Happy new year! There’s not much to look forward to this month, so it’s probably a good time to catch up on your backlog. Leading the way is Nitro+’s action-packed TOKYO NECRO and ninetail’s RPG sequel GEARS of DRAGOON 2. There’s also a meddling protagonist in Studio Ryokucha’s Hanikami CLOVER and a meddling committee in GIGA’s Amaekata wa Kanojo Nari ni.. If you want more Ryukishi07, there’s the horror doujin title Iwaihime.
The delay this month was entirely my fault, so sorry about that folks. Besides forgetting that the December post existed, I was running around towards the end of last month. So that happened. As far as the new year of eroge is concerned… We are off to quite a lousy start. If you are lucky there may be one or two games worth playing in January, otherwise pretend its still 2015 and finish off those games.
GEARS of DRAGOON 2 ~Reimei no Fragments~
Company: ninetail
Game site: GEARS of DRAGOON 2 ～黎明のフラグメンツ～
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This dungeon exploration RPG is ninetail’s 10th anniversary title. The city-state Carnas flourishes thanks to its prominent magical culture. However, underneath it lies the ruins of a fallen machine civilization.
One time, a machine was excavated from the labyrinth and once it was restored, its power and convenience sparked great interest. This led to a delicate tension between the contrasting civilizations and the gears of fate began to turn.
Heeding his father’s last words to find the truth of history and obtain the great power hidden deep within the ruins, as well as following his innate inquisitiveness, the young ‘undergrounder’ Rosta sets out to challenge the labyrinth.
While there’s a 2 in the title, there’s not much that carries over from the first GEARS of DRAGOON, other than improvements to the system. The map system uses a bird’s eye view for the first time, while incorporating plenty of hack and slash, rare items and powerful enemies to keep things fun to the end. They’ve reduced the number of elements to 6 from 11 to have better balancing. You can also choose to skip rape scenes if defeated. There are three difficulty levels: easy, normal, and berserk. I think I’m gonna stay away from RPGs in the next while…
Perhaps I am crazy. Either that or Ninetail is full of screwballs who think a ten year anniversary should celebrate aspirations of mediocrity. So you made games for ten years, good for you. Sucks for us having to see this crap for ten years, but I’m happy you were able to convince enough morons to purchase your products for ten years, cheers to you. I do wish that perhaps in celebration there was a token attempt to innovate a teensy tiny bit. But alas, no such luck. Instead we are stuck having to look upon a game that was coded over 30 years ago with some CG pinups thrown over top. In fact it is so old this is taught in programming class right after “Hello World”. I feel embarrassed to have to read about games like this every month. This time however I am appalled at the sheer shamelessness of the company to call this a ten year anniversary. Maybe in ten more years they will reach 1995 and give us proper 2d sprite turn based combat RPGs. Progress sure is a beautiful thing.
HOLY BREAKER! 2 -THE WISH IN NIGHT OF THE STAR TALERS.
Company: HINOUE ITARU design office.
Game site: HOLY BREAKER！ 第2巻 -THE WISH IN NIGHT OF THE STAR TALERS.-
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This is the sequel to Hinoue Itaru’s doujin title HOLY BREAKER, and it was first sold at Comiket 89. A few months after Tsukumo met the jet-black witch Minase, a new scheme began to take hold just when he had healed from the life-or-death battle. The gears of the world began to turn with his meeting with the German visitor Saten and subsequent clash with the ‘zero’ spiritual user Licht.
Just more supernatural battles. It’d be worth getting only if you played the first title.
I am going to consider this a fandisk. Because it looks stupid, and I don’t feel like commenting.
LOVEREC. -Mini Theaters-
Company: ALcot
Game site: LOVEREC. －ミニシアターズ－
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This mini fandisc for LOVEREC. takes place a year after the club members’ reunion with Hitomi. As they’re all moving up a grade, they’ve each begun to think about their futures. At that time, Nori announced that she wanted to attend the doujinshi selling event Natsucom. There will be (real) H scenes in the after stories. I can’t wait to spend time with Hitomi and Nori!
So fandisks were not enough. Now we have mini fandisks. If this becomes a new term I am just going to leave a blank every time.
Hanikami CLOVER
Company: すたじお緑茶 (Studio Ryokucha)
Game site: はにかみCLOVER
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
Yamato was transferred to a new school due to his personality as a kind but meddling troublemaker. He joined the former girls’ school Seirinkan Academy, which recently became co-ed during reorganization. His classmates were at first perplexed by his transfer midway through the term, but they gradually accepted him after getting to know his good points.
However, there was someone who would not approve of him: the student council president Rio, who greatly hates men. There was a great commotion as many eccentric girls flocked to his side. It also seems that Rio holds a secret which she cannot tell others…
Ruchie isn’t the artist for this title, which is the first since Studio Ryokucha’s renewal of sorts in the past year (she will be in the next one). Instead, it will be light novel artist kakao in charge of the art. Hirose Madoka still does the SDs and main heroine Rio is voiced by none other than Agumi Oto. While I am interested enough to want to try it, it really depends on how the trial goes since they’ve got a new scenario writer. I’m also expecting that this will be delayed, since that’s happened for pretty much all of their games.
Guy who is too nice but apparently everything goes bad around him through no fault of his own gets thrown into a sea of women. Summary now complete I would like to say… Nothing. I just, god can we at least for the sake of a new year, make it LOOK like some effort is put into things. There is no purpose for the setting, nor the protagonist. Take both away and it will come down to the writer either way so why even bother turning the setting into some BS. I honestly hope the writer does a good job, because I am rather sick of playing games that could have been written by a blind, retarded walrus rubbing its ass on a keyboard.
Angenehm Plats -Kleiner Garten Sie Erstellen-
Company: ヘクセンハウス (HexenHaus)
Game site: アンゲネームプラッツ -Kleiner Garten Sie Erstellen-
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
Rio’s osananajimi Yuuna loves cosplaying and wanted him to dress up as a girl at school. He refused, but eventually relented after being asked repeatedly. He put on the school uniform which she had made, and she helped set up his wig and make-up. It was perfect; he looked like an extremely cute girl. Unfortunately, the selfish ojou-sama Nene saw through his disguise as they were walking in the hallway and ordered them to follow her bidding if they didn’t want his cross-dressing to be exposed. Her first order was for them to find enough members to create a café club.
HexenHaus continues their habit of using German titles for a café game. Unfortunately, they’ve also got a habit for making mediocre games. They’ve got decent character designs, but the characters are pretty generic (just missing the imouto). I feel like its ceiling would be a standard romance comedy. And there’s no way you would catch me dressing up as a girl in school.
If eroge has taught us anything it is that cross dressing equals H scenes. In which case why not just come out and admit it.
The game isn’t worth considering though. It is about as bland an eroge as is humanly possible. Just a railroad the protagonist is forced to follow while flicking the switchboard to select which station to dock his train in.
School of Fantasia
Company: 玉藻ソフト (Tamamo Soft)
Game site: スクールオブファンタジア
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This harem RPG is the professional debut for doujin circle Tamamo Studio, under the name Tamamo Soft. All of a sudden, there were children who were born in Japan with special abilities. They were segregated to a school located on Tendoujima, an island in the southern sea. Meanwhile, the relatively normal Yorito drifted on to the island after being swept by the waves from his adventurer father’s raft. After Himeno saved his life with artificial respiration, he ended up transferring into the Tendoujima Gakuen. Since he was suspected of being a spy, he accepted a request to explore the dungeon where monsters dwelled in order to establish his innocence. He enjoyed a pleasant life with the girls at the school, getting to know them better and solving their worries, but soon he became involved in various events while investigating the dungeon.
The RPG system still looks like a doujin, but you know you’re on the big stage when you manage to snag some recognizable seiyuus (Ogura Yui, Momoi Ichigo, Toono Soyogi). The protagonist is your usual brute who has great strength, but lacks common sense. I’ve always wondered why they do put swords in the hands of these people…
Chaos. Pure chaos is how I would describe this game. The plot is all over the place the gameplay as well. I would like to give them some credit for maybe trying to change things up even in a bad way, but its just much too pathetic an attempt. Just because you can make things work as a doujin group where expectations are low doesn’t mean the same standards apply when doing things professionally.
Happening LOVE!!
Company: つみきそふと (Tsumiki Soft)
Game site: ハプニングLOVE!!
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This is the debut work for Tsumiki Soft. Due to their parent’s transfer abroad for work, Shun returned with his imouto Miku to live in their hometown. The town had changed slightly from what he had remembered. He reunited with his energetic osananajimi Haruka, and met Sanae, the smart and beautiful grand-daughter of the school chairman, and the mischievous and voluptuous senpai Misaki. The days he spends with them shouldn’t be that unusual, but since they are overly unskilled at love, they are lively and full of exciting happenings.
That’s whipped cream and this is a nukige.
^
Amaekata wa Kanojo Nari ni.
Company: 戯画 (GIGA)
Game site: 甘えかたは彼女なりに。
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
“It’s not like I can’t make friends. I just don’t want to.”
That’s what Hiroto says as he pretends that it was his own choice to be alone, but it would have been rather difficult for others to approach him with his slightly frightening looks and general surliness. His classmates also kept their distance from the strikingly beautiful Tomomi, who would chide anyone who bothered her.
One day, Tomomi came up to Hiroto in the courtyard while he was enjoying lunch by himself. He thought she was going to confess to him, prompting a stern rebuke from her, as she was flabbergasted at his unexpected misunderstanding. Actually, she wanted him to come with her after school to the ‘assistance committee’, which is committee under the control of the student council for helping troubled students. However, he hadn’t heard anyone say goods things about it; in fact, it was dreaded to the extent that it is nicknamed the ‘meddling committee’.
The plot sounds awfully like Oregairu. But it has Kino Konomi art and ero, so that’s gotta mean something, right? I think I prefer this over the Kiss series.
A quick question, as I was sure there was some game by Giga I intended to play recently but I forgot. If anyone has played a game from them other than Baldr that was any good please let me know.
I second Micchi here about it sounding like Oregairu. Going to depend heavily on writing here. As the game will thrive on comedy and keeping the reader interested. As they have a series to copy from we can hope they did their homework at least I suppose.
Oh I don’t like the art either. Not so much style as shading or lack thereof makes the contrast feel too weak.
Trailer
Sengo Muramasa -Ken no Gaika-
Company: げーせん18 (Gesen18)
Game site: 戦御村正 -剣の凱歌-
Release date: December 18, 2015
Comments:
In 1939, the entire world was plunged back into war even while it hasn’t fully recovered from the wounds of the last one. It was not long before the wartime fire reached the Pacific. The power of the Tokugawa shogunate had not yet weakened, and Japan began to attack its neighbour. It was at this time that one Sanada Yukiaki appeared, the descendent of Sanada Yukimura who had bared his fangs at Tokugawa Ieyasu.
This is the eroge version of SystemSoft Alpha’s long-running Daisenryaku series, with characters drawn by almost two dozen different artists. It’s an SLG which uses a hex grid. The story seems to be combine elements from WWII and the Sengoku period. Not interested in this. Pass.
Another Gesen18 game, this time WW2.
TOKYO NECRO
Company: ニトロプラス (Nitro+)
Game site: 凍京NECRO＜トウキョウ・ネクロ＞
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
Souun and Echika are young private special living dead stalkers. They are both considered top class with special battle skills called ‘proximity gun arts’. One day during a mission, Souun met a lone girl Iria at the end of a fierce battle. She completely lost her memories except her name and was the target of a mysterious group of necromancers. In a cyber Tokyo full of gunpowder smoke, living dead and crime, a life or death battle for the living dead stalkers and a heroine has begun.
Zombies! Gunfights! Chainsaws! Bear kigurumi! The trial was definitely upbeat, with a cyberpunk feel and packed full of action, as expected from Nitro+. The story is written by Shimokura Vio, who previously worked on Tototo, Axanael, and Sumaga. This should be a good pickup for anyone looking for something more exciting.
So someone read and or watched Tokyo Ghoul and now wants to make an eroge of it. Congratulations Nitro+ for not even trying to come up with your own material anymore. Oh also any writer who worked on sumaga is a plague and should be euthanized for the sake of the world.
Hataraku Otona no Ren’ai Jijou
Company: あかべぇそふとすりぃ (AkabeiSoft3)
Game site: 働くオトナの恋愛事情
Release date: December 25, 2015
Comments:
Itsuki is a typical salaryman. He wakes up every day to go to work and sometimes works overtime. When he gets home, he eats dinner, takes a bath and then sleeps, with the whole routine repeating the next day. Even though most of the day is taken up by work, there’s not much result to show for it. This must be the standard repetitive everyday for the majority of society. One time, his boss made a passing remark:
“It would be better if you changed. Even just a little.”
If that happened, then he might be able to see something new. Maybe know something he didn’t before, or to meet someone for the first time. He made a move to change, but quickly on the first night, he ended up in bed with a girl he had just met. It was an event that surely would not have happened until now. Along with many other meetings, his working adult life would gradually change.
I really like the feel of the game from both the art and the OP; it imparts a much more mature tone than the plethora of increasingly unrealistic high school romance comedies. It would mean getting into relationships with women from different backgrounds and fields, but I’m worried that it would just be an excuse to stuff in lots of H scenes (there’s 13 in the trial alone). Sure they’re quite ero, but it would be a shame to not let Nakajima Taiga (Dekinai Watashi ga, Kurikaesu) write something more involved. I’m pretty sure being an adult isn’t about getting in bed with as many girls as possible. If that’s the case, I’m doing something wrong in my life…
THANK YOU JESUS, BHUDDA, ODIN, JEHOVA, GANESH, ZEUS, AMON RA, EVERY OTHER GOD NOT NAMED, and viewers like you. It only took a few years of whining and bitching every single month to finally get a normal slice of life style eroge not set in a god damn high school. Honestly I don’t even care if its terrible at this point. Just the fact they actually changed things up without making the setting horribly retarded in the process makes me want to weep in joy.
Ok taking a step back, I will say I doubt the game is all that good. Mainly because it feels as though there is too much focus on the H content and not enough depth to the background or characters. So now the next step will be eroge with similar settings but better made.
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate ~Bara no Seibo~
Company: アクセル (AXL)
Game site: 恋する乙女と守護の楯 ～薔薇の聖母～
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This is a sequel to AXL’s 2007 work Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate, as part of their 10th anniversary. After the wrapping up the Saint Theresa case, Shuuji (call sign Shield 9) had built a solid reputation within AIGIS… as a cross-dressing infiltration specialist. As a result, they kept giving him similar missions, exhausing him to the point that he thought about quitting. On his next mission, he complained that he was sick of cross-dressing, but the chief told him that they had already accepted the case. He couldn’t refuse a request from one who he considers as family, so with a promise that it would be the last such mission, he set out for an ojou-sama school reminiscent of Saint Theresa.
His mission was to run for and win the student council leader position. There were supposedly agents who had infiltrated the school to assist him, but he was not given any further information. He’s only got two months to accomplish the task. The reason behind it is that there was a death threat against whoever became the next student council leader. In addition, there was antagonism between the “Lady Alliance” led by the grand-daughter of the school chairman and the self-governing school committee. Will he be able to secure the leadership and disentangle the web of conflicts at the school?
“I will definitely protect you. So, believe in me.”
How nostalgic! Koitate was the first AXL game I’ve played, and it is still arguably one of their best works. The heroines are different this time (I’ll miss Marina), but the staff has remained exactly the same. So that means it should be just as comedic and suspenseful, right? I sure hope so!
Never played the original, nor do I have any intention to do so. That said the premise is weak. Perhaps if the student council plot line was taken out, at least from the initial purpose then there would be some improvement. These things should be worked into the movement of the plot for logical reasons. Instead of spelling it out as part of the setting. Ah well, if I hear the game is good or at least funny I’ll play it, otherwise it will be forgotten by next month.
Koi no Hanito ~Ecchi de Amai Honey Trap~
Company: WHITESOFT-ALBINO
Game site: 恋のハニトー ～えっちで甘いハニートラップ～
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This is the first title by WHITESOFT-ALBINO. For many years, Koikawa was known as the village where love was born. There was once a festival Rentansai where lovers would promise on the riverbank to be with each other for eternity while the fireflies danced at night. However, things have long since changed.
There was a rumour that the village would be amalgamated with other towns nearby. Ryou and his friends at school loved the village dearly and planned to revive the legendary Rentansai to showcase the best of Koikawa to the world. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the girls who all greatly loved him began to boldly tempt him with their charms. Will they be able to successfully revive the festival? And will he fall into their honey trap?
Hmm… I like Shirogane Hina’s art, but she’s only one of three artists and the story is by some random guy who’s only written doujin trap games. I think I’ll pass.
Another generic “Save the club” game. I’m with Micchi here, pass.
Iwaihime
Company: DMM GAMES
Game site: 祝姫
Release date: January 29, 2016
Comments:
This all-ages horror doujin title by Ryuukishi07 comes out concurrently in package form via Toranoana and electronically via DMM.com. All boys in the Suzuhara family leave home to live by themselves once they have reached a certain age. By training their mind and body without the help of others, they are deemed to have become men. Susumu has been prepared for this day, and set out from his home to live by himself in an apartment owned by his distant relative Tsubakiko’s family and to attend Susuda prefectural high school.
He spends his days happily and comfortably, but there was something strange about his classmate Toe. She always holds what appears to be a Japanese doll to her chest. There were whispers that it must be a cursed doll whose hair would suddenly grow long. It appeared to be just a weird doll, but his meeting with her was destined to happen.
Ryukishi07’s back to writing horror/mystery instead of trying to collaborate with other writers. Luckily, he’s also got a proper illustrator (Kazuharu Kina) to make the characters not look so derpy. The origin of the story is probably the Okiku doll, with its curse spreading to the students at the school. It might be an interesting read for those wishing for a change in genre or just wanting more of Ryukishi07’s stories (like Zen).
The legendary worst writer in all of VN history is back to insult the collective intelligence of humanity. Burn it and him with fire please.
Micchi’s Top 3 for This Month
- LOVEREC. -Mini Theaters-
- Hanikami CLOVER
- Amaekata wa Kanojo Nari ni.
Zen’s Top 3 for This Month
- Hataraku Otona no Ren’ai Jijou
- Amaekata wa Kanojo Nari ni.
- TOKYO NECRO
When you read this, I’ll be in Japan stuffing myself with food.
And I shall be retroactively working on December. Life sure is fair.
