sequel to 2022’s Sucker for Love: First Date, Sucker for Love: Date to Die For.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For (PC [reviewed])
Developer: Akabaka
Publisher: DreadXP
Released: April 23, 2024
MSRP: $12.99
Rather than actively seeking out otherworldly entities to smooch as Darling did, Stardust finds herself an unwilling participant in a love triangle. Drawn back to her ancestral home, she’s in search of her family who has disappeared along with many of the town’s residents. Making her way to her former bedroom, she unwittingly summons a timeless entity, Rhok’zan, the Black Goat of the Woods. Together, the unlikely duo must escape the clutches of Rhok’zan’s cult.
The story is divided into four cyclical chapters, which, without spoiling, is a playful and endlessly fascinating twist on our understanding of time and reality. This allows developer Akabaka to introduce new characters, concepts, and mechanics into the same setting without them feeling out of place. Each chapter has multiple paths and endings, with each working together to advance the overall plot. Even death is an integral piece of the larger story. Oh, I suppose I should have mentioned that you’ll be dying a lot.
While I adore what is done here in terms of concept, the execution is a little flawed. The first two chapters are back-to-back, whereas the third and fourth chapters are massive jumps forward. This leads to some interactions that, without seeing that critical character development, feel out of place or forced. Logically it makes sense, but until you fully understand what is happening, these moments are confusing.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For is a tremendous improvement over its predecessor in terms of gameplay. Rather than be confined to an apartment with buttons to pan left and right, players explore an entire home complete with multiple floors. Moving the mouse to either side of the screen pans the camera and WASD support allows complete freedom to move about. This, combined with other presentation elements sells the whole 90s anime gaming vibe.
Unlike its predecessor, Date to Die For has players facing off against more than cosmic horror. Cultists wander the halls and rooms of Stardust’s home. Staying quiet, moving slowly, and being cautious when opening doors are essential to survival. It feels a lot more like survival horror instead of a dating sim, and this is another tricky spot.
I had expected Date to Die For to be more in line with First Date, but Akabaka is expanding on that foundation by introducing new mechanics. The problem isn’t their execution, but the expectation. It’s like watching a dark comedy and then discovering the sequel is a horror movie. Both are amazing experiences, but the disconnect is palpable.
Date to Die For leans heavily into the ’90s anime vibe, from the art style and the setting to the tube TV overlay and stingers for each chapter. It might be preying on my nostalgia, but it works. It certainly evoked memories of watching shows like Trigun and Tenchi Muyo! in my much younger years, and is sure to be equally effective for those with a penchant for the art of the time.
On top of the phenomenal art design, the sound design, voice acting, and music are all amazing. Every song is an absolute bop, and I found myself letting the credits roll for an extended period just to keep the tunes going. The sound design is top-notch, as the ambient noises in the home, peels of thunder in the distance, and the use of footsteps and clanging as a way to measure enemy proximity all work in concert to create a deep sense of unease. I found myself genuinely unsettled as I crept through the home, only to have that tension released with a jolt as a cultist grabbed me unexpectedly.
The voice acting is the real cherry on top, as it’s not only a standout for the genre, but gaming as a whole. As a visual novel, these performances go a long way in immersing the player and carrying us from scene to scene. I wish I had enough space to highlight every performance, but suffice it to say, they’re all amazing.
Kirsten Candelore’s performance as Rhok’zan is awe-inspiring, as she believably sells the spectrum of emotions this cosmic entity experiences throughout the game. You can hear the honey drip from her voice as she tries to seduce Stardust, the quiet terror in her hushed tones, and refreshing candor when her guard is dropped for Stardust.
Despite it not being what I expected and having a few quirks like unusually long load times (30 seconds at most at odd times), Sucker for Love: Date to Die For is an easy recommendation for anyone. It’s a genuinely heartwarming tale steeped in horror. The way it utilizes concepts familiar to Lovecraft fans and makes them its own is inspiring. It’s flirty, charming, funny, and frightful in equal parts. If Akabaka was able to make this kind of leap between the first and second entries, I can’t wait to see what they do for the third.
