I'm not fan of shounens, but Dengeki Stryker is fun enough to be VN of the Month. Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi is another masterpiece with a thrilling sophisticated concept. Micchi also favors the latter one, plus a delayed fandisc and Rewrite that I consider a huge fake.
1. Natsuyuki ~Summer Snow~ 夏雪 ～summer_snow～ [110603] Silver Bullet 1 2
When he was a child, Katsu had an argument with his parents one summer and ran off to an address he found on a New Year’s greeting card. It was in this rural village of Takaragi that he met a girl named Natsuki, who treated him like a blood-related little brother. But then her parents died in an accident and she was taken in by his family. However, she decided to remain in Takaragi instead against the advice of all the adults that wouldn’t let a young girl like her live alone.
Every summer since that day, Katsu returns to Takaragi to visit Natsuki. They swim in the sea together, catch insects together, play with fireworks together. As the years pass, the bond between them turns into love.
There are English reviews
2. Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo キミとボクとエデンの林檎 [110610] Alma 1 2
One winter day as he was walking home after school, Ryuusei was suddenly pushed into a black car. Inside he meet his cousin Runa who looks just like him for the first time in 3 years. Runa is the heiress of the wealthy Kaburaki family and attends the prestigious Shirotae Girls’ School and is highly respected by all students. She had been chosen to be the ‘prince’ in the upcoming play, but she lost her voice and wanted him to take her place. Will he taste the fruits of love in this forbidden garden?
There are English reviews
3. Sengoku Hime 3 ~Tenka o Kirisaku Hikari to Kage~ 戦極姫3～天下を切り裂く光と影～ [110617] Gesen 18 1 2 3
The third installment of the Sengoku SLG series, with even more female commanders at your disposal. You can actually have them all under your command via the "persuasion event". Obviously, the goal is to unite the country by defeating all those get in your way.
TBS has an English review.
4. Aneiro アネイロ [110624] Alcot Honey Comb
Kou returns to Japan after a few years overseas to attend school and reunite with his older sister Kaoruko and osananajimi Ena. They are overjoyed that he is back together with them. Little did he know that they are quite well-known at school: Kaoruko as the Jeanne d’Arc Scientist and Ena as the Emerald-Eyed Witch. There’s a huge commotion now with him around and the student council leader Sayaka declares that she will disband any club that doesn’t have anything to show by the end of the month. This puts Kaoruko’s science club and Ena’s astro-divination club in danger. Of course, they come and ask Kou to help them!
Poor scenario with boring routes, scarce humor and even unsatisfactory H element.
5. Cafe Sourire [110624] CUFFS 1 2 3 4
Every summer vacation, while everyone is playing at the beaches or going camping in the mountains, Shinichi has a bored look on his face. Even though his father is getting remarried and he ended up living together with his older brother and childhood friend, it doesn’t trigger any excitement in his heart. However, this summer is different. Helping out at his father’s Cafe Sourire with his meddlesome friends, will it help him regain that ‘something’ that he had forgotten?
‘Sourire’ means ‘smile’ in French and that’s what this heartful love ADV wants you to do with its slice of life depiction of working at a cafe during summer vacation.
There are English reviews.
6. Dengeki Stryker 電激ストライカー [110624] Overdrive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Yamato has a great sense of justice and aspires to be a hero. He always tried to protect his childhood friend Haruna when she’s being bullied, but he always got beat down instead. One day, Haruna was going to move away and wanted to say goodbye to him. However, he despaired that he was never able to protect her once in the end.
He met an old man called the ‘Memory Collector’, who could grant any wish in exchange for one’s memories. Yamato wished to become a Stryker, the hero from a manga he loved. Several years later, some people with superpowers called the Balbora Empire appeared in the city Haruna was living in. The police and army were powerless in stopping them, but one warrior showed up and beat them with one kick. He was the hero of the manga Dengeki Stryker.
Game is localized and has English reviews
7. Fluorite Memories フローライトメモリーズ いつかきっと、約束の場所で [110624] Rabbit
Kazuya’s parents passed away due to illness when he was small and he and his imouto Minatsu were taken in by his father’s acquaintance and they now live in the rural town of Sadogashima. His heart aches when he is lonely and he often goes to a pond in the forest to cry, while clutching a momento from his mother, “tears of a firefly”.
One night, he saved a firefly that was ensnared by a spider’s web. The next day at the pond, a girl suddenly appeared and they watched the fireflies together. As they spent more days playing together, he began to feel happier as he watched her always have a smile on her face. Then one day when he asked her to play together again, she turned downcast and said that she couldn’t. He intended to give the “tears of a firefly” to her as a present, but she never showed up at the pond after that day.
Time passed and he had gotten used to living in the town. In the beginning of summer, a girl named Mikoto transferred into his 2nd-year class. All the guys were excited at having such a pretty girl join their class, but Kazuya was the most surprised… because she was the girl that he had met at the firefly pond.
Another rural story with mystery element. First half fares adequately, but later on quality drops substantially making it unmemorable.
8. Happy Factory はっぴぃふぁくとりー [110624] Grand Cru classe
Nanahouka Gakuen was built as a test facility to solve problems with the escalator system that is a commonplace. Yuu’s normal school life turns upside down when the school board chairman declares that there isn’t enough happiness in the school and forms the Happy Factory Club (HFC). He is forced into the club so that he can enjoy a happy adolescence.
Moege
9. Hyper→Highspeed→Genius [110624] Windmill 1 2 3
There are some people called ‘genius’ in this world who possess special abilities (Gift) and are responsible for protecting the world. There are three schools specially-designed to train them: Satsuki Gakuen, Saint July Academy and Minazuki Gakuen. One day, a hidden treasure ‘Noah’ which amplifies the abilities of its holder was discovered. Since whoever gained control of Noah would be able to rule the world, it was decided that the three schools merge together as Hazuki Gakuen and an election held to decide on who will become the world council leader. Kyuushirou wishes to gain control in order to change the world to his liking and makes a contract with the demon Mephisto. With his powers he would be able to persuade, cajole and control the election candidates, but what he actually wants is… love!
There are English impressions
10. Lovely x Cation [110624] Akatsuki Works Hibiki 1 2 3 4
The protagonist lives alone in an apartment owned by his uncle and lives a carefree school life. One spring day, his uncle can’t stand seeing him confining himself in his room any more and tells him to go out and find love while he is still young. However, he doesn’t have any experience with girls nor does he have anyone that he’s interested in.
SIM has English reviews
11. Nadeshiko Drip なでしこドリップ [110624] Apricot Plum
It’s been three years since Takumi returned to his hometown and he decides to visit the local cafe for a cup of coffee that he loved. However, the cafe was in decrepit shape and his cousin Miu now is the manager!? She gets him and her friends to help out. At first, he wanted to get out, but soon he decides to help make it into his dream cafe, redesigning the decor, menu and even the waitress outfits by hand.
Opportunistic harem moege.
12. Nemureru Hana wa Haru o Matsu. -spring come- 眠れる花は春をまつ。 -spring come- [110624] 130cm
In the far away town of Tenshou-mura, Kazuma, the son of the famous Tendou zaibatsu, lives a life of misfortune. It has been 38 times that he had been kidnapped for ransom; most recently, he was saved by their household maid Youko. His imouto Ichika and another maid Kiko are worried for him and forbade him from leaving the house. However, he doesn’t want to cause problems for them and tries to find a way to get rid of, or at least lessen, his ill luck. By chance, he met a girl who is a zashikiwarashi.
An overkill trying to dwell on Oni Uta success, so it becomes an unrealistic story with ugly graphics and abominable protagonist
13. Rewrite [110624] Key 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Rewrite is set in the fictional city Kazamatsuri where treeplanting and afforestation have caused the city to become overgrown with trees and flowers in much the same way that other cities are filled by buildings. However, while most of the city appears to be rural, there are many traditional city elements as well. While set in a modern setting, the city also gives off a strange sense of nostalgia.
Tennouji Kotarou lives here. He's a high school student who has the ability to rewrite his own body; he can become stronger and faster at any time he chooses. He investigates supernatural mysteries with five girls from his school.
There are English reviews
14. Shojo to Maou to Tactics 処女と魔王とタクティクス [110624] Chariot 1
This fantasy SRPG is the debut title from Chariot. Tatsuya doesn’t have many redeeming qualities other than being earnest. One day, the soul of a maou went into his body and willingly turned into a guy who loves to pick fights. Then while he was dealing with some delinquents from the neighbouring town, he was suddenly summoned to another world. In front of him was the new maou, Elis, who begged him to save the demon race from the angels. He gladly agrees to, in exchange for her virginity.
SRPG
15. Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi すきま桜とうその都会 [110624] Propeller 1 2 3
In the midst of winter, two siblings strive to keep warmth in the snow. Under circumstances, Yuuma and Sakura escaped from home to seek refuge in the city, only to be spurned with harsh reality. In the moment of utmost direness they found a branch blossomed with Sakura petals, and it led them to a wonderland…Sakurano, the town under a giant Sakura tree where only liars may enter.
Sakurano is a mysterious town filled with strange phenomena, other than everywhere filled with sakura petals, it is always the season of Spring in Sakurano. The town has districts resembling the “outside world”, can still contact the outside world, but is not influenced by anything of the “outside”. Of which the most peculiar rumour of Sakurano is of the legend of a god who has created Sakurano: That those who asks will have their “lies” turned into “truths”.
There are English reviews.
16. Yukioni-ya Onsen-ki 雪鬼屋温泉記 [110624] SofthouseChara 1
Sakichi’s parents told him that their inheritance is his only if he can run the onsen ryokan for 3 years without any problems. Even though he doesn’t have any experience running one, he is used to them since he used to live in one. He recruits several of his friends to help him with his business. It is not as easy task as there are mountains of problems to overcome, from unruly guests and sabotage from other inns, to severe weather and even fairies. However, the biggest problem is… he won’t have any time to play with girls! Will he be able to successfully acquire his task without sacrificing his love life?
SIM/Strategy
BLOCKED
1. Steins;Gate Hiyoku Renri no Darling Steins;Gate 比翼恋理のだーりん [110616] Nitroplus 1 2
After repeated D-mail experiments, Okarin jumps to a world where 3% shift in world line was to be expected. And before he knew it, Kurisu as well as the rest of the members have been gathered and amidst preparations for a banquet.
In this world, a new gadget had been created but the group is facing some troubles. They can’t afford to pay the electricity bill due to running too many experiments. Let’s see what this new gadget can do for us…
The concept for this game is a love comedy with some sweet romance scenes and where 99% of the world is science but 1% is composed of … fantasies?!
Fandisc
2. Maikaze no Melt -Where Leads to Feeling Destination- 舞風のメルト -Where leads to feeling destination- [110624] Whirlpool 1 This is the fandisk for Suzukaze no Melt. In addition to after stories for the 5 main heroines, a new heroine is introduced (the goddess Kureha) and there will be a harem route as well. Of course subcharacters also have their time in the spotlight with Yui, Fuu, Haruna, Reona and Mina all getting mini stories. Fandisc
3. Motto Nee, Chanto Shiyou yo! Afterstory もっと 姉、ちゃんとしようよっ！ アフターストーリー [110624] Candy Soft 1 Fandisc containing an individual after story for each heroine, except for the twins who share it. Also includes a very short bonus harem route. Fandisc
4. Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles Vol.2 マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ クロニクルズ02 [110624] Age 1 The second entry in the Chronicles sidestories series. Includes a continuation of the "The Day After" scenario featured in Chronicles 01, "Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles:Aspiration" (a story set in The Euro Front), a special episode of Radio Total Eclipse, and other bonus material. Fandisc
5. Stellar ☆ Theater Encore Stellar ☆ Theater Encore [110624] Rosebleu This is the fandisk for Rosebleu’s first title, Stellar☆Theater, focusing on the imouto Satsuki. With the ‘Sora’ events resolved, Daichi returned to his normal life with his osananajimi and newly added bishoujos. However, his imouto Satsuki still hasn’t given up on her dream to be his bride. The four zodiac girls also left, but then another one appeared: Mashiro of the Cancer Zodiac. She is touched by Satsuki’s deep love for her brother and helps her achieve her dream. Fandisc
6. euphoria [110624] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
When he came to, he found himself in a white room that he didn't recognize...
Takatou Keisuke was locked in a white, closed room with six other women: his childhood friend Hokari Kanae, class rep. Andou Miyako, junior Makiba Rika, English teacher Aoi Natsuki, same-year student Byakuya Rinne, and classmate Manaka Nemu. All of them were confused by this abnormal situation, when a "mysterious voice" suddenly announced to them:
"The game will now begin."
Keisuke must become an "Unlocker" and select one of the women as a "Keyhole", then perform a specified act with her in order to "open the lock" so that they can all escape from the white rooms.
One of the girls went into a frenzy over the irrational, extreme and immoral contents of those acts, lashing out at the "mysterious voice". The lights suddenly went out and all the girls shrieked out of fear. When the lights came back on, the first thing Keisuke and the others saw was the rebellious girl from earlier, restrained to a torture device.
"Withdrawal from the game will result in death." - the mysterious voice announced.
Electric current began to run through the torture device the moment after the voice stopped speaking. The girl's eyes rolled up into the back of her head as she went incontinent, defecating and urinating herself. The women cried and shouted, clearly disturbed by what was happening before them.
Keisuke, on the other hand, found himself inexplicably aroused by what was happening to the said girl. For he kept a dark secret. A taste for sexual assault and destructive urges against women... it was an abominable desire of his that he wanted to keep only to himself.
Unfortunately for Keisuke, his classmate Nemu saw right through him this time around. And a cunning woman that she is, she won't skip this opportunity to start using this new-found information so that she can blackmail him and ultimately, make him submit to her.
"This is a kiss to seal our deal." - she said when she suddenly sealed his lips.
Despite being surprised by her unexpected actions, Keisuke resolved himself to only violate the other women as the means of escaping from the white rooms in order to protect his childhood friend Kanae. Will Keisuke be able to escape unharmed and return to his normal life? Or will his very desires consume him...? It remains to be seen.
Nukige, but localized one and even with an opening
Vermilion -Bind of Blood- does not have competitors in May, but Taiyou no Promia is also a well done game. In addition 'll name Koi de wa Naku - It's not Love, but so Where Near. a masterpiece, because it's an original concept providing food for thought. Can't nominate AXL game this time since I'm tired of Hasegawa Ai writing when she does not come out of comfort zone presenting yet another different activity club story with too many heroines to make it special. Zen has similar favorites while Micchi is led astray by Hatsukoi Yohou , Kamikaze☆Explorer and even Henshin!
1. Cure Girl [110520] Noesis 1 2
Kazuki has difficulties communicating with people. However, he’s not alone. Pretty and popular senpai Kotone, cheerful osananajimi Miyu, tsundere kouhai Rena… Yes, they all have problems connecting with others. There’s a social networking site (SNS) called Communis which helps people with similar hobbies and interests meet each other. He is part of the ‘Ningen Shikkaku’ (unfit to be humans) community on Communis, which is frequented by people like Kazuki who fail at communicating in the real world. However, via this site, he soon improves his communication skills. Will he be able to take the next step and attend an offline meeting? Will this be the beginning of his love life?
There are English reviews
2. Sakura no Sora to Kimi no Koto -Sweet Petals For My Dear- サクラの空と、君のコト -Sweet Petals For My Dear- [110520] Hiyoko Soft 1
It has been said that wishes will come true when the sky is full of cherry blossom petals. However, the number of sakura trees have dwindled due to recent re-development and one can no longer see such a sight. Ryou is the son of a famous artist and much was expected of him, but he decides to live a life of a commoner with few friends. One spring day, his childhood friend Kanata suddenly fainted and was hospitalized. Since that day, his days began to gradually change.
Routes vary greatly in quality and thus leave a mixed impression. It's a compilation of different successful cases we've seen already somewhere, so it's generally rather good, but with zero originality.
3. Shutsugeki!! Otome-tachi no Senjou 2 ~Amakakeru Shougeki no Kizuna~ 出撃！！乙女たちの戦場2～天翔ける衝撃の絆～ [110526] SystemSoft Alpha
Join Sage and take the girls to the battlefield. The war strategy game contains dating sim elements and lots of fan-service moments. Get to know the girls in their free time, chat with them to unlock events and free battles, develop their statistics and pit them against your enemies.
The sequel of the popular Shutsugeki! Otometachi no Senjou! has a completely new cast of characters, 40 girls and 20 boys, a new story dedicated to it and much more weapons. Drive a tank or pilot a fighter jet, don't let the girls suffer damages, though, as their uniforms might rip.
TBS
4. Derivara! -deliverance of strays- でりばらっ！-deliverance of strays- [110527] Parasol 1 2 3
Ryou has a fear of girls so strong that he cannot speak with any girl that he meets for the first time. He heads to the capital to help his cousins Asuka and Sumika with their cafe Murakumo. However, he is not used to being in the city, especially living under one roof with them. At his new school, he meets a true idol Kyouko, a classmate that for some reason keeps glaring at him Aya, and a strange girl that is affectionate to everyone Mikoto. Surrounded by so many girls, will he be able to rid himself of his fear of girls?
There are English reviews
5. Hatsukoi Yohou. 初恋予報。 [110527] I.D. 1
The pure white snow descends on the street, turning it into a beautiful snowscape. It’s like it is a pure heart that hasn’t been sullied. However, that purity quickly disappears once touched. Koutarou lives alone and he often wonders how lovers pass this cold season. Do they become closer to one another and spend the holidays by themselves? It would a lie to say for him to say that he doesn’t feel lonely at times. Then this winter, he fell in love for the first time. A first love he cannot forget.
Old-fashioned work with very short routes more suiting a fan-disc than almost a full-price game. Amateurish debut work beating around first love banalities.
6. Itoshii Kanojo no Mamorikata 愛しい対象の護り方 [110527] AXL 1 2 3
Yuuto enrolled in a military school in order to fulfill a childhood promise with Yui. But when he met her again, she demanded to know why he came there. He realized that her smile had disappeared. This is because their class is ridiculed for being weaker than other classes. Their classroom is not well furnished and his bed is more like a table. Their teacher announces that there will be a battle in which the rewards will be a proper desk and chairs… and an air conditioner as well! Yuuto decides to help their class win this battle and bring a smile back to Yui’s face.
There are English reviews
7. Kamikaze ☆ Explorer! カミカゼ☆エクスプローラー！ [110527] Clochette 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
In the near future, the living areas for humans reduce due to climate and terrain changes. As if in unison, some of the younger generation develop special powers called Metis. There are many types of Metis, from magic barriers to being able to breathe under water. Suminoe Gakuen was constructed to train and develop those students with Metis. Keiji doesn’t have any powers, but he was scouted by an agent from the school and ends up attending the school. He is then recruited into Argonaut, a club for helping people with their problems. One day, they hear about a strange rumor about the recently developed Kamigase-shi…
There are English reviews
8. Koi de wa Naku - It's not Love, but so Where Near. 恋ではなく ―― It’s not love，but so where near. [110527] Syangrila Smart 1 2 3 4 5 6
This is the debut title by Shangrila Smart. There are two protagonists: Norifumi is a guy who has been taking pictures since he was small, and Yumi has been working as a model. Instead of a cast of heroines, this game rather follows a story told from both of their perspectives. Even though the title suggests that it isn’t about love, it tells a drama of adolescence set on the solitary island of Toshima. Their childhood friend Tasuku had wished that they can film a movie of their lives up to their graduation. Spending Christmas with everyone, a fateful Valentine’s Day, love and friendship… everything is captured by their pictures. But not much time remains until their graduation when they will go their separate ways.
There are English reviews
9. Miinasan, Kakkee Desu! -Love Icha Doukyo Seikatsu no Susume- 美衣菜△です！－Loveイチャ同居生活のススメ－ [110527] FIANCEE 1
Yuusaku confessed to Miina and they became lovers. She was an ojousama who had lived a sheltered life, but now they will be living together. However, it doesn’t all go smoothly, with their neighbours being suspicious of them, their classmates learning about them living together and other love rivals appearing. It also doesn’t help that he doesn’t understand girls well nor does she understand boys. The only thing that works to their favour is their strong love for each other. Will that be enough to overcome all their obstacles and come to a happy end?
I refuse to understand those who expected a pure love game of of this one. Love triangle stories are generally more memorable thanks to several outstanding examples like White Album 2. But in profane hands it easily becomes a H-intensive NTR game, and this is exactly such case.
10. Taiyou no Promia 太陽のプロミア [110527] Seven Wonder 1 2
Kodama stood in the sun-basked streets of Milsant. Even though he looks like any young man, he doesn’t have any memories and there was a baby in his arms who he cannot be separated from. Milsant is ruled by 6 female priests known as the ‘six flowers’. Their powers come from the ‘six large trees’, which were suddenly all surrounded in darkness. He meets Flarerouge, the most powerful of the six girls and servant of the Sun God, and they embark on a journey to recover the light that was lost in the world.
There is an English review
11. Vermilion -Bind of Blood- [110527] light 1 2 3 4
Toshirou is in charge of managing public order in the city. Along with a community of vampires, they purge those that commit crimes. However, they come upon a monster which is said to have massacred many in the past.
There are English reviews.
12. Worlds and World's end [110527] Rootnuko 1
Waking up every day, Takumi believed that his normal school days would continue forever. Hearing about random mysterious attacks in the town and religious groups claiming that the end of the world is near, Souichi believed that it would never concern him. Tied down in a small village by bonds he cannot sever, Yuuji believed that there is a place for him to go to. Everyone has their own wishes and beliefs, but rests assured that even in the darkest night, the sun will rise the next morning. Even as the end of the world approaches…
Eternal night falls down to the world, and a group of friends is in the center of narration. Without spoiling the nature of disaster can only say that extreme situation does not reach the Swan Song heights, but such trouble story inevitably invokes interest. Everything develops in intriguing way till the final part when resolution is sudden and unsatisfying leaving dulled impression. Story lacks action to become a serious plotge, so it's more of a unique setting unpolished charage.
13. Yamiyo ni Odore -Witch Wishes to Commit the Night- 闇夜に踊れ -Witch wishes to commit the Night- [110527] Yatagarasu 1
Witches and magicians have always been fighting each other since the beginning of time. It’s not because one is bad or good, but because their powers keeps the world in balance. So, in a time continuum separated from the world, they continue their long battle. Note that you can choose to be a male or female protagonist.
RPG
BLOCKED
1. Henshin!!! ~Pantsu ni Natte Kunkun Peropero~ へんし～ん!!! ～パンツになってクンクンペロペロ～ [110520] May-Be Soft 1 “Ahhh… I wish I was a girl’s panties” After Yuuji said that, his imouto Miko left him and is now staying at the girls’ dormitory. He debated if panties would be too stimulating and if he should be a skirt or a chair instead, all the while lamenting why he was born a human. Coming home one day, he came upon a talking cat-like thing that had collapsed. As thanks for taking care of her, she gives him a cell phone that allows him to transform into anything! Armed with his new ability, he heads out to fulfill his dream of teasing girls. Nukige, but I rarely saw Conjueror rate anything as 5/5, also an opening.
2. Fukushuu Saimin ~Tsuki no Himegimi wa Fukujuu no Yume o Miru ka?~ 復讐催眠 ～月の姫君は服従の夢をみるか？～ [110520] C:drive/F 1
The earth is ruled by an empire and the protagonist goes to an elite school to train to be a knight of the empire. One day, the school and the town is destroyed by the goverment on behalf of the empire. The protagonist is really angry at this and decides to plot against the government. The protagonists’ parents were killed by terrorists too so he has essentially lost everything.
A girl approaches him and asks “Do you really want power? If you do, then you can achieve 'revenge'. Just tell them what to do in order to get justice.”
The mysterious girl give the potagonist the power to manipulate people with his words.
New hair, a new face, the protagonist approaches the girls who caused him so much pain – but can he really get his “revenge”?
Nukige, but with an opening
3. A.G.II.D.C. ~RPG Gakuen 2.0 Circus Shijou Saidai no Kiki!?~ A.G.II.D.C. ～あるぴじ学園2.0 サーカス史上最大の危機！？～ [110527] STELLA 1 This is the first title by STELLA, a separate brand created from CIRCUS. A thousand years ago, the legendary hero defeated the maou. Now his descendant Masamune begins his own path towards becoming a hero, but then a girl with a great sense of justice wanted to become his disciple. However, she is the descendant of the maou! She creates the ‘Brave Rangers’ (i.e. student council) and drags him along to the dungeon to defeat evil. Fandisc
4. Akatoki!! -Hana to Mawaseyo Koi no Ishou- あかときっ!!-花と舞わせよ恋の衣装- [110527] Escu:de 1
This is the fandisk for Escu:de’s clothes shredding battle ADV title Akatoki!, featuring after stories for the 5 heroines as well as another stories for Miyu and Chikka. There is also a versus battle mode with rewards for winning. All the girls have new costumes, such as pajamas for Nayu and an idol outfit for Maki. Kukuriku also loses her clothes this time.
Fandisc
April benefits from titles delayed in March, but among 17 titles I can only acknowledge Aiyoku no Eustia for its detailed world and characters, although it's not the kind of game I can enojy. Micchi also empathizes a delayed title and some fandisc.
1. Duelist x Engage デュエリスト×エンゲージ [110408] Praline 1
Shidou Yukito’s mornings are always busy. Waking up before the sun rises, battling against the cold air and temptations to go back to sleep, every second is too valuable to waste.
A regular day, regular people, and Monaka’s regularly forgotten lunch box, Yukito is content with his peaceful normal life. That is, until his estranged father died.
Out of the blue, a woman who claims to be his father’s secretary informs him of a tremendous debt his father has left behind with his legacy and wants Yukito to succeed in his place or else Café Soleil, along with their house, will be subject to bankruptcy claims. A debt that can’t be cleared in any reasonable amount of time, let alone the deadline is in less than a year, Yukito’s only choice is to marry his fiancée from the Corangrane Kingdom in Europe, a descendant from the noble Soleil Family. And that fiancée is coming to meet him tomorrow.
And as if that wasn’t enough, the first words coming out of her mouth was:
“So you are my fiancé. En guarde!”
Will Yukito be alright? The fiery duels between unshakable wills over marriage, the battle royale has begun!
There is an English review.
2. Kyuukyoku Mahou Shoujo Zettai☆Aneki 究極魔法少女 絶対☆姉貴 [110408] Axis
Akira’s older sister Hikari is amazing, placing tops in the national mock exams, almost setting world records in athletics and she’s even a ‘mahou shoujo’ that takes care of bad guys. As the school’s representative, she was given the opportunity to enact any proposition that she wants. She announces to everyone that she will be attacking any club that she wishes and if they lose to her, then they will be disbanded. With a smile, she wished everyone good luck. To save their ‘volunteer club’, they decide to fight back with all they’ve got.
Older sister route is the only one properly done so others feel like subs. Magical girl here is just for flavor. Scenario just can't be called good.
3. Mecha-con! めちゃ婚！ [110408] Onomatope* 1
A sudden change in law by the government ten years ago decreed that rich men must have multiple wives and father lots of children. Haruki’s parents passed away in a traffic accident and he inherited the family wealth while continuing to manage the Sakurajima business group. Even though he hasn’t had a girlfriend before, he now must propose to those girls that are closest to him.
Harem comedy, but harem setting is not utilized well as it stops at 3P. Individual routes are nothing different from an average galge.
4. Sakura Iro Quartet さくら色カルテット [110408] Atelier Kaguya 1
In the near future, bioroids called Iris were created using genes from animals to be the perfect partner for humans. They now live together with humans in harmony. Ryouta is a meddlesome student at Kurama Gakuen who comes upon a stray Iris named Sakura. He decides to take her under his wing and to become her master, but then Sakura’s older sister Ui shows up, along with a suspicious guy Ogami Shingo. Even his schoolmates Ayano and Momoka get involved. It seems that she holds many secrets…
There is an English impression
5. White ~Blanche Comme la Lune~ [110408] NekoNeko Soft
Shigetomo is a 25 year old insurance agent who lives a pretty standard life with his imouto Hotaru ever since their parents’ deaths 10 years ago. One day he travels to a small faraway island for work, but was shipwrecked. When he awoke, he found himself in a seemingly different time and place, where everyone was pure and trusting. He wondered if it was a time slip or a parallel world and thought about looking for a way back to the world he knew, but he soon grew fond of this place and its people. In particular, a young pair of sisters take a liking to him. However there’s a hidden secret which he soon finds out about…
Sicson game as there are as many as two sisters (real and sister-in-law) in the center of the story. But it's very similar to previous Sorairo that I fiercely disliked. Same past and present versions of girls, same attempt to summon a mystery.
6. Yuusha to Kimi ni Hanataba o 勇者と彼女に花束を [110408] Klein
The magic city Reifan is where thousands of years ago, a goddess saved the world from being taken over by the demon lord. The protagonist is an adventurer who travels around the world and he comes to Reifan. Along the way, he saves a female knight who was attacked by a monster. Before losing consciousness, she says “to the magic school in Reifan…”. Upon arriving at the school with her, the principal informs him that she is Princess Cynthia from the neighboring country, and that monsters have been threatening the area lately. He asks him to become friends with her so that she will not be worried. When he was leaving the room, a girl named Teana calls out to him and she gets him to stay at the Crystal Goddess Inn where she works.
Story is childish and everything else of doujin quality.
7. Kamidori Alchemy Meister 神採りアルケミーマイスター [110422] Eushully 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
In the Setetori region of the southern part of the Raulbhach continent lies the Mikelti Kingdom, and amongst the seven major cities of this region is the workshop city of Yuidora. This is where a young orphan named Wilfred lives, pursuing his dream of becoming an alchemist. However, soon after gaining his license he gets entangled with three girls with differing personalities and goals, and he soon agrees to hire them as his guards in order to help each other out. Like this, Wil begins his life as an alchemist, surrounded by the ever growing group of his allies as he follows his parents' footsteps in becoming a great alchemist.
RPG has English reviews
8. Marguerite Sphere Marguerite Sphere -マーガレット スフィア- [110422] Meteor
The coastal city of Shiromine is known as the town of flowers since marguerite flowers can be found everywhere. There’s a legend that the flower spirit will grant the wishes of pure and earnest boys and girls. Daichi lives together with his twin imouto Matsuri and they attend the Shiromine Gakuen together. Matsuri has many admirers due to her cute looks, but she’s very cold to everyone, because she is hesitant to show her true feelings. Daichi thought that his days would continue like this until he met a fortune teller who told his future without his consent.
Only main heroine route provokes emotion due to unusual twist while other routes are just bad. All those urban legends stories are commonplace and easily forgettable.
9. Vanitas no Hitsuji ヴァニタスの羊 [110422] RococoWorks 1 2
Claude goes on a journey with the one he calls father, Eliphas, a magician who can alter other people’s awareness, making them think illusions are reality. When he was walking the streets of Engelbourg, he noticed something sticking out from an empty barrel. A couple guys asked him if he saw a girl around and he used his ‘color magic’ to trick their eyes and save the girl, Therese. At that time, he didn’t know that this chance meeting would have a profound effect on the fortress city, nor that there were engels (angels) sleeping there.
There is an English review. I should probably say that I played it in the past, and it was worse that Volume 7 and even than Airy Fairy. It feels like story stops after prologue and what happens next is just endless filling the time with something random.
10. Aiyoku no Eustia 穢翼のユースティア [110428] August 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
After the surface of the world broke down, the city of Novus Aether floats in the sky, thanks to the prayers of the Holy Maiden. Years ago, when the Holy Maiden's prayer was interrupted, an incident known as the "Gran Forte" occurred, causing a portion of the land to fall and split the lower city into two, separated by a cliff.
In time, the lowest layer became the dwelling of all kinds of low-lives, people who lost much of their former lives during the "Gran Forte", becoming known as the "Prison". However, a contagious disease which causes people to grow wings has spread throughout the city, and a unit has been formed to deal with these people swiftly.
In this "Prison" resides Caim Astraea, a freelance ex-assassin who does odd jobs for his friends for money, refusing jobs that require him to kill people. During one request, Caim finds a girl who contracts the wing-disease, enveloped in a light that reminds Caim of the “Gran Forte” years ago...
Game is localized and has English reviews
11. Daiteikoku 大帝国 [110428] Alice Soft 1 2 3 4
Years before the Universe was United, small Human fractions dotted parts of the vast Universe. Individual States were established and navigating to other areas of the Solar system required a few hundred years. Contact with other countries was virtually impossible.
Soon the Eris Empire noted the strange stars that existed in the space region. As their Research advanced, they discovered that these stars can move instantly from one area to another area.
Labeling it the “Warp Gate” This allowed many stars systems that had been isolated to make first contact with each other and so began the Age of Discovery.
Through Aggression and conquest, Repeated Destruction and Submission, the Nations began to build civilizations from one star to the next.
The “Star field network Diagram” – Became the New World Map.
In 939 AD Space unity.
Nations asked why the leaders of the three powers are seeking power...
The National Eris Empire Council is the worlds largest empire able to restore the world order and suppress chaos.
Imperial Japan was the world's oldest nation, and worn out during the prolonged war with the Chinese empire, it is the largest one being targeted.
TBS has English reviews
12. Kagura Soushunfu 神楽早春賦 [110428] Debo no Su Seisakusho
Another installment in the Kagura series, featuring the ‘baka trio’ from the previous game Kagura Gensoutan as the protagonist and main heroines. After restoring peace to the school, Seiichirou, Yayoi, Azusa and Shizuru all leave to pursue their own futures, leaving Akira, Kanade and Makoto to continue their studies. However, there’s a feeling of uneasiness since there’s still one corner of the school building which hasn’t been fully sealed and it is teeming with youkai inside. How long will the barrier hold up and will they be able to overcome this danger even though they aren’t that experienced at all?
All Kagura RPG feel the same to me
13. Moe Moe Daisensou☆Gendaibaan 萌え萌え大戦争☆げんだいばーん [110428] SystemSoft Alpha
This is an all-ages game with the heroines based off military aircraft and vehicles, and they are known as ‘maidens of steel’. There are three scenarios available: Europe during World War II, the Far East during the Cold War and the Vietnam War, and finally the Middle East during the Iran-Iraq War. The game is broken up into 3 parts: adventure (ADV), simulation (SLG) and communication (COM). The battle system has 3d sprites wandering about the map destroying stuff, although the mechanics are similar to the previous games in the Moe Moe series.
SIM
14. Morobito Kozorite ~Joy to the World! The Lord is come~ もろびとこぞりて ～Joy to the World! The Lord is come～ [110428] CLAPWORKS
Kyouya attends Tsukiyama music school, but he has lost sight of why he plays the violin. He spends his days with his cheerful osananajimi Mayuko, his carefree best friend Jousuke, his kouhai who considers him her rival Yukari, and his senpai Shiki, who is a genius composer but has zero life skills. On one chilly autumn day, a girl with an angelic voice moved in next to his room at the dormitory. After meeting Kano, he gradually remembers the joy of music that he had forgotten.
Gentle musical school themed work. It's a nice work with nice characters, but definitely not Nodame Cantabile, so it becomes boring if heroines fail to grasp.
15. Primary Step [110428] Purple Software Delight
Minato lives alone because his parents are away for work. He is friendly with many of the girls that live in the same apartment as him and attends school together with them. However, his parents inform him one day that he will be transferring to another school. His quiet days soon gradually become quite rowdy as all the girls want to show their feelings for him when they realize that this is the last chance they will get.
A mediocre harem moege with graphics being the only prominent feature.
16. relations. sister × sister. [110428] Aile Soft 1 2 3
Kouhei lost his mother when he was young and now his father who had raised him up has decided to remarry. Since it’s been 10 years since his mother’s death, there was no reason for him to object. However, he was surprised when his new mother brought along two daughters. Suddenly he had two new non-blood related sisters: older sister Kaori, who is great at everything and very popular at school, and younger sister Chisato, who is just as pretty as her sister but has a fear of men. Other girls soon find out about this, including his osananajimi Haruka, resulting in his life turning upside down.
There are English reviews
17. Temaribana 手毬花 [110428] TopCat
When Kotora came to, he was on an old-fashioned bus alone heading to Murakumo boarding school. During the long bumpy ride along the mountain roads, he looked outside the window and saw a beautiful yellow-green scenery which warmed his heart. A girl got on the bus and looked at him coldly and asked him if he was a transfer student. He didn’t know why she didn’t like him. The next girl that got on the bus told him not to worry about it since she was always like that.
I got seriously disappointed in previous TopCat same themed game Atori no Sora to Shinchuu no Tsuki. It's again rural mystery, but this time with no weird esoteric stuff. It's again heavy and cautious development in contrast to modern liveliness. It plays well with nostalgia and old-school feelings, but personally I'm glad it's the last TopCat work.
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1. 11eyes -Resona Forma- [110415] Lass 1 2
This is a fandisk for 2008 release 11eyes that includes a before, after and ‘if’ story, with particular emphasis on Lizelotte. There’ll be a mix of both serious and light raburabu stories. Of course, the cross vision system makes a return. There are also some user-written short stories included. Fandisc
2. Nitou Ou Mono wa Ittou mo Ezu 二刀追うものは一刀も得ず [110417] Artemis. 1 You are a feudal lord in past Japan. You don't have a successor yet so lots of girls go crazy about you. They pull down their panties in front of you just so to have the chance to bear the next ruler. Frenzies of raging princesses that compete each other for your seed is a norm around your castle. Reverse rapes are common as well. Yet no one has ever been able to bear your child. No, no one has ever been able to have sex with you... Because you are an impo.
One day, just as usual, girls are introduced to you in the hope that their gorgeousness might cause your little limpy to go stiffy... Instead of meeting a girl, your vassal introduced two katanas named Kotetsu and Muramasa. And right when you touch, the blades transform into girls... Nukige, but curious one and with an English review
3. Shuffle! Love Rainbow [110428] Navel 1 This is the fandisk to various games from the Shuffle! franchise. It features after stories for Sia/Kikyou and Primula from Shuffle! Essence+, Kaede’s story after she regains her memories in Really? Really! and an another story for subchar Ruri. Fandisc
4. Sisters ~Natsu no Saigo no Hi~ sisters～夏の最後の日～ [110428] Jellyfish 1 2 3 4 Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city lies a small rural town in a mountainous region. A young man meets a pair of beautiful sisters there along with their mother, and lives together with them. Their days together are full of happiness, but he didn’t know that there is a hidden secret. Nukige, but with English reviews
Foreword: It's an all-ages non-trivial setting doujin work of the best quality I ever seen by Watanabe Ryouichi. If that's not enough...
Synopsis:
1400 years ago first murderer demons get spotted
700 years ago western technologies start to get used for rebellion
500 years ago murderer demons learn to acquire human image in Transilvania
18 years ago a huge massacre takes part in Japan
10 years ago murderer demon is killed at the age of six in Japan
Nowadays.
Sakurano Mana gets worried by the murderous desire overflowing her body.
Onose Kiri is troubled about her past when she lost one hand and one leg.
Kaiho Kazuki investigates murderer demon killing at the age of six. Then Kaiho Kazuki meets these girls and other strong persons in this town full of death scent.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGwDxf37gElQGPD7Adx5vix_objh5qlr
Character Design rating: 9/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
I doubt I can rate a doujin game higher than this. Voicing alone always takes away a whole score point for me, plus there are other flaws. But do flaws really impede enjoying this game? For me flaws are absolutely neglectable. I'll list them after observing the structure.
There are 6 phases or Chapters each generally having multiple sub-chapters. Phase 1 presents six introductory stories from different protagonists perspective. Phase 2 gives several sub-chapters for three protagonists - Kaiho Kazuki , Sakurano Mana , Onose Kiri . Basically, it's the most action-packed phase with not always good endings. Phase 3 presents three flashback stories. Phase 4 literally takes one minute where narrator says that there may be a better world without killings. Phase 5 basically presents same main stories as in Phase 2, but gives choices now and thus ability to see different endings, including bad ones. Phase 6 presents two side/bonus stories. With that covered it's impossible to say that Kaiho Kazuki is game's protagonist. He's merely one of protagonists, but it's just the most traditional boy character out of this colorful cast, so he's easier for reader to empathize with.
But structure does not really reveal what this game is about. First of all, it's not a battle royale like FSN or survival like Abyss although there are some elements present here as well. So what is it? Hard to say, actually. I'd determine it as unique stories of different colorful characters in the town where murders is way of life and communication rather than crime. Wow, I made it even more complex, but there are no easy answers here. There is no single protagonist and there is no single antagonist. Of course there is a mysterious organization (several, actually), but multiple antagonists show up and leave the scene. We can even theoretically say that it's a love story as I've counted as many as five couples forged. I'll undertake another attempt to explain game's nature at the final word.
Let's numerate game's multiple flaws. I've already mentioned that there is no main conflict in the game. Due to multiple protagonists the start is very slow as we're just thrown to different character's lives without much explanation. Even later on multiple protagonists structure has its painful moments as same scenes can be shown from different points of view. Watanabe Ryouichi is wordy, and for a number of occasions I was irritated by the fact that the same thought could be repeated several times in varying phrases. Conversations take about 70% of screen time while action scenes aren't that frequent. Moreover, overall number of unique CG is around 40, so don't expect them to be used at action scenes at all. Dialogue lines have no character name or icon, and it can be a mess since it's often not clear who is talking. Can't avoid a spoiler here, but ... how should I put it... not all the dots are put in the ending. And it's not necessarily a bad thing, will try to explain in strong points.
On the other hand, this is arguably the highest quality doujin game in visual novel history, four years in the making. CG quality is outstanding, character design excellent, BGM deserves a separate CD distribution. There are a lot of really cool characters, both men and women ranging from elementary school children to middle-aged persons in late 30s. And thanks to Watanabe writing, characters feel developed. It's an all-ages game, but love plays a very important role both in plot and in jokes. Author is not afraid of vulgarities, so you will see discussing of nakedness, periods, rape, pregnancy etc all the time. So it's a surprisingly adult work not suiting newcomers who will get confused by character relations, bored by lengthy dialogues and offended by lack of conflict storyline. At the same time it's not a must have work that broadens readers horizons or gives new ideas. It's just a well written story with many well written characters who live, love and fight in a different world where demonic presence transformed traditional morals. And that's exactly what I seek in art - a detailed world with the logic behind it so vivid that I'm both persuaded by it and see this exact logic determining characters' actions, not author's whim. And open ending in Indigo is a hymn to this logic.
I remember enjoying Grisaia no Kajitsu a long time ago even though nowadays Frontwing eternal greed for releasing series in episodes and inserting ads in their official channel and everyone else's channels makes me sick. Micchi favors Lover Able and some fandisc.
1. Artemis Blue アルテミスブルー [110224] Applique -Imouto- 1 2 3
In 2040, a mysterious natural disaster causes all planes to stop functioning above 500 feet (150 meters) of the Earth’s surface, resulting in over 20 million deaths. The year is 2060 and it is forbidden to fly above this limit. Pilots call this stretch from 500 feet to outer space ‘Artemis’s hymen’. Now a group of people operate a transport agency from the abandoned building that was to be the New Third Tokyo International Airport (nicknamed Edowanzu). They wish to fly higher than what is permitted by aviation laws.
Haru is a cheerful, honest, polite and hardworking girl who always wanted to become a pilot. Following her dream, she went overseas after graduating from high school and earned her pilot license after two years in an aviation school in San Diego. She applied to become a co-pilot and got an interview with the Kubo Air Transport Agency. There she met Katsura Keima, the test pilot who had broken the impenetrable barrier in Project Ikaros five years ago.
There are English reviews
2. Flag Heshiori Otoko フラグへし折り男 [110225] Hamham Soft
Kogorou is the assistant instructor at the Suzuhara-ryuu Kendo dojo in Minoudai. He lives alone at the top of a hill and his osananajimi Mahiru comes to wake him up every day, even though she knows that he will already be out of bed and dressed by the time she gets there. That’s because she is like many other girls who has fallen in love with him because of his honesty and seriousness. He is known as the ‘man who breaks flags’.
A comedy with flat characters and eye-tearing graphics.
3. Grisaia no Kajitsu グリザイアの果実 -LE FRUIT DE LA GRISAIA- [110225] Frontwing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Mihama Academy - on the surface, a closed learning environment established to nurture students who find themselves at odds with the world around them; in actuality, an orchard-cum-prison built to preserve fruit that has fallen too far from its tree.
Whatever the circumstances behind its establishment, Mihama Academy is at present home to five female students, all with their own reasons for "enrollment." For better or worse, each girl has established a routine obliging of her current situation; life moves at an idle, yet accommodating pace within the walls of Mihama.
Yet with the arrival of the institute's first male student, the nearly preposterously opaque Kazami Yuuji, the students at Mihama begin to fall out of step with their predetermined rhythms. Will Yuuji prove to be the element the girls around him needed to take hold of their lives once more, or will the weight of their pasts prove too steep a wall to overcome?
And in the first place, just who is Kazami Yuuji? While the true nature of the "job" he is wont to alight to at the most haphazard of moments remains shrouded in secrecy, one thing is for certain - his encroachment upon the quiet orchard known as Mihama Academy will prove itself momentous in one way or another. And of course, one cannot discount the possibility that perhaps Yuuji himself carries the weightiest past of any of the students...
Game is localized and has English reviews.
4. Hime-sama Gentei! ~Princess Limited~ 姫様限定！～Princess Limited～ [110225] Princess Sugar
Celina is the princess of the prosperous western European country of Mellberg and came to Japan to study at a normal school while concealing her true identity. Since she is a distant relative to Yuu, she ends up living in his house. One day, the princess of the resource-rich country of Marualand, Olivia, was exiled to Japan in a coup d’état. Quickly gaining notice around the town, she was treated like a honored guest. However, Yuu disapproved of her snobby attitude since he had grown accustomed to being around princess Celina. Then, Celina told Olivia not to be near him as he is her most precious person. Not backing down from the challenge, she states that she will make him hers.
Scenario is crappy and boring, so I'd call it a moege. Olivia's collapsed personality is probably the most memorable element.
5. Hinata Terrace ~We don't Abandon You.~ ひなたテラス ～We don't abandon you.～ [110225] Giga
Yoshihisa doesn’t have any relatives, but he doesn’t feel sad or lonely. While there’s nothing wrong with his personality, he finds it difficult to connect with others. Upon acceptance to the school, the school director offered him a cheap room if he helps out around the apartment. He meets the other residents: dojikko classmate Hina, the class rep Natsuki, and his teacher and self-proclaimed guardian Fumika. One day, a girl arrives carrying a letter and introduces herself as his imouto.
If it's Giga with unidentified scenario writer, it's a kusoge by default not worth anyone's time. Typical Giga moege.
6. Lover Able ラブラブル～Lover Able～ [110225] Smee 1 2 3 4
Haruki and his imouto Kaho move to a new town due to their parents’ work and are taken care of by their uncle. Due to a promise made between the adults, they have to help out at their uncle’s beachside cafe Fruitia. During the summer, he meets a girl that transferred in at the same time Chinatsu, quiet and mysterious classmate Satsuki, lively kouhai Tsugumi and fellow part-timer Nanako. Of course, Kaho is always by his side. This is the beginning of a summer romance.
It sounds like a pretty standard love comedy plot, but what makes Lover Able different is the customization. Prefer short hair to long hair? Want her to wear a dress instead of T-shirt and shorts? The system allows you to tailor the heroines to hit all your moe sweet spots, making all those ichaicha moments even better.
There are English reviews
7. Nekonade Distortion 猫撫ディストーション [110225] Whitesoft 1 2 3 4
Tatsuki’s imouto Kotoko is striken with an incurable disease and spends every day in her room reading books. He told himself not to enter her room to avoid giving her any stress. One night, he saw lots of shooting stars in the sky and wanted to let her know since she loved seeing pictures of stars and space. When Tatsuki opened her door, he found Kotoko without any vital signs. He blamed himself for causing her death.
On another day much later when the night sky was full of shooting stars just like that fateful day, he visited her room just like before. To his surprise, Kotoko was there. The next morning, his parents thought that Kotoko had never died, and for some reason, his pet cat turned into a catgirl.
There are English reviews.
8. Soukyuu no Soleil ~Fullmetal Eyes~ 蒼穹のソレイユ～FULLMETAL EYES～ [110225] SkyFish 1
Soukyuu no Soleil is a tactical battle SLG which is the successor to SkyFish’s previous “Valkyrie Saga” titles Shirogane no Soleil and Gouen no Soleil. The story takes place in another world where there is a white and a blue moon in the sky. The humans are constantly fighting magical monsters called ‘berserk’, which are weapons which activate using the souls of humans. Valkyries come from the white moon to aid them in battle. This is where the main protagonist Sora meets the valkyrie Odette on the battlefield and fight alongside one another.
There is an English review.
9. Sweet Robin Girl スイートロビンガール [110225] ChuableSoft 1
The town of Levindom feels unchanged from the past, with red-brick buildings lining the stone-paved roads and overlooked by an old castle. In the Lower Town, there is a small and quaint cafe called the Birdies’ Perch, which used to be popular among the locals. But now, no one comes to enjoy coffee there anymore. The owner Sydney, burdened with increasing debts, drowns his sorrows with wine. As the payment date draws near, he prepares to lose the last thing that he owns.
That’s when four young girls came to his shop. Their names are Fiona, Elen, Meg and Primrose. They all lost a place to call their own for different reasons. The leaves turn red and the wind becomes chilly, but yet these girls continue living happily while he just laments at his current dire situation. He realizes that he cannot just give up and, motivated once more, he opens the cafe with their help.
There is an English review.
10. With Ribbon [110225] Hulotte 1 2 3
This is the HULOTTE’s debut title. Shoutarou had a dream where a very young girl who he had never seen before leapt at him, saying that she finally found him and she had wanted to meet her father. She said that even though he’s not her father yet right now, he definitely will be. With a kind smile, she tells him that will understand what she’s saying soon. After waking up, he walks to Tokimizu Gakuen like usual with his osananajimi Hina and saves a girl from being hit by a car. It’s the same girl from his dream! “I’ve come to support your love, papa!”
There are English impressions.
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1. Flyable CandyHeart [110225] Unison Shift: Blossom 1 2 3 4 5
Flyable CandyHeart features the full cast of the original game as well as cameos from Nanatsuiro★Drops, Alice♥Parade, Peace@Pieces and Kiminago.
There are individual spin-off routes for each of the six FH heroines, the new routes for Yui and Suzuno are the final pieces to the multiple route mystery of the original game.
FCH also features three bonus routes; one for everyone's favorite student council secretary Gumi-chan, one in which Shou has the opportunity to become even more intimate friends with Akira, and finally the mega crossover route.
Fandisc
2. Koi Katsu! コイ☆カツ！ [110225] Silhouette
Rino is forced to join a club that involves sexual activities. She does not know anything about boys, so she asks Togo for help. He opposes this idea, but agrees after threat to reveal his small secret. The mysterious club awaits.
Nukige, but with an opening.
Bloody Rondo is the only real deal in January. Zen supports this idea while Micchi sees this month as a slow start of the year with only fandisc and some moege looking appealing enough.
1. Smile☆Shooter ~First☆Ticket~ スマイル☆シューター ～ふぁーすと☆ちけっと～ [110114] Kuroneko-san Team
The latest all-ages musical action ADV from Kogado Studio features new idol group Smile☆Shooter, which has been popular on cell phones and Twitter. In the game, you have to help the girls (Yurina, Airi, Mayu) with their debut. It’s a mix of ADV and musical action parts, using the same system as Angelic Serenade and Symphonic Rain.
Game would suit well on PSP, but on PC competition among better titles is too strong. So it becomes the last game of Kuroneko-san Team.
2. Noblelige! ノーブルリージュ！ [110125] Mana
This is an all-ages cross-media series by bishoujo game company mana and light novel publisher MF Bunko J. It is written by Okano Touya and TAMAMI. The light novel covers the first part of the story, while the kinetic novel DVD that comes with the special version of the paperback details the second part of the story.
Magic item appraiser Lang visits the house of an impoverished noble to collect debts. There he meets a proud girl named Charlotte who has a great sense of justice and duty to her followers. Even though she had already given out most of her possessions away, he plans to salvage some assets, but…
Light novel spin-off
3. Dream Club Zero ドリームクラブZERO [110127] Tamsoft Corporation
The "sequel" to Dream C Club that takes place chronologically 4 months before the first game.
Our protagonist (named by you) gets a one-year free membership to "Dream Club", a host-club where he pays by the hour for girls to chat and drink with him.
Can he succeed in finding love?
Includes all the characters of the original, plus 3 new girls.
Not much has changed since SIM prequel
4. Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai 俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない [110127] Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. 1 2
The first TV series may be over, but the story of Oreimo has only just begun! Now you can control the destiny of Kyousuke as you interact with the cute girls in your life and deal with your little sister Kirino's otaku whimsy. Packed with over 20 possible endings and dozens of great in-game CG, the regular dialogue is enthralling as well as it's powered by the "O.I.U." graphics system, or "Ore no Imouto ga konnani Ugoku wake ga nai" system ("There's no way my little sister could move like this!). It's a 2D real time feature animation system that has the characters reacting emotionally and with gestures to the dialogue choices you make. Live out your dream scenarios with your favorite Oreimo characters in this great "what if" game!
Anime spin-off
5. Tsukumonogatari つくものがたり [110127] Killaware Ltd.
“That is unacceptable now. You've known the secret.
There is a story of a boy who can see AYAKASHI, not visible to human eye.”
In the present world, crime rates keep on increasing every day. This is happening because evil spirits have crossed over from the spirit world to the human world. These spirits are invisible to the naked eyes. One day, Yūto Ishigami was pushed out of the third floor's window by a classmate who suddenly turned violent, but he miraculously survived without a single scratch. However, since that day, Yuuto began to see strange things. These strange things are known as "Ayakashi". The fact that he's seeing them is proof that the ability that was sleeping within him has been awakened.
RPG
6. Aqua [110128] SORAHANE 1 2 3
In 2056, it is possible to create holograms with mass using AQUA computers. The city of Tsukigahama is the home of the Center of AQUA Research and Development, ECReD, and an antenna on the horizon called Ruka which maintains all AQUA. Souta returns to this city after 7 years, but he hates this place because it reminds him of his dead osananajimi, Chisa. However, he meets a dojikko girl who calls him Sou-chan. There’s only one person in the world who calls him that, Chisa, and this girl not only has the same name as her, but also her kind smile.
There are English reviews
7. Bloody Rondo BLOODY†RONDO [110128] 3rdEye 1 2 3 4 5
This is the first game by 3rdEye. Shinkurou leads a double life. During the day, he leads a normal school life with other students, but when the sun sets, he heads out to the town to hunt the vampires that have slipped in among humans. One night, he comes upon a girl surrounded by vampires. He takes care of the vampires and takes the fainted girl to his home. However, he soon finds out that she isn’t human. How will a vampire hunter like Shinkurou deal with Luna, the last vampire princess who doesn’t know much about humans at all? An action-based game featuring vampires (including man-made ones), lycanthropes and vampire hunters.
There are English reviews.
8. Canvas 4 ~Achrome Etude~ Canvas4 アクロウムエチュード [110128] F&C FC01 1 2
Ryou was selected for a prize at the yearly Sakurabana art contest and was accepted into Nadeshiko Gakuen on a scholarship. He ends up living with his osananajimi Kotono. It’s been half a year since then and in additional to the cultural festival this fall, there will also be an art festival with surrounding schools. As the ace of the art club, Ryou was selected as the school’s representative. However, he has a problem: he can’t draw people. Even though he can complete the drawing technically, he feels that there is something off with it.
There are English reviews.
9. Damatte Watashi no Muko ni Nare! 黙って私のムコになれ！ [110128] ensemble 1 2
On the second day of the new school term, Naoki was walking to Seiran Gakuen with his imouto Fumuko when he witnessed a group of men forcing a girl in a dress into a car. He jumped in to help her and with help from his friends was able to get her away from the kidnappers. That’s when a a butler appeared beat the kidnappers and scared them off. His relief turned to bewilderment when the angered girl ordered the butler to fire a rocket launcher at the car the kidnappers were in. She smiled at him and invited him to her house as thanks for saving her. Of course, he declined the invitation and ran away as fast as he could.
However, that’s not the end of it. When he reached the school gates the next day, he finds the girl from the day before, Rin, arguing with his arranged fiancée, Reona. Rin notices him and gives him a kiss, telling him that she’ll make him her groom. The school ends up getting involved and a ‘bride poll’ is held to decide who he will marry. Wait, why is his future being decided by a popularity vote!?
There are English reviews.
10. Gokudou no Hanayome 極道の花嫁 [110128] Galactica 1 2
The Gokudoujin Family. Just hearing the name of this legendary family brings chills to mafia and politicians alike. Well, that was a long time ago. Yuuichi is the heir of the Gokudouin household, which is just a normal family in this peaceful time. That is until Asahi came to his house. Her family (Habutae) has been declining in power and she came to him intending to marry him!
There are English reviews.
11. Hoshi no Ouji-kun 星の王子くん [110128] Leaf 1
Hoshino Ouji is a super handsome boy at the school and popular among all students regardless of gender. He is surrounded by his osananajimi Purin, ojousama Ringo, robot Chino, beautiful Cocoro and trap Yuri. Will they be able to overcome their problems and also find love at the same time?
There are English reviews
12. Oborokomachi 朧小町 [110128] Concerto Soft
Blessed with good quality trees, the village of Oboro had prospered in the forest industry in the Heian era. It has been passed down for generations that the girls from this area are very beautiful. This is because they are descendants of Oboro-hime, a woman of unsurpassed beauty who lived in this fog-covered area. Now, the town is renamed Tsumagoi-shi, but the story of the Oboro maidens still continues.
Scenario is terrible, heroines lack individuality, system is flawed. It even lacks liveliness to be called a moege.
13. Otakano -Konna ni Kawaii Kanojo ga Otaku na Wake ga Nai- オタカノ -こんなに可愛い彼女がオタクなわけがない- [110128] DisAbel 1
Eiji is a 2nd year student at a regular school with normal grades and average athletic prowess. He lives by himself, spending his free time playing MMOs. He has friends, but none that he would call a best friend. Girlfriend? Forget about it. One day, he completed as SS-level quest with his online friend and he thought it would be nice to meet him in real life. They arrange a meeting and his supposedly male friend is actually a girl in his class, Moe! Not only that, but she’s the bespectacled class rep that doesn’t talk with other people much. And here she is standing in front of him in a cute mini-skirt and top, wearing contacts instead of glasses… what a change!? After the initial surprise, they decided to create a social networking club so that they can meet others like them. Then she adds that seifuku are prohibited in the club room!
A parody otaku moege, a rather amusing one, but still remaining a moege.
14. Sorairo Memoir -Precious Summer Vacation!- そらいろメモワール -Precious summer vacation！- [110128] Ex-iT
Ryuu and his osananajimi Ichigo return to their hometown for the first time in 8 years. They decide to race to the top of the mountain. What reacquaintances and memories lie beyond the mountain?
A doujin level debut work in all the areas. Even if atmosphere and heroines are to your liking, it's mediocre work at best.
BLOCKED
1. T.P. Sakura ~Time Paladin Sakura~ T.P.さくら～タイムパラディンさくら～ [110127] Circus 1 Time Paladin Sakura is an all-ages D.C. spinoff, featuring the eternal loli Sakura as an even more loli mahou shoujo. Sakura is a lively 3rd grader at Kazami Gakuen who spends the day as a normal girl with her best friend Kotori and osananajimi Jun'ichi. However, she is actually hiding a secret… She can use the powers of the space-time tree to travel through time and change the past! The game is split into two parts, and an hour-long anime OVA will come out at the same time too. There’s also mini games included. Fandisc
2. Jangokuhime 雀極姫 [110128] Gesen 18 This is the mahjong fandisk for Gesen18′s Sengokuhime series, including a story mode and free mode. It features 21 heroines to choose from. Basically, you get sucked into the mahjong world and have to win in order to get back out. Oh, and declaring thirteen orphans grants a wish. Fandisc
3. Mousou Protocol! -Hime x Miko x Robot- 妄想ぷろとこる！ -姫×巫女×ロボ- [110128] Triangle If you’re not into imoutos or onee-chans… how about some witches, mikos and robots? In Triangle’s latest ecchi title, Shinpei is an otaku that loves anime and games. Currently, he follows many late-night anime on TV and jerks off to the heroines while watching the heroines on screen and imagining them in ecchi situations. Then, the girls came out of the TV and started living with him! They return to the anime world only when it’s time for that week’s broadcast. Nukige yet with an opening
There are several notable works this month, but I'm only going to call Ore no Tsure wa Hito de nashi a masterpiece. Micchi lays hopes on Hello,good-bye that rather disappointed me, Akatoki with gameplay elements and some fandisc.
1. Let's Kaitou! Nusumi Kei!? -Ano Ko no Heart no Nusumikata, Oshiemasu♪- Let’s快盗！ヌすみ系!? -あの子のハートの盗み方、教えます♪- [101210] SQUEEZ sweet
Tomoki comes from a family of second-rate thieves and is relatively normal aside from his skill in billiards. In order to become a first-class thief, he enrolls in the famous thief school Kaisei Higashioka Gakuen, otherwise known as Kaitou Gakuen. Surprisingly, he ends up in the same group as Ai, a descendent of the world-renowned thief Arsène Lupin, as well as her friends, revolver-toting Ooka and sword-wielding Koyomi. At Kaitou Gakuen, in addition to normal classes, there is a ‘hands-on stealing’ class and subsequent test, which is full of ecchi traps. Will he be able to help them steal the targeted treasures with his superior decision making? How will things end up when their rival group Cats Pad and various detectives and other mysterious thieves also get involved?
Phantom thief parody setting did not help this moege much as motivation to go on diminishes rapidly over its course.
2. Yuurei to Koi Shitai! 幽霊と恋したい！ [101210] Flap
Kouichi doesn’t believe in the supernatural, even if it appears before his very eyes. He has an osananajimi, Aoi, who treats him roughly all the time, but he doesn’t mind it. One day, his house burned down and he was forced to move. However, his new home is haunted by a ghost, Nana. Kouichi isn’t fazed at all and actually tells her to just sit and be quiet. One hour later, it’s Nana that ends up pleading for him to let her stay with him. Aoi hears about this and isn’t happy at all. What will happen to this strange 3-way relationship?
If it's not evident already, nukige happens to this strange 3-way relationship.
3. Tantei Opera Milky Holmes 探偵オペラ ミルキィホームズ [101216] bushiroad
The story takes place in an imaginary world in "the Age of Detectives", where private detectives and phantom thieves overwhelm the cities. Both detectives and phantom thieves have special powers known as Toys. Former great detective Kobayashi Opera, who lost his Toys five years ago in a battle with Phantom Thief L, is tasked with leading a team of four junior detectives as they battle against the newly formed Phantom Thief Empire.
Anime spin-off
4. Axanael アザナエル [101217] Nitroplus 1 2 3 4
"Shoot - and your wish will come true. But one of the bullets is real. Pull the trigger if you're ready to risk your life."
Deep below Akihabara, a version of Russian roulette called the Kagome Game is being played on New Year’s Eve 2010. Six people take turns shooting a gun called Axanael, which has the ability to grant wishes. However, there is a price for equaling the hopes, and it is paid by one of the players' lives.
There are English reviews
5. Hello,good-bye [101217] Lump of Sugar 1 2 3 4 5 6
"Toubu Kaito"
That is the fake name assumed by a young military officer from the United Provinces of Japan. He has been tasked with infiltrating Tenshudo Academy, located in Special District Morino, impersonating a transfer student.
He is to cast aside his former identity, and 'become' Toubu Kaito.
Special District Morino, also known as the neutral zone, is a region of historical significance, and right now, it is the one area which 'both Japans' have their eyes on most.
Upon first entering Morino, Kaito decides to walk around and familiarize himself with his new home. After visiting many different places, he then ends up in a park harboring a memorial statue that honors a certain peace treaty. Kaito wanders a little too far, and finds a remote area where he is presented with a vast flower bed that covers every inch on the ground.
And he is not alone. There is a single girl there, tending to the flowers.
"Why hello there. How do you do, sir. Ah, I suppose I ought to say 'good evening' considering the time of day. " The girl gently smiles at Kaito, and asks for his name.
"Toubu Kaito's my name... at least, it will be during my stay here."
He responds to her, quickly, and in doing so, inadvertently reveals his 'secret.'
Little did Kaito know, but this slight 'slip of the tongue' would be the single action to put an end to his hapless fate. One tiny mistake, and his life forever changed...
"If it was a mistake that came about through love, then I think there can be nothing more wonderful than that."
There are English reviews. I managed to play it in the past, and no sweet feelings were gained.
6. Sangoku Hime ~Ransei, Tenka Sanbun no Kei~ 三極姫～乱世、天下三分の計～ [101217] Gesen 18 1
There can only be one dragon (emperor), however heaven sent a 3-headed dragon to the world. Soon an uprising called the Yellow Turban Rebellion happened, marking the beginning of a battle for supremacy. This is known as the period of the Three Kingdoms.
TBS
7. Princess☆Strike! プリンセス☆ストライク！ [101222] Atu Works
After the passing of the King of Nippon, a lottery is held to decide who will be the next king. The one who was chosen was Ataru, who up until now hasn’t had any luck at all. That morning when his osananajimi Hiyoko came to wake him up, two girls dropped down through the ceiling. Milfy and Sera were princesses, and they both wanted to marry him! Since his house was broken, he gets to live in the royal palace with them. Hiyoko couldn’t stand leaving him and came to live with him as a maid. Who will he ultimately choose as his bride?
Scenario is too shallow, other than that a usual comedy moege.
8. Akatoki! -Yume Koso Masare Koi no Mahou- あかときっ！ -夢こそまされ恋の魔砲- [101223] Escu:de 1 2
“This world will now be ours!” With those words, various things called ‘kurayami’ appeared. It’s as if they came straight out from a fairy tale, since they were somewhat cute robots, dolls and miniature cars. The police and self-defence forces somehow were scared of these weird things and ran away. However, humans have not given up as there is one way of defeating the kurayami… with magic! In Akatoki, there is a magic academy that specializes in training students to become magic users. Mayuto isn’t that skilled in magic, but he gets dragged into it since his childhood friends Miyu and Yuuji all aim to be magic users.
There are English reviews
9. AKB1/48: Idol to Koishitara... AKB1/48 アイドルと恋したら・・・ [101223] Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
In AKB1/48 Idol to Koishitara, 48 girls are in love with you, the main character. And they aren’t going to wait for you to woo them. They all want to happily proclaim how much they love you. The thing is, you can only have one of them. So you have to avoid 47 girls so you can get with the one you want.
PSP Idol crappy sim
10. Hatsukoi Sacrament 初恋サクラメント [101224] Purple Software 1
Yuuhi is entering Millenia Academy this spring. Since he wanted to live by himself, he found himself an apartment room. However, when he stepped into the church next door, he found a girl lying there. Her name was Hikari and and she doesn’t remember much except that her goal is to help people. She ends up living with him at the recommendation of the apartment manager, Noa. He thinks that if they go about helping people, Hikari may regain her memories. So, together they start up the "Big Sky" club to solve students’ problems.
There is an English impression
11. Kagura Gensoutan ~Ayakashi no Hime~ 神楽幻想譚～妖かしの姫～ [101224]
In the Showa era, Seiichirou trains various young boys and girls within a facility hidden deep within the forest on how to defeat youkai. One day, the director Sakura-hime instructs him to choose candidates from among the mikos to become the ‘omamori-sama’. Two girls were chosen – which of them will be selected as the ‘omamori-sama’? What is this role actually?
RPG
12. Knight Carnival! [101224] Nomad
After the death of the strong king Uther, the land of Avalonia was in disarray. The witch Morgan’s desires to conquer the whole country made reunification of the land seem impossible. However, there was a legend that whoever can pull out the legendary sword from the stone is the rightful king. This girl was Arthur, the child of Uther, also called the “destined king”. When she pulled out the sword, instead of a sword in her hand, a man stood before her. His name was Caledfwlch, the God of War, and he was sealed within the sword due to too much debauchery. Now that he is free, he lends his overwhelming powers to her cause, but in return he requires ‘energy’. Bakage with M tilt as heroines treat protagonist harshly all the time. Probably can be funny for specific mindset.
13. Marumeru ~Soushinsha wa @ Mirai~ まるめる～ソウシンシャは＠未来～ [101224] Abel Software
When his parents moved because of work, Yuuichi ended up on a small island in the Pacific. It’s a relaxing place and the school only has around 10 students. One of his classmates is his cousin Nagisa, who he also lives with. However, this tranquil island is shrouded in mystery and there are many traditional rituals and folklore. Yuuichi is excited about such things and one day, he came upon a strange cell phone. But why is there a cell phone here when there is barely radio reception? He meets a girl in front of the sacred tree at the local shrine. She tells him that this cell phone allows him to write messages to his past self and that she wants him to solve the mysteries of this island. Three more times have passed which means Abel Software has crafted something new. Game has some 18 endings with one giving different tip in email from the past. But there's no big mystery behind it all, so disappointment is big. Graphics is good though.
14. Noble ☆ Works のーぶる☆わーくす [101224] Yuzusoft 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Takumi is a normal guy who barely gets by with part-time jobs. One day, he was asked to attend the prestigious private school Rokuroku Gakuen while impersonating a rich student that looks just like him. Although he was hesitant to accept this strange request, circumstances (mainly financial) compelled him to agree to do it. However, he knows nothing about the celeb world. Will he be able to keep his cover?
Game is localized and has English reviews.
15. Ore no Tsure wa Hito de nashi 俺の彼女はヒトでなし [101224] Whale 1
Yuuma attends Hanafusa Academy in the town of Minamihata situated on the peninsula. As the autumn air is starting to get chillier, he continuously sees strange things appearing before him. Trying to escape them, he heads to the school roof and thought things would be fine here. That’s when he looks up and sees his childhood friend Chikae in the night sky… flying on a vacuum cleaner.
There is an English impression, and it has a point. No one expects much from the debut work of the brand, but game proves to be surprisingly funny and with characters developed properly. True route compliments individual routes well.
16. Sekai Seifuku Kanojo 世界征服彼女 [101224] Navel
Yukito is waken up every morning by his cute osananajimi Yumeko. Normally one would feel blessed to be in such a situation, but she’s actually a mad scientist who wants to take over the world! She would even create a robot just for this purpose, scaring the heads of state around the world to surrender without a fight.
All he wished for is to live a peaceful life until graduation. Then he saw her at a press conference on TV declaring that she will be taking over the world before the end of the year. In the commotion that follows, another girl named Ako transfers into the school to stop her. Will Yumeko be stopped by New Year’s Eve or will his dream of a peaceful life vanish forever?
A decent charage with gags, but with enough boring moments and with all four routes having the same development. Not my type still.
17. Tiny Dungeon ~Bless of Dragon~ [101224] Rosebleu 1
The school Trinity was founded for people to hone their skills and to promote cooperation between the demon, god and dragon races to prevent another war. Despised for coming from a race that once started a war in the past, he came to gain strength so he can protect others. He became close to three powerful girls: Vell of the demon world, Note of the god world and Uluru of the dragon world. One day, Uluru met a suspicious robed person and fought them off. A few days later, a girl from the demon world named Von transfers into Trinity. Uluru’s maid servant Opera has a sense of uneasiness from her and warns Uluru. No one realizes that Uluru will soon confront her own past.
There is an English review.
18. Yotsuiro★Passionato! よついろ★パッショナート！ [101224] SkyFish
Otone is a normal boy, but his family is anything but normal. The day before he was to transfer into Fujimi Gakuen, his older sister Otona said that she was tired of being a girl and switched bodies with him using the ‘mind change’ special ability. Meanwhile, Kanade wanted to join the band club since she loved the band’s performance during the town’s Christmas Festa when she was small. However, the band club has been closed and she sets out alone to find people to join the club. That’s when she bumped into Otone (♀) and gets him (her?) to join the band.
A normal story with a trap and a music band. Everyday scenes are well done, but overall can't call it all interesting with this kind of setting.
19. Kon Kon 魂々 [101231] Festival
On the last summer day of middle school, Masaki is walking home and notices a transfer student and chases after her. She tells him that there is a god at the shrine next to them who can grant wishes. Since he doesn’t believe in spiritual beings, he’s more interested in her than this god. However, he feels like he’s being surrounded by smoke and leaves the area. The next morning when he wakes up, he hears a voice behind him: “If you don’t follow what I say, you will die”.
Festival made Abyss, so can't block their next release. It's a rather short kinetic novel this time. First half is a normal comedy while the second part is a bizarre fighting thing. A decent work for a doujin, but overall not so much.
BLOCKED
1. Insai no Shima ~Chi to Hakudaku no Nie~ 淫祭の島～血と白濁の贄～ [101210] hourglass 1 One day, Shinji and his friends visit a deserted island. However, a big earthquake suddenly strikes and the island is completely changed. Yes, there are people living on the island. They try to get out of the island, but their ship is gone somewhere. It gets dark and they decide to stay at a house nearby. At dawn, they hear someone playing the musical instrument. To check it, they leave the house, without knowing it is just the beginning of tragedy... Nukige with English review
2. D.C. Dream X'mas ~Da Capo~ Dream Christmas D.C.Dream X’mas～ダ・カーポ～ドリームクリスマス [101224] Circus
DCDX is a Christmas fandisc for the D.C. series. The highlight are crossover stories where the characters from both D.C. and D.C.II appear together (in a wide array of santa outfits).
In D.C. ~Christmas Mirai Koi Yume~, Junichi and his friends get caught in a sudden burst of light and end up 53 years in the future. Is this really what the future looks like? How will they return to their original time?
In D.C. II ~Day Dream Believer~, Yoshiyuki is preparing the ‘sexy sushi party’ at this year’s Christmas party at Kazami Gakuen. He’s called by Sakura, but when he gets to her office, he finds a small iron door that he had never noticed before. Curosity got the better of him and he went through door, ending up in the school’s hallway during Christmas party preparations… half a century ago! He went back and got his friends to check it out too, but soon there’s trouble.
Fandisc
3. Toshoshitsu no Neversista 図書室のネヴァジスタ [101229] TARHS Entertainment 1
During a stormy summer night, a student met his death.
He left to take a picture of the rising waters in the river and never returned. All that was left of him were his belongings and the camera by the riverbank. Even after days of desperate searches, all anyone could find was one of his shoes.
In the end, he was treated as a casualty of the river...but soon other, sinister rumors of his death began to emerge. That the five friends who used to live in "The Haunted Tower" with him -- one of them, some of them, all of them -- may have had something to do with his cursed death.
Enter two people.
One, the student's older brother. He receives a mysterious letter about his brother's death, and as soon as he begins to investigate, he's hit by a blunt object and loses consciousness.
Only to wake up again in a dark room with five students surrounding him, interrogating him, and knowing that they will never let him leave...
Two, an idealistic assistant teacher who just arrived in town. He receives a cryptic warning from an intruder in his dorm, "The Haunted Tower," to "never think those five are children" -- the poor, sad, well-behaved five students who undeservedly suffer from bad rumors.
Caught between paranoia and the desire to trust his students, one day he finds a book titled "Neversista," which holds a startling truth...
Doujin, but with an English review
4. Snow Drop ~First Step in Spring~ Snow Drop ~First Step in Spring~ [101231] R7
Akito had always lived with his two sisters – lively and optimistic oneechan Sakura, and shy and pessimistic imouto Himawari. He thought that it would continue to be like this forever, but then one day Sakura was killed in a traffic accident. As the months passed by, he grew depressed and couldn’t move past her death, and his relationship with Himawari became distant.
One day, he found a girl lying on the ground on a sakura petal-strewn hill. She couldn’t remember anything but her name: Yuki. He couldn’t just leave her there, so he took her home with him. Then a few days later, Sakura appeared before him, just like nothing had changed.
A doujin, but with an opening.
Ushinawareta Mirai o Motomete is the only masterpiece. Micchi is of the same opinion, but also with high hopes for Kicking Horse★Rhapsody
1. Dangan Ronpa Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei ダンガンロンパ 希望の学園と絶望の高校生 [101125] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spike Chunsoft
Hope's Peak Academy is a government-funded private high school recognized all across the nation as the cradle of hope and prosperity, providing a complete education for "ultimate" students of all stripes.
Thanks to a national lottery, one extremely lucky but otherwise ordinary student—Makoto Naegi—has been chosen to attend this prestigious institution.
But when Makoto arrives for his first day of class, he suddenly falls unconscious, and when he wakes up he finds himself in a classroom within the school—with the windows barred and the doors locked. As he explores the abandoned, dirty halls, it becomes clear that something is very wrong. He and his new classmates make their way to the gymnasium, where a demented robotic bear, calling himself Monokuma and claiming to be the school's headmaster, makes a declaration: "You're all going to be living here from now on. If you want to go free, your only choice... is murder."
And so... fifteen high school students gathered from across the country have been imprisoned. Their strength, their commitment, their very humanity will be tested time and time again. Why must they clash in these class trials? Who's the mastermind behind it all? And what is this shadowy figure really after? The battle against the looming, invisible enemy known only as despair is about to begin...
Game is localized and has English reviews of which I covered only the tip of the iceberg - untranslated vn sources
2. Jinki Extend Re:Vision Jinki Extend Re:Vision [101126] Giga
Akira is a normal student who falls in love with his classmate Akao, who is also a miko of the nearby shrine. One day while walking together in the nearby forest, they come upon a mysterious container. They meet a man with murderous intent and a group of robots. This was an omen of the ‘lost life phenomena’ and the intense battles with the ‘Jinki’. Will they be able to survive this battle?
Anime spin-off
3. Kazegahara Gakuen Spy-bu! 風ヶ原学園スパイ部っ！ [101126] Sputnik
Kyouichirou belongs to a strange club at Kazegahara Academy called the ‘Spy Club’. It’s not actually a real club, but an unofficial one. The club members are all very eccentric: the club leader Chikae, unrivalled in leadership; his childhood friend Karin who is a hacker; super-mechanic underclassman Uta; and reckless, ex-gymnastics ace Haruna. They go around the school every day, completing various missions. One day, a strange person by the name of ‘Ghost Dog’ who causes mischief in the school. They start a mission to uncover ‘Ghost Dog”s true identity, but the student council is watching their every move in the shadows…
Game lacks polish a lot and only starts to get interesting by the end due to case developing into parallel world connection.
4. Kicking Horse Rhapsody キッキングホース★ラプソディ [101126] Alcot Honey Comb 1
There’s a saying that goes: “Those who disturb the love of others should be killed by a horse’s kick”. However, it’s not only people that are obstacles in love. There’s lack of money, lack of time together and other little accidents that threaten romance. And of course, there’s actually no horse to kick people. So that’s why the “Kicking Horse Rhapsody” is here! They’ll get rid of all the nuisances so couples can focus on furthering their love. Souta realizes that he’s surrounded by three attractive girls within the group. However, how can he possibly fall in love with a girl when the other girls will be jealous and try to get in their way?
There is an English review.
5. Nanairo Kouro なないろ航路 [101126] Journey
Sakuta is quite hard done by at the moment - his parents have left the country so he is currently homeless. One day, he is walking down the street when he feels something wet fall onto him, looking up, a young girl named Enishi falls onto him too. Enishi claims to be an apprentice goddess of marriage and tells Sakuta that what fell onto him was actually "God's Pheromone" which means that every girl he meets will fall in love with him and that this pheromone cannot be collected until he falls in love too.
Just after this, Sakuta saves a rich girl called Mirai from some thugs and she falls in love with him (due to the peheromone's power). Then she decides to let Sakuta transfer to her school as a reward. However this is no normal school, Mirai attends the Princess Mary - a high-class school on a cruise liner!
Now his new life starts, what will happen to him now?
I've yet to encounter a single decent work centered around pheromone. And it's not this one. Opportunistic harem-oriented kusoge, as expected.
6. Ren'ai Saimin ~Tsun na Kanojo ga dereru Saimin~ 恋愛催眠～ツンな彼女がデレる催眠～ [101126] C: drive
Takumi is a guy who always helps those in need. A person that he helped rewarded him with the ability to use hypnosis. However, he has no desire to use this for his own personal gain. However, one day, the mood has turned tense due to the banning of love within the school. He realizes that those girls opposed to love actually are afraid of being hurt in relationships, so he decides to use his ability to make all his classmates become honest with their feelings. Everyone goes works well, except that 5 girls all confess to him… and they’re all tsunderes!
Hypnotism is not any better than pheromone. It always ends up a harem nukige.
7. Shaman's Sanctuary -Miko no Seiiki- しゃーまんず・さんくちゅあり－巫女の聖域－ [101126] Alice Soft
Post-war Japan makes religion a mandatory part of education to heal those with wounded hearts. A few decades later, Japan is 99% religious with many different religions, some of which cause problems with their illegal recruitment of followers. The government decides to unite all the religions by selecting the ‘god amongst gods’. Itsuki has the power to heal injured people. His childhood friend Mizuno knows about his special ability since he saved her in the past and she persuades him to join the battle. Itsuki summons protection mikos to battle with mikos from other religions. However, there is an unusual side effect where he gets sexually aroused when he uses his powers.
SRPG
8. Venus Blood -Empire- ヴィーナスブラッド－エンパイア－ [101126] Dual Tail 1 2
There is an empire controlled by devils. They have an epic battle against "five countries of virtue," but the battle never seems to end because of a barrier between two sides created by goddesses. One day, a group of devils successfully destroys the barrier and invades their enemy. However, no one knows yet that this attack will be the trigger of a devastating war...
TBS has English reviews
9. Shiei no Sona-Nyl -What a Beautiful Memories- 紫影のソナーニル -What a beautiful memories- [101126] Liar-soft 1 2 3 4 5 6
The year is 1907. The 20th century is still young.
This is a world that experienced a 19th century very different from our own. A world of innumerable steam-powered Engines. The unnaturally rapid development of this steam civilization filled the air with smog, robbing humanity of the blue skies they'd once known.
There is one place in particular where the sky is darker than anywhere else: the ruins of the Engine city New York, perpetually shrouded in grey clouds and polluted rain. Five years ago, a mysterious disaster known as the "Great Disappearance" reduced this entire metropolis to a deserted, crumbling wasteland. Sealed off from the world by the United States government, it stands in utter silence. Not a single soul now walks its streets.
But today, a woman named Elysia quietly sets foot inside it - guided by a singular purpose. Her destination: old Manhattan, said to be the epicenter of the catastrophe.
Unbeknownst to her...
There is a place said to be the city's "Underground." This is an enormous subterranean realm, permeated with a dim purple light. No one on the surface world knows of its existence. In this place, the Skyscrapers that crumbled five years ago still stand tall; but their forms are warped and twisted. "Underground New York" is a place of black and violet shadows. A prison with no exit. And beneath its unnatural "sky," the men and women who vanished five years ago still exist...
Cowering in fear of the seven monsters known as the "Messengers."
Suffering terror, agony, and death at the hands of the "Messengers."
They linger on in this twisted underground city, as if waiting for something.
A girl named Lily sets foot in this place, her mind devoid of memories. There is only one thing she's certain of. She doesn't have a reason. She doesn't know who or what awaits her. She doesn't even know why she feels this way. But even so, she's absolutely certain.
"Manhattan. The ends of the violet sky."
"I have to go there. I'm the only one who can."
─The girl sets off for the tower of violet shadow looming far in the distance.
─With every step, she finds the shades of those yet to fade away.
─She isn't aware of the tears she sheds.
There are English reviews
10. Ushinawareta Mirai o Motomete 失われた未来を求めて [101126] Trumple 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Uchihama Academy has seen an increase in enrollment in recent years and as a result, a new school building will be constructed. The story takes place during the final school festival in the old school. All the club leaders decide to give it their all to make this the best school festival. Sou is a member of the notorious astronomy club, which basically solves the various issues in the student council's place.
On one day, he stays in the school late at evening because he got slightly injured by the judo club and is healing his wounds in the infirmary. Suddenly, the building shakes. Shocked, he runs up the stairs to where the shaking seems to have centered, and there he encounters a mysterious naked girl, whom at first appears to know him. On the next day this girl, Yui, seeks out the astronomy club, expressing her desire to join.
There are English reviews.
BLOCKED
1. Sakura no Shippo ~Sakura Tale Fandisc~ さくらのしっぽ～さくらテイルファンディスク～ [101126] Fizz This is the fandisk to Sakura Tale. It features after stories for each of the 6 heroines from the original game, as well a route for Natsumi. There’s also an extra story featuring a crossover with Asanagi no Aquanauts, however characters from that game will not show up. Fandisc
2. Ningen Debris ~Konna Jibun ni Dare ga Shita?~ 人間デブリ～コンナジブンニダレガシタ？～ [101126] Elf 1 2
The protagonist sees his female childhood friend hugging his male childhood friend on the rooftop of school.
The heart of the protagonist then burns with uncontrollable jealousy. He feels himself betrayed by his female childhood friend, since he has finally noticed that he loves her very much.
The protagonist then begins a revenge strategy, a revenge plan. He wants to hurt the girl, hurt her deeply. He will do whatever that is necessary to hurt the girl and damage her in the same way, or more, that he is feeling damaged now.
And this is the start point of the game...
Nukige with English reviews
I'd only call Ouka Sengoku ~Nobunaga-chan no Koishite Yabou!?~ a masterpiece this month since other candidates don't have strong enough story component though can be great charage for someone. Since there aren't English reviews, I feel the need to make one eventually. Micchi calls October 2010 a "moe" month favoring two most prominent titles in this regards - Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate and Kisaragi GOLD★STAR
1. Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi 星空へ架かる橋 [101015] feng 1 2
Kazuma moved to Yamabiko-chou due to his younger brother Ayumu’s health and ended up staying at the Yorozuyo inn, owned by his father’s friend. On his first day at school, he got lost and asked for directions from a fellow student, Ui. She led him on an offbeat path and he accidentally fell and kissed her. Coincidentally, this was all seen by Ui’s friend, Ibuki, who thought he was a bad guy and declared him to be an enemy.
There are English reviews.
2. Ore-sama no RagnaRock 俺サマのラグナRock [101028] Akabei Soft2 TRY 1
A long time ago, there was a great war known as Ragnarok where many Gods and Demons were thought to have perished. Now in the northern most part of Japan, the demon lord Njord spends his day being irritated. Is it because of his poverty? Well, that too… but it’s because of those ‘Gods’ on TV. The Gods were the ones that actually won the war and now they’re all over the TV, singing their heavenly songs. He can’t take it anymore and drags his imouto Nerthus along to fight against the Gods in a battle of songs. This is a new Ragnarok… no, RagnaRock!
Strategy has an English review
3. Uni. [101028] Circus
This is an all-ages love comedy ADV which takes place in a girls-only school and the main character is a girl.
Hoshizora Kirara is the perfect girl with great grades and personality, but she has one thing that worries her: her own name. While some friends think that it’s a cute name, most of her classmates think that it’s weird. She resents her father who used to be part of a motorcycle gang, and wishes to leave her home and live alone. Even entering Fuumi Gakuen doesn’t help her downcast feelings until she notices a recruitment poster that was looking for a member to join the Hatsunejima student discipline committee.
Work that does not understand what it wants to do. Work to kill time at best, trash otherwise.
4. Chu x Chu Idol 2 -Melodies x Memories- Chu×Chuアイドる2 -melodies×memories- [101029] Unison Shift: Accent
This is the sequel to ChuxChu Idol. Some years later, the popular idol Chuchu is missing! With the entertainment world in confusion, Chuchu’s ‘sister’ Chuuno Churam takes the stage for her debut under the same name. But she has a secret! She’s actually the combined form created when a female student Yukino and a vampire Ruuchu kiss. Having accidentally seen them kiss, Daigo is forced to be her servant.
I don't understand the need of a sequel, much weaker on scenario side, stronger on H scenes, only has value for those who liked prequel.
5. Kisaragi Gold ★ Star キサラギGOLD★STAR [101029] Saga Planets 1 2 3 4
Six friends live together in an apartment Kosumosu-sou. Even though it is old and run-down, their are always positive and enjoying their time together. Even now they are attending the same school, Kisaragi Academy, and each of them has a special talent, except Futami. He’s just an ordinary student and has always watched over his friends like a mother. Even though his childhood friends are all talented, they cannot do anything without him. Together they have a big dream, which will bring happiness to them all.
There are English reviews
6. Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate 恋と選挙とチョコレート [101029] sprite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Two childhood friends attend Takafuji Gakuen: Yuuki, who wants to fall in love, and Chisato, who hates chocolates. They are part of the food research club along with their friend and classmate Mifuyu. Even though it’s a food research club, they don’t actually do anything except for buying candy with the club budget and enjoying their time together. It is an irreplaceable place to them. However, the club’s existence is in danger with one of the student council president candidates, Satsuki, vowing to close all clubs that don’t do anything. Since their club is in this list, they do their best to save it but there’s no other way but to participate in the student council president elections and defeat her. Yuuki is persuaded by Chisato to run in the election. At first he isn’t interested at all, but since the club members are trying their hardest, he too wants to win to save the club.
There are English reviews
7. Lovekami 恋神 -ラブカミ- [101029] Pulltop
In the future of a slightly different Japan, people are worried about the declining birth rate. To solve this problem, many gods come to the human world to help. One of them is a childlike kami-sama named Tsukuyomi who comes to live with Souta. Even though she is very wise, she also lacks a lot of common sense. And so Souta’s new rowdy school life begins. Humor is ok with much parody, but scenario rather unsatisfactory. More suiting for novice than veterans.
8. Ouka Sengoku ~Nobunaga-chan no Koishite Yabou!?~ 桜花センゴク～信長ちゃんの恋して野望!?～ [101029] Apricot
Mitsuhide is an extremely poor ‘student ronin’ who gets by via part-time jobs. One day, he receives an enrollment letter to Sengoku Gakuen and readily accepts it. On his first day, a girl named Nobunaga points her sword at him: “How dare you show your face to me, I’m gonna cut your head off!”. Fearful for his life, he explains that he’s not the real Akechi Mitsuhide, but that their names are just the same by coincidence. One by one, he meets girls with the name of other famous generals, such as Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, who all mistaken him for the actual Mitsuhide.
A surprisingly worthy work. Heroines are full of charm and individuality. Game is interesting even from scenario point. This is the good old Apricot we remember by Ayakashi.
9. Sacred Vampire Sacred†Vampire-セイクリッドヴァンパイア [101029] Silver Bullet Automatic 1 2
Kiryuu Kazuma is one of the last representatives of an endangered breed: Vampire. In a world guided by teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the organization that brought his species to near extinction, Kazuma condemns the existence of God. It is an irony that does not escape him, upon discovering he has fallen in love with a woman who seeks to devote her entire life to the Lord. To win her heart, Kazuma must conceal his predatory past and inhuman nature, for if she ever learned the truth of his origin, a Child of God would never accept a Spawn of Satan.
There are English reviews.
10. Zettai ★ Imouto Genri Shugi!! 絶対★妹原理主義!! [101029] Nounai Kanojo
As the heir of the family dojo and their only brother, Takuma wants to set a good example for his four imoutos and trains hard every day. However, the oldest imouto Mizuki suggested one day that they tear down the dojo and build a shop instead. All the other girls quickly agree and so it becomes a battle between him and his imoutos for the fate of the family dojo! In order to win him over, they plan to seduce him all the time. Will he be able to fight off their advances (and his own primal urges) and preserve the family dojo?
Funny work, but needs fetishist affinity since it's basically about M protagonist living together with yandere (depending on route) heroines who make a pet of him. Harem development and H focus are inevitable.
BLOCKED
1. Maou o Seifuku Suru Tame no, 666 no Houhou 魔王を征服するための、666の方法 [101001] Crowd This is the fandisc to Sekai o Seifuku Suru Tame no, 3tsu no Houhou. The premise is based on a hero, a demon and a gender-changing potion. Fandisc
2. Crayon Tulip ~Chidori to Koruri no Yuuwaku Jugyou~ くれよんちゅーりっぷ ～ちどりとこるりの誘惑授業～ [101029] Score
Jun is an aspiring teacher who has non-blood-related twin imoutos, Koruri and Chidori. One day their mother and older sister tell him that they are actually succubi. Succubi require a man’s essence to become adults and they wish that that he will help Koruri and Chidori become adults. He gets help from chibi teacher Tsubame to enter the girls-only boarding school that they are attending. For his precious imoutos, he will do anything...
Nukige, but with an opening
3. Futsuu ja nai!! 普通じゃないッ!! [101029] ALL-TiME Yuusuke is back to his hometown to meet Shiori again. She is now a teacher, so he studied hard to enter her school. Yes, his new school life just starts. However, there are lots of strange students... Another Nukige, still ... a safe opening
4. Oyome-san Kouho ga Arawareta! Command wa? お嫁さん候補があらわれた！ コマンドは？ [101029] Sugar Pot One day, three girls suddenly appear in front of Sora on his way to school. They say that they are sisters and wife candidates of Sora. Mikoto, Nanaka and Yuki. Sora is totally confused what to do. However, they start living at his house. "What's going on?" No one knows why. Nukige. You know the drill.
5. Seinarukana Gaiden - Seirei Tenshou ~Crystal Friends~ 聖なるかな・外伝 精霊天翔～Crystal Friends～ [101029] Xuse This is the fandisc to Seirei Tenshou and is an ADV/STG just like the original, but with more ichaicha episodes. The game consists of 40 short stories featuring many alternate scenarios that might have occurred. In the STG parts, you can now play as Liolina and Liliana (with frying pan as a weapon). Fandisc
6. Shukusai no Campanella! 祝祭のカンパネラ！ [101029] Windmill Oasis
This is the fandisc for Shukufuku no Campanella!, featuring after stories for the four main heroines, as well as another stories for subheroines Nina, Salsa, Ritos and Avril. There’s also “Garnet Quest”, an extra quiz battle AVG featuring over 1000 questions. You get points for winning quiz battles, which you can use to buy items to help with other battles. At the same time, it will raise affection points and you can try to win over your partner.
Fandisc
Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier in its EXA version is the only masterpiece of the month. Michi thinks alike while also highlighting one moege and some fandiscs.
1. Trick x Logic Season 2 [100916] Chunsoft 1
Once again, all of these stories are loosely linked by the story of prosecutor Yoshikawa trying to solve his own murder by reading underworldly Akasha (crime records) and young camera-woman Tsukasa who keeps getting involved with murder cases.
There is an English review.
2. Durarara!! 3-way Standoff デュラララ!! 3-way Standoff [100922] Netchubiyori Ltd.
In this one-player only game, you play as Yoshimune Miyoshi, a student who transfers to the same school as Kida Masaomi, Ryugamine Mikado and Sonohara Anri. You get to talk to the characters and explore Ikebukuro where the DRRR!! story is set and learn about the gangs, Dollars, Yellow Scarves and a rumoured headless rider who haunts the streets on a motorbike. Anime spin-off
3. Chougen Yuuki Mugen Finity 超限勇希 ムゲンフィニティ [100924] Dandelion
Eight years ago, the Voldan tried to invade the world, but were repelled by one man who risked his life for the future of the world. His name was Touma and he piloted a robot with the help of a young boy and a masked girl. After this incident, he left the world to fight other enemies. The young boy, Tamaki, was viewed as his successor, but he soon lost his powers with age. Now no one remembers him until he meets ‘him’ and ‘her’ and the story begins once again.
Battle mini-game is too horrible, presumably no one made it to the end. Game is that bad.
4. Green Strawberry [100924] Lover Soul
Spring has arrived and Hiroki prepares to transfers to the prestigious Sennosha private school. However, he is always unlucky and due to illness, he ends up starting school two weeks late. When he arrives at the dorm, he’s told that he no longer has a room.
So many cliche at one place make me sick. Just a moege with 6-8 H scenes per short individual route.
5. Koi to Mizugi to Taiyou to ~Sumire-jima Life Savers~ 恋と水着と太陽と ～スミレ島ライフセーバーず～ [100924] Bloom Handle
Eiji, a member of his school's swimming club, attends a high school on the mainland separated from his parents and family. For the summer the club decides to visit Sumire Island, Eiji's home town, for a mixture of training camp and vacation. Eiji is glad to see his mother again and meets lots of old friends and acquaintances.
However, in recent years Sumire Island has become a hot spot for summer tourists and is overcrowded, so the group has trouble finding a place to stay. Luckily, they all can stay at Eiji's place and even decide to start working as life guards, helping to protect the crowded beaches.
Eiji's exciting summer can now begin.
If you suspect a nukige, you're right even though it's not 100% clear from synopsis. Can't even call it a moege since heroines aren't moe.
6. Orange Memories [100924] Purple Software Delight
Entering the fourth year of university, Hiroki received a call from Nagae Yujirou-sensei who asks him what he aspired to be in the future. He tells him that he wants to be a teacher and his former teacher invites him to his current school to gain training as a practice teacher for 3 weeks. This school is located in Hokashi-chou, where Hiroki had previously lived.
Purple Software hits new bottom records each time. In this game every heroine can be H sampled right during common route. That's all producers could make up to discern from hundreds of average moege out there.
7. Rakuen no Rukia 楽園のルキア [100924] Muscadet
After the passing of his grandmother who was his only relative, Kazuma returns to a boarding school Meikyou Seigakuen in his hometown. Located in the mountains, it is a quiet school. There he meets his childhood friend Mikoto who he thought had perished in the great fire ten years ago. Likewise, she thought that he had died, so they were happy to be back together once again. However, on the night of every full moon there is a ‘bloodsucking incident’. He noticed that Mikoto acting suspiciously and soon he is wrapped up in events that he does not understand.
Muscadet only made nukige by this point, and I see this work as an attempt to get a bite off Tsukihime fame. Art is the best thing here, but even it fails when it zooms out of faces and focuses on bodies. Scenario is straightforward and same type for all heroines, plus after first lap criminal is already known. And it's especially lame to call blood sucking desire a disease, more than so to miraculously cure it.
8. Sakura Bitmap さくらビットマップ [100924] Hooksoft
In the quiet town of Koisaki-chou, it is very rare for a boy to be born. Fumitaka is the lone boy among girls and it was quite problematic. Many years have passed and it is still the same. There’s a local festival Koisaki-matsuri that lots of girls attend since it is said that one can find love there. He has a feeling that he too will fall in love.
Moege that's of above average level and with more attention than usual, yet not really hitting charage league.
9. Shiomizaki Gakuen Engekibu Koi Pure ~Anata to Ichaicha Roleplaying!~ 汐見崎学園演劇部 恋ぷれ ～あなたといちゃいちゃろーるぷれいんぐ！～ [100924] Meteor
Shiomizaki Gakuen is a gigantic boarding school with over 1000 students. It prides itself on the learning environment and requires all students to be part of an extracurricular club. Junya transfers to this school to watch over his little sister Kokoa who is starting first year this spring. While walking around the campus to decide on what club to join, they meet the drama club leader Sena. Easily persuaded by Sena’s smooth talk, Kokoa decides to join the club and Junya follows her. However, the drama club doesn’t actually do anything… it’s more like Sena’s private room, complete with a maid Ayuka. One day, Sena suggests that they do a love role play. Is this just acting, or is true love?
Scenario is boring, and H element is high. Don't make me say M word yet another time today.
10. Sword World 2.0 Replay Tanodan ~Inishie no Fune o Oe!~ ソード・ワールド2.0リプレイ たのだん ～いにしえの船を追えっ！～ [100924] Ocelot
This is an all-ages kinetic novel based on the Fujimi Shobou’s fantasy novel TRPG series Sword World 2.0. Tanodan is short for ‘tanoshii dungeon’. Sherry runs away from a planned wedding and meets an aspiring dwarf adventurer named Chirol. With no place to call home anymore, she decides to join Chirol on her journey. Along the way, more people join their party including healer Lexus, ‘bunny’ magician Popo, swordswoman Justine and elf Cety. Visiting new cities and exploring dungeons together, this is a tale of love and friendship.
Ocelot once again after Demon Parasite adapts TRPG into a kinetic adventure game. There are five episodes each of two hours on average. Puzzles can be switched off. It's nice, but lacks volume for something really decent.
11. Walpurgis ヴァルプルギス [100924] Kai
One winter day, some humans suddenly turned into monsters that massacred those around them. With glowing wings and halos on their head, they looked like angels rather than monsters. The sight of angels slaughtering humans is surely a sign of the impending end of the world. No one knows what their purpose is, and a school was built to train students to be mahou senshi fighting against these angels – ‘the four halos’. Ren looks like a normal student, but he actually has a magic bloodline and was scouted to be a teacher at this school.
Despite my hopes it's just a tentacle violation nukige.
12. Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier [100930] La'cryma 1 2 3 4
Reiji is a typical student on the remote southwest island of Tsukuyomi-jima. However, due to an unexpected event where his life was in danger, he awakened as the 13th magical summoner. After summoning the spirit and magical superweapon Sakura, she gifts him with the special ability ‘Da Capo,’ which allows him to summon anyone who he met in the past 24 hours or reverts items back to its previous state (up to 24 hours ago). Now they must participate in a battle they cannot avoid.
There are English reviews
14. L@VE ONCE [100930] Maid meets Cat 1
Shouji has a secret that his mother is a mermaid. It's true. He met mermaids when he was a kid. One day, his father passes away.... Two months later, twin girls visit his house. Their names are May and Meru. Yes, they are actually mermaids he met before. Since his father died, he will be able to fall in love only once. Shouji is totally confused.... May and Meru say to him, "We'll support you, so enjoy your love...."
Sister brand of Princess Soft. But for portable format it's a rather decent game. Heroines are drawn realistically, and there's no opportunistic development. Still out of my interest zone.
15. Moekoi Ishin! ~Atashira, JK, Shinsengumi!~ 萌恋維新！～アタシら、じぇいけー、新閃組！～ [100930] Abel Software
Tsubasa is normal in every single way, except that his family left him in severe debt, so he is constantly doing part-time jobs. However, his luck changes when he becomes the fiancé of a girl from a famous family due to a promise by his late grandfather. If he accepts the marriage, the debt will be paid off for him. He ends up transferring into Gose Gakuen where the head of this household was the schoolmaster. The girl he is to marry, Kurumi, is a cute, proper and prim ojousama who is guarded closely by a group of girls. They declare that they will not allow him to marry her until they deem him worthy to be her fiancé. To this end, they train him to be a great man in all ways, including in bed.
Abel Software manages to pull out battle moege each season. The thing that surprises me the most though is how it's possible to fall even lower with each new attempt.
BLOCKED
1. Tenshi no Nichiyoubi "ef - a fairy tale of the two." Pleasurable Box 天使の日曜日 “ef - a fairy tale of the two.” Pleasurable Box. [100917] minori 1 2 3 This is the fandisc to the ef series. It consists of three parts: After and another stories for the ef cast, a sd chara side-scrolling action game and a Blu-ray animation movie. The after story takes place in the January following the end of the game, with the returning of Renji and Shuuichi. In the another stories, there are three additional routes for Yuuko, Nagi and Mizuki (Renji’s cousin). Yuuko’s route does not include any H-scenes. Fandisc
2. Rui wa Tomo o Yobu Fan Disc -Asu no Mukou ni Mieru Kaze- るいは智を呼ぶファンディスク ―明日のむこうに視える風― [100923] Akatsuki Works 1 2 This fandisc for Akatsuki Work’s 2008 title Ruitomo is comprised of routes for subchars Yenfei, Megumu and Miyawa, as well as a side episode. All the main heroines from the original game will have short stories with H scenes. Ruitomo was a great game about overcoming hardships together and this fandisk will help resolve those hidden truths that remained. Fandisc
3. Baldr Sky DiveX "Dream World" Baldr Sky DiveX "Dream World" [100924] Team Baldrhead 1 2 3 This is the fandisc for GIGA’s Baldr Sky series, featuring a variety of different stories and mini games. Included are Dream Stories original another stories, survival mode dungeon crawlers, battle arena, and more. There’s also a collaboration with NekoNekoSoft (Scarlett), Minato Soft (Majikoi) and Nitro+ (Muramasa). Fandisc
4. Haruko Maniax ハルコマニアックス [100928] Age 1
Kashiwagi Haruko fandisk.
Tha main story is about Haruko's brother Taichi, who spots a suspicious girl stalking his big sister and gets to know from her that Haruko might be going out with her brother. Taichi being a siscon and Saki being a brocon, they join forces to ascertain whether their older siblings are really dating or not.
Additional content includes short comical side-stories about Misae and Touko's relationship, Yuuhi switching places with Meiya and the following confusion of the A01 team, a contest pitting the whole team A01 against Commander Radhabinod, and everyone's favorite hard-as-nails strategy game Akatsuki Haruka Nari 2
Fandisc
Wow, I'm going to call as many as three games masterpieces this month - Tasogare no Sinsemilla , Para-Sol and Second Novel ~ Kanojo no Natsu, 15fun no Kioku~ . And the last one is something special, so it wins. It's definitely in my review queue. Micchi awaits cuteness from Sugar+Spice2 and fandiscs.
1. Executor Script エグゼクタースクリプト [100702] Triangle
In a world where some people possess magic-like special abilities, Yamahito is a student who can use a power called ‘executor’. Together with his friend Shin they cause a commotion and one day, they were defeated by a girl named Primity Lumina, sent by the international organization Aproca to protect against ill-use of abilities. A few days later, Shin starts to use his powers to destroy the town to conquer the world. Primity Lumina approaches him to request his help in defeating Shin, while Shin also wanted him to join his side. Which he give in to the dark side or fight for justice alongside a cute bishoujo?
Card battles is all I need to know about this game.
2. Fate/Extra [100722] Type-Moon 1 2 3 4 5 6
According to Nasu, Fate/EXTRA is a JRPG which takes place set in an alternate universe that split from the Fate/stay night timeline in the 1980s to 1990s.
The Story is set in the in a school called Tsukumihara Academy, a fictional place existing with an artificial environment called the Moon Cell. There, the Moon Cell orchestrates a replication of the Holy Grail War using a system called Serial Phantasm or SE.RA.PH, which handles the summoning of Servants. Servant data is taken from the Automaton (Moon Cell Automaton), a spiritual computer system built on the lunar surface by a pre-human civilization and discovered by humans in the year 2032.
The Automaton has monitored and recorded all occurrences on the Earth (including the activities of human heroes) since time immemorial. In this sense, it is similar to the Throne of Heroes, but it's possible to summons beings which aren't present in the Throne.
Each of the 128 participants in the war must duel the other Masters in a place called the Arena, where failure results in deletion from both the real and digital worlds. When only one remains, the "Holy Grail" shall grant the victor's wish.
RPG is localized and has English reviews
3. Tasogare no Sinsemilla 黄昏のシンセミア [100722] Applique 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
There’s a legend about an angel’s robe in the scenic town of Minakami-mura, in the middle of which there is a large shrine. An university student, Kousuke, visits his mother’s hometown during the summer break to do some part-time and reacquaints with some old friends while also meeting some new ones. However, their normal lives are altered by the presence of a mythic drug that can cause living beings to become abnormal. This is the local story of the monster named Yamawaro.
There are English reviews
4. Trick x Logic Season 1 [100722] Chunsoft 1
After being pushed off of a building, prodigy prosecutor Yoshikawa Itsuki wakes up in Hell. Where the judge of human souls, Yama, asks Yoshikawa for his help with some unsolved cases. Yama usually reads a record of human deeds, the Akasha, to pass judgement on human souls, but in some cases he can't figure out whodunnit just by reading the Akasha. Hence the need for Yoshikawa's mind. He is to read the Akasha and figure out the culprit. If he cooperates, Yama promises to return him to the land of the living.
There is an English review.
5. Albatross Koukairoku 信天翁航海録 [100723] raiL-soft 1 2 3 4
Aboard the Albatross is an odd captain and an equally crazy crew. With no map in hand, they sail to unknown islands, meet ghost ships and cross paths with giant monster fish. No one knows where they are heading… including the captain. But they still all stay together since there’s no other place for them.
There are English reviews.
6. Classy ☆ Cranberry's クラ☆クラ CLASSY☆CRANBERRY’S [100723] Atelier Kaguya P-ch 1
The protagonist, Honda Rei is the only son of the world-famous Honda zaibatsu.
While his genius scientist mother and his world renowned actor father are often busy abroad, he has his sister-in-law, an attractive college student, his childhood friend and best friend with him leading fun happy student lives. They attend a school for the ultra wealthy elite where the majority of the students are sons or daughters of financial heavyweights.
However, there are also commoners attending the school, possible due to scholarships, too.
Once, Rei saved a commoner student from a predicament and they became close because of it.
And then comes the turning point.
The school's boast, the legendary event, the "Advent Festival".
Besides the fact that its events are different from normal schools' festivals, it has a school wide ball participated by all students. The center-point of which are the year's so called MVP, two students which are given the title of "Prince" and "Princess".
It's not only a high honor, there's a well known legend that the two people selected will be forever tied to each other living happy lives.
As expected Rei was selected as the prince.
Unfortunately they have difficulty selecting the princess.
The school chairman said, "I leave the decision on who would be the princess to you."
Who would he select as the princess?
You are invited to this erotic and moe ball!
There is an English review.
7. Geki Tama! ~Seiryou Gakuen Engeki Bu~ げきたま！ ～青陵学園演劇部～ [100723] Cassiopeia
Ikumi transfers to Seiryou Gakuen, situated at the foot of Mount Fuji, in the second school term. He is approached by drama club members Kikka, Rin and Yurina, who force him to join their club, which is short on members and is in danger of being closed. Even though he has never acted in a play before, they were all highly expecting him to help out. Then suddenly, something strange happened and he was possessed by the spirit of a general from the Sengoku! Will the play at the school fair be able to go smoothly now!?
Moege. If you ask about discerning features, it's theater club theme that is focused mostly in final fourth route.
8. Gothderi -Gothic Delusion- ゴスデリ -GOTHIC DELUSION- [100723] Lose 1
Takamichi’s is troubled by his unsuccessful career as a teacher. One night he comes across a girl alone on the side of the road. She introduces herself as Lo, and acts unexpectedly mature and collected. After taking her to a police station, Takamichi leaves her in the hands of the authorities, when an explosion engulfs the station in flames.
Unfortunately, the explosion is just the beginning of the hunt: Lo has become the target of bounty hunters. Takamichi returns to the police station and Lo, convinced by Takamichi’s determination to help her at the risk of his own life, invites him to become her minion.
There is an English review.
9. Ore no Tamanokoshi ni Notte Kure ~ Itoko to Maid to Kouhai to Senpai to Sensei to ~ 俺のタマノコシに乗ってくれ～従妹とメイドと後輩と先輩と先生と～ [100723] Patisserie
Kousuke is just an average student. But one day, he is kidnapped by some men on his way home and taken to a big house. The man in front of him says, "You, take over my position!" His a little bit erotic and slapstick life now starts....
It's not clear from the description, but
it's inevitably a nukige. Basically, we get kidnapped and delivered to a rich lady house who eagerly learns things from common life from absolutely horrible protagonist.
10. Para-Sol [100723] Root 1 2
"Now", let's talk about the future for a little bit.
In an SF world where cyborgs and androids are near reality, for some reason rumors of fantastic creatures such as werewolf and dragons started to spread.
That time, one girl silently sent a mail to an unknown someone.
A mail that's unknown to reach someone.
Written inside is only one sentence.
"Save Our Ship"
But, by a stroke of luck the mail definitely reached somewhere.
And, the girl received a reply.
"wilco"
There are English reviews.
11. GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class: Slapstick Wonderland GA 芸術科アートデザインクラス Slapstick WONDERLAND [100729] Russell
Inside an airplane heading for Japan, Mari is clutching a sketchbook which once belonged to her grandma, who is now deceased. The sketches on it are what her grandma had drawn before she died, reminiscing about the days spent in Japan. To color the sketches: a promise Mari made with her grandma. What will be Japan like, the country the grandma so much loved? Feeling hopes and fears, Mari drifts off to sleep.
The place she is heading toward as a short-term international student is GA (Geijutsuka Art Design Class). What kind of story will unfold, casting Mari and the members of GA?
Anime spin-off
12. Memories Off: Yubikiri no Kioku メモリーズオフ ゆびきりの記憶 [100729] KID 1 2
The player takes on the role of Naoki Serizawa, the protagonist of Yubikiri no Kioku. Naoki used to live at Chinatsu's home but is now living alone. Naoki is a second year student at the private Tourin high school. Chinatsu Amakawa is also a second year student at the private Tohrin high school and is a classmate of Naoki's. As Chinatsu is concerned about Naoki at all times, she commutes to school with him and is always around him during school hours. Kasumi Nagumo is a runaway girl who suddenly arrived at the doorsteps of Naoki's place and is forcibly living with him at the moment. Orihime Hoshitsuki is the new math teacher for Naoki's class at Tourin high school. Lisa Caycy Foster is an American girl who has gone to Japan to study abroad temporarily. Lisa works part-time at a restaurant called Fuuruuyan and is where he meets Naoki. Lisa's reason for studying in Japan is because of her interest in Japanese history and culture. Shiina Kodou is a first year student at Tourin high school. She is very outgoing and loves gossips.
There is an English review
13. Second Novel ~ Kanojo no Natsu, 15fun no Kioku~ セカンドノベル ～彼女の夏、15分の記憶～ [100729] Nippon Ichi 1 2 3
"Do you know this story?" Ayano starts telling a story. The scene is high school and characters named Ayano and Yuichi appear.... Naoya and Ayano trace back their high school life through her story. In the summer of the second grade, Naoya lost two important things. One is Yuichi, his close friend. He fell down from the top of the school building and lost his life... Also, Ayano, whom Naoya loved, fell down from the top of the school building as if following Yuichi. Five years later... Ayano can remember things only for fifteen minutes. She still doesn't know why she fell down. The story Ayano tells is about her high school life. By knowing the fact, he might be able to find the truth behind Yuichi's death and Ayano's behavior...
There are English reviews.
14. Bunny Black [100730] SofthouseChara 1 2 3 4 5
Dierks is a perverted adventurer entered a labyrinth known as the Maou’s forest and was defeated by the maou himself. But taking pity on him, the maou kindly recruited him as part of this demon army. Given a second chance, Dierks has two goals: to rise in the ranks of the demon army, and to defeat and have sex with those girls who come to attack the maou.
RPG has English reviews
15. Enbou no Felshis ~Horizon of the Earth and Sky~ 遠望のフェルシス Horizon of the earth and sky [100730] Ninetail 1 2
The Emilia Republic is situated on the northeast area of the Reindil continent. In the eastern town of Felshis is Voromia National Academy, which is well-known for training adventurers. Adventurers specialize in searching for and retrieving an important resource to all nations: dragon bones. Many young people aspire to be adventurers for different reasons: to satiate their curiosity, to become rich, to follow in their ancestors’ footsteps, to envision a world they have never seen.
RPG has English reviews.
16. Motto Nee, Chanto Shiyou yo! もっと 姉、ちゃんとしようよっ！ [100730] Candy Soft 1 2 3 4
Souma goes to an all-boys school by himself in Hokkaido. One day, he received a call from one of his older sisters, telling him that their father had become sick and collapsed. He quickly returns to Hakkakubashi and seeing his five downcast sisters and sickly father, he decided to stay to take care of his father.
There are English reviews
17. Nanapuri. ななプリ。 [100730] TopCat
Enor lives by himself in the wilderness of the Gullfoss continent. One day, he came upon a fallen girl by a nearby riverside and took her home to take care of her. Her name is Katarina and she is actually the Seventh Princess Edelweiss’ personal knight. They were pursued by attackers and now the princess is missing, so Katarina asks Enor to pretend to be the princess. So, he dresses up as a girl and goes on a journey together with her.
It only looks like a fantasy plotge. In reality scenario is based on the seven princesses that we visit one by one through the loop (although only three get visited as a result). Same heavy repetitive development as in previous Topcat game.
18. Sora o Aogite Kumo Takaku 空を仰ぎて雲たかく [100730] Debo no Su Seisakusho 1
Adonis practiced under Danang to be a dragon trainer. One day, he came upon a young dragon girl Mint in the forest. She calls him papa, but it seems that she doesn’t remember anything except her own name. He takes her to his master’s house, where Danang tells her that as a dragon trainer, he was destined to meet her. They set out on a journey to discover her memories.
RPG has English reviews
19. Steal My Heart ~Rhapsody of Moonlight~ すてぃーるMyはぁと～Rhapsody of moonlight～ [100730] Palette 1
Akitomo enjoys his peaceful school life, but one night, he met a mysterious thief and his world suddenly changed. All the unexplainable events and environment changes made him totally confused. What fate awaits him in the future?
Phantom thief setting is not utilized properly outside of one route with other routes devoted to normal heroines. Scenario is plain weak..
20. Sugar+Spice 2 [100730] ChuableSoft 1 2
Hibiki moves in with his older sister after his father went abroad for business. However, his cousin Fuuka also lived there and he worried about being able to get along with her since they are unfamiliar with each other. However, they get along nicely. One day, Fuuka asks him to come shopping with her and a friend since they need help carrying bags. He agrees, but when he arrives, he meets a senpai who he admires, Ginga. She asks him why he’s here and what he wants to do. Realizing that he doesn’t have a goal or a dream to pursue, Hibiki decides to begin living with a new purpose.
There are English reviews.
21. Vestige -Yaiba ni Nokoru wa Kimi no Omokage- Vestige―刃に残るは君の面影― [100730] Alcot Honey Comb
Kurou was reading a book in the library when he saw his older sister Shizu fall from the roof. Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt badly. Kuro and their osananajimi Ruri are happy that she’s fine and don’t ask her what happened. Later, he finds out from his classmate Wakaba that she was fighting against some mysterious men. It is because they are after him, as he possesses the elixir of immortality ‘ochimizu’, so he decides to take part in the battle as well.
Youkai confrontation work with lack of explanations and persuasive power.
BLOCKED
1. Shin Koihime † Musou ~Moeshouden~ 真・恋姫†無双～萌将伝～ [100723] BaseSon 1 2 Moeshouden is the final game in the Koihime series. In this fandisk, there’s no more fighting among the factions. Instead, all 52 heroines fight for Kazuto’s love. Or maybe he can settle for a harem in the true sense of the word. Fandisc
2. Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles Vol.1 マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ クロニクルズ01 [100730] Age 1 2 3 4 5 6
New chronicles of Muv-Luv universe featuring director cut verisons of previously released Chicken Divers and Rain Dancers, along with a brand new Muv-Luv Unlimited The Day After, which details what happened following the end of Muv-Luv Unlimited. There’s also desktop accessories, movies and radio clips. Fandisc
3. Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai AfterStory 俺たちに翼はない AfterStory [100730] Navel 1 This Oretsuba fandisk has after stories for each of the 4 heroines, plus over 20 short-stories, a new OP and ED, as well as character songs and a tachi-e and scenery viewer. Also, the protagonists will be voiced except during H scenes! Fandisc
4. Otome Renshin Prister Fandisc ~Motto H ni Koi Seyo Otome!~ 乙女恋心プリスターＦＡＮＤＩＳＣ ～もっとＨに恋せよ乙女！～ [100730] Escu:de This is the fandisc for Prister, with after stories for each of the 12 heroines, another stories for 6 popular subheroines, as well as a possible harem route. Fandisc
Fewer normal titles see the light due to Comiket rivalry this month. As a result, I can only call a doujin game Indigo masterpiece and winner by default. Probably I should review it one day for popularization purposes. Micchi has to choose among the published works, so lays hopes on Suzukaze no Melt.
1. Framing Summer フレーミングサマー [100813] Wavestar
Kou joins the camera circle since he wants to take pictures of shooting stars. He meets there Rui who loves taking pictures of everything, especially cute things. He summons up the courage to talk to her about his dream and soon new members join and they aim towards achieving this goal.
All-age photo shooting with just one route and one heroine. It could not get more disappointing. Released at summer comiket, so it's a doujin level work.
2. LyricaL! りりかる! [100814] Yumemisou 1
Uchida Makoto calls out a girl who he fell in love with, Kittaka Ayame, to the school rooftop and confesses his feelings to her. However, she bluntly rejects him and quickly walks away. As he’s lamenting his timidness and inability to convey his love properly to her, another girl shows up and says that she is a witch who will help him by using magic.
Actually, she is his senpai Tomomori Yuumi. She brings him to the gym storage room and gives him a bag. Inside are a wig, ribbons and girl’s seifuku and underwear. She gets him to reluctantly dress up as a girl and brings him to the light music club which Ayame and her are a part of. She introduces him as Mishiba Kotono, the new keyboardist for the club. Will this little bit of ‘magic’ help him get closer to Ayame? What happens if his cover is blown?
There is an English review.
3. Indigo [100814] Hanpamania-Soft 1
1400 years ago first murderer demons get spotted
700 years ago western technologies start to get used for rebellion
500 years ago murderer demons learn to acquire human image in Transilvania
18 years ago a huge massacre takes part in Japan
10 years ago murderer demon is killed at the age of six in Japan
Nowadays.
Sakurano Mana gets worried by the murderous desire overflowing her body.
Onose Kiri is troubled about her past when she lost one hand and one leg.
Kaiho Kazuki investigates murderer demon killing at the age of six. Then Kaiho Kazuki meets these girls and other strong persons in this town full of death scent.
Doujin, but with an English review
4. Akizora ni Mau Confetti 秋空に舞うコンフェティ [100827] etude 1 2 3
One autumn day, Hayato met a young girl who was standing with an umbrella in the pouring rain. Picking up the notebook which he thought was hers, his normal life gradually changes. He visits the drama club to look for the owner of the notebook. There he meets various club members: Saya, the girl he met before, who is also a screenwriter; Yuki, his classmate who is an amazing actor; Nanami, his tennen dojikko apartment manager who is also the club leader; and Kanae, a mysterious girl with amnesia who he found collapsed on the roof. He joins the club to help revive it and becomes the lead in the upcoming original play about an urban legend. With each passing day of practice, his monochrome world gradually turns into color.
There are English reviews
5. Elle:PrieR ~Shiawase no Kakera o Sagashite~ Elle:PrieR ～しあわせの欠片をさがして～ [100827] Etoiles
Ryou lives in futuristic city of Oozora-shi and his normal life changes with the arrival of a girl named Konomi. She is an android created by his father who doesn’t have any memories. In order to regain her memories, she attends school and he brings her to many places, talks with her a lot and even does ecchi things occasionally. Who is Konomi and why does Ryou want her to regain her memories?
It's not exactly a nukige through and through, rather a moege, but there is a system to initiate H events, so game is a disappointment if bought for other purposes.
6. Favorite Sweet! ふぇいばりっと Sweet！ [100827] Lost Script
The protagonist’s relatives are leaving overseas and plan to close up the cafe they work at. He decides to try to be the new owner himself. But the patissiere who works there is a tsuntsun girl who had dumped him at school. She tells him that if he doesn’t do a good job and sell all the sweets that she makes, then she will quit. He’s now not sure if this will go as smoothly as he thought it would.
Lost Script without casting dice? Yeah, but it suddenly becomes a SM training game as a result and thus not worth my time.
7. K-Ten けい☆てん [100827] k-ten
An all-ages mahjong game for beginners and experienced players alike. In the kaibutsu world, the student council president declared that the fate of the light music club will be settled by playing mahjong! However, they don’t know how to play.
Mahjong gameplay is all I need to know about this game.
8. Links! ~Kimi to Seirei to Tsukaima to~ りんくす！～キミと精霊と使い魔と～ [100827] Flap
The world of Lacrima was created during the war between the demon world Wespel and the god world Ecra. Since the demon world often tries to invade Lacrima, magic users protect the world. It is difficult since there are not many people who can use tsukaimas or the ‘elemental linker’ power, but the legendary spirit user Grande Links comes to their rescue. Hundreds of years later, magic is still prevalent, although it is closely watched by the government to prevent misuse. A young magician Heliodor raised the idea of alchemy so that those who don’t know magic can use magic as well. Ten years after his disappearance, the Krauselung Alchemy Academy was founded.
Half-price work with no opening and only three heroines. Main character hardly has any magic while heroines are top class magicians from the start. It's a normal magical academy growth story with sudden quality dents happening from time to time.
9. Majino Complex まじのコンプレックス [100827] light
Majino Complex is the third and last of light’s low-priced series with Sakashiki Hito ni Miru Kokoro and Don-chan ga Kyuu.
All three of them together are also lumped into one package coming out on the same day under the title Kamisama no Ringo. In this game, popular wagamama tsundere imouto subchar Majino becomes the main heroine. The story begins from Noriko’s graduation when she tells Majino that it’s now her turn to find a good boyfriend. With Noriko’s impending marriage, her fan club holds one last party before disbanding. The club members are heartbroken and many of them cry, but one boy wishes her the best with a smile. As the seasons turn to autumn, Majino meets this boy.
As the third bullet in the series, useless to say anything. Only for fans of prequels.
10. No Pantsu!! のーぱんつ!! [100827] Molamola Software
One day, the student council president Chinu announces unexpectedly that all members are prohibited from wearing underwear. The reason for this was because she wanted to get back at Seigo, who is in charge of general affairs. While protesting her decision, he thought that this might actually end up being something good. The other girls demand that he make her change her mind, but they are unable to do so.
No miracle here, ecchi comedy inevitably becomes a nukige even with full-scale harem.
11. Prism ☆ Magical ~Prism Generations!~ プリズム☆ ま～じカル PRISM Generations！ [100827] Pajamas Soft
This is a comical and heartful magic ‘girl’ battle ADV where everyone, including the protagonist, is a magic girl. A normal boy Raika wishes to live a normal school life in a seaside town Misaki-chou with childhood friend miko Ibuki and his maid Yuri. However, his father was a magic girl and other magic girls are coming to the school to find the hidden magic stone Mana Prism. Because of his lineage, Raika can turn into Crimson Red using the Magical Prism! Now he has to battle other magic girls... who are his allies and who are his enemies!?
Gameplay-heavy magical girl something is all I need to know to forget it.
12. Suzukaze no Melt -Where Wishes are Drawn to Each Other- 涼風のメルト -Where wishes are drawn to each other- [100827] Whirlpool 1 2
Whirlpool’s 5th title is about the bonds between humans and spirits. Akihito lives in Mishiro-machi, a town which is said to be protected by a local god and spirits, but not many people nowadays believe this. Every 10 years, there is a large festival at the local shrine. Akihito serves as the priest during the festival due to his lineage, while his childhood friend Nazuna is chosen as the miko. There are rumours of a strange being around town and he doesn’t believe them until he saw the spirit himself. It seems that the spirit was lost and they help it return deep into a forest where normal people cannot enter. There he meets the beautiful god of the land Suzu. He decides to protect all the spirits in the town and return them to the forest.
There are English reviews.
13. Yokoshima!! Pandemic 邪!! ぱんでみっく [100827] Kur-Mar-Ter 1
Rei attends Nagi Gakuen which is well-known for strange happenings. Since he was small, he has been able to sense spirits. One day, he met a mysterious girl at the abandoned old school building and many strange things kept happening afterwards. Deemed as the main culprit, he is invited to the 4K club (kagaku de wa kaimei dekinai kaii genshou o kenkyuu suru kurabu – club to investigate strange phenomena which cannot be explained by science) by club leader Otoha, but he doesn’t want anything to do with it.
There is an English impression that I agree with.
BLOCKED
1. Osananajimi wa Daitouryou ~My Girlfriend is the President.~ Fandisc 幼なじみは大統領 My girlfriend is the PRESIDENT. ファンディスク [100813] ALcot 1 2 3
This is the official fandisc to the romantic comedy "My Girlfriend is the President", extending the story of the characters we love.
Welcome back to the White House! All your favorite characters are waiting in this new extended story, like President Ohama, Irina Putina, and the adorable spaceship girl Ell!
In Ell's Side: Remi and Qoo come to spend Christmas with Junichiro and Ell. When Junichiro and Ell keep sneaking off at night, poor Remi isn't amused.
Meanwhile, Qoo wants to see Ell and Junichiro have kids, so she's been hatching some devious plots to get them to hook up even more.
In Irina's Side: Irina Putina returns to Japan after many months, eager for some quality romantic time with Junichiro. Unfortunately it's not going to be that simple.
A faction in the Japanese government is plotting to get Junichiro and President Yukino together, so they arrange for Junichiro to live with both Yukino and Irina. Now both girls must compete for his love.
Fandisc
2. Soukou Akki Muramasa: Janen Hen 装甲悪鬼村正 邪念編 [100813] Nitroplus 1 2 The official anthology DVD of Soukou Akki Muramasa, which includes sidestories written by guest scenario writers, wallpapers, Twitter icons and backgrounds, new songs by Ono Masatoshi and VERTEUX and much more. Fandisc
3. Himawari Aqua After - The Day the Moon Stood Still ひまわりアクアアフター The Day the Moon Stood Still [100814] Blank Note 1 2 3 4 Fandisc taking place a year after the events of the main game, focusing on Aqua and Cosmos. Fandisc
4. Siskon 姉婚 [100814] Artemis. 1
Acchan and Hiro get engaged. They’re both working adults and their parents died when they were young so they live alone together. The story details their everyday lives and a few small events that occur during their engagement.
Doujin Nukige, but with an English review
Deardrops and Comsome! ~Combination Somebody~ make the only masterpieces for me in June. And first one is more polished. Micchi for once agrees with me although anticipating even more from Angel Ring.
1. Deardrops [100618] Overdrive 1 2 3 4 5 6
Shouichi was known as one of the ‘nobles’ of the violin world. Having started playing the violin when he was 3, he won the national violin competition when he was in middle school and went to Germany to play in orchestras. However, due to unknown reasons, he returned to Japan, gave up playing the violin and became a freeter. One day, he starts working at a live house and meets many other amateur musicians who are living their lives their own way. Together they will have to overcome obstacles in both their personal lives and as a band. To Shouichi, the live house is a new beginning in a new place… a new world which has opened to him when he thought that his future as a musician had closed.
Game is localized and has English reviews.
2. Kourin no Machi, Lavender no Shoujo 光輪の町、ラベンダーの少女 [100624] Akabei Soft2 1 2 3
It’s the beginning of summer in a normal town. Sousuke is your standard guy going to a normal school along with the typical cast of characters: the childhood friend living next door, the cute loli, the blonde twintail tsundere, the bespectacled discipline committee member… This couldn’t be anything but a slapstick school love comedy… until a girl with long black hair appeared. “I want to cry too…” Even though Hikaru is very strong, she is also weak at the same time. Everyone else is the same way – they are fragile when they are alone. That is why they seek bonding with others.
There are English impressions
3. Narcissu 0 ナルキッソス ゼロ [100624] Stage-nana 1 2
"Life is like a waiting room, except people don't leave in the order they enter."
Japan in the 1970s. Before the first hospices were established in the country. A boy grows up helping the family business, a senior citizen's home.
Regularly skipping school to help at home, he gets left behind a year in school.
One day, he meets a girl that had also been left back, and they become friends.
This is a story about two kids growing up.
About the wall between those leaving, and those left behind.
It is about the origins of the Seventh Floor hospice.
And finally, the origins of "the rules".
Game is localized and has English reviews.
4. Ama Ane あまあね [100625] PeasSoft
Daisuke attends Touka Gakuen in Miou-jima, a small town which is an 1-hour ferry ride from Tokyo. He is great at housework and studying, but because of his scary looks, people mistakingly think he is the worst deliquent. He works as the caretaker of the Yashima-sou school dorms where his two older sisters Otome and Megumi live. They know he is an earnest and kind person. One day, he receives notice from the school that Yashima-sou will be torn down.
Despite the allusive setting, main character does not attack girls, but dutifully patrols dormitory. Band performance is organized as a mini-game, but has no influence for the story. It's even possible to finish the game without the girl if by the time of final even none is flagged. So it's again rather interesting common route and disappointing individual routes (especially due to weird drawing at times).
5. Angel Ring [100625] Moonstone 1 2
Satoru likes the 2D world and loves 2D girls. One day, he took care of a weakened pure white dove. When he woke up the next day, a beautiful girl who he didn’t know was hugging him. Not only that, but she was naked. His imouto Sana comes to wake him up:
“Hey aniki, hurry and get u- ehhhh!!?＃！※‡？々♂☆♀!!?”
The game is based around two concepts: ‘love angel’ and ‘angel ring’. Love angels come from heaven to support love between people. They don’t have any special abilities except for flying. They feel a great sense of responsibility towards 2D maniacs like Satoru. If there is someone who loves someone else, but doesn’t have the courage to take the next step, the ‘angel ring’ floating around the love angel’s neck will begin to glow. It helps the love angel realize people’s feelings.
There are English reviews.
6. Bitter Smile. [100625] Giga 1 2
Yuu returns to his hometown after being away for many years and meets the Todoroki sisters, who run a takoyaki shop named Senju. He ends up living on the 2nd floor of the shop with them.
There are English reviews.
7. Bokura wa Piacere ボクラはピアチェーレ [100625] ad:lib
This is the debut title from ad:lib. Masamichi was raised by his father who is a shrine priest. On the night of the day he began attending Souei private school, someone snuck into the shrine grounds. He thought that it was a thief, but it was actually Sakura, a girl who he had seen singing earlier in the day for the light music club. Her dad had left the family entrenched in debt, so she ended up homeless and came to the shrine to find a place to sleep. Having heard her troubles, Masamichi allows her to live with him.
K-On club has different outdoors activities with band itself as a side hobby due to recent light music boom. And for the same reason game stylized for anime. Scenario is very boring because nothing interesting is happening, even moe level is low. Compared to Deardrops there's very low focus for music. Another debut work that tries to ride the wave without investing in scenario.
8. Can Fes! ~Itazura Majo to Naisho no Gakuensai~ きゃん☆フェス！～いたずら魔女とナイショの学園祭～ [100625] Pumpkin Soft
When the protagonist was small, he took care of a lost witch who would not show her anger even if she was teased. She didn”t talk much, but occasionally said “If I get my powers back…” One day she disappeared. Ten years later, the witch Prim comes back and declares that he will now be her servant!
A normal moege. At some point you just decide who to protect since you can't protect everyone.
9. Comsome! ~Combination Somebody~ こんそめ！ ～combination somebody～ [100625] Silver Bullet 1
The protagonist Kyoutarou transferred to "Senshu school" to catch up with his deceased aunt - a troublemaker, infamous for her anti-social and destructive activities. Kyoutarou's objective is to find his sister, who mysteriously disappeared about ten years ago.
One day, he finds a girl that's caught in trouble with some ruffian. He helps her escape and treats her a meal, but in exchange she steals his bag and runs away while he is in the washroom.
A few days later, she came to his house and said she was his sister. Obvious lie, but she had his aunt's business card. He allowed her to live in his house, believing that it was sort of a sign.
A traumatic memory for me since this game had huge number of choices and without walkthrough I faced gameover too many times before giving up. But it's mysterious Silver Bullet brand and Hino Wataru who brought us Rui wa Tomo o Yobu and Coμ , so miracles happen even to ordinary school setting. Things start to surprise from the start as opening and style is done in 8-bit RPG flavor as a battle against maou. There are a lot of fighting heroines. And "comsome" is actually a finished dish in french... But generally it's about a circle of friends, and their help is required to achieve the goal. Everyday scenes are a pain to read. A nuclear and unrefined mix, but with strong sense of individuality. It's not Ruitomo by shreer quality, but absence of trap protagonist and RPG-affinity makes this game special for me.
10. Dual M -Sora no Kioku- デュアル・エム ―空の記憶― [100625] Abel Software
Mika and Loki run a VA detective agency at Chesterland School, the Japanese branch of a British school for foreigners. Of course since they’re amateurs, they don’t get many cases. However, Mika is a psychometrist, able to understand the past of someone or something just by touching them. It comes at a price though. If used on a human, the target will lose all their memories related to him. Due to a past incident, his mother has lost all memories of him and so he now always wears a glove on his hand. One day, Loki read about a story about the murder of the owner of the club Couples Apples in the newspaper and wanted Mika to try to solve the case, but he is hesitant since he doesn’t want to use his power. Then, he was approached by two girls who say they are being threatened and want him to stop the culprit.
Abel Software must be desperate to even pollute detective setting they are probably best known for. Basically, it's four detective episodes with some H scenes. Protagonist has supernatural powers, so it's not great as a mysery.
11. Okitsune-sama no Koisuru Omajinai おキツネ様の恋するおまじない [100625] chorus
Yasuto confessed his love to the school idol Kyouka, but not having talked to her at all before, not surprisingly she said no. Broken-hearted, he went to the shrine where he had prayed constantly before the confession and cursed the god, calling them a liar. A darkness surrounds him and a large white fox appears. He apologizes profusely, but she sends tons of snakes after him as retribution. Evading the snakes by climbing a nearby tree, he thought he was safe until he heard a creaking noise. Then, suddenly the tree fell on the shrine, which was demolished. Fleeing to his house, he was surprised to find a miko with beautiful pale hair in front of him, angry that he had destroyed her shrine.
Lousy debut work. It looks like a nakige, but scenario is too short, so nothing even has a single chance to develop. Let's just pull minimum number of heroines together - four - and make it full price. Heroines other than kitsune are hardly noticeable.
12. RPG Gakuen あるぴじ学園 [100625] Circus
A school founded by a legendary hero 1000 years ago is now on the verge of bankrupcy. Ikumi wonders why the school entrance exam is exploring a dungeon. He didn’t do well at all, but somehow he passed! Something must be wrong since there’s only girls around. It seems that the school will now focus on adventures in love… Ikumi’s hectic hero life has begun!
RPG
13. Shirogane no Cal to Soukuu no Joou 白銀のカルと蒼空の女王 [100625] Kogado Studio 1
Following a final war with the dragon race thousands of years ago, the remnants of prehistoric technology called Pashiate is left. Lately, this technology has been used to create E-technology, the basis of wealth in the Fulcrum empire. However, there are people who wish to use Pashiate for ill purposes. Cal Ruslan is a student at the Imperial Junior Academy, and also a government agent known as a ‘Library’ who protects the Pashiate technology. She operates the giant heavy robot Alper, which is the only thing that can defeat the ghosts of the past.
There is an English impression
14. Soranica Ele [100625] light
The world ends. What will you see in the sky at that moment?
Marine Academy City Noah has gathered people from around the world who can use Wings, powers that manifest themselves as seals on their chest. On the island, there is a Colosseum. It is rumored that the person who wins 13 battles in a row will become an Ark. Until an Ark appears, these students live a peaceful life. One of them is Tsukasa Hayasaka, a second year student with no particular ambitions.
A mysterious new student, Zenobia A. A. Axelrod, has joined the school, and Tsukasa's best friend Kikunari Souma is talking about the end of the world. Ophelia U. Diefenbaker is the student council president. Honoka Yamamura, Naki's friend, helps her out. Tsukasa also has to deal with his feisty cousin Naki, the eccentric Kaguya Patelliere, and the only seemingly normal person at the school, Saya Sayado.
Until one day the news is broken that the world is already ending. What will Tsukasa and his classmates do?
Let's save the world seven times in loop with five times normally, then once epically and one in a harem to bring all memories from previous routes. Writer failed to make routes interesting, and harem one is redundant. With proper realization it might shine.
15. Ten no Hikari wa Koi no Hoshi 天の光は恋の星 [100625] Eternal
Mitsuhiko attends Seiyou Gakuen and one night, his childhood friend Rio was going to confess to him when there was a loud noise. He sees his classmate Koiboshi on the rooftop with a blank look on her face. Not listening to their calls, she falls from the roof. He runs to catch her, but her body is surrounded by a mysterious light and he falls unconscious. When he wakes up and found himself and the school in a very deep hole. He gathers the remaining students and teachers and begins to find a way out of this hole.
RPG
16. Tiny Dungeon ~Black and White~ Tiny Dungeon ~Black and White~ [100625] Rosebleu 1 2 3 4
The young heroes from the demon, god, dragon and human worlds meet at the Trinity school to hone their skills. There was a world-destroying war 25 years ago caused by human greed. Now, one young man has a vision of the past human hero who tells him that the future is in his hands. Which future will he choose: Vell of the demon world, Note of the god world or Ururu of the dragon world?
There are English reviews.
17. Kurai Heya 暗い部屋 [100630] Kurai Heya Seisaku Iinkai 1 2
Seitaro Hino has lived a life secluded from society, together with his mother since childhood. He easily gets ill whenever he inhales the polluted air outdoors, so he spends his days by indulging in self-studies and literature in his apartment, darkened by the boarded-up windows. One day, when his mother suddenly dies, Seitaro is forced out into society and surprisingly his respiratory disease seems to have been cured by itself.
Nevertheless, all these sudden happenings and new impressions are too much for him, and he is soon struck by aphonia. His aunt, Yoko Oshikawa, decides to take care of him until he has adapted himself to the new environment and is able to stand on his own.
Doujin, but with English reviews
18. Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ 処女はお姉さまに恋してる ～2人のエルダー～ [100630] Caramel Box 1
Occuring some years after the original game, this follows a new crossdressing boy and the lady-like girls who surround him at Seio Girl’s Academy. Chihaya is a boy with beautiful silver hair who was teased in class due to his looks and ends up transferring into a girl’s school run by his relatives. There he meets a girl named Kaoruko who tells him to be totally honest no matter what happens. They soon become close friends and are both nominated to become the next Elder!
Trap games can have sequels? That's new. Just spare me from it.
BLOCKED
1. Clannad - Hikari Mimamoru Sakamichi de ＣＬＡＮＮＡＤ -クラナド- 光見守る坂道で [100603] Key 1 2 3 4 A "visual sound novel" adaption of the Hikari Mimamoru Sakamichi De short stories. Fandisc with English reviews
2. Manken! まんけん！ [100621] atelier773 1 2 3
Comedy fanatic and high school student Mairu Hibisu has decided to set up a comedy club in her school, but her nemesis and the head of the student council, Chitose Karasuyama, isn’t about to make things easy… The school rules require a minimum of 5 students to set up a new club and Mairu is 3 people short! Spring break has just started and Mairu has until the end of April to recruit the 3 new members she needs to start the club or Chitose will have the last laugh!
Guide Mairu through idyllic Cherry Tree Town as she makes new friends and endeavors to persuade them to join her high school comedy club in this anime-style comic adventure game.
~Laugh and the world laughs with you~
Doujin, but localized and with English reviews
3. Eroge! ~H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai~ えろげー！～Hもゲームも開発三昧～ [100625] Clock Up team Anise 1 2 3 4 5
The player takes the role of Mochizuki Tomoya, a guy that lives on his own with only a day job at a convenience store keeping him afloat. While he really likes eroge, he can't draw, isn't much of a writer or composer, and doesn't know much about business. Still, his dream is to get a job at an eroge studio in hopes of creating what he loves, eroge.
Tomoya's luck takes a turn for the better when he sees a help wanted ad for the local studio Flower, and after a meeting with the company president (who to his surprise looks like an elementary school kid), manages to get a job as administrator of the company's website. Tomoya's glee at being part of the eroge industry is short-lived, as he soon learns that Flower is on the chopping block due to their first title being a massive failure.
After playing through Flower's first title, Tomoya realizes that his co-workers don't know anything about eroge, lacking the insight and understanding needed to make a good game. After some nudging from the president of Flower's parent company and some soul searching of his own, our protagonist takes it upon himself to save Flower by teaching the four girls on staff the ins and outs of what makes an eroge good. The story thus focuses on Tomoya's role as a pseudo-consultant while getting to know the four heroines of the story as the player is given an interesting look at the world of eroge development.
Nukige, but localized one and with English reviews
4. Kud Wafter クドわふたー [100625] Key 1 2 3 The Little Busters' trip was a complete success, and summer vacation has finally begun. Everyone heads home for a bit to see their families. Everyone, that is, except for Riki (who has no family) and Kud (whose family lives in another country). One day, an accident occurs that floods the men's dormitory, which leaves Riki with no place to stay. Luckily, Kud is willing to lend a hand, and she's also looking for a roommate. Fandisc
Evolimit is the only real masterpiece here. I'll review it eventually, but with Dailymotion limit of two hours per day it would take over a month of real time, so it's the only thing I review in 2010. Micchi falls for nekomimi You∞Gaku just because of cuteness.
1. Nadeshiko Ranbu 撫子乱舞 [100521] White Cyc
Focuses on the Yamato Nadeshiko archetype – the ideal Japanese woman, Takahiro resides in Misaki-shi where there is a competition to determine who most depicts the Yamato Nadeshiko. In the past, there was a woman who protected the country during the period of war. The one who excelled in fighting was called the Nadeshiko Ranbu, while the one who excelled in the arts was called the Nadeshiko Ranka. He has to decide which out of the six girls he will support in the competition.
Heroines are skilled in fighting from beginning. We pick one and watch the outcome. Short, low quality, weird.
2. Fight Ippatsu! Juden-Chan!! CC ファイト一発！充電ちゃん!!CC [100527] Russell
Plug is from another world, Life Core. She is actually a charger (Judenchan) who gives vitality to people!! She lives a busy life with Sento, who can see Plug, and Aresta, another charger. One day, a rookie charger appears in front of Plug and asks for training. Well, will she be able to train her smoothly? What is the purpose of the rookie charger?
Anime spin-off
3. Okiba ga Nai! 置き場がない！ [100527] Akabei Soft2 1 2
On his way back to his home planet after completing his mission, the steel giant Yarusenaizer collides with a meteorite and crashes down to Earth. Being badly damaged by the crash, Yarusenaizer can't go back to his home planet until his repairs are fixed. Taking pity on him, the protagonist, Amanogawa Seiji, takes him to live with him.
Like that, the story opens!
But in the small Japan, it's not easy for a giant robot; many problems face him!
There is an English review. I actually played it, and it was too weird, did not like it.
4. So-Ra-No-Wo-To: Otome no Quintet ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト 乙女ノ五重奏（クインテット） [100527] Compile Heart
There is a small town called Seize in Helvetia. Kanata is a girl who is inspired to join the military after witnessing a rendition of Amazing Grace by a mysterious trumpeter of the Helvetian Army. Becoming a bugler, she is assigned to the 1121st Platoon stationed in the town of Seize, where she is taken into the care of 2nd Lt. Filicia Heideman, M/Sgt. Rio Kazumiya and the rest of the 1121st Platoon.
One day, Filicia receives an offer to perform a concert at the festival. Though all other members are reluctant to accept the offer, Kanata gets excited. "I wanna listen to your performance again. Also, it'll be great to play all together!" Like this, they decide to accept the offer...
Anime spin-off
5. Strike Witches: Anata to Dekiru Koto - A Little Peaceful Days ストライクウィッチーズ あなたとできること A Little Peaceful Days [100527] Russell
One day, the world is invaded by a monster called "Neuroi". One and only hope for the humans is the "Strike Witches". The witches are sent to an isolated island for exercises. However, they are attacked by Neuroi on their way to the island! Since the aircraft carrier gets damaged, it leaves them on the island and returns to the base. Therefore, they will need to stay on the island until the support arms join them....
Anime spin-off
6. Amatsu Misora ni! あまつみそらに！ [100528] Clochette 1 2 3
Takahisa lives on Misora-jima with Kanna, a goddess who came to his house when he was a child and started living with him. He also has an imouto Miyu who is a gravure idol and is often away from home. That doesn’t mean things are quiet though, since Miyu’s best friend Serika idolizes Kanna and often causes a big ruckus. One day Serika comes in with big news: there’s a miko coming to the island!
There are English reviews.
7. Evolimit エヴォリミット [100528] Propeller 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
You start out in a flashback, the last remaining two humans fighting against him. Of course, after that you wake up in a place unknown to you along with a bishoujo and you lost all your memories.
The girl with you explains that this is no longer a world you once lived in, a world where trains, bus and bicycles no longer exists. People travel by flight, literally. Not only that, but people transforming into colossus form, reading invisible books, and opening doors that cut through space continuum. Yep, welcome to Planet Mars.
There are English reviews.
8. Famima! ファミ魔！ [100528] Puzzlebox
Yuuji had been living by himself for a month. Just when he was starting to feel lonely, a girl comes to his house and tells him that she’s his imouto from a past life! The other girls accompanying her explain that he used to be a maou, and they all decide to live in his house.
Puzzlebox always made borderline nukige. There's even no opening this time. Writer at least tried to have fun and just throw in humor everywhere, but it's still a H focused B-class work about so convenient sudden co-habitation.
9. Gratin ぐらタン [100528] Cotton Soft
Haruki used to live with his mother, but now moves in with his relatives: 4 sisters born from 4 different mothers, but the same father. Their father was a traveling magician who used magic on them before disappearing. There is only one way to remove the magic: all 5 of them must build a close family bond to each other. However, can Haruki resist temptation being with such cute girls and view them as just family?
Setting is too aggressive even compared to tons of other moege. It's a harem from the start and we move towards individual relations all the time. Basically, another reincarnation of Natsumegu type of Cotton Soft works.
10. Hapi☆Sama! ~Miyanomori Mura e Youkoso!~ はぴ☆さま！～宮乃森村へようこそ！～ [100528] Sugar Pot
Yuuta lived with his father in the city after his mother’s death when he was young. One day, his father suddenly left for work overseas and Yuuta ended up getting evicted from his apartment and moved to his mother’s hometown, Miyanomori-mura. Living in the countryside with his grandparents for the first time, he is surrounded by girls who are interested in hearing about how it’s like in the city. He’s exhausted from this scenery change, but more unexpected things happen to him when he accidentally broke and awakened the goddess who was asleep. He ended up being possessed by the goddess of wealth and fertility (in chibi form)! However, she has to absorb his luck making him unlucky.
So many irritating elements for me. It's just a warm summer moege.
11. Hime to Majin to Koi Suru Tamashii ヒメと魔神と恋するたましぃ [100528] Orange Pekoe
During the Heian Era, the queen of the demon world sent her two daughters Kaguya and Sakuya to the human world for training, with the one with better results becoming the successor to the throne. Kaguya used her power to make humans suffer, while Sakuya blended in with the humans to control them from within. However, Sakuya fell in love with an onmyouji and thought that living in the human world isn’t that bad. She then received a request: to eliminate her older sister Kaguya. With the help of her lover, she successfully sealed Kaguya and brought peace to the land. However, her lover soon passed away due to illness and she returned to the demon world. Thousands of years later, Sakuya will be crowned the new queen, but she must marry some one. There is only one person in her heart, so she heads back to the human world to seek the her reborn lover.
Card battles is all that I need to know about this game to safely ignore it.
12. Little Rabbits -Wagamama Twin Tail- りとるらびっつ -わがままツインテール- [100528] Whitesoft
Miyako loves her onii-chan Ryoutarou a lot, more than just as siblings, and makes daily advances on him. Somehow he’s been able to withstand her temptations, but now his older sister Azusa is coming back for the summer vacation and she loves him just as much. He decides that he can’t keep going on like this and decides to get a girlfriend – his kind classmate Rina. However, this only makes things worse as his sisters team up with his osananajimi Sayo to gain his attention. Even though he has a girlfriend, it doesn’t matter... They will keep loving him!
Another harem battle. Only for siscon lovers.
13. Meguri Megureba Meguru Toki!? 廻り巡ればめぐるときっ!? [100528] Caramel Box Ichigo-aji 1
Other than not being interested in any girls under 80cm bust size, Masayuki is pretty much your standard oppai-loving student. However, due to a traffic accident, he gained the ability to use astral projection (the mind leaving the body) and now can see the spiritual world which is full of ghosts and youkai. One day while he’s enjoying this world, his body was possessed by someone else! When he returns to his body, he receives criticism all around and has been branded as a pervert. What happened when he was gone!?
There is an English impression
14. Oshikake! Entremets おしかけ！アントルメ [100528] Kamille
Nagayoshi is great at housework and likes sweet things. One day when he was deciding on what to do in the future, his parents decided to go to France for training, entrusting him with running the family cafe Large. Of course he couldn’t do this by himself, so his parents got him some help. However, not only are Renon and Sunao going to work with him, they are both vying to be his bride! His childhood friend Wako who also has feelings for him hears about this, declares herself a candidate as well and moves in with them.
Doujin level work about nothing since it's another H focused sudden cohabitation.
15. Princess Hunting ~Maou-sama no Shukakusai~ プリンセス・ハンティング～魔王様の収穫祭～ [100528] Kanisky
The story starts when Shaddy, the third princess, investigates the ruins just to kill time. She finds something sealed up and opens it...
However, it is actually a devil king, who lost a battle against a soldier long time ago. The devil king soon does away with her guards and shags with Shaddy...
He now moves to conquer the world..
Tower Defense
16. Prism Rhythm [100528] Lump of Sugar 1 2 3 4 5
On the night of the Algaro de Monde festival to thank the Spring Snow tree which brings blessed water to the people, Kazuki sneaks into the forest to find the rumoured fairy. He instead meets a girl named Caroline, one of the six holy dancers also known as “Eldis Bertina”. Inspired by her words, he decides to enrol into the prestigious School of St. Bertina and manages to do it even though everyone said he couldn’t.
There are English reviews.
17. Real Imouto ga Iru Ooizumi-kun no Baai リアル妹がいる大泉くんのばあい [100528] Alcot Honey Comb 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ryou has played lots of eroge and loved lots of (2D) imoutos. However, one imouto has stolen his heart. Voiced by his favourite seiyuu and drawn by his favourite illustrator, Mai is not like his real imouto, Shiori, who treats him like garbage and sees him as nothing more than a disgusting eroge-playing maniac. No, Mai would take a bath with him, hold hands with him on the way to school... it’s totally different from reality. One night, Ryou had a strange dream. When he woke up in the morning, he found Mai straddling him... “Good morning, onii-chan!”
There are English reviews.
18. Utatemeguri うたてめぐり [100528] Flat 1 2
Waking up his childhood friend, going to school and getting lectured by his diligent underclassman, watching his close friends have a battle that rivals the intensity of Phoenix Wright’s courtrooms over their lunch is all part of Hidaka Satsuki lives his normal and peaceful life with no complaints.
One day, the mysterious transfer student, Rebecca, who just transferred only recently called out Renka, Satsuki’s childhood friend, to the rooftop and said “How much longer are you going to pretend to be human, you monster?” In the midst of all this confusion, a bullet shot broke the silence, and the rooftop was painted with red. No! What has happened, why did Rebecca shoot Renka? And the plot thickens further as night falls upon Yoiha Academy...
There are English reviews
19. You∞Gaku ~You Gakuen no Mirai wa Kaichou Shidai!?~ よう∽ガク～妖学園の未来は会長次第!?～ [100528] Powerful Soft 1 2
This is Powerful Soft’s first title. Hokusai Youkai Gakuen, also known as YouGaku, is a school built for youkai to learn to live in peace with humans. Ryuuji is a half-youkai who was recently elected as the student council president for YouGaku. He is born to a family of great power, but his power has not awakened yet. He had planned to enjoy the school life, but then a bunch of Western youkai appear and decide to split the school, changing the rules to their liking and causing a commotion among the students! Not only that but sensing Ryuuji’s hidden powers, they have begun making moves on him too!
There are English reviews.
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1. Momiji wa Akaku Sono Mi o Somete モミジは紅く其の身を染めて [100521] Berial 1 A boy has driven a girl to death. It might be not intentional, but sin is a sin.
Fearing punishment, he ran away from the sin, and it remained secret.
Then, five years passed.
But as time passes, the weight of sin increases proportionally. Will the boy get crushed under its weight or resist the feeling?
Doujin, but with an English review
Akatsuki no Goei ~Tsumibukaki Shuumatsuron~ finally can be considered a masterpiece as story actually moves somewhere this time. Micchi sees some merit in Iro ni Ide ni keri Waga Koi wa .
1. Eien no Ikusa Hime 永焔の戦姫 [100413] Eushully
Eien no Ikusa Hime contains the novelized versions of Ikusa Megami Zero, Genrin no Kishougun and Genrin no Kishougun 2 for those who want to jump into Verita without missing the previous story developments.
Remake without gameplay parts
2. Akatsuki no Goei ~Tsumibukaki Shuumatsuron~ 暁の護衛 ～罪深き終末論～ [100422] Syangrila 1 2 3 4
With helicopters in the air and thousands of police surrounding the ‘forbidden area’, where those who aren’t recognized as humans reside, the normal lives of Kaito and his friends is coming to an end.
There are English reviews.
3. Ikusa Megami Verita 戦女神VERITA [100423] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eushully
The wandering God-Slayer Serika, who's still searching for his purpose. The half-demon king of Menfill, Loui, who just won the war, but lost his wife in it. This is the story of two infamous heroes and how their paths in life inevitably cross each other, and the conflict that it brings. While on the backdrop of the setting, various ancient forces rear their head and the temple of Marsterrie starts moving.
RPG is localized and has English reviews
4. Kokoro no Sumika ココロの住処 [100423] Yatagarasu
Chihiro likes his imouto Rina, but she doesn’t want him around. In fact, Rina loves her older sister Matsuri, who in turns likes Chihiro! In the midst of this (taboo?) love triangle, their scientist parents sent them some packages and Chihiro opened them and found some weird stuff. His father returns shortly after with a strange girl and introduces her as an android named Kokoro.
Heartwarming love comedy that keeps being nice only before individual routes. Graphics is very uneven. Low budget - low quality - is felt everywhere..
5. Noblesse Oblige ノーブレスオブリージュ [100423] Clock Up
Kouji was surprised when a beautiful girl appeared one day and said that she would be his maid. Yuria is part of the famous maid servant group called “Noblesse Oblige” (N.O.) which caters to the wealthy and famous. His grandmother had told him that wanted him to be the most loved in the world, but he never expected to have a maid servant. Not only that but shortly after, another girl showed up, as well as his childhood friend Ayana. What is going on here?
Non-nukige Clock Up work? Seriously? Don't get hopes up. Setting of super-maids is not explained. No serious story is developed, as expected. Maids provide all kinds of service and excel at everything, so H tilt is inevitable, 5-6 H scenes per heroine.
6. Chou Jikuu Bakuren Monogatari ~door pi chu~ 超時空爆恋物語～door☆pi☆chu～ [100428] PrimRose
Yoshitsune lives with his childhood friends, sisters Orihime and Otohime. Otohime likes delving in black magic and one day makes a drug that bend space and time. Yoshitsune ends up getting this power and summons lots of historical figures. However, he can’t make them return to their original time, so they end up living together with him.
Comedy with celebrities of the past like Kleopatra as sub-heroines (what a shameful stealing from GIDYY), but reality acquaintances as main heroines. Good light funny game if you can appreciate such smelly concept.
7. Marriage Royale ~Prism Story~ マリッジロワイヤル ～プリズムストーリー～ [100428] Vridge Inc.
Marriage Royale's story revolves around the male protagonist, a high school student named Hinomoto Tsukasa, who is told one day by his parents that he was adopted. Furthermore, they tell him that his real father is a manager of a large company, meaning he is very rich and holds a lot of power. Tsukasa's real father wants his son to marry a good woman, so he sets up an event known as Marriage Royale where beautiful girls from all over Japan will come together at a school built especially for the event and vie to become Tsukasa's fiancé. The school is located on an isolated island near Japan, and Tsukasa himself is taken there to live in a mansion in the care of two twin maids: Miku, the elder sister, and Miu, the younger sister.
There are various paths the player can take in the game beyond the main marriage path provided that the player fulfills the correct requirements to open those paths up. These paths are designated by different colors and include a red route which involves investigating dangerous ruins and a yellow route which involves the girls aiming to be idols.
Another PSP crap with all kinds of sugary banalities pushed together.
8. Iro ni Ide ni keri Waga Koi wa 色に出でにけり わが恋は [100429] Windmill 1 2 3
Autumn has arrived in Tenshin and Yuuto is attending the prestigious Reimeikan girls’ school since his old school closed due to financial difficulties. He lives at a shrine, so he helps out occasionally. One day, he was asked to be an observer for a duel between two Tenjou sisters, Rio and Kikyou, to decide on who is deemed the successor of the family. However, there was an accident and somehow Rio ends up living with him.
I tend to block games with sudden cohabitation plots, and Windmill has rather poor reputation, so expect an ordinary moege. To make things worse, protagonist is pretty much a pervert. This all gives room to many silly gags.
9. Acchi Muite Koi アッチむいて恋 [100430] ASa Project
Kousuke just transferred into rural Harusaki Gakuen, but the school accidentally didn’t reserve a room for him. After much searching he found a free room, but it’s at a girls’ dorm! Thus begins his double life: as a boy at school and as a girl named Mae in the dorm. A pretty common scenario, and one in which his cover is bound to be blown eventually. However, he has his imouto Runa on his side, who followed him to the dorm so that no other girl can take her oniichan away. Also, the most ojousama-like chara in the school is actually a trap.
The obligatory trap game of the month. Pretty ordinary stuff with humor concentrated in common route.
10. Custard Cream Taiyaki カスタードクリームたい焼き [100430] Axis
One day while returning home, Raikou gets in trouble and meets his childhood friend Aira who he hadn’t seen since he was small. He wondered why she came back and she said that she has an arranged marriage with him, however she just wants to keep her promise with him. The next day, Aira transfers into his school and announces to everyone that she’ll be marrying him, which surprises everyone since no one knows of their relationship. Aira moves in his house, as well as Kanae and Ayaka, since they find Aira too suspicious.
It all very soon turns into a harem with uninteresting characters.
11. Floating Material -The Hill Where the Star Born.- Floating Material （フローティング マテリアル） -The hill where the star born.- [100430] Biscotti
Shun is the only male teacher at Kyoukasen Girls’ School, a well-known high class school also known as the “Water School” since it is situated in a forest and there is a lake on the school grounds. It is a place to heal the wounds of those girls who are hurt. He meets girls who shut off themselves from the world, those who don’t have confidence in themselves, those who are still traumatized by their past. He decides to help them move forward with their lives.
Heroines are just cute, but without appealing personalities or charm. Not the worst work especially if you like healing games, but definitely mediocre.
12. Ikinukissa ~Kakushiaji ni Ai o~ イキヌキッ茶～隠し味に愛を～ [100430] Noir Soft
There are various girls at my cafe. Which girl will you choose? You can spend your time freely here! Enjoy...
Plain and simple, it's a nukige, no block only because it's not 100% clear from synopsis.
13. Neko☆Koi! ~Nekogami-sama to Nekomimi no Tatari~ ねこ☆こい！～猫神さまとネコミミのたたり～ [100430] Whirlpool 1
Tsukasa is the head of the Toono shrine, which he and his sister Sayaka take care of. However, they’re being forced to move out under pressure from his childhood friend Misaki’s father’s company. One day, Misaki’s father’s car crashed into and destroyed the small shrine for some reason. Two cat spirits Hina and Sakuya appear and Sakuya casts a curse, which accidentally hits Misaki, causing her to grow nekomimi and a tail. Now they have to find a way to lift Misaki’s curse, while solving the shrine’s eviction problems at the same time.
There is an English review
14. Petapeta ぺたぺた [100430] Lime
Tooru is the grandson of the president of the world-famous Sakurai group. His sister Miki was named as the successor to the group, so people don’t really care much about him. However, Miki made him pretend to be her when helping out the company. This spring, Tooru will be attending Zuikou Academy. Will he be able to protect this secret under in a new setting and at the same time, fall in love for the first time?
Royal road school game. All characters and kind, so it becomes boring very soon.
15. Shu ni Majiwareba Akaku Naru 主に交われば朱くなる [100430] Gummy Soft
Hajime is a normal guy who transfers into Elde Gakuen, a school for the wealthy. He soon learns that he needs to enter into a ‘master-servant’ relationship with another student. Surrounded by various different kinds of ojousamas, his school life has become more exciting.
Game starts nice and has worthy everyday part, but due to the concept has to shift to SM, and that's too big of a contrast. Don't think it can work without some fetish affinity.
BLOCKED
1. Kotori Love Ex P ことり Love Ex P [100423] Circus 1 Kotori Love Ex P is comprised of three parts: Kotori LOVE (Kotori's stories from D.C.P.C., D.C.W.S., D.C.A.S., and C.D.C.D.), Kotori Extasy! (18+ port of PS2 D.C.I.F.) and Kotori Plus!. The last part is a brand new story focusing on Junichi and Kotori’s life as newly-weds. Fandisc
2. Kansen 4 ~The Day After~ 姦染4 ～The Day After～ [100430] 1 2
Most events in Kansen 4 take place "The Day After" the endings of Kansen 1 and 2, during the reclamation of the contaminated areas by the Japan Self-Defence Forces.
Daisuke Sendou just enjoys his school life with his classmates. One day, they go camping just before summer holiday (therefore escaping the initial outbreak of the Unknown virus epidemic), but... A cruel result is awaiting them there...
Nukige, but with English reviews
Subarashiki Hibi ~Furenzoku Sonzai~ is VN of the Month, moreover, a 10/10. I'm going to call White Album 2 ~Introductory Chapter~ another masterpiece since it was at least memorable compared to Closing Chapter. Micchi is mostly interested in Koiiro Soramoyou
1. Cross Days [100319] 0verflow 1 2
Yuuki first met Kotonoha at the school library in the beginning of second semester, but there was no progress with their relationship. They just frequently came to the school library... One day, he sees Roka at the school library and he meets her again through his older sister, Chie, on the same night. Yuuki gradually falls in love with Roka. Roka is also attracted to Yuuki. Their love, however, doesn't go smoothly...
Yuuki hears a rumor that Roka is in love with Makoto. Later he hears that Makoto is close to another girl... Yuuki decides to ask Kotonoha, Makoto's girlfriend, about it to make it clear the fact. From that day, Yuuki's eventful school life starts...
I'll let it be since it has a presumably all-age PSP version and there are English reviews.
2. Dosukoi! Onna Yuki Sumou ~Mune ga Dokidoki Hatsubasho Taiken~ どすこい！女雪相撲～胸がドキドキ初場所体験～ [100319] Liar-soft
Tanpopo is a female Sumo wrestler. She enters university and joins the female Sumo club, which is famous for a strong Sumo wrestler, Sayuri. But Sayuri says, "If you're not a virgin, you won't be able to join the club!!"
Though Tanpopo has a boyfriend, Hiro, she is still a virgin. She is somehow allowed to join the club, but she is totally confused with the customs of the club. Also, Hiro persistently tries to have sex with her.
Will she be able to protect her virginity? Will she be able to become a strong Sumo wrestler?
Such madness could only be undertaken by Liar Soft. As usual it's half-stupid, half-spontaneous H. Length is short, and additional nuisance gameplay elements are introduced to hamper progression.
3. Burst Error: Eve the 1st バーストエラー イブ・ザ・ファースト [100325]
Remake of Eve Burst Error. Remake that's exclusive to PSP.
4. Happy Wardrobe [100325] Shallot
When Meito was a child, he was forced by his parents to dress as a girl sometimes. Because of this, he really hates making clothes and cosplaying in general (especially as a girl). However, he aspires to join the drama club at Yuuei Gakuen and starts sewing costumes by himself. The next spring, he decides to join Sono’s drama club when he enters the school, but it was closed since it didn’t have enough members.
Main character dresses as a girl and participates in drama club. Just a banal disappointing debut work.
5. Saki Portable 咲-Saki- Portable [100325] Alchemist
Popular anime and manga series Saki comes to the PSP in this mahjong-themed bishoujo game! Join Saki and her school mahjong teammates Nodoka, Yuuki, Hisa, and Mako, as they play together competitively and try to reach the high school national mahjong championships! Primarily a mahjong game, the player can also enjoy all of the unique girls' personalities and player strengths, from Saki's intuition to Nodoka's computational skill and Yuuki's love of tacos (yes, she gains mahjong power while eating tacos). Play through the game in "story", "challenge", and "free" modes, with unique styles of play from each, from being able to customize your mahjong teams to unlocking fanservice CG featuring the cute girls in the game. Enjoy mahjong with Saki today!
Anime spin-off with cards
6. Sora no Otoshimono: DokiDoki Summer Vacation そらのおとしもの -ドキドキサマーバケーション- [100325] Kadokawa Shoten
One summer day, the memory network of Ikaros is suddenly initialized.... Tomoki and his friends try to give her shocks through various experiences. Will her memories and emotions successfully come back...?
Anime spin-off
7. Cure Mate Club [100326] Atu Works
Hiroto becomes a replacement teacher at Shuuou private girls’ school, the leading school in Japan for young ladies. Within this school, there’s a special place run by the students for themselves, a place where the maidens of high society mingle. This is Cure Mate Club. The owner of the club, Erina, meets him and makes him dress up as a girl.
Second candidate for the most banal synopsis of the month. Realization is much better though, but I'm not seriously discussing trap Pia Carrot or whatever.
8. Koiiro Soramoyou 恋色空模様 [100326] Studio Ryokucha 1 2 3
Seigo came to the quaint island of Kamina-jima a few years ago from Tokyo. He’s apathetic about everything and gives up easily. News breaks out that the school will close down after this year and some of the girls decided to petition against it. He thinks that if he helps them, then maybe they’ll like him and things won’t be as boring!
There are English reviews.
9. Maximum Magic: Quirk of Destiny [100326] Lime
One day a castle fell from the sky and soon strange things began occurring around the area. The queen chose a young boy to investigate into it. While he is definitely smart and capable of great things, his personality is… well, a little off. He doesn’t follow orders well, doesn’t have common sense and likes playing tricks to scare people.
It's more of a charage, but with battles. The worst part is that all individual routes end abruptly without revealing anything. It's natural to expect a true route, but there is none. With so many questions piled up it's impossible to give real evaluation unless there's a sequel or something.
10. Natsu ni Kanaderu Bokura no Uta 夏に奏でる僕らの詩 [100326] Purple Software
When Haruka was small, he was friends with many girls. One day, those girls played a secret game amongst themselves and one of them never appeared after that game. Many years later, while enjoying the sea, he meets a girl who he thought was a mermaid. She was Kanon, the girl who had left them back then. He calls out to her, but she doesn’t acknowledge knowing him.
All heroines are deredere childhood friends, so there's no real "capture", all are in love from the start. So SOL scenes and flirt take up all the time. Guess it's only for Purple Soft fans.
11. Re:Seven -Boku ga Kimi ni Dekirukoto- Re:Seven 僕が君に出来るコト [100326] Lilac Soft
One night, a girl suddenly appears in front of Naoya when he is on his way home.
"I'll erase you in seven days."
Since he doesn't know who she is, he just ignores her. He comes back home and goes to bed soon.
Seven days left...
Basically, protagonist uses this time to run away with one of fellow workers, so setting is opportunistic. Length is short, so there's just not enough content. Composition is looped, so after all laps there's the outcome.
12. RGH ~Koi to Hero to Gakuen to~ RGH～恋とヒーローと学園と～ [100326] Chien
Rinou Gakuen is a huge school with over 10,000 students. Iwao has been unlucky: being mistaken for a thug when he wanted to help the girls in trouble, getting in fights with the ‘school hero’, his dorm being a dump, etc. One day, he saw some students being attacked and he wanted to help, but... he can’t just help them as is since he’ll be thought as the culprit again. He decided to use ‘that’, and that was the beginning.
Transformation bakage that feels terribly short due to absence of everyday depiction. Typical Chien - funny concept, but unpolished realization.
13. Se.Kirara Se・きらら [100326] Native 1
Saki finally made it into Soushin Gakuen with the help and encouragement of his friends. Lifted by his achievement, he feels that it is just one small milestone in his life and he should do the most he can with his life. But everything won’t go smoothly. Together with the girls he meets at the school, he will make the journey to maturity.
There is a French review.
14. Subarashiki Hibi ~Furenzoku Sonzai~ 素晴らしき日々～不連続存在～ [100326] KeroQ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Subarashiki Hibi is a story told in seven chapters. The story follows a group of several Tokyo high school students mostly through July of 2012 and each chapter is told from the perspective of one of its five main characters. Because of the same timeframe coverage, certain events are overlapping from chapter to chapter but at the core of it all is a mystery revolving around the prophecy about the end of the world on July the 20th as well as the events that are following before the said date. The first part of the VN is used to make a setting for the said mysteries while the second part is about uncovering the truth behind them all.
The story begins in chapter #1, 'Down the Rabbit-Hole I" on July 12, 2012. The protagonist, Minakami Yuki, lives a peaceful everyday life with Tsukasa and Kagami, her childhood friends, when one day she meets a mysterious girl, Takashima Zakuro (a girl in another class in Yuki's school, who seems to have met Yuki before but Yuki doesn't remember her). The strange schoolmate Yuki just befriended moves into her house (Yuki doesn't mind too much about that). Then following this new guest in Minakami's residence, Yuki's two childhood friends mentioned earlier also move in, just so that they don't feel left out. These events are just a prelude for what will ultimately lead Yuki to discover her own "Wonderful Everyday" during this chapter.
There are English reviews
15. White Album 2 ~Introductory Chapter~ White Album 2 ~Introductory Chapter~ [100326] Leaf 1 2 3 4 5 6
As if to match the guitar I play in the afternoon music classroom.
As if to match the piano someone plays in the next room.
The pure singing voice from the rooftop connects the three disconnected melodies.
It all started on such a day in late autumn.
At that time, someone fell in love.
Everyone was doing their best. Everyone pushed on. Everyone was intent and honest…
We formed a bond and obtained a precious moment.
That’s why someone fell in love. A love that was too late, a love that shouldn’t have occurred.
And then comes winter. The falling snow covers all sins.
And spring eventually comes, melting the snow and imposing all punishments.
There are English reviews, although those suit Closing Chapter much more as I remember Introductory Chapter to be unforgivably short
BLOCKED
1. Chaos;Head Love Chu☆Chu! カオスヘッド らぶ Chu☆Chu! [100325] Nitroplus 1 2 Summer finally comes to Tokyo, and Takumi can hang out with girls as much as he wants... in his mind. His will to stop being a useless otaku creates a dream world where the girls love him, and the only way to destroy this reality is to kill Seira-tan. But until then, Taku can enjoy his dating-sim life! Fandisc
2. Cthulhu ~Otome no Fureru, Tenshi no Yubisaki~ ク・リトル・リトル ～魔女の使役る、蟲神の触手～ [100326] Black Cyc 1 2
Reiichi lives a peaceful life with Uko, his childhood friend, and Koinu, his younger sister.
But one day, a mysterious girl, August, suddenly appears in front of him and says, "You, my Cthulhu!"
His life completely changes... Reiichi knows that he is actually her Cthulhu and gets involved in an epic battle...
Nukige, but at least one with impressions and opening
Kashimashi Communication and Tsubasa o Kudasai are masterpieces with the latter having priority due to original concept. Micchi is fascinated by cuteness of Magicarat☆Radiant and throws in a bunch of nukige since there's not so much to discuss this month.
1. Misshitsu no Sacrifice 密室のサクリファイス [100214] Intense 1
Deep underground lies an immense living facility: Foundation.
When was it built, and why? Who, or what, brought its residents there? The truth has faded with the years, and its history has sunk into the ocean of time. No one within knows of the surface. To the people of Foundation, the underground facility is their entire world.
Then, calamity strikes, changing the fate of five young girls.
Their world is suddenly deserted. Quakes assail the underground halls, walls and ceilings collapse, and food and water begins to run out. Five girls, the final survivors, must find a way to pull through these dire conditions.
Foundation is on the verge of collapse, and the girls face their longest and final trial...
There is an English review
2. Pure Love! ぴゅあらっ！ [100219] Shakunage
His parents conveniently having went on a world tour, Reiichi is left alone with his childhood friend Miharu. A sudden confession. A kiss without explanation. Then, a short girl barges in and declares that she’s come to have his kids as promised.
Orthodox boring moege, but can be sincere and decent if you don't expect much.
3. Sengoku Hime 2 ~Senran no Yo, Gunyuu Arashi no Gotoku~ 戦極姫2～戦乱の世、群雄嵐の如く～ [100219] Unicorn-A
This is the sequel to Sengoku Hime -Senran no Yo ni Honoo Tatsu-. The game features brand-new scenarios, new heroines and new game systems. There are more than 100 characters, including 16 new ones.
TBS
4. Hinomaru ひのまるっ [100225] Wheel 1
Who said that first?
Hino, the captain of the student council, always writes a big circle on the paper when she approves. Hino writes Maru (circle). That's why it is called "Hinomaru" order!
Shuuhei, the main character, has started working as a director of the student council just recently...
There is an English review
5. Koori no Haka Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Sandome no Junan 氷の墓標 一柳和、3度目の受難 [100225] FOG
The accident prone bad luck magnet Ichiyanagi Nagomu and his friend Hiyori are involved in some mysterious incident again. Now put on your detective hats and join Nagomu in his quest to find the culprit behind the horrific events.
Arnold, the count of Ruroi invites the duo to the house of Cedrei to investigate the strange incidents in the secluded island. The late Baron of Cedrei built a mansion to house the spirit of Delia, a young girl who sacrificed herself to seal the demon. However, it seems like Delia alone isn’t enough to satisfy the demon’s appetite, he wants more blood.
Are the events caused by the baron’s three successors, or are there real supernatural forces lurking around?
PSP detective work
6. No Fate! ~Only the Power of Will~ のーふぇいと！～only the power of will～ [100225] Alchemist 1
I was just an average high school boy... Just boring, mediocre and normal... But one day, a girl falls down from the sky.
According to her, she came from the world beyond the inner space... My extraordinary life is about to begin with the arrival of an extraordinary girl...
Linear simple PSP story about alien girl suddenly starting to live together with protagonist.
7. Amai Toki ~Sweet Time~ 甘い刻 ～SWEET TIME～ [100226] P-Factory
In his dreams, Ryou sees a beautiful girl dressed in traditional clothes crying in an old fashioned courtyard and there is nothing he could do. Also, the girl looks very similar to the new apprentice teacher Megumi. Is this a scene from his past life? Will they be able to fulfill her feelings from the past?
Past life has no meaning at all here. Scenario is terribly short, so it's outrageous that game was sold for full price by just pulling four heroines inside.
8. Kashimashi Communication かしましコミュニケーション [100226] AXL
Joutarou has average grades and isn’t bad at nor excels at athletics: basically an ordinary student. But, he’s famous in the school since he works for the ‘cross-cultural committee’. This isn’t your normal club; the members are interested in UFO and aliens, ghosts and spirits. He wishes for someone normal and one day he gets his wish in the form of a lost girl from another country. What he doesn’t know is that she’s actually a princess.
Wow, no reviews? The more space for me. Writer did Kimikoe and Princess Frontier previously, and there are no butlers and ojousama here, so it's an inevitable masterpiece for me. It's our familiar AXL, but concept is as if prepared for specific writer, basically princess + friends circle communication, subsidiary themes from previous games. Otaku club would be better, but mystics club gives more room for exotic events. Newcomers would be impressed, but long-standing fans not so much. At least this lesson will get learned with Dolphin Divers.
9. Koi-Labo. こいらぼ [100226] Diva
An university student majoring in arts, Ryou heads to Kaikyouku to become a teacher-in-training. While traveling by boat to the town, he could hear an unpleasant sound. A girl nearby offers him a pair of headphones and tells him that he can’t live on the island without them. Later he finds out that her name is Karen and she is the class rep in his assigned class.
World view is unusual, but outside this fact it's an ordinary eroge. Siscon route is probably the best, but most heroines are disappointing with quality falling into doujin category at times.
10. Koitou Ranma ~Watashi ga, Anata o, Mamoru Kara!!!~ 恋刀乱麻～わたしが、アナタを、守るからっ!!!～ [100226] Abel Software
The Sumeragi Gakuen is under attack from 5 other schools who are after its enormous wealth. The school’s battle representative Biryuu is on the verge of falling when our hero Miyabi appears and somehow helps her recover. She tells him that he has the ‘sun element’. The goal is to unite the schools and end all the battling.
I gave Abel Software a lot of chances, but alas. This time focus is on strip battles as there are very few battle CG without boobs flash and zero without torn clothes. Basically, chosen girl defeats other school's opponents in each route with a bit of extra in True route. Battles include gameplay elements.
11. Magicarat☆Radiant まじからっと☆れいでぃあんと [100226] Parasol 1
Hiroaki is a second year student at Arihara Gakuen and lives a normal life. He meets two girls one summer day, one with golden hair and the other with silver hair. They tell him that they’re actually magicians and his normal life now descends into chaos.
There is an English review.
12. Ohime-sama wa, Panthera Leo お姫様は、ぱんてられお [100226] Hecate
Mamoru is a university undergrad who, being a hikikomori, doesn’t go to school unless absolutely necessary. One day in May, he was lectured by a prof due to his lousy attendance. He went to the roof for a breath of fresh air and while he was sitting on the bench and looking at the sky… a hole opened up in the sky! Out comes a lion princess, followed soon after by her brother and sister.
Just a half-best princess cohabitation story which is the same for all three heroines. I see very narrow focus auditory here.
13. Tsubasa o Kudasai 翼をください [100226] skysphere 1 2
Seitenshou Academy is famous in Shizoaki since there is a legend that angels were created there. Mitsuto is a student there who doesn’t like the monotony of everyday life: waking up at the same time, going to school and coming back home after classes. He cleans the old and unused three-story Building B by himself. One day as he was sweeping the floors, he ended up on the seemingly nonexistent 4th floor and finds a girl reading a book alone. Her name is Hinako, and soon after he can start seeing things and people that normal people cannot see. The secret of the angels is starting to become unraveled.
There are English reviews.
14. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Doujinshi Hajimemashita♥ 乃木坂春香の秘密 同人誌はじめました♥ [100227] Vridge Inc.
In this all new story you take the role of Yuuto, Haruka's most trusted confidante and the one who knows of the school 'unattainable beauty' Haruka's secret passion for anime and otaku pastimes. In the story of the game, Haruka has decided to make her own doujinshi (amateur fan comic). The only problem is that she's bad at drawing, but is so proud of her own work that nobody has the heart to tell her how it really is... The four themes you'll enjoy on this doujin creation adventure are "Maid Costumes", from Haruka's cosplay adventures, "Doujinshi", as she draws her own, "Party", as you gather with Haruka and your friends to celebrate, and "Event", the Comic Market-style doujin convention where Haruka finally is able to sell her books.
Anime spin-off
BLOCKED
1. Fukubiki! Triangle ふくびき！トライアングル [100226] Blue Gale There is a shopping arcade, where a lot of stores are closed. The stores decide to hold a lottery event to gather customers. The first prize is... "You can spend two weeks with pretty sisters of president of the shopping arcade." A sure nukige, but noticed it late, so leaving it for opening's sake.
2. NekoNeko Fan Disc 3 ねこねこファンディスク3 [100226] NekoNeko Soft Third fandisc for NekoNeko's games. Fandisc
3. Saimin Seikatsu ~Kousoku Dakara Shikatanai!?~ 催眠生活～校則だから仕方ない！？～ [100226] C: drive.
Hayato moves back to the town he used to live in after nine years away. Upon arriving, he meets his childhood friend, Tatsumi Makino. When he arrives to his school, he finds that she has painted the school building with a message welcoming him back. It seems that over the past years she has become known for causing trouble like this, and is called Tatsumaki (Tornado) because of it.
Hayato agrees to try to get Makino to stop causing trouble, and fortunately he has a plan--he will hypnotise her! He pulls her into the broadcasting room and tries it, but it seems not to work. However, the broadcasting equipment was accidentally turned on at the time, and everyone else in the school was hypnotized...
Game in the nukige league, but - again - nice opening.
A nice busy month. I'd only call Rune Lord and Harukaze dori ni, Tomarigi o. 2nd Story ~Tsuki no Tobira to Umi no Kakera~ masterpieces with traditionally chunige having the upper hand over charage. As for review, won't be any this month. Will only review couple games per year, probably with video playthroughs properly backed up, will see when first appealing for review game shows up. As usual, Micchi is mostly interested in fandiscs.
1. Last Window: Mayonaka no Yakusoku ラストウィンドウ 真夜中の約束 [100114] Cing 1 2 3 4 5 6
It is the sequel to Hotel Dusk: Room 215, starring protagonist Kyle Hyde and being placed one year after the events of its predecessor.The game has visual and audio styles similar to the first game's. In this game, Kyle Hyde finds himself in the Cape West Apartments, Los Angeles, in 1980. The story of this sequel is separate from the first game's, even though it includes some connections with it.
Console release, but localized and highly evaluated
2. Rain Memory -Amayadori- Rain memory－あまやどり－ [100122] Flap
Basically there’s a guy who hates rain and he meets a girl whose name is Rein.
Short looped novel with just one heroine and confusion between dream and reality. After three laps relations become clear. Game was sold for like a quarter of normal price.
3. Ar Tonelico III ~Sekai Shuuen no Hikigane wa Shoujo no Uta ga Hiku~ アルトネリコ3 世界終焉の引鉄は少女の詩が弾く [100128] Gust 1 2 3 4
Ar Tonelico 3's story unfolds on another tower located in the same world as Ar Tonelico and Metafalss, the towers that provided the settings of the two prequels. On the third tower, Sol Cluster, a ruling regime of Reyvateils oppresses humans as lower-class citizens. The protagonist is a young construction worker by the name of Aoto. He has never liked the Reyvateil nation of Clusternia, and when he encounters an amnesiac Reyvateil named Saki who is being pursued by them, this animosity turns into outright hostility. The two are joined in their escape by another Reyvateil, Finnel, who possesses a secret and accompanies them for reasons of her own.
RPG is localized and has English reviews.
4. Mirai Nikki -13 Ninme no Nikki Shoyuusha- 未来日記 -13人目の日記所有者- [100128] Kadokawa Shoten 1
Based from a manga by Sakae Esuno. The game introduces Kirisaki Azami as the thirteenth diary owner.
The game also has a system called "Yandere Operation", where Yuno will taking an action based on player's choices when her bar is full, which can be a bad or a good thing. Player can also looking at their diary in the game, although it will automatically be done every time the entry affects the story.
PSP Manga spin-off
5. airy[F]airy ~Easter of Sant' Ariccia~ airy[F]airy ~Easter of Sant' Ariccia~ [100129] RococoWorks 1
There is a large sacred tree in Alicia Forest near the village of Nemi. Once every year it’ll glow and if a couple vows to love each other under its glow, they will live happily ever after. Elmo is preparing for the the annual Easter of Sant’Ariccia festival. His adoptive father disappeared 3 months ago and he had to take over the graveyard duties. Every Tuesday midnight, he has to participate in the battle of ‘Eremita’. If he loses, Tuesday will be stolen from this world.
There is an English review. I actually played it in the past and can't recommend it either. Exotic slow-paced slice-of-life without ability to concentrate on anything.
6. Curefull! キュアフル！ [100129] Giga
Yuuya is a talented soccer player and he was going to enter via a scholarship, but he suffered a leg injury shortly before admission and the scholarship was revoked. Now he had to take the entrance examination as a regular student and he was depressed and wanted to give up. Enter his childhood friend Haruna, who was like an older sister to him, cheering him on to do his best so that they can be together. After making it in with her support, he finds out that the cheerleading club Haruna is part of is in danger of disbanding. He understands the power of the cheering spirit and decides to join the club to help keep it alive.
Even more boring than previous Giga same themed work Cheerful.
7. Doinaka Channel 5 ~Kochira Suzune Gakuen Housou-bu~ ド田舎ちゃんねる5～こちら鈴音学園放送部～ [100129] Hamham Soft
Doinaka Channel 5 takes place in the countryside. Keisuke and the Suzunone Gakuen broadcast club are asked to help make a TV program to promote the town. However, each segment will be capped at 5 minutes.
Two previous games of Hamham Soft were pretty much nukige, so even bakage looks like a step forward. We choose a girl, location and theme of a program and shoot it with the outcome of either satisfied or angry sponsor. Only the program itself is interesting, and thanks to high variability interest can keep up for a while.
8. Harukaze dori ni, Tomarigi o. 2nd Story ~Tsuki no Tobira to Umi no Kakera~ はるかぜどりに、とまりぎを。２ｎｄ Ｓｔｏｒｙ ～月の扉と海の欠片～ [100129] SkyFish
Global warming had caused the water to rise, covering more than half the land. At the same time, an outbreak of the Satori disease wiped out half of the world’s population. It is said that everyone has been infected with the disease and it’s only a matter of time before the symptoms show. While at the hospital, Wataru meets Akari and her kindness and smile captures his heart.
Prequel was rather difficult to understand, but this time it's a straightforward poetic and only occasionally sad love story on the brink of world's collapse. Both main heroines and sub heroines are full of charm, so it's a decent charage.
9. Id -Rebirth Session- id［イド］－Rebirth Session－ [100129] Rootnuko 1 2 3
Shirou runs a detective office. One day, Sakura visits his office. She is actually a younger sister of Shirou's old friend. "I would like you to find my older brother..."
There is a cafe near his office called Cafe Seaside, it is located in an isolated place. A rumor about the cafe spreads through the internet and people start gathering the cafe, 12 boys and girls. The master of the cafe in mask tells them about his plan, then they get on a ship and arrive on a small island. But what for? Various mysterious cases., endless serial killing, who is the culprit...?
There is an English review
10. Kagura Gakuen Ki 神楽学園記 [100129] Debo no Su Seisakusho
A murder case happens at school. Nazuna is a miko. She is often sent to the scene of the crime when the case is about monsters. As she investigates the case, she meets Kouta. He is actually half human and half monster. Nazuna starts pursuing him. But one day, a female student goes missing... Also, Ibuki, another miko, transfers to the school...
All Kagura games are RPG with violation on defeat in focus
11. Mercuria ~Mizu no Miyako ni Koi no Hanataba o~ メルクリア ～水の都に恋の花束を～ [100129] Hearts 1
One day, Wataru, Himiko, Ai and Seishuu accidentally fall into a shining puddle on their way to school. When they put their heads our of the surface, they find that they are in another world called Imbruglia. The girl standing in front of them is actually Princess of the country. To go back to their world, they join a magic school...
There is an English review
12. Narikiri Bakappuru! "Hontou wa, Anta to Nante Ichaichashitaku Naindakarane!" なりきりバカップル！「本当は、アンタとなんてイチャイチャしたくないんだからねっ！」 [100129] Nel
Shinichi is a pretty typical guy, except that his childhood friend who lives next door is one of the smartest and most beautiful girls in the school. Her name is Kanami and their relationship is akin to siblings since they’ve been together for so long. One day when they were taking shelter from the rain, they accidentally broke an old relic and Hiwa, the fox spirit that rules over the land, punished them by placing a curse on them. Soon, the school views them as a couple and their parents wants them to marry, even though they don’t have feelings for each other. The only way to break this ‘curse’ is to kiss each other whenever they’re told to.
Game is based around kisses and flirt. There is a good variety of four heroines, plus bonus one that is not cursed. Evaluation greatly depends on affinity to such concept and individual heroine appeal.
13. Otome Renshin Prister 乙女恋心プリスター [100129] Escu:de 1
In a nameless world where there is a ring of light in the sky and a giant tower on the ground, there exists mysterious living things called ‘Pristers’ which are alter-egos for the girls they follow. There’s a big event to determine the ‘magic girl’ and each of the 3 kingdoms send their own team to compete for the title. Raising SIM with an English review
14. Rune Lord ルーンロオド [100129] Clock Up team Dyo 1 2
Seigi is just an average but passionate student, who is addicted to manga and anime. He also belongs to the virtual club. The club is like the anime club or manga club, just watching anime videos or enjoying plastic models.
One day, he sees a UFO flying down to his school. To check it, he sneaks into school at night and finds a huge robot...
There are English reviews.
15. Seirei Tenshou ~Kowareyuku Sekai no Shoujo-tachi~ 精霊天翔～壊れゆく世界の少女たち～ [100129] Xuse 1 2 3
The world of Kougyoku (crystal). A world that was told to hold the legendary medicine, "Inochi no Shizuku" (Life Drop). Many were those who tried searching for it, but nobody was able to find passage to the world.
Christopher Tangram, a treasure hunter for life. Wielding the 5th rank Eternity Sword, "Ryuushou" (dragon flight), he has been able to obtain a map with the world of Kougyoku's coordinates on it. Riding his trusty airship within the branches of Jikanju (Tree of chronicle), he flies toward his destination. But...
There are monsters dancing in the sky. There are people getting slaughtered with no place to escape. And the island of treasures is nowhere to be found. There are girls fighting against the innumerable abominations. Their elegant bodies a bad match for their graceless weapons, the girls lash out with their Eternity Swords. They who are born from this world of Kougyoku are the kin of Cryst.
Christopher, as an outsider, is mistaken as the Hero by the Cryst race, and asked to save the world before its ruination. He came looking for a treasure, but was drawn into a deadly war. All the while looking for the treasure, his battle to save the world of Kougyoku and the Cryst race begins here.
Scroller has English reviews.
16. Shapeshifter シェイプシフター [100129] Age 1
Yuuma is caught in a fierce battle and a pretty girl comes to his aid. Her name is Natia and she intends to protect him and the town from destruction. He greatly wishes to be able to help her, and that’s when a bright light envelops them and Natia’s weapon transforms into a giant sword. So a normal boy will become the key to saving the world... no, the universe!
There is an English review.
17. Sugar Coat Freaks シュガーコートフリークス [100129] Littlewitch 1
Haru is a second year student at the prestigious Ruritania Royal College. One day, a small girl appears and issues him an order. She is Tamahime, a princess from the distant Oukoku, who wanted to try living the life of a commoner. To this end, she pretends to be Haru’s little sister Tamako and transfers into Ruritania.
There is an English review.
18. Tsukisome no Kasa -the end of scarlet luna- 月染の枷鎖-the end of scarlet luna- [100129] Hiyoko Soft 1
The protagonist, Kagami Renka, moved to the remote country town of Hasumi-mura due to his stepfather's new job. Renka intends to find information about his real parents after hearing that Hasumi-mura was his mother's hometown. Renka's mother died when he was young, and he never knew who his true father was.
While taking a stroll shortly after arriving in the village, Renka discovers a Shinto shrine partially submerged in the water. Since the first thing anyone does on finding a creepy shrine in an unfamiliar area is explore it, Renka enters the shrine. Poking around in the altar room, he finds a mysterious doll tied up with numerous chains. Feeling that something is not quite right, Renka attempts to leave the shrine as quickly as possible, but not before the appearance of a girl in a white dress. "Who are you?"
Making friends at his new school, he gradually opens up to them about his intention to search for information about his true parents. The days pass, and when the full moon comes, he learns of a legend particular to Hasumi-mura: an event that takes place every 44 years. Again, he meets the girl in the white dress who calls herself 'Amane', while walking along the beach. She tells him that they should not meet, but agrees to tell him about the festival and the strange deity it honours if he meets her at the shrine after the festival.
After the festival, Renka continues to search for information about his parents with his new friends. As the moon wanes, he learns more about the village, the legend and the mysterious 'Hasumi' family that historically presides over Hasumi-mura.
The new moon approaches and Renka starts to uncover an insidious web of tradition and deceit involving many of the families that live in Hasumi-mura. His friends begin to disappear and, too late, Renka learns of the true nature behind the ritual the village practices every 44 years.
When the moon disappears, everything comes to an end.
There is an English review.
19. Unival! Paranormal Girls Strike!! ゆにばる！ PARANORMAL GIRLS STRIKE!! [100129] Apricot 1
Shinichirou is the master of the ‘Big World House’, but the tenants aren’t human. They’re witches, gods and aliens! They have lots of enemies so every day is troublesome and he has to help fight them off to protect their ‘peaceful’ life.
There is an English review.
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1. Hana to Otome ni Shukufuku o Royal Bouquet 花と乙女に祝福を ロイヤルブーケ [100129] ensemble 1
This is the fandisc for Hana to Otome ni Shukufuku wo, featuring after stories for each of the heroines from the original game. Fandisc
2. Hoshizora no Memoria -Eternal Heart- 星空のメモリア Eternal Heart [100129] Favorite 1 2 3 4 5
It contains addition story routes as a sequel to complete the Yume and Mare routes of Hoshizora no Memoria, as well as an additional side story for the other heroines of the game. Fandisc
3. Kikouyoku Senki Tenkuu no Yumina FD -ForeverDreams- 輝光翼戦記 天空のユミナFD -ForeverDreams- [100129] 1 2 3 4 At school, there is now an exciting competition for the next school captain. The students who go to the final are two girls, Yumina and Nayuta. The main character is Ayumu, a close friend of Yumina. He supports and fights with Yumina. But the final ends in a draw. Though they promise to fight again in several days, Nayuta tells Yumina to give Ayumu to Nayuta as her personal secretary until next battle. Ayumu is depressed at first, but he gradually understands Nayuta's concerns as he spends time with her... Fandisc
4. Onimari. ~Oni ga Yumemishi Tsune no Yo ni, Itaru Osanaki Koi no Hajimari~ 鬼まり。～鬼が夢見し常の世に、至る幼き恋のはじまり～ [100129] 130cm There is a small village deep inside the mountains. Akito, who lives at a shrine, used to live a boring life, but the shrine gets popular after they successfully performed the shrine festival. Yes, a lot of people now visit the shrine every day. Also, Akito has a girlfriend, Ayako. Akito now lives a happy life... But one day, Koharu, his older sister, suddenly tells him, "I'm gonna be a respectable older sister for you!" Fandisc
I feel that I can safely call Natsu no Ame VN of the Month. Sorairo I'm also taking up for review, because I don't want to choose between the two. Lastly, there's Eden* They Were Only Two, On The Planet. that I remember as a nice short atmospheric game. Micchi was of pretty much the same opinion except for Natsu no Ame since it was difficult to except an overwhelming masterpiece from a new brand.
1. Kokuhaku こくはく [090914] Sound Wing 1
Main character is your typical super popular guy, and all the girls are in love with him.
There is an English review
2. Jigoku Shoujo Mioyosuga 地獄少女 澪縁 [090917] Compile Heart 1
Somewhere in the vast sea of the Internet, there's a website that can only be accessed at midnight. Rumor states that if grudge is posted there, Hell Girl will appear and drag offender to inferno. All we know about this girl is that she lives with her equally enigmatic grandmother and that three straw dolls accompany her.
Anime spin-off
3. Tears to Tiara Gaiden -Avalon no Nazo-ティアーズ・トゥ・ティアラ外伝 -アヴァロンの謎- [090917] Aquaplus 1
Avalon no Nazo, the sequel of Tears to Tiara takes place right after the defeat of the Erin and Albion kingdoms. The two new kings in Avalon city are planning a carnival to celebrate the end of strife and that peace has finally came.
Busy with preparations, people have missed the signs of unrest in the air. When Arawn, the demon king woke up to find his room covered in strange vines, it was too late, the whole city has started mutating.
SRPG with an English review
4. Angel Navigate [090918] Aries 1
Souta is back to his hometown after an interval of several years. He and his younger sister, Koharu, start living at Hinako's, their childhood friend's, house. On his first day at a new school, he met a girl and soon falls in love with her. Souta isn't actually good at talking with girls, so a friend of his introduces him to a website called Angel Navigate, where people talk about love. Souta decides to visit the website anonymously...
Common route is too short, half an hour or so, and individual routes aren't much bigger - two hours on average. After characters meet in real world, all internet dating setting goes to trash bin. Dialogues aren't interesting, so I believe I can safely condemn it as moege.
5. Distance Distance -ディスタンス- [090918] Silksoft 1
"Can you become a coach of the track and field club?" Taka gets interested in the offer. That accident ruined his hopeful school life and future.... He has been doing rehabilitation hard, so it is really a great offer. Even if his position changes, he is glad to engage in the track and field again. He decides to accept the offer with hope in mind, but various troubles happen...
The good thing is that four heroines train as a team, so other heroines do not disappear suddenly. Protagonist is serious. Each heroine has a different story and ending. But game lacks refinement, and quality is below average.
6. Eden* They Were Only Two, On The Planet. Eden* They Were Only Two, On The Planet. [090918] minori 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
In the near future, an ominous red star suddenly appears in the sky. Its presence is about to bring about the extinction of all life on Earth. The unified government proposes an evacuation project to take all of mankind into space, but in order to make the seemingly impossible project a reality, 'felixes' are brought into the world. Engineered to be highly intelligent with perpetual youth and longevity, the genetically modified superhuman felixes stand as humanity's only hope for survival.
Sion, the most gifted of the felixes, has been kept in a research facility built on a solitary island for the past hundred years. Her sole purpose, saving all of humanity. Ryou Haruna, a soldier from the Earth's unified government is sent to watch over Sion, who desperately seeks freedom from the military that's imprisoning her. Earth's last love story is about to begin.
Game is localized and has English reviews.
7. Hime x Hime 姫×姫（ヒメヒメ） [090918] Etoiles
There is a famous school where rich boys and girls belong to. The school has a traditional custom that a girl called princess governs the school. The main character accidentally enters the school though he is just an average student. But he can't move to a school dormitory because of some troubles, so he starts living at Saki's, the current princess, room. Saki is selfish and he works as her tool. He doesn't like his school life at first, but he gradually gets attracted to Saki...
Princess school setting is a thick red line for me. Even assassination line is taken directly from Shield 9. Personalities are rather bright, so can be ok for those who like such setting.
8. Koibumi Romantica 恋文ロマンチカ [090918] ChuableSoft 1
Here's our young man, Yuge Fumito.
"I'll become a writer!" he vows to himself, and rides a train to the magnificent city of Tokyo!
He comes to a publishing office with a self-made novel in his hand and knocks on the door, but the world doesn't go so easy on him as to take him for real.
Fooled by a wicked bunch, he finds himself penniless and homeless.
Moreover, his vital work (still unpublished, however) would become a failure.
Despaired and rain-struck, there the young man kneels.
Then an umbrella is softly handed to him. As he looks up, his eyes meet those of a female student, worried for him--
With a few workings of fortune, the young man begins his school life at a respectable writer's.
Under the same roof with the beautiful sisters, he's running around the city with the editor girl, getting invited to a party by a British consul's daughter, followed by his childhood girl friend from his home town, getting literary advice from a cat that can speak, and so on--
The young man meets new people, gathering life experience.
Among the above, there is a piece of advice the cat had told him:
"Love, schoolboy. Fall in love, be loved, pine with love, make love the sole source for your script--"
The young man lets "love" which he had never pondered on before, take over his mind.
Will you be able to become a brilliant writer?
And will the love between you and that girl you can't stop thinking about succeed?…
Live the days of romantic emotions, and reach out for your dreams and love!
There is an English review.
9. L.i.n.k. -Kimyou na Unmei ni Tsunagareta Monotachi no Chi to Namida no Uta-L.i.n.k. -奇妙な運命に繋がれた者達の、血と涙の謡（うた）。 [090918] SGP Software
There are witches in the world. They have special power like an old magic. But the word "witch" means "assassination" in the modern world. Witches establish their own organization and run a business to secretly assassinate people. Shion has power to "curse people dead". He receives a job offer, completes it, gets a reward and goes back home. He just repeats the same day.... But one day, he just goes home on a different route and meets a girl called Ai along the way. They become friends, but this is just a beginning of ruin.... They, however, decide to walk together to step out of their boring life...
Serious atmosphere is hurt by lack of explanation. Instead, same story is shown from different characters perspective... which still does not explain much. A lot of confusing stuff combined with low overall quality in every field.
10. Momoiro Guardian ももいろガーディアン [090918] Alice Soft
One day, Takuma's mother says to him, "You'll be the Maou when your next birthday comes." Though he doesn't believe it at all, a girl suddenly appears in front of him to hunt him down and another girl tries to save him. These girls also transfer to his school and start living at his house...
Alice Soft H tilt is so big that I had to block their last title as nukige. In this case it's claimed to be an absurdist comedy which is of course a shallow low-price story-less opportunistic nukige. Tsundere flag is the only thing that can make someone play this game.
11. Sorairo そらいろ [090918] NekoNeko Soft 1
You start off as Kenji, a pretty ordinary kid (yes you start off as a kid) who’s visiting his aunt during the holidays with his father. There, he meets his cousin Ai, a quiet girl who is just one year younger than him. They were left together in the house so they went out to the nearby sea to play.
But because Ai was so quiet, Kenji decided to play alone in the sea while Ai looked at him from the beach. Going back home, Ai lied to her mother that they had fun together. This continued right up till the end of the summer holidays.
Feeling really guilty, Kenji decided to be more friendly towards her. The next year, he took the initiative and played with her. Another year passes by and he came over to her town for the holidays. They are already extremely good friends and look forward to each others company.
Then the bombshell was dropped. Their parents were getting married. But they were still young and didn’t really understand what was happening. The only thing they knew was that they are now siblings. Kenji now stays in the same town as Ai and lives together with her. New neighbors, new friends and new adventures await.
There is an English review.
12. Hapitora -Happy Transportation- はぴとら－HappyTransportation－ [090925] Bloom Handle
The protagonist Tio, who lives on a small island, runs an air transportation company. He lost his parents when he was still young, so he has been working hard with the help of other workers. One day, he decides to temporarily leave the island to learn how to fly an aircraft. But when he comes back to the island a while later, he finds there is only one worker, Aina. His company is about to go bankrupt. Raica, his childhood friend, knows it and says she will join the company, but she is actually a very clumsy girl. Will Tio be able to get through this crisis?
Let's rebuild family business and create harem - yay... Text power is weak, so there's just not enough persuasiveness or excitement.
13. Mahou Shoujo no Taisetsu na Koto. 魔法少女の大切なこと。 [090925] Meromero Cute
The main character is an average student (except for his pretty appearance). He has moved to a school on the island to look for his missing mother. But an upside-down chapel that appears in the sky at night, evil shadows generated by the chapel and various mysterious happenings keep bugging people on the island. He inevitably gets involved in this trouble and he transforms into a magical girl (?) when he faces one of the shadows. Days later, he hears the fact that his mother is actually a magical girl. Like this, his battle life against the shadows starts...
Perverted hermaphrodite protagonist and loli magical girls make a basis for a solid story (NOT).
14. Natsu no Ame 夏ノ雨 [090925] CUBE 1 2 3 4
The plot of Natsu no Ame revolves around Sousuke, a soccer loving idiot who spends his days practicing with his two friends, Takeda and Midori for the day when he is allowed to return to the soccer club he was forced to resign from.
The story begins with Sousuke recalling a memory from his past where he pondered what qualifies as a first love, thinking about a young girl he teased almost to the point of tears as a child. Upon snapping back to the present Sousuke is made aware of a beautiful girl busy with her cellphone. After knocking her out of the way of on oncoming motorcycle he finds that he had also sent her cellphone into the river.
Being the nice guy protagonist that he is Sousuke then goes into the river to find her cellphone, however when he gives up and she tries to help him out he ends up pulling her in as well. First impressions aside he then finds out she wanted to know where his school was as she had just transferred in. Undaunted by his earlier screwups Sousuke decides to be a man and instead takes her on a tour of the town before finally dropping her off at school. In the end it seems he managed a favorable impression afterall!
Upon returning home he finds the very same girl in his home… where his mother informs him that she is his long lost half sister!
There are English reviews
15. Nega0 ~Negative Zero~ ネガゼロ~Negative Zero~ [090925] Eternal
The world is made of an indefinite thing, recognition. Each person's recognition is linked to a huge congregated recognition which decides the situation of the world, according to a girl in a laptop PC who came from the future. The action to forcibly apply a recognition to the world and distort the fact is called "magic".
To believe in magic is required to use magic. Distorted facts will cause a big contradiction to the world and the world will get frozen some day. If the number of girls who can use magic increases, the world will be in trouble.
"That's why I don't want you to believe in dreams. Please be a debugger and save the world!"
RPG
16. Signal Heart [090925] Purple Software 1 2
One day, the protagonist's house is suddenly destroyed by a fire. Since he has nowhere to live, he moves to a school dormitory. But a dormitory for male students is full, so he is forced to live at a dormitory for female students as a caretaker. Days later, the school decides to pull down the male dormitory and construct a new one since the old one is in pretty bad shape, especially compared to the female dorm, which also has more room but less students using it. However the new dormitory will only be ready after everyone has graduated, which leads to an uproar among the male dorm members. The school chairman then ask both male and female dorm to have a battle at the upcoming school festival. The one who earns more sales is the winner, if the males win they get to exchange dorms with the females. Because he lives in the female dormitory, our protagonist gets involved in this battle on the girls side...
There is an English review
17. Tropical KissトロピカルKISS [090925] Twinkle
Kaito left his hometown with a dream to be a big man. But he doesn't have any clear ideas, so he just lazily lives every day. It's no good. Kaito decides to work at a newly opened resort facility called "A LO HA". But he meets various girls he had relationships before there...
Charage with some humor. All girls are in love and fight for protagonist confessing to him at the same time. Hello, harem. Individual routes are rather normal and quality is high, so it mends prologue stupidity to an extent.
18. Moe Moe Niji Taisen (Ryaku) 2 [chu~♪] 萌え萌え2次大戦（略）2[chu～♪] [090925] SystemSoft Alpha
Second coming of steel maidens during World War II.
Strategy
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1. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Akuma no Satsujin Koukai 金田一少年の事件簿 悪魔の殺人航海 [090917] Creative Core 1 2 The game puts you in a role of Hajime Kindaichi who finds himself on a luxury liner named Luna entangled in a murder mystery. Console exclusive, only including it because of missable review.
2. Princess Party Camellia Princess Party Camellia ～プリンセスパーティーカメリア～ [090918] Circus This is a fan disc of Princess Party, featuring some short stories. Fandisc
3. Pri ☆ Sara - Dokidoki x Love Love W Fandiskプリ☆さら～ドキドキ×らぶらぶWファンディスク～ [090918] Atelier Kaguya
Fandisc of Prima Stella and Sarasara Sasara.
Contains extra scenarios that did not made it into the main game, a harem route for both games, a Miyabi after story and a Mahiru route.
Fandisc
4. W. L. O. Sekai Ren'ai Kikou L.L.S. -Love Love Show-W.L.O. 世界恋愛機構 L.L.S. -LOVE LOVE SHOW- [090924] Akabei Soft2 1 This fandisc features erotic scenes with 6 heroines, including 10 sub characters and offers alternate stories. Fandisc
5. Haruka na Sora ハルカナソラ [090925] Sphere 1 2 Haruka na Sora is the fandisc of Yosuga no Sora, it contains the routes of Kozue, Yahiro and Sora (Sequel to her YNS route) plus short scenarios such as karaoke route and the characters omake. Fandisc
Foreword: With script size of around 4.5Mb Hello, World is one of the largest visual novels ever created. Cyberpunk, Nitroplus and positive reviews (1 2 3 4) all promised a great time. However...
Title: Hello, world
Developer: Nitroplus
Date: 2002-09-27
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v431
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsNedut_3eE&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-KYrXbyAGXRCg720guyMwo
Synopsis: Set in Akihabara in the near future, "Hello, world." is a hearty, feature-length, cyber battle-action/campus-life story about a robot boy and the girls that surround him.
Tremendous progress has been made in technical advances. Various networks have taken strongholds with each new generation. Though not nearly advanced as humans, two-legged robots are utilized in many practical areas throughout the world. Amid worldwide peace, the human race remains unchanged.
Kazuki Tomonaga is a robot made by an entity called "HIKARI" for the purpose of "GLOBAL ILLUMINATION". He's created with ingenuity as precise as that of a human being. Kazuki is commanded to research the concepts of "human emotion". Along the way he meets various girls and has exchanges with them. In their "exchanges" his "curiosity" gradually turns into "affection" and his mission becomes more intense. He gradually starts to build his own philosophy, not knowing he will be forced to make crucially important decisions in the near future.
Structure: Days from October 1st to October 30th
Length: 100+ hours
Game type: Cyberpunk android adventure
Difficulty: Relatively easy, most of choices are just about picking the same girl all the time
Character Design rating: 3/10
Protagonist rating: 6/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
What? How can "Hello, world" not be a masterpiece - are you even sane? That would be my initial reaction as well, but I have my argumentation. All in its due time.
First of all, I was shocked by trash rating of the game in the most notable Japanese reviewer blog of old games ADVGAMER (1). The reasons for that are quite vague: overextendent, confusing in the second part and as a result a really boring game. But of course I just considered reviewer a weakling who could not understand the gist of the game - and bravely dived into the action.
The first half of the game is surprisingly orthodox despite the fact that protagonist as an android. He explores the world and the girls close to him. There are over 10 events with each girl to pursue with its romantic resolution. Pace is really bad, but curious side-characters and unfamiliar futuristic setting make it tolerable.
But then happens second part which is a set of action episodes with a bit of romance in-between. And it all comes to very simplistic story. There are five girls who have relatives suffered from a certain "evil" corporation. Hacker incidents start to happen breaking out into a full-scale machine rebellion. That's it! There's no sophistication in the plot at all. Of course, there are much more side-characters, every girl has her own circumstances, and there is a series of incidents leading to the culmination, but it does not change the fact that it's all done just to show action scenes, not to really move the plot. But the greatest tragedy of the game is that it lasts for 30 hours on initial playthrough, and subsequent routes need to go through absolutely the same plot, just with different romance events and the very ending. As ADVGAMER puts it, game either must have an unusual setting and take time to describe its details or have a common setting and then adhere to compact structure. But Hello, world tries to present a common setting like something new, and then prolongs it to insane lengths putting reader in the state of the ultimate boredom.
One of the flaws of the game is tasteless character design. Who said that green hair girl should have green eyes, violet hair girl - violet eyes, blue hair - blue eyes and red hair girl - red eyes?! That looks absolutely stupid. Character designs are trashy, and artist work manages to catch such poor angles at times that result looks super-ugly. There is just one girl with the design I like - that's Junko. Cool white long hair with really nice haircut, great black and red suit, mini-skirt and always carrying a gun. Just perfect! But she's not one of the heroines! She's just a side-character to help fight baddies in action scenes! Why-y-y???
The second disappointing feature is "partial voicing", but don't be misguided here, it's actually NO VOICING. We barely manage to hear how each heroine should sound during the first hour of play, then there are 30 hours of NO VOICING. Not in action scenes, not in culmination romantic scenes - just never. That's something really disappointing.
Game really makes the best of 3D rendering from Phantom of Inferno (close-ups on weapons) and Vjedogonia (moving vehicles), but action scenes remain confusing. The air battle between three aircrafts on one side and one modified air fighter on the other side left me really disappointed. Action scenes end with some sudden development rather than being one logical performance.
Routes are composed in one of the worst possible ways. Story is absolutely the same with just romance events changing from heroine to heroine. Then each heroine has her individual end where only she and hero survive as well as the true end where everyone survives. There is just a bit of fresh air in the individual endings of each heroine, but True ending of each heroine is absolutely the same... save for the last 5 minutes that describe heroine 6 years after the main events of the story. That's a real crime to make people try to grasp something new in 30-hour long route and not even giving anything really new. It's the same story, but we hope you have 150 hours to read them all - a horrible move.
The biggest problem with "Hello, world" is the aftertaste and lack of satisfaction. It's not that bad while it lasts for the first time even though pace is terrible, but each new "route" only brings anger and despair. I look back and only see dozens of hours of wasted time. What did I get in return? Nothing. Not a good story, not a good romance. Some flashy action scenes and some nice side-characters are the only things that I look back to without irritation. Game does not respect its readers. Readers should not respect such a disintegrated game.
Kitto, Sumiwataru Asairo Yori mo is VN of the Month, Bengarachou Hakubutsushi makes another masterpiece. Micchi is especially excited about Natsuyume Nagisa and also about Owarinaki Natsu, Towa Naru Shirabe , but too much sweetness for me.
1. Rosario to Vampire Capu 2: Koi to Yume no Rapsodia ロザリオとバンパイア 恋と夢の狂想曲 [090723] Compile Heart
The school called Youkai Gakuen High School Tsukune entered is actually for monsters. But there are a lot of pretty girls. One day, Ginei plans to hold a school festival called "The Youkai Fes". The story just goes on involving the Otonashi sisters. But days later, Tsukune suddenly starts having an erotic dream every night. How come...?
Anime spin-off
2. Angel Magister [090724] Mana 1 2
There is a world which is divided into the heaven region and the devil region. Baal is the man who leads the army of the devil region and tries to fight the heaven region. But his ambition is soon destroyed... He is confined for 100 years and all his memories are erased. He is now released, but there is no job to take... But one day, he is recruited as a teacher at a magic school in the heaven region. He jumps at the chance and decides to work there. In his class, there are a lot of dropout students. He takes in charge of three students and works hard! Days later, his ex-coworkers suddenly appear from the devil region and the atmosphere of the heaven region gradually becomes uneasy... There is an English review.
3. Bengarachou Hakubutsushi 紅殻町博物誌 [090724] raiL-soft 1 2 3 4
Tomohisa has some memory of his childhood. When he was a kid, he was often playing at some place near his house. But his parents don't remember it. Tomohisa doesn't remember it clearly, either. One day, he finds a notebook. It is about history and things happened at a small town. It's just eccentric, so no one pays attention to it. But he knows who wrote it. It's his uncle, who has been missing for years. The notebook includes a town he spent his childhood. He soon gets interested in the town and decides to visit there. Days later, he arrives at the town, but there are a lot of strange things and customs in the town. He finds various curious goods there and gradually gets to know a secret of the town and his past.... There are English reviews. And I wanted to play it for quite some time already.
4. Kagura Douchuuki 神楽道中記 [090724] Debo no Su Seisakusho
The story takes place in a deserted spa town. One day, the residents go missing one by one, kind of spirited away.... While police investigation doesn't go well, some more mysterious phenomenon happen.
The police decides to hire two mikos to investigate the case. But they are totally different, like oil and water. Will they be able to solve the case...?
Features random dungeon generation, the Kagura-typical defeat-ero scenes and a multiplayer mode.
RPG
5. Kitto, Sumiwataru Asairo Yori mo, きっと、澄みわたる朝色よりも、 [090724] Propeller 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
We were always together. Irreplaceable friends. There was a strong tie between us even we got separated. Several years later, we have a chance to meet again at school. There are only four classmates, but that's enough. Only us. However...
"Stop acting like before."
Our relationship gets cold and distant. It's only me who believed in our eternal friendship. What made us like this...? "Ayanashisai Festival" Each person was given their own color.
"Red" I make up my mind to establish our good-old relationship again...
There are many English reviews. But I need to play it myself.
6. Kurenai no Tsuki クレナイノツキ [090724] Alcot Honey Comb 1 2 3
Kouya, a rookie detective, is walking deep inside the forest. It was two weeks ago, a hand of an unidentified creature washed up on the shore of a river. Hard and thick skin, bristle like an animal, thick fingers and sharp nails, it was not a human's hand. Also, there was a jewel ring on the ring finger.
This mysterious story was featured in a magazine and caught people's attention. Days later, the police found that it was a woman's hand, who had been missing for a month. She went missing when she played golf with her friends nearby. The police confirmed she was attacked by a stray dog, but couldn't explain why the hand looked so differently. They tried to close the case, but her husband wasn't convinced. He didn't want to believe his wife was a monster. He decided to ask a detective to investigate the case, that's why Kouya is now roaming around deep inside the forest.
It is getting dark, but he doesn't know where he is now. Just when he feels dizzy, he hears someone's voice. Is that auditory hallucination? He hears a girl's voice this time. "I've been saved!" But he accidentally falls down a waterfall. When he regains his consciousness, he finds himself lying in the bed. He looks around and finds three girls. "Are you alright?" "Well, did you save me?" "Yes, I and my older sister carried you all the way here." Their mother says to him, "I'm relieved to see you getting well. But you must marry either of my daughters, Sunao or Hiori."
He doesn't know what she means. A mysterious hand bitten off by someone, a small village deep inside the forest, marriage to a miko, Kouya's fate is led to unexpected direction after he meets these two girls...
There are English reviews.
7. Owarinaki Natsu, Towa Naru Shirabe 終わりなき夏 永遠なる音律 [090724] Age 1 2 3 4 5
In Kyushu, there lies the small village of Sunomura. In that small village, four childhood friends, Touma Takumi, Ogami Ritsuko, Amamiya Kanon, and Takanashi Mio comprise a small music club at the village school. One day, Takumi happens to see and hear the violin performance of Orihara Ai, a girl who recently moved to the village and transferred into the school. This performance later eventually causes Ritsuko to resolve to recruit Ai into their music club no matter what.
However, one day, one of the childhood friends is separated from the other three, but before doing so passes on her role of "Supervisor" to Takumi. Later, they learn that the school they all attend is going to be closed down in one month due to a government-ordered evacuation of the village. Everyone resolves to make their last month together as memorable and enjoyable as possible before the school closes down...
There are English reviews.
8. 77 (Sevens) ~And, Two Stars Meet Again~77（セブンズ）～And, two stars meet again～ [090731] Whirlpool 1 2
There is a world where magic is widely spread. The story takes place at Tenryou International School, which is famous for an elite training school. The students are divided into three groups: Intelligence, Power and Fate. A school festival is held once a year.
The main event is a battle in which a girl and two supporters are chosen from each group and they fight for a selected man, who has a special ring. Yes, the main character is the one who accidentally gets the ring.... While he is persistently chased by heroines, a mystery of their school gradually comes out...
There are English reviews.
9. Ano Aoi Umi Yori あの蒼い海より [090731] Lilac Soft
"I thought everything would remain the same...."
Sora has just moved to a town in the country. There is nothing special, but comfortable.... One night, he meets a girl on the beach. He soon feels attracted to her arrogant behavior and mysterious atmosphere. On the next day, he meets her again at school. She says,
"I'll become your friend...."
Sora has mixed feelings, but feels something warm inside his heart. They gradually cultivate their relationship involving other unique residents. Just when they feel happiness, the world is about to change again. When they meet, their crooked and complicating fates cross.... What will happen to them in the end...?
"My one and only wish is not to forget you...." Story is monotonous and short. Development is absurd and uncomfortable. Sick hero is having various drama with (sometimes also sick) girls. Emotions are poorly drawn for an utsuge, so reader inevitably starts to feel unsatisfied and unhappy because of the quality, not because of compassion.
10. Ashita wa Kitto, Haremasu you ni 明日はきっと、晴れますように [090731] Hug
Natsuhiko is back to his hometown for the first time in ten years. It's a quiet seaside town, but changed a lot. There is a big bridge, where he often played, in the town. The bridge still remains the same. During summer, a big festival is held in the town and a bamboo grass is displayed on the bridge with numerous tanzaku, small pieces of paper on which people write wishes. The bamboo and tanzaku have a local legend, "Only one of the wishes on the bamboo will come true...." No one knows if it's true or not, but people believes it. This is a story of boys and girls who make a wish on the tanzaku... Atmosphere is warm enough, but perfection level is low, so impression deteriorates with every new route. There's no true route after capturing all heroines, so can't find anything special here.
11. Fault!! フォルト!! [090731] Ciel 1
Shuuichi belongs to the tennis club. There are only five members in total, but he enjoys his school life with them. One day, the situation around him starts changing when Shuuichi gets injured in an accident. While Ai, one of the members, takes a good care of him, Mio, his younger sister, stays grumpy. In such an ugly situation, a big accident happens which changes the whole situation...
There are two main heroines and two sub heroines, plus there is a harem route which is unavoidable for a game with H tilt. At the start love triangle is already broken, and there is no NTR. Story is thin and lacks excitement.
12. Mecha-Mimi メカミミ [090731] Candy Soft 1
Kotarou is now living at his aunt's house because his parents have gone abroad on business. He just lives a peaceful life with his old friends and classmates. But one day, he is attacked by a group of two girls on his way to school.
He is saved by a girl called Yuno. According to her, she is an android his grandfather invented. Kotarou is surprised to hear that and runs away from her. He tries to forget it, but Yuno transfers to his class on the next day.
"I'll work for Kotarou. I'll watch him anytime, anywhere. I swear I'll be his sword and shield...." Like this, his life changes completely... But he might have been wanting this sort of adventure life...
There is an English review.
13. MQ ~Jikuu no Hasha~ ＭＱ ～時空の覇者～ [090731] Abel Software 1
Shou, who faced his mother's tragic death, was given a word, "Collect fills...." As a matter of fact, she wasn't his own mother. He, who was surprised to hear the fact, got to know his varied fate soon. One day, a girl appears in front of him, "The world is being destroyed, Avatar." "Destroyed? Do you mean we are going extinct?" "The council has decided to erase you...." "Me? Killed? How come?" "Because you are the one who will lead this world to ruin. I objected to the decision and left the council. Collect fills as soon as possible...." The girl, who came to this world to protect him, promises him to care for him as a valet. She also tells him that she is a daughter of the former valet. "A daughter of the former valet?" "Yes, the girl who used to live as your mother. I'm her daughter." "...!?" The girl tells him to get out of this world soon. Like this, their adventure starts.... There is an English review.
14. Natsuyume Nagisa ナツユメナギサ [090731] Saga Planets 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The story takes place on a reclaimed island, where sunflowers are planted all over, beautiful butterflies fly around and stray penguins roam around.
Nagisa is a boy who can't remember his past. One day, he meets some girls. As the story goes, he gradually finds an important person deep inside his memory and true himself. The summer you were there. The summer you weren't there. The summer with you. Through various events with the girls, what kind of memory will he reach?
There are English reviews.
15. Tiara [090731] Symphony
Four years ago, a high-class school was established on the premises of the castle. One day, Creed, a soldier, is invited to the school and ordered to protect princesses from evil people. He meets Mio, his old friend, Silky, the woman of his dreams and so on there.... His mission is to protect them, but the story goes the other way, involving their surroundings. Who are the evil people? What's happening around them? Atmosphere is similar to previous work Ojou-sama Kumikyoku , this time it's a princess school and not just girls school. I hated that game, so there's not a single chance here.
16. Yumemiru Koi no Musubikata 夢みる恋の結びかた [090731] Atu Works
There is a shrine which is said to bring romance called Ataragi Shrine. At the shrine stands a cherry tree, which always blooms in summer, inside the shrine. The local legend says if a boy and a girl tie a string on a branch of the tree together, they'll be happy forever.
One day, when Tomoya visits the shrine with Taiki, his friend, they meet a girl, Sasaya, in a miko's uniform. She is actually his classmate. Days later, when he bumps into her in front of his house, Sasaya suddenly says to him, "I... love you...." Also, three different girls, Asuka, Emiri and Koeda, suddenly start approaching him at the same time.
Is it just a coincidence? Or is it because of the cherry tree? Like this, Tomoya's life dramatically changes....
Damn, the second wish tree inside one month. And again there are multiple writers responsible for different routes. Slice of life scenes are full of bakage behavior. Light summer mainstream work without uniqueness.
Another sucky month. I recordered couple routes of Fake Azure Arcology by the time my second youtube channel got hammered, so let's call Fake Azure Arcology VN of the month since too many releases this month are gameplay ones. Yes, I know I promised to review Atori no Sora to Shinchuu no Tsuki , but for the same reason don't want to pull it out without video. It was a heavy and not interesting game, anyway. Micchi is fascinated about fandiscs, as usual. And there won't be usual end of the year poll next time - rather there will be poll about direction of this blog.
1. Tokimeki Memorial 4 ときめきメモリアル4 [091203] Konami 1
Developed and published by Konami, Tokimeki Memorial 4 is the fourth flagship release in the Tokimeki Memorial series. In Tokimeki Memorial 4, the player assumes the role of a charismatic student who attends three years at the fictional Kirameki Academy. Within the setting there is a legend told, that when two people in love confess their feelings to each other beneath the blossoming cherry tree of Kirameki, their devotion shall be everlasting.
SIM has an English review
2. School Love! 3 ~Mirai e no Allegretto~すくぅ～るらぶっ！3～未来へのアレグレット～ [091204] DisAbel
One day, Arisu, a new student, joins Haruka's class. She suddenly says, "It's you. You're the culprit. Come with me now!" Haruka is surrounded by a strange whirl and sent to... When he regains his consciousness, he finds himself being in his town. But it looks somewhat different. Yes, he time slipped back to 20 years ago! According to Arisu, she is now investigating some mysterious phenomenon. If she can't solve it soon, it will cause a devastating damage to the world... Like this, Arisu and Haruka start investigating the cause of the phenomenon together... Prequels did not catch stars from the sky, so let's introduce time travel to spice things up. With year 1988 some things look funny, but nostalgic atmosphere is conveyed poorly. The whole fuss is to introduce heroines from the prequels here. Small volume and inconsistent development don't add it points.
3. Soukai no Valkyria ~Kokou no Oujo Lutia~ 蒼海のヴァルキュリア ～孤高の皇女ルツィア～ [091204] Anastasia
A long lasting war.... There is a submarine that only female soldiers are on board. However, the ship is captured by an enemy country and the war finally ends.... The soldiers are still kept hostage, but they believe in the return to their homeland.... Anastasia already did submarine escape game previously, but this time captain is a woman. Now it's a single road with the aim to trigger all the crazy events. From the middle development becomes dark with spies uncovered amidst the crew, and main heroine getting violated.
4. Kyokugen Dasshutsu 9-Jikan 9-Nin 9 no Tobira 極限脱出 9時間9人9の扉 [091210] Chunsoft 1 2 3 4 5
Nine people have been kidnapped by a mysterious person called Zero and are forced to participate in a survival game called the "Nonary Game". Each player has a bracelet numbered 1–9, which they must use to pass through doors numbered 1–9 to reach the exit before 9 hours run out and the ship in which they are in sinks. Various puzzles must be solved in order to advance through the ship and reach the exit, while uncovering the mysteries behind the Nonary Game. Game is localized and has English reviews
5. Caucasus ~Nanatsuki no Nie~ クロウカシス ～七憑キノ贄～ [091211] Innocent Grey 1 2 3 4
There is a small village. One day, two university students visit the village to do research about a local legend handed down from generation to generation. However, they are struck by snowstorm and saved by Venio. They are invited to her mansion and a strange wedding ceremony is held there... If a bride can spend one night in a coffin safely, their marriage will be completed. However, it is all destroyed by someone unknown... There are English reviews
6. Hidamari Basket ひだまりバスケット [091211] Eufonie 1 2
Keito is an average student. He lives a peaceful life with his mother, Haruhi, and his younger sister, Kasuga. However, Kasuga secretly loves Keito. One day, she tells him that she loves him and they accidentally kiss each other.... To make matters worse, Haruhi finds out and Keito is ordered to move to a school dormitory. But Kasuga never gives up! Keito meets various girls at the dormitory and his school life gradually gets busy... There are English reviews
7. Kurogane no Tsubasa ~The Alchemist's Story~ クロガネの翼～THE ALCHEMIST’S STORY～ [091211] White Cyc 1 2
Natsuki has a special power. One day, his father gets remarried and he starts living with his new mother and younger sister, Haruna. He also has an old friend, Nanami. Nadia and Lilith suddenly join his class as well. Natsuki is cautious at first, but he gradually becomes friends with them. Haruna, Nanami, Lilith and Nadia.... He lives peacefully with them, but this is just the beginning of his extraordinary life.... There are English reviews.
8. Shirokuma Bell Stars♪ しろくまベルスターズ♪ [091211] Pulltop 1 2 3 4
When Touma was a kid, he met a Santa Claus. He is now a full-fledged reindeer and works with Nanami, a Santa Claus. But Nanami is always easygoing.
They now visit Shirokuma Town, where something mysterious often happens.
Driving for fairy tale, this is a story of happiness.
There are English reviews
9. Fake Azure Arcology フェイクアズール・アーコロジー [091217] Applique -Imouto- 1 2
The Earth was hit by 5 meteors 500 years, sending humans underground, underwater or in buildings called “arcology”. However, humans soon forgot how things were like outside of the utopia they lived in. Chihiro lives in Amahara, an arcology built on the land previously known as Japan. He had a passion for ‘flight’ motorsports and trained hard to be like his idol. But his idol died in an accident, and he lost his goal in life. Then one day, a ‘flight’ broke the walls surrounding Amahara, crashed to the ground in front of him and out stepped a golden-haired girl. There are English reviews.
10. Eternal Sky ~Yuukyuu no Sora no Kanata~ Eternal Sky～悠久の空の彼方～ [091218] Tsukasa
Kei is just an average student. One day, he sees numerous paper planes flying all over the sky. He wants know who flies these paper planes and rushes out of his classroom. When he gets to the rooftop of the school building, there is a girl with long and black hair. She looks at him and says, "Do you believe in a legend that paper planes deliver your love?"
Super boring reading with uselessly long descriptions and very short important pieces. There are two endings prepared for each heroine - sad one with low favorability and happy one with high favorability. Low quality disappointing work.
11. Icha Pri! ~Ojou-sama to Icha Love Ecchi na Mainichi~ いちゃぷり！ ～お嬢様とイチャラブえっちな毎日～ [091218] Moonstone Cherry
Masaki was told by his grandfather that he must marry one of the Tenjouin sisters who are also his cousins: tsundere Yuzuna, tennen Sakura or pettanko Koyuri. And there’s also a maid who’s his osananajimi, a brocon imouto and a loli nurse. Banal moege.
12. Kachou Fuugetsu ~Koi ni Ochitaru Hanazono no Hime~ 花鳥風月 ～恋ニヲチタル花園ノ姫～ [091218] Silver Bullet 1
Issei lost his mother.... He was supposed to join an ordinary school, but he is forced to join Hanamiya School, a girls' school, as a female student. On his first day at school, he meets Anzu, the captain of the student council. Lucky or unlucky, Anzu likes Issei and she appoints him as the executive of the next year's student council.... Well, will he be able to live a peaceful school life? Like this, his strange school life starts.... There is an English review
13. Rance 02 Kai - Hangyaku no Shoujo-tachi -ランス02改 反逆の少女たち [091218] Alice Soft 1 2
Ten years ago in the town of Custom, four young girls were appointed as disciples to the old mage Ragithis. They were to be raised as mages and then to work as town's guardians. But after the ten years of training due to unknown reason girls rebelled against Ragithis and killed him. During the harsh magic battle a whole town were entombed in the underground and a barrier spell was put on town preventing everyone from going out.
This is when Rance appears with Sill on his side, and taking a job of defeating magician maidens and saving the town. But after some research he finds out that actual evil guy was Ragithis himself, who put four magical rings on four maidens. That rings are giving a great boost of magical power to it's bearers, but also able to steal magic power from virgin sorceresses and after collecting magic power of 40 maidens anyone could use these rings to obtain unlimited power. The leader of girls, Masou Shizuka, figured out Ragithis's plan and rebelled against him but it was too late - cursed rings could not be removed and the curse started to dive maidens crazy. Now they are sheltered in the labirinth beneath the town abducting young girls from the town and killing everyone who tried to go into the labirinth and stop them. It seems that the only way to release them from the curse of the rings is to steal a virginity from them, and the only man up to this job is Rance.
RPG with an English review.
14. Shinobi Ryuu 忍流 [091218] SofthouseChara 1
The setting is Sengoku era.
In the east island country constantly stricken with wars, multiple ninja clans maneuvering in the background exists.
One of them, the Suigen clan, started to weaken and its collapse is imminent. Leading that clan is the protagonist. Although his skill as a ninja is practically nothing, his management abilities and his capability to make enemy women betray their clan is top-notch.
With him at the helm, he plans to revive the clan and makes strenuous effort to subdue the wars.
Strategy
15. Shutsugeki!! Otome-tachi no Senjou ~Yami o Kirisaku, Nibiiro no Tekkoudan~ 出撃！！乙女たちの戦場～闇を切り裂く、にび色の徹甲弾～ [091218] Gesen 18
One day, Shoichi is mistakenly arrested for attempted coup d'etat. He loses his future, family and friends.... "I can't believe anything anymore...." After he is released, he is sent to a private military company called Sage. But Sage is far from just a military company because there are a lot of pretty girls. He enjoys his life there with them and works hard as a soldier. Through two different daily lives, what will Shoichi learn...? Strategy
16. Usodere! 嘘デレ！ [091218] 1 2
Since the main character lost his parents when he was a kid, he now lives alone. One day, his grand-father, a man of property, tells him to move to his house. He is confused at first, but he decides to start his new life. He also transfers to a new school, but he is actually one and only male student. Every girl is interested in him because they think he will inherit his grand-father's property sooner or later... Like this, a battle for him starts... There are English reviews
17. Lucky☆Star - Net Idol Meister らき☆すた ネットアイドル・マイスター [091223] Vridge Inc.
A training simulation game of Lucky Star where Konata has suddenly decided to become a net idol, and in order to stay popular, she needs a manager, who happens to be you, the protagonist. You can also manage other Lucky Star characters. Anime spin-off
18. Dungeon Breaker ダンジョンブレイカー [091225] Tamamo Studio
Main character is studying to become monster trainer. But he fails to master this job in his village, so he goes to the capital city.
RPG
19. Gengetsu no Pandora 幻月のパンドオラ [091225] Q-X 1
One day, Fumiki joins the game research club. When he goes to the club room, hot water suddenly comes out from the ground! Also, a girl appears in front of him and plugs a cable into his chest. When he regains his consciousness, he finds himself being in a digital world. There, a girl suddenly appears and says to him, "Collect some data of human desire..."
When he comes back to his world, his portable game console changes into something different... The console is called "Pandora" that makes human desire something like a game. With this strange game console, what kind of games will be created...?
There is an English review.
20. Master by Maid [091225] Moviendo
The protagonist is a detective with a former coffee shop for a detective agency. One day, a self-styled maid named Nami recruits herself as the protagonist's assistant while diligently tending to his sexual desires. With a former cafe and maid, the detective agency starts getitng mistaken for an actual cofee shop; a messy story kicks off from the Detective Maid Coffee Shop~
Heartwarming bakage about Nami passionate about maids , but working as detective assistant. Short low quality fetish work, but a funny one.
21. Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! 4 Pia♥キャロットへようこそ!!4 [091225] Cocktail Soft
It’s the last summer vacation in Taichi’s school life. He got a call from his older sister Akemi inviting him to come to his hometown to play. She works at the Pia Carrot cafe and after being introduced to the manager Sayuri, he ended up helping out at the cafe. This will be an unforgettable summer vacation. SIM
22. Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica - After School 神曲奏界ポリフォニカ AFTER SCHOOL [091225] Ocelot
The third installment of studio Ocelot's Polyphonica Crimson series, releasing as an all-ages kinetic novel. The story is set between game episodes 3&4, and the light novels. Very short work about 10 hours total. For those who liked world in prequel Crimson Polyphonica.
23. Zettai★Maou ~Boku no Mune-kyun Gakuen Saga~絶対★魔王 ～ボクの胸キュン学園サーガ～ [091225] Score 1
One morning, protagonist's parents suddenly informs him that they are actually an ex-king of demons (maou) and a heroine. As a candidate for the next demon king, protagonist gets transferred into another school... located in the demon world.
Except for him, all of the students in his new class are girls. His new school life as a demon king candidate begins...
There is an English review for this RPG
24. Signal Heart Plus Signal Heartぷらす [091227] Purple Software
Prologue is the same as in Signal Heart, but now hero can choose between Mayuki, Eiko and Tsurugi instead of four main heroines. Remake
25. Natsuiro Kami Hikouki 夏色紙ヒコーキ [091229] Circus 1
This VN is a story about some people, some paper airplanes, and 2 summers shared between them that they will never forget. Unlike just about every other VN out there, this story doesn’t involve romance between the hero and heroines. Instead, it focuses on weaving a beautiful environment and touching interactions between characters. There is an English review.
26. Totsugeki! Ningen Sensha Limited Operations とつげき！人間戦車 LIMITED OPERATIONS [091230] Yakiniku Banzai! 1 2
The land of Japon has been split in two and thrown into war by two nations, the Empire of Japon and the Kingdom of Japon, who use biological weapons known as "Human Tanks" to fight their war. But now the war between these two has turned into a proxy war between the Human Tanks themselves.
The stage is a land not unlike modern day Japan - the land of Japon. The Empire of Japon and the Kingdom of Japon, two nations locked in war for an age, have finally agreed to a ceasefire to end the bloodshed.
To improve relations between the two countries, and due to the decrease of the radiotoxic particles that the Human Tanks use as fuel, the tanks themselves are about to disappear from all of Japon.
Fifty years since Human Tanks were first developed...
Our hero, Yatarou Shirahase, acting as an officer in the Imperial army, is dispatched on a mission to subjugate the Human Tanks. He must now battle an enemy of the same make as his own beloved company of Human Tanks.
There are English reviews.
27. Kehen 3 - The Innocent LunA: Eclipsed SinnerS 刻痕Ⅲ - The Innocent LunA:Eclipsed SinnerS [0912] Angels Blue Digital Entertainment 1 2 3 4
The third title in the Notch Series, although it is a standalone story.
A faraway island that has been forgotten by the rest of the world for decades had itself turned upside down, and peaceful life on it came to and end because of a series of brutal murders that had happened, getting even the protagonist, Asakawa Yuhito's childhood sweetheart killed. Can he find the real killer, and the deep dark secret behind the most powerful two families which governed the small island for times since immemorial?
There are English reviews.
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1. Again AGAIN FBI 超心理捜査官 [091210] Cing 1 2 3 In Again, an interactive crime novel developed by Cing, we play as FBI Agent J, the sole survivor of a string of murder cases that took place 19 years ago, who must use his special "past vision" skill (it allows the player to see locations in different times in order to notice the differences and solve puzzles) to investigate a new series of homicides linked to the past ones and to the mysterious serial killer Providence. Console exclusive, only including it because of missable reviews.
2. D.C.II Fall in Love D.C.II Fall in Love ～ダ・カーポII～フォーリンラブ [091218] Circus This compilation includes three sets of stories:
---> "After Stories"
Various after-stories focused on relationships with six heroines, added in D.C.II P.C. Sexual scenes are included.
---> "Kazami Educational Institution Drama Club -Autumn Premiere-"
Movies created by school drama club with Anzu Yukimura as a scenarist/director and her classmates as actors. Some horror, drama and frags are guaranteed.
---> "Ultimate Battle!"
Internecine wars between classmates of the protagonist, which occur during the school cultural and sports festivals. You can even hear the singing of some heroines here. And there is also the story about sexual harassment of Yoshiyuki's sisters. Fandisc
3. Manaka de Iku no!! ~Leaf Amusement Soft Vol.5~ 愛佳でいくの!! ～Leaf Amusement Soft Vol.5～ [091218] Leaf From visual novel maker Leaf, creators of To Heart, Comic Part and Utawarerumono, comes a new Fan Disc focusing on the adorable Komaki sisters from To Heart 2 and To Heart 2 Another Days! Manaka and Ikuno (put together in the title as a pun that also means "I'll go with Manaka!") star in a series of minigames and stories put together by the entertainment geniuses at Leaf. From Mananatsu, a 3D adventure game telling the after story of a day in Manaka's summer, to MAJIKARU Fight!, an action game where you pick from one of six characters and clear stages, beating your rivals to get the high score, to Princess Collection, a card battle game featuring characters from around the Leaf universe of games, and last but not least, Final Dragon Chronicle Guilty Requiem, a 3D dungeon RPG featuring all your favorite To Heart 2 characters in new costumes and roles. If you've wondered where the super hot fantasy version 2H2 characters are from that you've seen, this is it! Fandisc
4. Hoshiuta ~Starlight Serenade~ ほしうた～Starlight Serenade～ [091225] Frontwing 1 2 It is autumn... A boyfriend and a girlfriend get closer little by little... But one day, their relationship suddenly changes after some accident... Fandisc
5. Ice no! あいすのっ! [091225] Artemis. 1 Tomokazu is living alone in his house. It is winter, and just as usual, it is cold and everything around is covered with snow. What is unusual is the girl named Saki that he met in the snowy field. The girl claims to be his childhood friend whom he promised to marry once they grow up. He does not have any memory about childhood promise nor he even recall that he has a childhood friend. Yet the girl payed no heed and decided to live together with him in his house on the very same day they met. Nukige, only including it because of missable review.
6. Baldr Sky Core Defender [091229] Giga Baldr Sky Dive2 “Recordare” fandisc Fandisc
7. Anaheim Girl's Love Story アナハイム・ガールズ・ラブストーリー [091230] Fan-na 1 2
A girls' love story between two Anaheim Electronics engineers.
It also chronicles the development and construction of the fourth unit in the Gundam Development Project (GP-04 Gerbera), and its subsequent alteration into the Gerbera Tetra as seen in the "Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories" anime.
Doujin girls love, but including it since I kinda managed to write a review for it some years ago
Year 2009 was cool in my evaluation due to two 10/10 masterpieces. It starts to get weird, but the overall number of masterpieces for me is exactly 20 yet again this year. New portion of Visual Novel Openings 2009 with songs.
My list of masterpieces in 2009:
Abyss -Homicide Club-
Amber Quartz
Bengarachou Hakubutsushi
Boku no Te no Naka no Rakuen
Coμ - Kuroi Ryuu to Yasashii Oukoku -
Devils Devel Concept
Eden* They Were Only Two, On The Planet.
Heliotrope -Sore wa Shi ni Itaru Kami no Ai-
Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star-
Kitto, Sumiwataru Asairo Yori mo
Like a Butler
Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai!
Natsu no Ame
Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai - Under the Innocent Sky.
Shinjisougeki Carnival
Soukou Akki Muramasa
Steins;Gate
Tapestry -you will meet yourself-
Trample on "Schatten!!" ~Kagefumi no Uta~
Zettai Karen! Ojou-sama
VN of the year was spoiled before during awesome October month - it's Soukou Akki Muramasa
But yet again google ruined my routine by wiping my second channel, so need to decide where this all is going one more time. First, brief recap.
First channel was shut down due to violation of community guidelines after publishing short 2-minute video of Nanairo Daydream ~Nanami Wonderland 2~ . It basically started with nsfw scene on the beach, so might slip something there, or might be totally different video since google likes to find something bad months after video's initial publishing. I never got answered what exactly violation was about and which video's fault it was. Any appeals got returned within 15 minutes, so pretty sure no human ever reviewed that. Google breaks its own rules of three strikes since I had 0/3 strikes.
This second channel takedown is due to copyright. Natsu no Ame BGM rights owner issued some 50 complaints for each of game's videos (for each play fragment, apparently) at the same time, so it was instantly 500 violations or so. Usually it's just 1, only Garden had some 30 per video, but at that point I ignored and nothing happened for a year. If I ever record any gameplay, it will be with BGM shut down. But the question is why would we need playthrough without BGM. Once again Google breaks its own rules. There was no warning, no strike and even no way to appeal - the only option for me was to find email of publisher and ask him to take down complaints or counter sue rights owner in US court. SERIOUSLY? Monetized partners channels are given 7 days to deal with complaint or do smth with video, but channels under 1k subs are just instantly shutdown. And once again there are no real rules here, because content owners just show their ads on the claimed content videos 99% of the time as claim is applied. And on the 100th occasion someone decides to take down video instead. And with 500 takedown complaints sent at once it's an instant shift from innocent to grave recidivist. Basically, there aren't clear rules, and creator is always guilty by default with the only protection measure being monetized partnership. I don't want to gamble with a cheater anymore as channel that doesn't bring ads money and takes a lot of space can be shut down literally at any moment under any pretext at all, so there are three ways of blog development that I see:
1. No more channels. Just blog with same format month articles and occasional reviews is enough.
2. Make a channel with only games that I like and BGM cut. With smaller number of videos it's going to be possible to backup stuff.
3. Make same channel with great video frequency, just with BGM cut.
Hikari no Valusia ~What a Beautiful Hopes~ is VN of the Month, but for me it's not a masterpiece. I happened to play Sorafune and Shiden ~Enkan no Kizuna~ in the past, so will take Atori no Sora to Shinchuu no Tsuki for review. Micchi is understandably fascinated by Baldr Sky Dive2, but also lays hopes on Imouto Smile, Shiden and Suzunone Seven fandisc.
1. BlazBlue: Continuum Shift ブレイブルー コンティニュアム シフト, [091120] Arc System Works 1 2 3 4
The game is set after the events of Blazblue: Calamity Trigger. A few days have passed since the reported raid by Ragna the Bloodedge, The 13th Hierarchical City "Kagutsuchi" forgets to celebrate New Years, as his alleged involvement in the "Mysterious Bombing" and "Huge Pentacle Sightings" becomes the talk of the town. With the Novus Orbis Librarium offering no official explanation, the citizens voice their own theories, exaggerating and spreading rumors like wildfire. The name "Ragna the Bloodedge" is engraved in the minds of the people. Completely indifferent to the state of the city, the silver-haired Grim Reaper grips his massive sword and quietly bides his time—waiting for the chance to achieve his true objective. And then, the enormous "power" that has ensnared the "Grim Reaper" begins to activate...
Fighting is localized and has English reviews.
2. Hikari no Valusia ~What a Beautiful Hopes~ 白光のヴァルーシア ～What a beautiful hopes～ [091120] Liar-soft 1 2
In a big city in the desert called Valcia, only young people called 'adept' are allowed to go out. The city used to be covered with a canopy, but people can see the sky and a lot of people visit the city through the canopy now. But this inflow of people gradually changes the city...
Young people called "adept" are the ones who search into various ruined labyrinths full of treasures and danger, and fight against monsters called 'horror'. Recently, these monsters called 'horror'", which are supposed to exist only in the labyrinths, started to appear in the city. People are now afraid of the change of the city and the monsters.
One night; a boy sees something shiny, another boy learns what to love, a girl finds the meaning of the starry sky, and an assassin sheds a tear of remorse...
There are English reviews.
3. Koigoromo ~Mazu wa Korekite!~ 恋衣～まずはコレ着て！～ [091120] Catear
One day, Minoru tells Sachi that he loves her. Sachi is surprised and says, "If you could disguise yourself as a girl, I'd say yes!" On the next day, Minoru appears in front of Sachi in a girl's school uniform. Sachi is excited to see his beauty and decides to...
It's basically an animated trap game in specific style made for girls.
4. Usotsuki to Inugamitsuki ウソツキと犬神憑き [091120] Kuroneko-san Team
Tsukumo’s father had always told him not to be near the forest when dusk approaches. However, he was curious and often tread near the forest even though he cannot walk well due to an accident. One day, he sees something red along the road… is this blood? Then he could smell the scent of a beast, even though he could not before. Was this the reason why he was told to stay away?
It's about calm daily life at the shrine with various youkai. Then there are five different individual route with one counting as a True End. Atmospheric work with unusual heroines, but don't expect a thrilling story.
5. Shiden ~Enkan no Kizuna~ 紫電～円環の絆～ [091126] Akatsuki Works Hibiki 1 2
In this world, there are people with special abilities. Behind the face of normal human lives, people fight. Be it creatures from the dead, other humans or even creatures between themselves. That always happens, but the balance of the world is always maintained. This time, things are not going so smoothly.
One man, together with three of his subordinates rise up from the dead. They seek destruction and control over the entire world. The four undead beings that cannot be killed now wages war against the world, starting from Japan.
Their key is the shrine maiden, the only one left of her kind.
There are English reviews.
6. Puzzle -Bokura no 48 Jikan Sensou- パズル −ぼくらの48時間戦争− [091126] Kadokawa Shoten
A group of masked terrorists assaults an elite high school. The talented students will have to find a way to avoid being killed while also finding a way out.
Timed search for pieces in order to escape? Too many elements that I detest.
7. Atori no Sora to Shinchuu no Tsuki アトリの空と真鍮の月 [091127] TopCat
There is a school in a small village. One day, Haito, who is back to the village for the first time in six years, transfers to this school, but there are only four female students. According to them, people in the village believe in some kind of god. As he lives there, he gradually finds a secret the villagers try to hide...
Beginning is atmospheric, but as the whole gods battle unfolds it gets confusing. Protagonist is cursed, and heroines try to break it, and scenario is the same for every girl. Heroines are rather interesting, so it's a good game if contrast between SOL beginning and fantasy development does not scare you.
8. Baldr Sky Dive2 “Recordare” Baldr Sky Dive2 “Recordare” [091127] Team Baldrhead 1 2 3 4 5 6
One day, Kadokura Kou awakes in a virtual battlefield. He, who is a skilled Simulacrum user, soon remembers that he was pursuing someone with Rain, his partner.
Kou and Rain investigate the incident that ruined his peaceful school life known as "Gray Christmas", but various mysteries stand in the way of the truth. As time passes, he gradually regains his lost memories and re-unites with his friends.
When all of the mysteries congregate, the door of truth opens...
Action is localized and has English reviews.
9. Dark Blue [091127] LiLiM DARKNESS 1 2
"I'll save you right away!" I try to open the door, but I can't.... I try again, but nothing happens.... "Do I need a key to open this door?" But I don't have enough time to look for it. I can't open it.... I can't open.... I can't.... "Noooooooooooooo!!" I hear your scream from inside.... I can do nothing.... You'll never come back... never....
There are English reviews.
10. Imouto Smile 妹スマイル [091127] Citoron Soft
Living alone in a huge mansion after the death of his parents, our protagonist gazes outside and sees a cute girl. He thinks to himself that life would be so much better if she was his little sister, a part of his family. He then hears a knock at his door and the girl introduces herself as his little sister.
Imouto moege.
11. Natsuiro Penguin 夏いろペンギン [091127] Little Princess
Since his parents have gone abroad on business, he now lives at his cousin's house in a town, where he used to live. He meets various childhood friends there. It's busy, but he enjoys his school life. This is a love comedy adventure game taken place in a small town. Who will stay by his side in the end...?
It's basically a failed moege since heroines are drawn cute on the surface, but in fact are just templates with zero attraction. Text is really bad, first H event is sudden.
12. Sorafune そらふね [091127] Dandelion
The world is full of mysteries. Even though the adults laugh and think it’s just pretending to explore and chasing a childhood dream, a group of friends head out to investigate these mysteries and understand the truth behind things in this world.
I played it over a decade ago and wrote some impression that never published. So here it goes. Story takes place around our time, but technology was developing in a way that it became almost magic-like. 60 years ago protagonist Shinichi grandpa made first contact with aliens and learned to make intelligent androids. Story takes place in a maze of unexplored routes and roads that academy students set to explore. I had hoped for an average adventuring story since there were at least several sword-wielding characters, an adventuring party and an elf. So elf turned out to be alien exchange student, adventuring party - a group of powerless students and adventuring story turned into very vague mystery. All the plot actually takes only couple sentences - students found some kind of small spaceship in the underground maze and were led back home by some wizard. Later on that wizard revealed himself as some old dragon reincarnation and was put down by common efforts of academy staff and students. So the other 99% of the game time is pretty much another charage. Characters were actually memorable and well done, but with various nuts in their heads. Humor was ok, and I especially appreciated that two chibi characters constantly cut into narration to explain different setting details. To sum it up, it was a good try but weird setting and forcing charage over plot killed interest for me quite early.
13. Toshi Densetsu wa Hito o Kuu 都市伝説は人を喰う [091127] Setsugetsuka Software
There is a rumor about "Tokiko's Cell Phone". If you call Tokiko, you'll need to remove her curse. If you don't, you'll die...
One day, Atsushi, who works at a cafe, accidentally calls Tokiko. He soon decides to take action to get rid of her curse with other workers. Well, will he be able to get rid of her curse or...?
We choose a girl and inspect locations with her every day trying to set flags. This mundane activity takes most of game's time. Eventually there is a crappy H event, and the curse is solved. The End.
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1. Last Waltz ~Hakudaku Mamire no Natsu Gasshuku~ Last Waltz～白濁まみれの夏合宿～ [091127] Guilty 1 It was just supposed to be a summer training. Yuki is a caretaker of the baseball club. She and other members stay at a training camp on the isolated island now. But one day, a civil war breaks out. Male teachers leave the island to see what's going on. However, they never come back. Several days later, they know that their ship is wrecked. Nothing to drink, nothing to eat, they gradually lose their self-control... Nukige, only including it because of missable review
2. Suzunone Seven! -Sweet Lovers' Concerto- スズノネセブン！－Sweet Lovers’Concerto－ [091127] Clochette 1 2
Suzunone Seven! -Sweet Lovers' Concerto- includes several short stories with eight pretty characters.
-Yuzuri's Story-
Two months have passed since the trial. I am now living a peaceful life with my friends. Just one week before the graduation ceremony, Yuzuri visits Yukimura's house to write a speech in reply given during the ceremony....
Fandisc
Foreword: I somehow did not play this Nitroplus game earlier, but its universally high scores are intriguing.
Synopsis:
In the first half of 20th century, Rokuhara Shogunate rules Japan with an iron fist of robotic suits of armor called Tsurugi, while the West wants to turn Japan into another military base. A policeman called Kageaki Minato arrives into a city of Kamakura to solve various different cases involving Tsurugi users (or Mushas), and when all other means are proven useless, defeats them with a skillful use of his own Tsurugi, the bloody red Muramasa. But he doesn't do that out of justice. He only wants to atone for his past sins and to defeat the most powerful Musha, one known as the Silver Star.
“The devil I shall meet, the devil I shall cut. The saint I shall meet, the saint I shall cut.”
This is the phrase that Kageaki says when fusing with Muramasa, and this is the phrase that tells both his past and his future…
"Good and evil balance out each other."
"This is not a hero's story. Those who aspire to become heroes are not needed."
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8FwPtJGPnPuXZexYlIOvlf
Character Design rating: 10/10
Protagonist rating: 10/10
Story rating: 10/10
Game quality: 10/10
Overall rating: 10/10
You see the scores. I was absolutely sure that nothing can beat Coμ - Kuroi Ryuu to Yasashii Oukoku this year since I rate it as 10/10, but Coμ is a conventional yet well done chunige while Muramasa is something abnormal, impossible, one of a kind - and in this regard beyond comparison. As usual, I'm going to be brief with impression since many people did it much better already (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9). Even more brief than usual since there is nothing to complain about.
Can't attend any issues without mentioning the length of the game. It took me 105 hours to beat. That's insane. The script size says that it's roughly twice smaller than Steel and half smaller than Reconquista, but it's not how it feels as Steel took me 80 hours to finish and Reconquista just 42 hours. In Soukou Akki Muramasa some scenes need to be replayed for further routes, and everyone is voiced, so I guess it's an optical illusion of some kind, but it definitely feels that Soukou Akki Muramasa is the longest visual novel game that I ever played.
Not going to trample over concept or characters (except that I hate Kanae for never opening eyes as eyes is the most important element in design of any character) - it has been done numerous times already. What I wish to focus on is what makes this game special. There are very few visual novels that don't center around heroines in some way. Most of those vns come from pre-Leaf era when there was no habit to prepare routes for different heroines (e.g. Eve: Burst Error or Luv Wave). Soukou Akki Muramasa does not focus on heroines at all. It's not a love story - heroines are just individualistic tag-alongs developing specific qualities inside protagonist. And for the same reason game is not afraid to get rid of the heroines. Routes distinction in Soukou Akki Muramasa is very formal and can be easily transformed to naming of personality traits or just remembering structure only by five plot chapters. Another thing that I adore in the game is constant urge to know what happens next. I can't actually remember any other visual novel with comparable thriller element involved. Text is very well done with descriptions and infodumping kicking in rarely. Everything is built around dialogues, and with every single side-character voiced it feels alive.
Soukou Akki Muramasa hits all the right spots for me, but first chapter is worth reading even for chuni haters for its incomparable experience and impact. It's an epic integrate project that was only possible during golden age of visual novels. But its scale will astonish many generations to come.
