October 2013 Eroge Releases

Are you ready for the Heart Link? PULLTOP’s Cocoro@Function! should be everyone’s top pick in this light month. Let’s hope that it will maintain the high quality from their previous award-winning game Konosora. LOSE makes everyone happy with more lolis in its sequel Monobeno -happy end-. Popular comedy Green Green gets a remake from OVERDRIVE, while Ricotta follows up the Walkure Romanze anime with its sequel, Walkure Romanze More&More. It may be a small list, but there’s some great games here.

Sad, sad month, not only are the games not just bland, but outright bad, on top of which there are so very few of them. It takes a month like this to appreciate all those months were nothing special comes out and the whole list feels generic. I know I tend to complain about how cookie cutter games are much of the time, but please bring that back before we see more months like this.

Usotsuki Ouji to Nayameru Ohime-sama -Princess syndrome-

Company: Whirlpool
Game site: うそつき王子と悩めるお姫さま -Princess syndrome-
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
It’s been two years since the mysterious disease “princess syndrome” had been made public. It affects young girls during puberty and the split personality-like symptoms range from mild to serious. In serious cases, she could become like a totally different person due to her wavering feelings and gain a special ability called ‘märchen’ which could cause great problems to those around her. To combat this problematic illness, all carriers (called ‘princesses’) were gathered at Saint Andersen Gakuen on the secluded island of Yumegashima. One day, a boy Yuuji came to the school. He was the ‘fake prince’ who could put a stop to their rampaging.

So, puberty is an illness and it is up to YOU to save them! Or better yet, just go after those that haven’t reac… never mind. The heroines all have ‘princesses’ inside them, such as Rapunzel, Orihime and Little Mermaid. It is said that the princess syndrome will dissipate over time and will be completely gone by the time they become adults. The prince only comes around once every 10 years. This time, Nanau Misou (Konosora, Sukimazakura) is in charge of the story, but the important thing is more Komowata Haruka SDs! That’s what sets Whirlpool games apart from other comedy-focused chara-ges.

And thus Micchi is finally honest about his real motives with younger sisters. This game is pretty dumb though, not the idea of referencing princess characters from myths and fairy tales but the way each story is thrown into a blender turning them all into a horrific looking sludge is rather unappealing.  When you have the freedom to create a setting or world in whatever way you want there is zero reason to throw things together so haphazardly. I find it hard to even laugh when something is so poorly made, the least they could have done was make a new setting for them to coexist in, like the Shrek series of movies did.

Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade

Company: フォン (feng)
Game site: ちいさな彼女の小夜曲
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from March. The ‘ningyo matsuri’ (mermaid festival) is held every year in the village of Suminoe-chou, which faces the Pacific Ocean. Takumi helps out with his family’s popular cafe Mermaid with his osananajimi Mizuka and his mother Isana.

On the night of the festival, Takumi came upon a girl with a beautiful voice. She was surprised at the unexpected visitor and accidentally slipped into the sea. He saved her and since he couldn’t let her be in her drenched state, he invited the mysterious girl Shione to his house. When Isana decided that Shione would stay in their house and Matsuri, who he had met at the festival, transferred into his school, his days gradually began to change.

This title is misleading. I thought that they would all be little girls like in OTA-MA!, but there’s only just one. Well, Shione is really cute and I’d wanna take her home. I like the way Takumi thinks.

She is too small, he should have thrown her back like any honorable fisherman would. Obviously Micchi likes to break all kinds of laws related to the size of his catch both above and below the waves. Otherwise standard fare other than the fishy theme.

Monobeno -happy end-

Company: Lose
Game site: ものべの -happy end-
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
This is the sequel to Monobeno, with after stories for Sumi, Alice, Natsuha, and a pre-story for Hishakaku. It also rewrites parts of Sumi and Alice’s route which seem to be bad ends for Natsuha, and adds a toggle for certain CGs. Upon players’ requests, the H scenes are more numerous and intense. All in all, it’s a happy end for everyone.

In Sumi’s after story, Tooru trains hard to turn back the clock for Natsuha, while supported by Sumi and their daughter Emi, who has a special ability to see ‘holes’ which link the youkai world. In Alice’s after story, Tooru’s happy life with Alice after fleeing the clutches of Himemiya-sama is disrupted with the appearance of a young girl Seishin Himemiya, who reverted Alice to a little girl and took her memories. In Natsuha’s after story, Natsuha remains in her small form and Tooru aims to cure her IAGS completely.

As expected from a loli-ge, the happy end consists of loli form of pretty much everyone… including the big-breasted Tooko. If you don’t believe me, just check out the ever-so-plentiful CG gallery. Well, I have absolutely no problems with it as the art is pretty and um… the art is pretty… Ahem, it’s nice to see a company go the extra mile to please its fans, without just throwing H scenes left and right with no regard to story. The trial which covered the start to Sumi’s after story was quite interesting and Emi is really adorable. Personally, I like Alice more though, and of course Natsuha/Nyatsuha.

No, no no no, no no, no. Way too young to be anything other than disgusting.

Green Green Overdrive Edition

Company: OVERDRIVE
Game site: グリーングリーン OVERDRIVE EDITION
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
This is a remake of GROOVER’s 2001 title Green Green with the same staff (Katakura Shinji as illustrator, Kuwashima Yoshikazu and Yamaguchi Noboru in charge of scenario). The graphics and systems gets an update, and of course there’s new voicing and songs. Kanenone Gakuen is a private male boarding school situated deep in the mountains. One day, the principal announced that there’s talk of the school turning co-ed next year, to the jubilation of the hormone-driven boys. How will Yuusuke and the other guys adapt to this new setting when they haven’t even talked to a girl before? 

Green Green is one of the more well known slapstick love comedies of the early 2000s, having three games in the series and also spawning an anime. Maybe it has to do with the artwork, but I feel like it’s one of those games which really capture the seishun spirit of high school (at least the one which we hold as an ideal). Let those hormones run wild – it’s not an illness! I’m fine with Midori and Wakaba, and of course Sanae-chan. Those long sleeves suit her so well. Tenjin, you’ve got great tastes, man. *brofist*

So old, I remember this series from what feels like ages ago. I don’t remember too much about it so I might play it but I do have to note that it seems companies bring out old material when they run out of ideas for new content. Regardless, considering this was one of the older generation that got in early on many of the current trends it should be more interesting than the generic garbage most games amount to anymore at the very least.

Cocoro@Function!

Company: PULLTOP
Game site: ココロ＠ファンクション！
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
As the world nears the middle of the 21st century, it feels like the golden age for networks. With the multi-function communications card “Orca”, one can not only make calls or browse the net, but also use a wide array of apps, do shopping, operate household appliances, or even take classes. Since it also serves as an identification card and health insurance card, among others, one could say that all you need for everything in your daily life is one card.

Taiyou is the well-respected student council president at Seishin Gakuen, located in the most advanced city where everyone uses Orca. One day, there was an automatic update which upgraded Orca to a new version. Due to a certain bug, some students had a strange app called “Cocoro Function” installed on to their card. The app broadcasted Taiyou’s thoughts and feelings to everyone, revealing his perverted nature to all, and he was forced to resign from his position.

Even though it was impossible to delete the app, he couldn’t bring himself to stop using his Orca. Finding out that there were other versions of the Cocoro Function app as well, and that they could bring trouble to the school with their abilities, he decided to form the Cocoro Function Countermeasures Committee (CFC) to aid those who are troubled by this strange app. Will they be able to return to the peaceful life from before?

There’s a lot of hype for Cocoro@Function! after the success of PULLTOP’s previous title Konosora, which won the Moe Game Award 2012 gold prize, and has also been translated into English as If My Heart Had Wings. Note however that it’ll be a new group of writers, highlighted by Takashima Eiji (Witch’s Garden). How will they make the story any different from other games where a group of students start up a club to solve some stuff?

I’m really looking forward to this game! The trial didn’t seem long at all, and the pacing was well done, with the plot moving along at a nice clip. The theme of the game is communication, not only the advanced networks which exist in Ecoplaza, but also the communication between humans. How many times have you lied or covered your true intentions online because there are no consequences? What if you aren’t able to do so anymore? I’m interested to know what happens when their apps level up, and how they will be able to uninstall the app (or maybe live with it). I know one thing’s for sure… GIVE ME BACK MY MIA-SAN!!!! >_____<

The slapstick comedy works with the enjoyable characters, all of whom have their own special Cocoro Function app. I do have some worries about Mina being the lead heroine as she didn’t make that much of an impression on me (since their reunion). From the trial, it felt like the twins Mebae and Ibuki were like subheroines with their lack of screen time. Let’s hope they don’t have throwaway routes like other twins in past games. I want an Orca just so I can have my own personal concierge Bell! Long live private mode!!! BELL IS SO CUTE! I want a route for her! Hau~ omochikaeri~!

In my experience the more popular and greater the expectations for a game the more likely it is to be disappointing. Sure in a month of poor to non existent releases it can stand out more than it would in a month full of better games but I cannot help but feel as though the idea here is nothing special disguised behind the orca system.  Removing the terms they use and there is little difference between this game and your typical magical wishes everyone can come to understand each other and make wishes come true plot. I feel this entire story would have been better in all respects if they did away with the cocoro app for their silly iphones. There was some potential in the exploration of communication and hidden agendas in such a setting that is lost when everything is simplified for easy writing and storytelling. By relying on the magical app for the association of characters and subsequent conflict the entire process of a game that relies on written words is cheapened.

There’s nothing wrong with a game based around magical wishes!

Only if they were more than just a simple system of deus ex machina for the authors to write themselves out of anything.

Walkure Romanze More&More

Company: リコッタ (Ricotta)
Game site: ワルキューレロマンツェ More＆More
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
This is the sequel of Ricotta’s 2011 title Walkure Romanze, which has an anime adaptation running this fall. It elevates three popular subheroines Akane, Bertille and Ayako to heroine status, and it also has after stories for the 4 original heroines.

The world’s best knights gather at Winford Academy and it’s gotten quite lively with the jousting tournament nearing. Due to a misunderstanding, Takahiro’s osananajimi Mio was challenged by the proud Bertille to a match at the tournament. Since she hadn’t even rode on a horse before, he ended up guiding her to victory as a begleiter (knight’s assistant). With many watching the wonderful match, his skills as a begleiter were noticed by many students and they took quite an interest in him! However, he was unsure if he wanted to continue on as a begleiter or to return to being a knight. How will he fare in the both the arenas of jousting and love?

Not much has changed between the original and the sequel, with the exception of some common route plot changes to bring the subheroines to the forefront. One thing to note is that Orgol is not working on this title, so I feel like the story will be slightly worse. There’s also a bit too much oppai for my tastes. But for those who like that (and oshikko), enjoy! Also, needs more Lisa.

As one of the games I disliked the concept for most, and found to be downright insulting the readers intellect I don’t have much to say about a rehash for cash. Not surprising they would make this game after the release of the anime, coming out with it on such timing is obviously a good business decision so not that I would to start but there shouldn’t be much worth reading here story wise.

Maou no Kuse ni Namaiki da! 2 ~Kondo wa Seisen da!~

Company: ラグジュアリー (Luxury)
Game site: 魔王のくせに生イキだっ！2 ～今度は性戦だ！～
Release date: October 25, 2013
Comments:
This is the sequel to Maou no Kuse ni Namaiki da!. The 30-year old NEET Kuranosuke unified the demon world, but didn’t end up being the great maou. He lives peacefully with the maous in the human world, but one day an angel came to his room (via his monitor again) and he ended up being caught in a strife between two heavenly powers, one intent on destroying the demon world and the other with a pacifist approach. Somehow, he was able to solve it with the help of the maous. But then the two angel faction leaders, as well as the angel from before, came to stay at his house too!? It seems like they’ve taken a liking to him after his help from before. 

Nuki nuki nuki. There’s really no other way to look at it. The system upgrades are pretty much all H scene related, such as climax countdowns. I’m really interested in the sharp-tongued angel Gertrude. Who knew angels were this lewd?

More sequel and more nukige along with it. Hard to be interested in a CG set with sound effects, there is little point when I don’t care about the characters, their stories, or the setting of the game.

Micchi’s Top 3 for This Month

1. Cocoro@Function!
2. Green Green Overdrive Edition
3. Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade

Zen’s Top 3 for This Month

1. Green Green Overdrive Edition
2. Uhhh…
3. No?

I’d use ‘oniichan’ as my user name so Bell will call me oniichan every day!

I think “Lolipedofin” would suit you better.