This game delves into the morning of April 20th, 1999 and asks players to relive that day

Super Columbine Massacre RPG is a game that was inspired by the Columbine High School massacre, one of the most unfortunate and shocking events in modern history in which 12 students and one teacher were killed, and 21 people were injured by two teenagers.

Now, to transpose that event into a game while keeping intact the morality, context, mental and emotional state of the two shooters is something very important. This game however is very questionable in terms of what it actually represents and what it wants to show.

Something that looks like a cheap reenactment of a tragedy

Back when Super Columbine Massacre RPG was released it might have looked like a good game with whatever you want to consider as being good graphics and decent gameplay. The truth is that it was created using, RPG Maker a piece of software that pretty much hands you a gigantic template on which you work.

Custom elements can be designed and implemented, such as the main characters of the game but the idea is that RPG Maker was created to allow people to put together games such as Final Fantasy. The bottom line is that this RPG looks like a casual game in which doll-like figures are used to recreate a real tragedy. Adding a cheap look to a profound event does not make Super Columbine Massacre RPG a decent game.

Also, using ‘Super’ next to ‘Columbine Massacre’ and RPG makes it seem like the game might just be a pretext to create a bit of controversy. Which it did.

Built to be an RPG but it plays more like a platformer

To be able to appreciate the value of this game you first need to read up on the actual events on which it was based. There’s no sense in playing this if you don’t know what it’s about. Without any knowledge on the matter you’re just playing a game in which two kids plant bombs and kill other kids.

As far as gameplay goes, it’s the standard one that is implemented and limited by RPG Maker. You get one or two characters which you move across a designed world, interact with certain objects, understand the story through dialog or monologue, pick up items and fight with other characters. The simplicity of it all further diminishes the importance of that April day.

Moreover, you do a heck of a lot of running around dodging NPCs, more than you do in a platformer.

A decently executed game but with horrible delivery

To conclude, after you read up on the Columbine High School Massacre, play the game. It’s the only way you can actually make sense of it. Make it a test to yourself and see if you can relate with the tragedy of that day through what the game has to offer. Although, considering how superficial it is, that might not happen.

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