I do not think it's correct to compare MiSide to this game. Quite a few posts that I saw suggested that MiSide does the same thing (to genre) as what original DDLC did, so I decided to replay it, and luckily the Plus version was at a discount. The only thing that can relate the both games somewhat is that they both have a yandere girl. That's it.
When I played original it was a... Weird experience. The game definitely subverts expectations, and it does so quite subtly. Replaying it, only confirmed that it had way more thought put into it the story. Which does make sense, since there is barely any gameplay here. This is where MiSide may be considered better, since you played it more. But MiSide broke things right away and then just went full throttle.
DDLC is not like that. It will hit you when you do not expect it. Then Things will seem somewhat normal, but with hints that something is still off, and only then it will fly completely off the hinges. I think this approach makes the message of the game much more impactful, than in MiSide. Replaying DDLC also allows to view the story from a slightly different perspective. It does not change as drastically as rewatching Madoka Magica, of course, it does allow you to appreciate the craftmanship put into the characters so much more.
It also made me appreciate how minimalistic game can still do a lot. Of course visual novels are minimalistic by design (at least most of them), but this one goes a step further with incorporating just a tiny bit of animations, at very specific places. Almost strategically. Those animations feel as if breaking of the rules of the game, that were established before them, and as such they get more impactful.
As result, I can confirm, that this was one of the rare cases, where hype was not just hype, so if you have not tried it still - do it. Nothing stopping you, since original is still available, and the Plus version is quite cheap and quite worth the price.
