The first thing I wanna say is that my impressions are based on playing without the mini-games. I tried, but I couldn't deal with them. This is NOT a bad point for Being a DIK though, the author had the foresight to make this content optional, and giving options to the player is always a great thing.
The second is just a reminder of how many LONG reviews this game has. You can like it or dislike it, but writing a handful of lines about something of this magnitude seems inadequate. There's a lot to say, hence the following.
- I'm starting with the audio this time - There's a lot of tracks, a fair number are good and more importantly, play at the right time. This is coming from someone who can safely spout "not my cup of tea" at the some of the genres used, I still recognize their quality. I'd like to single out "Just Peachy" by Bellsmarie, it's perfect for Maya and the "triangle situations". Picking proper audio is an important skill (that many lack), so props on that account. The next step is voice acting I believe, and that would be the real kicker to greatness here.
What do you think is catapulting Slay the Princess to success? The obvious trigger to almost everything, that is picking up the knife or not doing it? Well yes, people are easily impressed, great publicity and the previous title seal the deal, but V.A is also one of the main reasons: "You are on a path"... Look at something like Snow Daze The Music of Winter for instance. You don't need professionals and tons of money, even sub-standard, partial V.A, is better than none.
- Humor - I'm not sure how to sell this in any other way. Being a DIK had me laughing numerous times. Yes, I'm an easy target. Yes, I'm partial to immature or "foul-mouthed" jokes. Yes, I like the reversal of PC culture arguments with satire. Yes, physical humor with dildos cracks me up. I'm not sorry, if it's funny I will laugh, and if I laugh it's funny. Thinking about what jokes should be funny, is a stagnant concept outside the circular logic associated with the terms "laugh" and "funny", ergo it never touches the circle. "Double ergo" it has zero relevance to the circle. "Stretching the ergo", pseudo-intellectuals don't stop Being a DIK from being very funny.
- The free roaming sections - I never took a spatial awareness test in my life, but after Being a DIK, I'm pretty sure I would fail spectacularly at any of them. I took the wrong path dozens of times. I don't know if it's me or the game, but it's definitely the game. Don't you feel any sympathy for the physical integrity of my monitor. What about my sanity?
- Visuals - I'm gonna go there, and address the "pioneer idea" that the girls are not realistic. It's STUPID . What's next? Are you gonna cry cause people don't die, and no one ever fights seriously in "The legend of heroes", after 13 titles... The rapture can't get here fast enough, so one of us gets taken away permanently. Forget breast, thigh, ass, and all other sizes, what you need to do is inform yourself on the product you are purchasing, and act accordingly. I'm not even bringing artistic freedom to the table, or the fact that VN's are ALWAYS an obvious product of fiction. My argument is simple: Don't try to change the very nature of things, acquire different things, more in line with your own taste.
With that out of the way I like the girls (What are my odds, regarding Sage jumping out of the screen, in Quantum physics/theory/tunneling numbers? Wife says it's cool, if it happens), the animations, backgrounds, and the adult scenes. As far as I can tell, is higher quality all around, when compared to some other noteworthy titles that you can find here.
- Isabella - I don't remember seeing any character quite like Isabella in any VN. (If I say how many I have read so far, it will sound like I'm bragging***). She looks like she could grab a 2-handed axe and cut a man in two, if he has the gall of asking her, whether she used milk on her omelet. Forget her emotional conflict, being on guard and "murderous" 24/7, is definitely on the original side of things. She is kind of like a reverse "yandere", who will kill you first, and then give you her sweet side (metaphor, not necrophilia). At any rate, I had fun messing with her, and realizing that was not gonna work.
- Being a DIK shows a ton of ambition- This leads to many problems (I will address some below), but I just love when developer(s) try to go beyond (reach the next step of the ladder), when so many just achieve one success, and sit comfortably on easy money and repetition. (This is especially bad in adult videogames and visual novels). The praise stems from the existence of "things" like One One1 or Yuzusoft, in essence. Never settle, always strive for more.
- The alignments (DIK) don't work - The entirety of chapter 4 made zero sense after my previous choices (as DIK). I had no idea what was going on, and why the protagonist was so upset when I payed little to no attention to both girls involved , (lots of Sage, Sage, and more Sage, a bit of Sage, not much Josie or Maya...) You can't have the protagonist act like that after the choices I made. I understand that getting this right is a huge endeavor, but this is a deal breaker at the moment. Hundreds of choices, and a protagonist that decides to think for himself are always gonna clash. I decided to just restart, but I was close to uninstalling the game, on account of my own incredulity staring at my screen.
- There's no main story - More accurately, the slice of life/comedy/ is overwhelming, and drowns the rest, at some point. Again, it's wonderful that the developer wants to do so much, but my brain has trouble keeping up with all the paths taken. That means that when you suddenly insert a relevant flashback/exposition, and backstory to some character, I may not be giving it all of my attention. That's a recipe for disaster, in a title that is obviously driven by the desire to portray interpersonal relationships, and ensuing struggles.
- The girls are following the alignment system - I will give it to you straight, there's only 2 types of girls in Being a DIK (Isabella is the odd 3rd). The first is the "good girl" who has everything going for her except some sort of first world problem. The game wants you to court them and be nice to them. Then there's the "bad girls" who give a "loose impression", and respond positively to, or initiate sexual interactions, faster than the competition. There's a narrative there (regarding the sorority dynamics) thankfully.
I refuse to believe that the writer is unaware of character archetypes in VN's, and incapable of stamping some quick exaggerated quirks early on, just to separate the waters, and then proceed to more complex considerations. Let me point the finger at Jill, Maya, and Josie. They are way too similar, and my choices towards them reflect only one character. I'm not against picking someone based on attractiveness (quite the opposite, I do it all the time, cause in fiction everyone ends up being a "treasure"), but personalities are far more satisfying to consider. What do you think about when best girl votes/posts come around?
- The legal problem Maya faces - I don't live in the U.S, and I don't know its legal system, but this has "90's soap opera twist" written all over it. Bad faith claims, and state provided attorneys are a thing there I hope? The irony of me complaining about this, after my speech on "breast" size above, is not lost on me, but come on, this is bad. Make her infirm and on her death bed. Make her move to the Fiji islands for a year. Or make her the last princess of Mars on a quest to save her race by breeding with humans. Not this. I'm gonna stop here (dead horse...) but I had another dose of the same remedy for Jill.
IMPORTANT: I stopped playing here
- Parting words - The seed of greatness is here, despite some of my harsh remarks. There's no mistaking it, and I think this is a title worth purchasing and supporting. The problem I see happening here, is the foundations of the work being neglected, in favor of new content that pushes the title to finished state, or just aims to "please the consumer". It's a strange comparison, but look at Crusader Kings 3. That game could be legendary, if they were to fix the basics, instead of adding more things for "freshness" sake, and sales (it's also about manpower invested and corporate interests, but I hope the main idea is getting across).
I don't have a score for Being a DIK( I didn't saw all of it), but I'm hopeful this could be a stepping stone to the (hopefully bright) future of visual novels/adult games produced outside Japan. That's what I see here, the seed of growth and possibility. Also I have I mentioned that I really like SAGE, that's important.
***Over 150 - It was false modesty, I'm afraid.
I Love this game, and look forward to each update that comes. 
