The concluding chapter of the Class of ’09 trilogy, titled The Flipside, has left fans feeling conflicted.
Released on September 23, 2024, by Wrath Club and SBN3, The Flipside marks the final entry in the Class of ’09 series. Unlike its predecessors, which predominantly featured Nicole, this game shifts its focus to Nicole’s close friend, Jecka. Players are tasked with guiding Jecka as she faces life post-high school. While the endings are grim yet infused with humor, the overall experience pales compared to other titles in the series.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Class of ’09: The Flipside!
Limited Choices and Pathways
The premise of the game is intriguing, giving players deeper insight into Jecka’s turbulent home life, struggles with substance abuse, and personal insecurities. However, in a game centered on helping Jecka navigate her challenges, players find themselves with very few choices. With just five possible endings—compared to 15 in Class of ’09 and seven in its sequel, Class of ’09: The Re-Up—the lack of options is disappointing.
Each storyline offers only a couple of choices, leaving players primarily as spectators of Jecka’s life as it unfolds. Although the dialogue retains its dark humor, the essence of a visual novel is to influence the character’s journey, which is minimal here; it resembles merely watching text scroll across the screen.
However, witnessing Jecka’s journey is not devoid of interest. Previous entries provided only glimpses into her chaotic existence, but now we see her grappling with trauma instead of merely being defined by her friendship with Nicole. Yet, players feel a lack of agency over Jecka’s fate.
Themes Overemphasized for Edginess
Class of ’09 distinguished itself within the visual novel genre through its exploration of dark subject matter, tackling issues like drug dependency, sexual harassment, mental health struggles, and bullying in a raw yet humorously unsettling manner, which contributed to its popularity on TikTok in 2023.
A major criticism of The Flipside is its handling of similar themes; developers appear to have pushed boundaries too far, leading to a less-than-satisfactory portrayal.
In this game, Jecka is shown primarily as a victim—of her father’s abusive behavior, objectification, and predatory actions from a teacher. While the expectation was for a dark, graphic experience, it seems the creators were striving too hard for edginess. The absence of any positive outcomes for Jecka, who faces dire conclusions in every scenario, leaves players wishing for a scenario in which she overcomes her adversities, perhaps by achieving success in college or finding a supportive partner away from her harmful environment.
Additionally, the portrayal of Nicole diverges notably from previous games. Initially characterized as bratty and cruel—often towards men—she was called out for her abusive behavior towards her girlfriend Ari in The Re-Up. However, in The Flipside, Nicole’s actions towards Jecka are spiteful and entirely inconsistent with her past characterization, making it challenging to accept this portrayal, even for a character with her flaws.
Positive Aspects to Acknowledge
Despite these criticisms, the game deserves commendation for its artistic presentation and soundtrack. The Flipside features significantly more animated sequences than its predecessors; while Class of ’09 had none and The Re-Up only a handful, this installment boasts animations throughout nearly all pathways.
The musical score brilliantly captures the essence of 2009, peppered with Y2K references that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia.
Moreover, the voice acting receives high praise, especially Kali Mills’s performance as Jecka, which invigorates the character. The shifting expressions of the characters, coupled with their dynamic voices, animate their portrayals impressively.
In conclusion, I would rate Class of ’09: The Flipside a 6 out of 10. Fans of the earlier games may enjoy this installment, while others might consider giving it a miss.
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