June 2011 Eroge Releases

IT’S HERE!!! The much anticipated fandisk for Koisora is finally coming out this month! Even if you’re not as crazed about it as I am, there’s still a record number of titles to choose from. Solid stories can be expected from key’s Rewrite, MEPHISTO’s Tenshi no Hane o Fumanaide, FAVORITE’s Irotoridori no Sekai and propeller’s Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi, while there are many fandisks and love comedies to choose from as well. Let the summer season begin!

Oneechan appreciation month it seems, with far more games than usual featuring older sisters, though of course plenty still have the younger pestilences. What a busy month June is though, far too many titles to cover and by half way down the list I found myself caring less with each new game. Despite how much longer it took to write up the commentary however this is one of those months we all look forward to where there is almost guaranteed to be a game for everyone to enjoy due to the sheer volume of releases. A shame I am allergic to the summer inferno, summer games are really depressing in that regard.

Natsuyuki ~summer snow~

Company: Silver Bullet
Game site: 夏雪～summer_snow～
Release date: June 3, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. 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.

The older sister theme is the same as Silver Bullet’s debut title Yukikage, only this time they can only meet every summer instead of winter. Obviously the setup reminds me of NekoNekoSoft’s games, such as Mizuiro, Lamune and Sorairo. The focus here is on being raburabu with your oneechan and I definitely wouldn’t mind having Natsuki as my oneechan! Story seems to be up my alley, so it’ll be on my list.

I can’t imagine where this story is going with a protagonist that visits a specific girl every summer in a rural town where they can be completely alone and free to play doctor all day long. Obvious lead in of a story and setting aside I have to admit this may be an enjoyable game, though also doubt it will be anything truly special. When I have time I will see if I can get into this game, though likely will only play the onee chan route, the other two could not possibly interest me any less. As an afterthought, if there is something worth taking note of it is that if you ever have kids, do everything you can to avoid allowing them non blood related siblings or childhood friends of the opposite gender, with such a blatant eroge setup you are signing your own death warrant. After all as long as you are there they can’t develop a real relationship, so whatever god who rules over eroge will undoubtably remove you like the nuisance you are.

Admit it, you have an oneechan fetish.

I admit nothing.

Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo

Company: ALMA
Game site: キミとボクとエデンの林檎
Release date: June 10, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. This is the first game by ALMA, a new brand under ORBIT. 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?

This will be the last game by the ORBIT group (ROOT, CLOVER, ALMA) since they will be on hiatus indefinitely after its release due to the effects of the March earthquake and tsunami. The idea of a baby-faced boy taking over his sister’s place in a girl’s school is nothing new, but there’s a reason why we keep seeing them. They’re funny and of course, is a situation that no one in real life would ever find themselves in. The art by CUBE is really cute. All the characters are appealing, especially lively Nanami. Yukino reminds me of Miu-senpai…

While yes the idea has been used before more times than I am capable of counting (I’m terrible at math you see) I have to at least nod in the creators direction for coming up with a plot slightly more believable than is typical for the guy thrust into crossdressing story. When all is said and done however this reminds me a lot of the Otoboku series, aside the plethora of other similar games and begs the question, just what does this game offer that others have not already done? For my money, not much. Despite the lack of real initiative to develop something new, I get the feeling this may be a safe bet for a decent game of average proportions this month.

Josou Sanmyaku

Company: 脳内彼女 (Nounai Kanojo)
Game site: 女装山脈
Release date: June 17, 2011
Comments:
Hundreds of years ago in a small mountain village far away from civilization, an epidemic wiped out most of the young males. As a result, all boys dressed up as girls in order to avoid the God of Plague taking their souls. This custom was passed on even to this current day. Ikuto accidentally stumbles into this village and it’s the first time that the girls have seen a boy from outside. They all take a liking to him and the villagers welcome him in, believe that he is the prophecized messenger of God. The only road outside was blocked after a storm and he is forced to stay in the village. Even though he has trouble with girls, he feels strangely at ease when around the girls from the village. He wonders if it’s fine if he marries someone here, but soon he realizes that would be but a dream…

Obviously this is 100% a trap game. I’m sure that some people will be quite happy about this revelation. The question is: can trap can have babies in this world? What is this I don’t even. Damn, I can’t look at the kanji for mountain the same way anymore…

Looking at the artwork I have come to the conclusion that better bait is required to catch me in this trap. Were my April fools post more than a joke I may have been interested in this game, alas the masculine rose garden of BL games still lies beyond me.

What he’s saying is that he’s still waiting for his prince to come.

Oh if only a brave prince on a white horse would come to rescue me!

It’s your lucky day!

PV

Sengokuhime 3 ~Tenka o Kirisaku Hikari to Kage~

Company: げーせん18 (Gesen18)
Game site: 戦極姫3～天下を切り裂く光と影～
Release date: June 17, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. The latest work in 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. Gesen18 uses a lot of different illustrators, which ends up watering down the art quality. The system also isn’t as polished as AliceSoft, Eushully and ETERNAL. I’m actually surprised that it even got a third game. Oh well, I won’t be playing it.

The Sengokuhime series holds a very special place in my heart, as games I have no intention of ever playing, and are really just repeats with a few extras tacked on I am free to spurn these games as one would spurn an annoying little sister. And so I thank you, the lazy creators of Sengokuhime at Gesen18 for doing nothing of noteworthy significance to save me not only a few minutes of writing, but also the hours of life spent on your gameplay I would forfeit were you to actually create a game worthy of playing.

Cafe Sourire

Company: CUFFS
Game site: CAFE SOURIRE（カフェ・スーリル）
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from April. 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. Probably more dramatic than your summer vacation jobs though. CUFFS (☆Gayarou) has really soothing art and I think it fits quite well with this theme. It reminds me a lot of Sweet Robin Girl, although less loli. Slightly.

All the games focused on summer really makes you realize that it is indeed summer time, as if the infernal heat was not enough of a hint. At least it makes more sense to release this title in June than in April so perhaps a delay that makes sense and benefits the story for once. Frankly though I think the protagonists problem has more to do with the people around him being strangely similar to the point they no longer feel unique but rather as though they were a compilation of four or five standard designs which apparently are enough to encompass the entirety of humanity. Of course any allusions to the purpose to this story are well hidden when you hide an otherwise blatant giveaway behind a veil of french, in the process making a lame name sound exotic and have meaning at the same time, so very clever of them I stand in awe.

Tu te plains trop.

Luckily I don’t speak french.

Hyper→Highspeed→Genius

Company: ういんどみる (Windmill)
Game site: Hyper→Highspeed→Genius
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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!

If I recall correctly, Mephisto shouldn’t be this cute. But it’s ok, I gained an imouto, so all’s right with the world. There sure are a lot of subcharacters and some people will be disappointed to know that they probably won’t all have routes. The use of special powers (in this case, Gift) isn’t anything new, so in turn it just will end up being a bloodless battle royale. We all know that elections are serious business. I’m not really that interested in this, so pass.

Ah the Japanese love of using random foreign words as names that would make no sense in either language were a native speaker to use it. Throw in the random schools for these wonderful people to congregate and ensure that any character the protagonist is chosen to have attachments towards will be a special and unique catch standing above the rest of humanity… and there you have it the standard formula for this type of game. Unfortunately for anyone reading however the discussion involving characters and settings appears to have neglected any thoughts of providing a story to go along with the rest. In the end this is really just a charage using a few simple and half assed setting alterations to give a veneer of something more. I wish luck to anyone willing to enter this minefield, you are either a braver or more foolish soul than I.

LOVELY×CATION

Company: 暁WORKS-響- (Akatsuki Works Hibiki)
Game site: LOVELY×CATION
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. 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.

I feel this is a throwback to the dating sims of the 90’s since you have to visit places around town, collect items and raise heroine stats. Depending on your actions, there will be visual  bonuses during the H scenes. If you’re wondering why the protagonist doesn’t have a name, it’s because you can name him anything you want using the ‘Lovely Call System’ and the girls will call him according to a list of over 150 preset names. This game seems to appeal more towards the mature crowd. While I don’t have any qualms about the game, it’s not one of my tops in this packed month.

For all the times I have heard lines like “There is no formula for love”, there is bound to be a game that defies that concept by giving the player a clear cut formula to pursue in order to acquire the love of the girl they chose. Given that I have yet to hear of mathematicians cracking human emotions and encompassing them within a simple mathematical formula I have to admit I am inclined to believe in the former concept. When considering this I am unable to do naught but gaze coldly upon a game meant to help people ignore reality as gathering a few items or chance meetings feels like a cheap means to equal less than three.

I may not know the formula for love, but I know it is highly positively correlated with imoutos.

Yes im sure the imouto part went something like “Imouto = </3”

Rewrite

Company: key
Game site: Rewrite
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from April. The much anticipated all-ages game by key, with Ryukishi07 of Higurashi and Umineko fame helping out on scenario. In the tree-filled city of Kazematsuri, Kotarou spends peaceful days with Kotori, Haruhiko and their friends. Every year, there is a time when the city becomes very noisy: the harvest festival. He decides to help out with collecting news about the upcoming event and accidentally stumbles upon some unexplainable happenings. Spurred on by his curiosity, he begins to investigate it with help from the occult club leader Akane and other students they knew.  However, they did not yet know that it was related to a search for the truth that no one knew about. Will her fate be able to rewritten?

Hinoeu Itaru, Tanaka Romeo, Maeda Jun and everyone at key need no introduction. I’m sure that the kagikko have been awaiting the next work since Little Busters! and Kud Wafter (Still no LB anime??). I like the idea of rewriting since it helps flesh out the story, as well as prolongs gameplay. However, I am not sure if the addition of Ryukishi07 will enhance or hinder the quality of this work. When the news first broke, I thought it would be more of a mellow soul-searching story, but ever since the animated OP came out, my views have totally changed. Dinosaurs and dragons, oh my! I guess Angel Beats! did well enough that they plan to do the same here. What’s there not to like about a heterochromia blonde twintail loli wielding dual pistols? Well, I guess we won’t know for sure if it’s an April Fool’s joke or not until the game is released…

Regardless, Shizuru is mine! MINE! Hau~ omochikaeri~!

It is finally here, a game which many people who are not me appear to actually be looking forward to, which I find quite baffling in all honesty. Judging by precedent I feel that Clannad was and probably will end up always being key’s shining glory, everything since has been complete garbage and the games prior while good were not quite as good as Clannad. Frankly key is one of the worst companies ever when it comes to action, they just cant write it, nor come up with stories and settings to justify or even include it. The only reason it did not have a major negative impact on Clannad is due to it being a minor part for one character that was mostly for comedy and had no major bearing on the story itself. So Rewrite which focuses on the very style that key is so worthless at a drunken hobo could do better combined with the worst writer I have ever had the misfortune of reading, Ryukishi07, leads me to believe this will be so bad that it could be the reason so many people hoped for the apocalypse recently. As with anything key and Ryufag07 I am sure there will be plenty of fanboys who lack the ability to make clear judgments saying this is the greatest thing since the invention of 2d women before even playing it, let alone looking for any and every excuse to justify it after playing it. If key could just get their act together again and write what they are good at, high school oriented romance drama, and not try what seems to be an attempt to cash in on merchandising markets via cute heroines capable of filling more dynamic poses on figure displays they would be one of the best companies in the industry. Whatever their reason for the change, sometimes people need to accept there are things they are not capable of, especially in the case where they are superb at one thing, does not mean they will be just as capable at another. Just because someone can sing does not mean they can paint or write, even though all fall under the umbrella of fine arts. Someone needs to backhand key and tell them they are not Type Moon or Nitro+, and while they are there kick Ryukishi07 into the street so he can no longer taint the works of those people who can actually write.

Opening Anime

Stellar☆Theater encore

Company: ロゼブル (Rosebleu)
Game site: Stellar☆Theater encore
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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.

I think this was pretty much expected since Satsuki is the best chara from the game ^_^ I’ll take her in the ofuro for dinner, please. There’s also a shooting game where you are rewarded with wallpapers if you win.

For once I have to agree with Micchi, I found the little sister to be the best character in this game from the hour or so I played, part of why I quit was because she had no route, well that and the story was painfully stupid. Anyway I will wait to hear if you need to play the original to make sense of this fandisk before giving it a go.

Irotoridori no Sekai

Company: FAVORITE
Game site: いろとりどりのセカイ
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to July 29, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. When he was a child, Yuuma received a special power from the “translucent magician”, Shinku. Just by touching someone with his hand, he is able to cure all of their wounds in return for all their memories. In the furthestmost port town of Kazatsugahama, there is a link to a another world hidden in the basement of the Arashiyama-sou dormitory. Within this world he lives his life like a dream. One night while the full moon shone brightly, a girl descended from the sky. “Mister magician, please save me.”

I’m a huge fan of Shida Kazuhiro’s art, so this game is definitely on my radar. Even though Nakahiro (Hoshimemo) isn’t writing the story, I think that Urushibara Yukito (Happy Margaret!) will do a decent job. They did a good job of designing a mysterious magical setting. Why is that the chara I’m most interested in are the two subchars Kyou and Tsukasa???

Wishes, powers, and lolis, what more could Micchi want? Unless meteors descend from the sky and destroy all that I find cheesy in a gigantic fireball I shall be avoiding what appears to amount to a boring story with boring characters as though I was a loli avoiding Micchi.

Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi

Company: propeller
Game site: すきま桜とうその都会
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. In the middle of winter, Yuma and his imouto Sakura lose their way into a strange world full of cherry blossom trees in full bloom. The sudden change from the bitter cold where they thought they will freeze to death to a stunning pink-toned landscape was a sight that they could hardly believe. Indeed, this is Sakurano, the city where only liars can enter. They are welcomed by the god Rin who guides them to a dormitory where they meet some quirky people: his osananajimi who has amnesia, Kaju; high-tension fool, Chiyoko; a boy who looks just like a girl, Kasumi; and, diminutive dorm manager and teacher, Nene. There is a rumour that there is a god that can turn lies into reality. They wonder if it was the small girl that they had met from earlier.

I was so heartbroken when the game was delayed from May since I was really looking forward to the game after playing through the demo. Just like in Irotoridori no Sekai, the setting is essential (and I’m a self-proclaimed sakura lover). While the school life part was a bit of drag in the demo since I felt like it wasn’t important to the story at all, the glimpse into the siblings’ past and how they ended up in Sakurano made me want them to have a happy ending (along with everyone else). It also helped answer some of the questions I had early on, like why she carries her cell phone everywhere. I anticipate that Sukima will be focused on Sakura, kind of like how Kittosumi was a Hiyo-ge. I’m quite fond of refeia’s artwork, even if their noses pretty much disappear in the side views. Also, the subcharas seem to be drawn by a different artist and it clashes.

In any case, this is definitely one of my top 3 this month. Can’t say no to a Miru-voiced imouto-sama.

Finally a game that helps me remember those times when the world was nice and cool, a time when global warming and the cult that preaches it were a memory and those of us who lived it frolicked about our lives happily without being bombarded by the heat of our local and all too near nuclear furnace. At least for those of us on the right side of the world, the game however is likely not so glamorous, a city were everyone is liars reminds me of that game where the girls were lying about being attracted to the guy for his money or something. I am sure the primary storyline will be about each individuals lies, finding the lies, understanding them, and resolving the issues behind them, not necessarily a bad thing but the setting feels so unnecessary for this story. I feel that with lies acting as the foundation for a story the contrast of how it fits into the existing world conveys greater meaning to the lies and the characters confrontation with them. A simple setting that binds everyone together with an already established common theme weakens it as an element due to it being a known factor and bond. All in all story wise Sukimazakura’s story will likely be overshadowed by other games this month, as at its core there is little here to suggest anything other than an average game using a slight alteration of setting as its claim to fame. Sorry to say but all lies being equal I’d rather have the cake.

PV1

PV2

Nadeshiko Drip

Company: ApRicoT Plum
Game site: なでしこドリップ
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
This is the debut title for 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.

ApRicoT Plum specializes in the cute and moe appeal and their first wa-loli waitress-filled debut title definitely hits the mark. Lots of jealousy all around as all the girls try to appeal to him. The art is quite soothing and having an imouto chara as the main heroine is always a plus in my book.

If the number of eroge that involve cafes are any indication, Japan must be flooded with more cafes than we have Starbucks. While not necessarily a bad theme, it is far to overused and pretty much boring by this point as there can be almost no variation not already covered. Sure it may only take a little sister character to get Micchi interested but I for one am tired of reading save the cafe, club, or school stories over and over using what are fundamentally the same characters with only a change in artist to differentiate one game from the next. Cute may work once, but eventually it loses impact without story and personality to drive it, unless you happen to feel beauty really is skin deep and that is all you care about anyway.

There’s definitely more cafes/bakeries than I’ve seen in North America. I’d rather go for a nice strawberry shortcake and tea than expensive bitter coffee. Also, this is the first game where the outfits are actually quite different.

Cafes and such don’t even exist in North America unless you count starbucks, small businesses in general are virtually extinct thanks to the peoples mentality. However I fail to see how the uniforms are any different .. they are just more kimonoesque no?

Happy Factory

Company: Grand Cru
Game site: はっぴぃふぁくとりー
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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 recruited forced into the club so that he can enjoy a happy adolescence. I can’t help but feel like this is a half-assed attempt at a game. The story is overly childish, the characters are all feel very shallow and the body proportions are all wrong. Maybe that’s why they’re not happy, being stuck in a game like this.

Right, well even Micchi feels this game is worthless so that should tell you something right there. Sure the plot is nonsense, characters are the same bland replicas of standard eroge design we are sick of, and artwork is sub par, but hey at the very least it is not a nukige, so those of you suffering from raging hormones who care only for H scenes have a better chance of justifying it as reading it for the “story”.

Pochi to Goshujinsama♥

Company: SkyFish poco
Game site: ぽちとご主人様♥
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to August 26, 2011
Comments:
This is the first game by SkyFish poco, a sister brand of SkyFish which specializes in more extreme ecchi scenes. Hiro’s osananajimi Chiwa is like a little sister to him. Instead of a promise to marry each other, they made a promise with a toy choker to keep a relation like a dog and its master. When Chiwa left with her mother to England, she vowed to return to Japan one day and be in the same class in school one day. A few years later, she finds out that her mother will be remarrying his father. However, if she becomes his true imouto, does that mean that she can’t marry him anymore!? She hurries back to Japan and asks him if he remembers their promise. She offers to become her oniichan’s pet and wants him to love her a lot.

When she last came back, she found out that he had become really S while cleaning his room. Even though she loves having a collar on and serving her master, she doesn’t like being bound or struck. She wants to have a kind master, but he in turn wants her to understand his own likings. In the two months before their parent’s remarriage, what will become of their relationship? Both siblings and lovers. A dog and its master. Chiwa and Hiro’s raburabu S+M days begin.

Imoutos are to be loved, but not as pets! It’s a shame that this is a S+M title (albeit lightheartedly) since Chiwa is adorable. Really adorable. Hauuuuu~ The OP by MANYO (Little Wing) is really whimsical as usual.

Nana to Kaoru the eroge. I just don’t care and since Micchi only included it because of the pet I can’t find a good enough reason to say any more.

Hey, at least say imouto! ><

She is a pet, no harm in calling a pet as such is there?

Motto Nee, Chanto Shiyou Yo! After Story

Company: CandySoft
Game site: もっと 姉、ちゃんとしようよっ！ アフターストーリー
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
This is a fandisk for CandySoft’s title of the same name, featuring after stories for the heroines. Passing since I didn’t play the original.

Fandisk.

Aneiro

Company: ALcot ハニカム (ALcot Honey Comb)
Game site: アネイロ
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. 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 astrology club in danger. Of course, they come and ask Kou to help them!

Another mid-priced game by ALcot Honey Comb, this time focusing on ane-chara after imoutos and osananajimis. If you’re fond of this genre (Zen might be?), then it probably would be worth checking out. My fav char would be his gossip-loving (or rather gossip-manufacturing) classmate Yuina. Short twintails are the best! (^O^)

Is it just me or did every game after Kurenai no Tsuki kind of suck. Of course the people who only care about little sisters will disagree given that game the title of which I have completely forgotten about. However even that game was nothing special and simply catered to a large number of diligent fans who will enjoy anything and everything provided it satiates their loli lust. I generally avoid any title that focuses on a specific trait for all heroines as I have yet to find any exception to the rule that such games defeat the very purpose of the very characters they are trying to highlight. It is beyond me to understand how others find such games appealing for example if every character is a little sister then where does that appeal of having that one character fill that role amidst the others go? The characters almost invariably become poster girls for a wider assortment of sub traits while filling their designated game role of sisters. Such shallow designs always renders the story and characters moot in such games for me, and this time is no different.

Well, you get what you pay for. I find their stories to be decent considering the price. And if the subject matter tickles your fancy, by all means go for it.

There is the price angle sure, what bothers me is not so much that they are quickly making lots of medium priced games, but rather they have the potential to make better games but choose not to. It is almost like lets say key went and started making crappy action games instead of focusing on what made them who they are… oh wait…

Actually, that’s the main brand ALcot’s job. This sister brand serves a different purpose. Quick revenue, I guess.

That may be true but I feel that Honey Comb often comes up with more interesting stories than the primary brand, they just fail to make use of them.

Fault!! Ace

Company: Ciel
Game site: フォルト!!A（えーす）
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
This is a power-up version of Ciel’s 2009 release Fault!!. Modifications include increased screen resolution (1024×768), 20+ HCGs animated and some scenes rewritten from other characters’ perspectives. Note that the animation loops are pretty short. I wouldn’t pay full price for such few changes. They should have made some additional scenes for Mio-chan. There also needs to be more tennis outfits in eroge.

More or less an expansion.

Fluorite Memories ~Itsuka Kitto, Yakusoku no Basho de~

Company: Rabbit
Game site: フローライトメモリーズ～いつかきっと、約束の場所で～
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
This is the first title by 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.

While Rabbit is a new company, there’s nothing new about the staff and cast. Scenario writer Kimura Koroya worked on Steal My Heart and Tropical Kiss, so a more dramatic story is a change from the standard love comedies. Kusayanagi Junko, Ogura Yui, Kawashima Rino, Aoba Ringo and Kaneda Mahiru all lend their voices to this title. Well, I think this game is worth checking out if you’ve got time. I wish they would decide on if it’s ‘fluorite’ or ‘flowlight’. Also, no cookies for guessing who Mikoto is.

Pretty boring plot for a first game, far too typical for a company to make the sort of impact they need to develop a solid and devoted fanbase. Still for what it is the game doesn’t look half bad, it may end up being a good story, of course it will be a little odd to romance a firefly girl instead of the standard fox but well other than that it looks to be pretty much the same thing. If you are looking for something with less comedy in it this may be a good choice for June, though if you are looking for a good story I can’t say there is much worthwhile here to go on.

Firefly girl? What firefly girl? I don’t know what you’re talking about…

No idea if she really is just reminds me of the usual protagonist saves fox who later turns into a girl determined to return the favor plot lines. Only in this case she happens to be a firefly. I wonder if her butt glows…

It would glow a bright red if you spanked her enough. Oh whoops, wrong game.

So instead of a pet imouto its a pet firefly? At least its more original.

Muv-Luv Alternative Chronicles 02

Company: アージュ (âge)
Game site: マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ クロニクルズ02
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
âge continues to expand on the Muv-Luv franchise with a continuation of after story of Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After from Chronicles 01, as well as an original episode which was carried on the Hobby Japan magazine, Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Euro Front. For fans of the series.

Never did get around to Alternative, as the original Muv Luv story gave so much away that it felt boring to read something so predictable. Of course it has been such a long time since I have played the original Muv Luv I can’t remember it so clearly so maybe I’ll use this as an excuse to dig out the Alternative game to play both.

Yuyukana -under the Starlight-

Company: NanaWind
Game site: ユユカナ -under the Starlight-
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to August 26, 2011
Comments:
This is the debut title for NanaWind. In the downtown core is an old torii. Through this gate, one would find themselves in a find themselves in the resort island of Aoshima, full of trees and sunflowers and surrounded by the emerald green ocean. Akito lives in this lively city and attends Aohi Gakuen. One day, a new transfer student appeared in his class. This black-haired bishoujo embraced him, proclaiming that she had always wanted to meet him.

The obvious draw of this title by NanaWind is Mitha’s art. I guess that she has moved on from MOONSTONE and is working with a new company now. A typical chara-ge, nothing more.

Not much to say about a game that has no story to begin with, either you want to watch the CG in action or you want to play another game there is nothing else here as the characters themselves fail to stand out amidst others.

Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai R

Company: Navel
Game site: 俺たちに翼はない R
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. This is an all-ages renewal of Oretsuba, which adds a new heroine Kana, gives popular subheroine Ai a route, and of course adds new scenes and CGs. If you haven’t played the original yet or are interested after watching the anime that’s currently on-air, be sure to check it out!

They really had to pick some of the most boring characters to give routes to, how annoying. Well that said I dropped the game and anime yet again for being complete garbage so I really don’t care. Would be nice if navel got some better writers to help their games along.

Shojo to Maou to Tactics

Company: Chariot
Game site: 処女と魔王とタクティクス
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. 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 from her virginity.

There’s nothing like being a dark hero fighting against angels, defeating the bishoujo commanders, impressing them with your ‘skills’ and welcoming them into your harem. Sounds kinda like Disgaea except I don’t think Laharl would be like Tatsuya (you know what they say: once a child, always a child). Even the map system is tile-based, although the battles are a bit simpler. There’s a wide array of units to choose from and the sprites are pretty cute. Might not be a bad pick up if you want to grind away for a few days to capture bishoujos.

Of course the base of the character is as useless as a human can be to appeal to the useless humans who would want to play this. When will they make a gameplay eroge worth playing… the last real one was probably Seinarukana, since then I cannot think of anything else. The plot behind the characters and gameplay for this game is so weak it might as well just be “Fight through a half assed TRPG for HCG” as the game amounts to little more than that.

Play movie

Yukioniya Onsenki

Company: ソフトハウスキャラ (SofthouseChara)
Game site: 雪鬼屋温泉記
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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 onruly 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 lovelife?

Similar to other SofthouseChara games, the focus is on the gameplay. The game is about running the hot springs inn and turning a profit, while managing all the problems that are bound to happen. But you’ll do fine. There’s no way you can fail with a mascot like this.

Somewhat interesting premise, but still no real desire to play it sadly. While it would be fun to run an inn in addition to the typical eroge setup of choosing a girl I doubt the system will be enjoyable enough to amount to something more than a hassle that interferes with reading the story.

Tenshi no Hane o Fumanaide

Company: MEPHISTO
Game site: 天使の羽根を踏まないでっ
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to July 29, 2011
Comments:
This is the first game by MEPHISTO, a subsidiary of Will. Over the course of history, there had been many prophets who predicted that the end of the world was near, but they were all just imposters. However, it really came true and people were at their wit’s end. Just like no one believed that the end of the world is near, the God that not many people believed in saved the world. It is in Saint Solyluna Academy that μ (Mu) is chosen – the only one that sits in the empty seat next to God and asks for salvation for mankind.

Shumon Yuu is in charge of the story and judging from his past works (Asairo and Itsusora) this should be a well-done story with a true route. The game is fully-voiced and the main protagonist is a new transfer student Ayame, who is actually a boy and has the choice of attending either the School of the Sun or the School of the Moon. There’s a lot of mystery in the story: What is the difference between the two schools? What is the secret that Ayame holds? I think this game will be worth checking out for the story alone and with the beautiful art, you should really try this out if you have time.

Hey look, it’s another Eustia! After the complete failure of the first one, this copycat looks to be even worse, considering the foolish and forcible inclusion of a school to go hand in hand with the lame plot. I find it hilarious that the story involves the concept of god even though it appears the god they are referencing is at least based on the christian god … who basically destroys the world in the apocalypse, yet seems to save it here. Point being little thought went into this story, it is another of those conceived quickly to make a game and likely used ideas from Eustia as a catalyst to create their setting. In short there is nothing here that hints this will be more than your average eroge story wise, likely concluding matters in an unsatisfying way much of the time.

Dengeki Stryker

Company: OVERDRIVE
Game site: 電激ストライカー
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
New release date after being pushed back from May. Yamato has a great sense of justice and aspires to be a hero. He always tried to protect his osananajimi 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.

The artwork reminds me of retro anime, as well as the explosions and exaggerated actions. The animation scenes are quite well done, which makes me wonder just how much money they’ve spent on this title. OVERDRIVE’s tendency to write bittersweet stories and comedic and serious balance should carry over to this title. I’m not a huge fan of these action hero types, but I do like the motif behind it. Everyone wants to save the girl. However, was sacrificing his memories really worth it?

I have a strong sense of loathing for hero type stories so I find it hard to avoid a bias on the subject but while this looks like a comedy it is just too silly to be funny for me. At least as a comedy it allows people to laugh, but any serious side here is ruined by the concept in use. Ah well at least it is not a nukige so if this is your thing then rejoice in a rare style of game that embraces the hero show mentality for an older audience.

I think it’s not so much a comedy as a moe (燃え) game.

I have to think of something sorta positive to say once in awhile…. even if I need to bend the truth a little and pray things can’t be as bad as I fear.

Animation part

Maikaze no Melt -Where leads to feeling destination-

Company: Whirlpool
Game site: 舞風のメルト -Where leads to feeling destination-
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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. Engrish subtitles are Whirlpool’s trademark.

I can’t even remember what the original game was about..

Spirits. Cute SDs. Catchy OP. That’s as much as I can remember.

That’s why I don’t remember.

Nemureru Hana wa Haru o Matsu. -spring come-

Company: 130cm
Game site: 眠れる花は春をまつ。 -spring come-
Release date: June 24, 2011
Comments:
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.

A love story between a girl who brings luck and a boy who attracts misfortune. I’m almost tempted to pick this up since it’s pretty much set up for a happy end. Kazuma is pretty much useless, but it’s hard to blame him considering his situation. Besides, he can just let his imouto take care of him, especially one that is so bracon that she uses her power within the company to make merchandise of him. Now that’s obsession.

I have to mention how annoyed at the massive cop out that 130cm pulled with OniUta’s sister route considering what an awesome character she was. I expect any little sister route this time around may be more of the same, thank god its a little sister this time at least, so I am unlikely to appreciate her character. Irksome studio quirks aside this feels very similar to OniUta with the inclusion of traditional supernatural elements and their meeting. Of course the setting and plot are nothing special with a completely predictable plot as per usual for the majority of eroge. Definitely going to give this game a go in the hopes whichever character I like will actually have a proper route this time around.

Yumemiru Tsuki no Lunalutia

Company: Arianrhod
Game site: 夢みる月のルナルティア
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to October 30, 2011
Comments:
This is the first title by Arianrhod. In a slightly different future, there is an atmosphere on the moon and people study science and magic there. The protagonist transfers into a magic school on the moon aspiring to become an alchemist. His mahou shoujo imouto Satsuki, and classmates Asuka (swordswoman) and Enora (shaman), help him with attaining his dream. However, some residents of the moon find their adventures to be a nuisance and want them to leave…

The game is a mix of ADV and RPG dungeon questing, with card battles against monsters. You can use alchemy on the treasures you find. I’m not sure the specifics of the game system since there’s no screenshots or demo videos yet. I’d go to the moon if all the girls there had bunny ears! About the story…. well, it is written by Yamaguchi Noboru of Zero no Tsukaima fame and also the FrontWing games. I’m sure that should make the decision for you of whether or not to pick up this game.

Oh of course in a futuristic setting the moon randomly has an atmosphere for sailor moon to prance around giving panty shot service. This has to be the worst concept for an eroge in the history of the industry I am rendered speechless by just how many of my “Dear god this sucks” buttons this game managed to push. I imagine just because of the author many people will be trying the game given the popularity of some of his works, but not only do I not care if it was written by Hemingway himself but I feel Yamaguchi Noboru is extremely overrated to begin with. It is games like these that justify belief in false prophets claims of the world ending.

Koiiro Sora Moyou after happiness and extra hearts

Company: すたじお緑茶 (Studio Ryokucha)
Game site: 恋色空模様 after happiness and extra hearts
Release date: June 24, 2011 Delayed to October 28, 2011
Comments:
This is the fandisk to Studio Ryokucha’s 2010 title Koiiro Sora Moyou, with after stories for each of the 5 heroines, as well as new stories for the 4 subheroines (Yuuki, Aiko, Kiyomi and Machiko). The story picks up after the Kaminajima Crusaders defeated the bad guys and prevented the closure of Kamina Gakuen. Returning to peaceful (?) days, Seigo helps the new student council out with the culture festival preparations. Of course, there’s also now more time for sweet love.

Once again, the skies are dyed with the colours of love! Hopefully this time the individual routes aren’t pathetically short since I am dying for more of Aya, Mikoto, Sera and the rest of the cast. But most importantly, the subchars are now heroines too!! (Sorry Hisashi, only the girls. You’re forever the protagonist’s best friend.) Which means… YUKKIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! I’ve been waiting for a Yuuki route for so long! She may be too plain for some people (Zen), but she had me from the moment she showed up with a clothesline pole sasumata. I had bet ten thousands of yen bills that she’ll get a route, along with Ai-chan, and my wish has come true! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

Ruchie and Hirose Madoka’s art is wonderful as always. Even the iron glasses looks cute… when her glasses come off. And let’s not forget a double dose of Miko-chan & Ai-chan. “3p, what’s that?” Hau~ omochikaeri~!! Why is the release date at the end of the month!? WHYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!??????????

A fandisk that I will play, other than that thank god it skips the absolutely terrible story in KoiSora.

Micchi’s Top 10 for This Month

1. Koiiro Sora Moyou after happiness and extra hearts <- I just know this was done to piss me off
2. Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi
3. Rewrite
4. Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo
5. Nadeshiko Drip
6. Irotoridori no Sekai
7. Tenshi no Hane o Fumanaide
8. Natsuyuki ~summer snow~
9. Cafe Sourire
10. Stellar☆Theater encore

Zen’s Top 3 for This Month

1. Nemureru Hana wa Haru o Matsu. -spring come-
2. Koiiro Sora Moyou after happiness and extra hearts <- I helped highlight it in pink for you ^^
3. Natsuyuki ~summer snow~

Aya! Miko-chan! Ai-chan! Yukki-! Blonde twintailed demon!

Are you ready for round two of poorly written stories that destroy their characters..?

I have faith in the eroge gods. They have already gifted us with so many great games this month.

Seriously a top ten though? Choosing one third of the list ceases to be “Top picks” and is instead just “Games that make me yell out “MOOOEEEEEE””. The eroge gods are notoriously fickle beings I might add.

Update: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!