Kamigami no asobi fan art I did last night.

[Kamigami no Asobi] Apollon by Kathisofy on deviantART

So I've heard that the game was absolute crap.  So I guess Otome series do better as animated comedies.  Also any one that knows their mythology know that these guys are going to be absolute jerks the moment they love gets involved.  I just realized that I'm not at all attracted to any of the guys, I really like how Thoth looks and I like that Hades is there but he's not really looking all that attractive.  I was more attracted to Clavas's design from Angelique.  And yet, here I am drooling over all the guys in Blue Sky.  There's something different about those Neoroma games... I'm not quite sure what though.

Also I just realized that this is the first correctly portrayed Hades in actual media.  the only other one was a doujin comic called myth: my season.  wow.  I think the show deserves more attention just for that.

Kamigami no Asobi predictions and thoughts

alright, now that I've settled down a bit, it hit me that if this was dubbed, it could have some major potential to be a hit here in the states.  I'm getting a huge Hetalia vibe from it now and It's actually starting to worry me.  Actually it's about a bunch of stupid beautiful men with a lot of power... it's pretty much hetalia in god form.   First off I can see a lot of 14 year old girls attaching themselves to loki REAL quick.  He seems to be the fan favorite over on Pixiv.  I noticed there too that the quality and quantity of fan art doesn't match up with the new harvest moon games or blue sky even.  Blue Sky has been a pretty horrible anime so far but the fans seem to be more... I don't know...  devoted?  Neoroma games have a more devoted fan base and some excellent fan art.  They also seem older and weirder to me.

-What I like of the show so far-
I like how the gods act a lot like what they're described in the mythology.  Zeus is a jerk that does whatever he wants which would never happen here in the west.  I like how They have these problems and that they're not completely perfect.  I want to see all the magical boy transformations.  The art still empresses me, I still love the music.  The fanservice is fantastic.  The humor is fantastic.  I'm absolutely hooked.

-What worries me about the show-
Once those 14 year olds cling onto this series though, I don't know how I'll feel about it.  It could be the hipster in me screaming "this is going to be mainstream, run far away."
It's funny that I'm fine with all the nudity and bums that the guys show off but I'm uncomfortable with Hade's crown of thorns.  The symbolism is a little too close for comfort for me.
I'm trying to like Apollon but every time he speaks I can hear "pasta" in the back of my mind and it makes me angry.

Alright, lets try to think positively
If this show does get popular that will mean
-they will bring the game over and otome games will become the new fad! (hah)
-THE MERCHANDISE!  unless it's not doing too well in japan then
-Selling these guys as keychains at artist alley will be a breeze... hmm, maybe if I do a little of that this year and get the ball rolling...
-THE COSPLAYERS!  THINK OF THE COSPLAYERS (unless they stick with just the school uniforms.  I have a feeling that I'm going to see a lot of those uniforms in the future.)

Kamigami no Asobi Anime first impression

Otome series + magical fantasy world + norse gods + japanese gods + greek gods + egyptian gods + beautiful art + FREAKIN MAGICAL BOY TRANSFORMATIONS.  HADES IS A CANDIDATE!  FINALLY THANK YOU!

After taking mythology classes in college for years IT FINALLY PAYS OFF IN ANIME FORM THAN YOU JAPAN FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL FANSERVICE!

Oh and don't even get me started on the music.  It's like going through my old NewAge collection.  So Mystical and Magical I'm just gushing right now and I've only seen one episode.  I feel like I'm going to freakin explode.

Few episodes later

Strawberries and bad puns Hades?  You're killing me.

La Corda Blue Sky Manga first impression

So far, all the problems with blue sky aren't happening in the manga.  Kanade is MUCH more likable.  Kyouya even gets told off by her.  He throws a fit about his brother choosing him to take over first violin and she comes up with candy and dirty magazines saying "you need to change your attitude mister."  There's humor, there's character interactions, there's shipping
THIS IS WHAT THE ANIME NEEDED TO BE.  but why is it called Aria of Linden Hall? Quite the mystery

Fan Art: Harutoki 4 Tooya

[Harutoki 4] Touya by Kathisofy on deviantART

I am quite pleased with how the shading and colors turned out.  I really need to practice backgrounds and whatnot. I'm glad to be drawing again though.  It's been forever since I had time to sit down and color anything.  I really should be working on my group otome game that my friends and I are making though.

La Corda Blue Sky: first impressions

Throws stuff

I NEED LA CORDA D'ORO 3!   I have a great and mighty need.  oh my gosh, they're in the middle of airing the anime.  The games are split into 3 different ones!?  RUBY PARTY YOU HAVE RUINED ME

La Corda D'oro: Primo Passo Anime Review

I figured since I love the Neoromance label so much that I'd give La Corda D'oro a chance.  Well... it was actually the live events that they do that made me watch it.  I usually don't like high school centered stories because they make me feel hideously old.  As soon as I started Corda, it had that good ol Neoroma feeling to it.  mmmmmmmmmmm soak that feeling in.  Smell it, smells like reverse harems, angsty protagonists and stagnant romances. I don't know what I like so much about all the Neoromance shows and games (besides the neo angelique anime) but I just... I just love the ruby party team and all the stuff that comes out with the games so much.  It just makes my heart so happy.
Alright, enough gushing about Neoroma and onto the anime.

STORY: Second year highschool student Hino attends a school divided between average students and music students.  They kind of hate each other.  Hino finds that she can see a music fairy named Lili who forces a magical violin that any one can play and somehow gets her into a concert competition for the top music students. (I have no idea how he did this.  The deadbeat teacher seems to know about lili but doesn't ever say anything about it.)  Of course she's all like "this is cheating being in a competition with a magic violin"  and that's the whole conflict of the story.  There it is.  all the angst comes from this.  Strap in, because there is going to be a LOT of angst.  The other competitors are one shy girl and the meat of the show, the really attractive boys.  mmmmmmmmmmm. meat...

THE GOOD
Most of the shows I've seen like this such as Yumeiro Patissiere have an over confident protagonist that has a big dream but little talent.  I was worried that this was going to end up to be one of those shows.  To my surprise, the sudden talent aspect was really interesting.  The episodes flowed really well and I was watching one episode after the other.

THE BAD
The Angst of her having a magic violin and feeling like a cheater gets old REAL fast.  Also, it's a neoromance anime so you know she won't end up with anyone.

CHARACTERS:
Hino is a really fun strong protagonist that is actually really honest.  She had a bit more of a tom boy side to her than what I'm use to in a neoroma series.  She reminds me a lot of Nozomi from Harutoki 3.  Hot headed and very dedicated to whatever she does.  She does get intimidated very easily and is VERY harsh on herself.  There is character growth though which is nice.

Len Tsukimori was pushed really hard to be the main love interest.  He's really distant and rude though.  It's not a fun rude either.  It's more of like he doesn't care much at all about anything and is really angry about it.  He's got famous mom and dad issues and trying to live up to expectations whatever.  He'd do something really shippy and then he'd say something really blunt and kill the mood.  He's just... so bland.  As he loses his rudeness he becomes even more boring mcblanderson.  Hino eventually learns to shrug off his bluntness and many of the other guys joke about how he could at least try to put things a bit nicer.  He plays the Violin.



Ryotaro Tsuchiura is the second most pushed for to be the main love interest.  He stopped playing the piano around others after he was butt hurt over losing a competition and thinks the music kids are all snooty pretentious jerks... which is actually pretty true in this show.  He and Len have at it a few times since len embodies everything he hates about the competitive music world.  I understand what it feels like though to drop out of what you love because of prestigious art students but I don't get so mad about it.  He's really hot blooded.  When Hino found out about his secret love for music, he intimidatingly cornered her and told her to keep it a secret from every one.  Sure he can be nice every once and a while, but I really didn't like him much.  Obviously he plays the piano.

The style also jumped up in quality

Kazuki Hihara (wait, TWO green haired, yellow eyed boys? you guys should know better!)  Now here's my type right here.  The super genki go-get-em type.  What a cutie.  Not only that but he's super polite.  Ah, episode 6.  He actually got the best ship teasing.  How did that happen?  What's even better is that he's super embarrassed about it and apologizes profusely.  He's the only guy to actually admit that he was in love with Hino and even let it slip a few times to her. While he is the main source of humor for the show, he never comes across as stupid.  He's just super passionate.  He even has some angsty, existential crisis moments in the show about if he should continue music in college and why he's playing in the first place.  After that he gets really cute and serious.  Very interesting.  I kept wanting to call him Randy for some reason...  Anyway, he plays the trumpet.

Narcoleptic Shimon I MEAN Keiichi Shimizu is here to fill the shota quota.  He talks really slow and only reads, plays music and sleeps. He's cute, that's for sure, but that's about all he's got going for him.  I didn't get much personality out of this kid, he was just kind of there... floating around.  Like a ghost.  Some on on the ruby party team loves little blond, curly haired boys.  He also reminds me of a really slow Marcel from angelique.  hmmm... yes... Ruby party, I think I've got you figured out.  THESE ARE ALL JUST THE SAME CHARACTERS!  they're just in different situations.  I don't care much though because I love these characters and how they interact with one another.  He plays the cello.
Heh, Shota Quota

Sweet, quiet Azuma Yunoki, loved by his peers, smart and kind to everyon.... DID HE JUST THREATEN TO RAPE HINO!? HOOOOOOOOO  What do we have here.  I suspected that he was hiding something but the moment he face-heel turned I was a gasp because I was really expecting him to be the sickly prince type.  He was so boring at first too.  After he showed his true colors he escalated to one of the most interesting characters.  Of course his problems stem from his rich family and crotchety grandma that really needs to find herself a set of stairs fall down.  What's funny is that I just finished Harutoki 5 and he's pretty much a pretty boy version of Komatsu... who I also love.  Why am I becoming attached to these abusive types all of a sudden?  He hinted at raping her.  why am I promoting this guy?  He even admits to using Hino as a toy which leads to my favorite episode of the whole dang show.  Episode 14.  I hated this guy with a passion until 14 but then the sass kicked in and I couldn't help but love this guy.  It could be that I'm use to extended family that work with extreme amounts of sass, snark and rudeness as if it were a trade. There's just something about the power struggle with them I guess.  Also I just find the shot of him in the curtains the cutest dang thing in the world.  just... just LOOK AT IT!  LOOK AT IT.  Silly two faced rich kid, get out of the dang curtains.  Think about your family image.  He plays the flute because he can't surpass his older brothers at the piano.  Stupid grandma.

I mind

THE GOOD

I love how the guys work off each other and each one besides narcoleptic shimon feel really natural with Hino as a love interest.  They are all really deep characters with struggles and even the side characters besides her two bland friends are really interesting.

THE BAD

GIVE ME MOAR SHIPPY!  I NEED MY SHIPPING.  The whole time Hino is crying over how much she loves her friggin violin that I was expecting IT to transform into a beautiful man.  That might have been more interesting. We don't get much of any kind of romance with these guys, especially after episode 6.  It just poofed... into nothing.  There it goes.

ART AND MUSIC:

This show... is hideous.  The colors are just so.. I don't even know how to describe what I think is wrong with the style.  The game looked fine, Kure's work in the maga was beautiful too.  How did... what.  I'm too lazy to look up what animation company did this but it looks a lot like why I hate the style of the newer glass mask. I swear, it was the same animation company.  The colors are just so dark contrasting and globby and the shines.  bleh!  Why is every one look like they were rolled around in cheeto dust? What's with all the green hair?  WHY DOES EVERY ONE HAVE YELLOW EYES!?  It's not just the colors either, the way they drew the eyes, the lines, the hair.  Everything is just totally hideous to me.  I eventually got use to it. but then there's the animation.  While it did have excelent animation even every one was playing instruments, watching these people walk... I just wanted to rip my hair out.  Walk cycles aren't that hard, they're like the most basic thing you do in animation and here you guys are, drawing 24 frame hands playing a piano or violin and you can't get a character from one place to another without it looking like they're shuffling around in slippers.
Or it could be that I'm coming off of Sword art online and Hyouka..  I just expect such better animation... and color.

As for the music, it is absolutely beautiful.  Just watch it for the music.  Truly wonderful to hear all these classical pieces.  I really wanted to look up a lot of these songs.

THE GOOD
THE MUSIC

THE BAD
THE ART (most of the time anyway)

TO THE SCOREBOARD

STORY: 7/10 While the magic sudden talent was interesting, the drama near the end really pulled a lot of the enjoyment out of watching the show.

CHARACTERS: 10/10 Very interesting, deep and flawed characters the go through development

ART 6/10 I just find it kinda ugly is all. I just have... I don't even know why I hate it so much.

BOUNUS: points for great music and getting me to look up classic songs

OVERALL SCORE

8/10 as much as I hated the art, I loved the characters and their struggles, especially with an art form.  It didn't feel distant like other shows that focus on a talent.  I felt like I could relate to everything.  Each character got equal opportunity with the main girl and even she was likable.  I really did enjoy this show but it needed to angst a little less and be a little more romantic.  The character endings were really flat and played out exactly like the Harutoki endings where Hino says nothing and weirds you out as the guys say how much they love her.  Maybe they were hoping you'd place yourself in her shoes?  hmm....  Best episodes 6 and 14.  Might watch again, but not anytime soon.

Harutoki 5: route bar graphs

Quick fan art of the day

I've got my eye on Harutoki 4 now that I'm about to finish 5.  I need this hot chunk of bird meat in my life.  mmmmmmm boy!

Finished Komatsu

Look who I finished yesterday.  His eyes are a little wonky from far away though.  Here's proof that I'd never let eyes actually look like that.

[Harutoki 5] Komatsu by Kathisofy on deviantART

Harutoki 5: Souji's Route

Souji, Souji, Souji.  I knew what was coming but I really was not expecting the ending.  I knew this route was going to be sad but I didn't know I'd get so attached to this character.  All the other routes he's sort of emotionless and I thought he'd be a lot like Yasuaki from the first game.  Ohhhhhh no no no.  Thanks game, thanks for taking my heart and ripping it right out again.  I thought I was ready for all the feels that I would be feeling this route but I was not.
So, story... You hang out with the Shinsengumi and fight the onryou with them.  Most of the conversations are like "Whoah Souji, are you okay?" after he has a coughing fit.  and he's always "Yeah, I'm dandy!  just fine! I'm a totally healthy human being or whatever" (not actual translation) At one point you notice that he hasn't been sleeping or eating.  He says he just has a cold and you can either sing him "rock a bye baby" or offer to make him homemade chicken soup.  So sweet but it's also sad to think he probably coughed it up later.  mmm...  A lot of the scenes have to do with him playing with kids which is really sweet.  There's a lot of kids in this route.
So, His coughing fits lead Yuki to believe he's sicker than he's telling her.  She has Shyun take him to the hospital in their world to check him out.  (Shyun confirmed for medical experience.) They get back to the house where shyun is all like "You tell her" and quickly walks away.  Then Souji asks if they could go outside and talk at which they arrive at a park where Yuki explains that kids play there.  He tries to tell her that he's actually really sick but I don't think it ever makes it out.  He just asks her to "use his life" give it meaning as a guardian.  They hold hands under the gazebo in the park and make a promise to watch the blossoms bloom in spring together.
Oh man, the ending. The ending.  I seriously wasn't expecting that.  After you defeat Amami and are about to back to your world, every one says their goodbyes and you ask Souji to go back with you and he says that he can't using the Shinsengumi as an excuse.  He goes into to kiss her, waits a bit at the lips (probably remembered that he coughs up blood a lot or that he might get her sick too) and then kisses her cheek.  He then tells her to close her eyes and count to ten like you were laying hide and seek.  He stars 1... 2... 3.. at which you pick up and go to ten.  You open your eyes and as expected... He's gone.
Whats worse is that the route goes to the credits with him looking really sickly out of his uniform sitting outside saying how perfect the weather is.  At this point I'm assuming he dies.  but I can't say for sure

Whats even worse is that after the credits, you go to see the blossoms at the park and he's there.  I have no idea how he's there but he is saying he kept his promise.  I know he wasn't reborn in her world because he has the same name.  If I know my story tropes, it's his ghost, but then again he has a body.  Does any one out there know what happened for him to be there?  did they ever explain it because I'm going to assume that it was a ghost.

Whooo, souji's route.  It was really easy to get and it was really romantic and sweet.  She ship teasing was fantastic and the chemistry was really strong between you two.  I know I just spoiled the whole surprise of the ending but it just was so.  gah.  so many feels.  It was so drastic because I did him last and every other guardian happily follows you home.  His story though doesn't end as happily.  All the other guys you save from death but his... his you just have to accept.  There's no way to fix it.  It was fun though.  It was a fun cry.

Gah, Now I have to go through Miyako's route.  I don't know why I feel so uncomfortable.  maybe I just feel more comfortable around feminine people?  Maybe it's the fact that you're cousins... but then again that's a cultural thing and I'm okay with it other places.  It's a combination of things. gah, I'm not looking forward to it.

Alright, I'll post some of my art

Embarrassing  sketches of Harutoki 1  guys in military uniforms

Sketch of Komatsu sitting in a Victorian chair with his Naginata between his legs.

And here's the lineart

Harutoki 5: Komatsu's Route

Okay,  I love this character.  He's so intimidating and manipulative it's fantastic!  What a spoiled brat.  I know I've complained about his voice but there are points where it really is menacing and great.  He's got Yuki so wound around his finger, he gets her to drop ideas and just say "I understand."  What commanding power.  It's exhilarating, especially from some wimpy looking guy with sort of a girly voice.  The whole story line feels like a power struggle between you and him and every time he blushes it feels like you won that round.  Other times it's just fun to let him have his way because he gives you this look.  It just screams "that's right, know your place woman."

He's pretty rude actually and he gets upset when you do things of your own will. So controlling but in a weird fun way?  I don't know.  It's fun to mess with him that's for sure because of how bent out of shape he gets about things.
All his pictures are really saucy but all just the two of you in the same position.  He's right up in your face, holding her by the arms, looking her strait in the eyes.  The best one is where he takes off his glasses and gets really close to Yuki to "get a better look at her"
Best thing though is when you confront Amami and he calls you 愛しい子 or Lovely/Dear Child and Komatsu is all like "Lovely child!? She's not your plaything Amami"

"SHE'S MY PLAYTHING!"

So, now that I know that this game's theme is about overcoming death, Komatsu seems to embody accepting death since when he read that he would die in five years in a book in your world he was actually really calm about it.  I was not expecting this from him.  Very interesting.
So when should you play this route?  It's on the medium difficulty but you can start right at chapter 8 and not have to go though chapter 7 for the millionth time.  He's awfully romantic so you could do his route as one of the first ones.  It's a simple route, no extream story elements or whatnot.  Just a lot of shippy.

Harutoki 5: Takasugi's Route

WOW!  What a refreshing route, especially after reliving trauma with Fukuchi.  Not only that but it was super easy to get.  I found it all by myself and didn't have to go through stinky chapters 8 and 9 again. SO GLAD.  Not only that but you get to go to new places like on a boat and places at night. Look at all this new beautiful scenery.  I had my doubts with this guy.  He seemed so strict and serious.  He was super formal and I was really not looking forward to doing this route because of all the war stuff I knew was coming.  I was so wrong.  He's such a sweetie.  Every scene with him is really romantic and the voice is like... GAAAA so good.  His laugh is like listening to unicorn whispers dipped in dark chocolate.  You may have to sit through a lot of political talk but it's so worth it with him.  At first I thought his voice was way too low but his voice actor saves it.  It's strong and commanding with other men but when he talks to you it's so smooth, so full of emotion.  The poor guy even cries at one point. Also, this one blushes, it's really rare though so it's a little special when you get it to happen. Also I'd like to point out that he looks like a blue Captain Harlock.  I'm totally okay with this because Harlock is awesome.

As a romantic interest, this is the guy to go for.  He's super manly but then he likes to look at flowers and play instraments for you.  My favorite scene is when after walking in the mountains all day, he takes you to a hot spring to dip your feet in and you can chat with him about his life and stuff.  After that when you're back with the others though, some one lets it slip that you two were at a hot spring and every one is just a gasp.  Miyako even smacks him.  Of course he's flustered and like "nothing happened, she just put her feet in."
It's a very respectful and soft romance though.  Nothing like Shyun's or Ryouma's.  They do hold hands in a scene early on which is kinda funny to think about for such a tough guy, holding your hand.  so cute.

As for when you should play this Route, I'd say do it when you've gotten sick of chapters 8 and 9.  It's the perfect break from all the drama and repeating storyline and mixes up the plot a bit.  Besides Chinami, this has been my favorite Route so far.

So, I've finally after 6 routes noticed the theme of this game... and it is death.  Takasugi has been (I think he's a general but I'm not sure) and has seen his share of death.  He's been able to cope with it but as soon as your life is on the line by using the white dragon's power, he gets a bit shaken up.  He really does have a deep heart.  Chinami's route was about dealing with family death, Ernest's route was the the threat of death from a loved one, Shyun was about sacrificing your life for others, Ryouma was about trying to escape death, Fukuchi was about taking your own life and then Takasugi here is about trying to deal with living after seeing a lot of death?  maybe having to deal with the threat of death of a loved one.  Souji's route is going to be about death by sickness, I know that kid has tuberculous. I just don't know what Komatsu's problem is, thanks Ernest for tipping me off on how much of a controlling weirdo he is though.

Harutoki 5: Fukuchi's Route

"I can hear his heartbeat, he's alive..."

I had to use a guide for this one too.  I still don't know how I got it.  It just showed up after a few tries.  And boy, I'm still shaking.  I have to wait a while to pick it back up.  There are points in this game that I really wish I didn't understand what was going on.  I wish so hard I could have just played through his route happily, but I knew.  I knew the second Komatsu said they found his journal and found the flower in it that he had killed himself.  I tried with all my might not to put the game down after you go back and find him before he does it.  I was literally sick when he told me to go back inside and that he didn't want me to hear it.  I've seen so many real suicide attempts that I knew what was going on even when they didn't show me what exactly was happening.  I was sitting there thinking "I wish I would have never bought this game"  However, it's been weird.  After you break the chains and he sleeps with you in your room, I felt a strange calm.  You keep waking up in the night with nightmares only to find him next to you.  It happens three of four times and she has to check to see if he's still alive.  It struck me so close because I've been through that.  I know exactly what that is like.  The night after my mom found my dad, we were staying over at my uncle's house on makeshift beds.  My mother would wake up every hour with a start and hold us, making sure that we didn't leave her.
It's just weird that I feel so at peace, almost like a cleansing.  Like the game was expressing this fear that I have kept inside for so long.  I've been into time travel themed things for a while now, but this is the first time that It's actually been used for what I've wished so long to use it for if I had it.  It's almost like I felt like I saved my friend or my aunt or my dad.  And just like magic, he's cured, never to try again.  While I know that that's not how it goes, I still feel this strange calm.

After that event, I couldn't get back into liking this character because of how close it hit to home.  It was just so... I don't know, the more I think about it the more it hurts me especially since I loved his personality and design.  It's just a grim reminder that I'll lose more people that way and I don't need a game to remind me of the horrible crap I've been through, especially by the character I liked the most.

He had some really funny scenes too like when you first take him to your house and say "This is my house" which sounds a lot like "This is my Ouchi or his first name"  He's gets all shy and blushy.  Another great scene is shyun is doing something with you and Fukuchi overhears you call him "brother" and he's all like "Can I be your brother?"  Of course you're all "you want to be my brother!?"

Gah, but this poor guy has like a million scars from who knows what, persecution for being a demon and stuff.  It's just so dang depressing.  Thanks for ruining my gaming experience Fukuchi.  THANKS.

Harutoki 5: Ryouma's Route

I really wanted to go for Ryouma first and I almost got it a few times but I kept making the same mistake over and over. I eventually had to follow a guide and it was one stupid mistake that could have been fixed easily. I feel such shame looking up a guide in order to get him. I was so determined. After finding what it was that I was doing wrong (after defeating the scary dog tree monster, you have to go back to the future and fight it in the library there before you do anything else. I know some one out there needs to see this) Here is the guide I used, it's super simple and all you need to do is watch for when you get to choose answers and see if any of the answers match.  The answers are in [ these boxes] and will say how many points you get after them. Go down to キャラ別攻略 and click on the character you want.
So, for Ryouma's story. It's interesting when you read up on the real Sakamoto Ryouma, you get kind kinda get the idea of what side each person is on in game. Koei is known for it's historical games so I figured that there was real stuff going on in here. However, when you think about a famous person from the past as a dating sim canidate it just feels... what's the word? Sacreligious? Somewhere around that feeling.  It'd be like if there were a dating based game where you could go back to the american revolution and date George Washington as a young attractive anime dude with a really spunky personality.
The whole time you're trying to get this hot piece of man flesh and fate is all like

Every chance it gets, it's trying to kill the dude screaming YOU CAN'T FIGHT FATE and eventually you're like SCREW YOU FATE but it ends up breaking your time turner.  I love time travel stories so this story line is one I see all the time.
As a romantic interest, I was always really distracted by his (accent? rough way of talking?) and the fact that he never blushed over or felt embarrassed about anything that by the end I didn't feel the romance but he is a real sweetie.  I was just trying to keep his sorry butt alive.  However, there is one scene after you come back from another time travel adventure where you find him in the past. (creating a Temporal Paradox with him calling her "Young Lady.") I'm not sure about the other Harutoki games but I know from the anime that no one kisses but this... this scene was really romantic and I'm pretty sure there was a kiss... I'm pretty sure.  The picture sort of stops right before he gets to her mouth.
So, his voice is distracting sometimes with his really rough way of talking but other than that he's a nice route.  The relationship feels really natural but maybe a it's a bit boring compaired to the others.

I'm starting to hate Chapters 8 and 9...

Music of the week

for whoever cares, I'm addicted to music so I might just start posting songs I'm really into that week.  Watch out for that.

Harutoki 5: Shun's Route

So Shyun is the first one that I decided to go for actively instead of taking whatever comes my way.  This is where I really wish I was fluent in japanese.  The main story unfolds here and everything is explained and I had no idea what they were talking about.  I know that there is a portal connecting both worlds and that Sou is on one side and Amami is on the other.  I'm still not sure of his intentions because he's a candidate and every time you defeat him Yuki is always sad about it. Can I just say how much I love Amami as a villain.  His voice is just so sensual and sinister.  It's amazing.
So it took me until one of the final confrontations in the modern world where they're standing next to each other to realize that Sou and Shyun were actual brothers that were adopted into her family.  While that whole group called each other brother and sister I didn't realize that the shota was actually a tag along.  I thought he was just one of the friends.  Now I understand why Shyun would get upset when I mentioned him.  I'm thinking they've got some kind of fate thing binding them to this situation and I'm really struggling to understand why Shyun had to sacrifice himself and why he didn't have to in the end.  Was it because Sou took his place?  I'm also missing a scene in between there, there must be an alternative ending. This route is the closure, fill up all the story holes route.  I'd say do this one first. You' have to wait a while to get it but it's actually easy.. (There are some reviews that say that this game is confusing and that you need a guide to play it but It's actually one of the easiest games I've ever played and I've never got lost enough to need a guide.)

So, Shyun as a love interest.  They were really pushing for him to be the first guy you go for.  First you have a deep childhood friendship bond.  You have him being overly protective first as an older brother figure and then feelings develop.  Some of the best ship teasing comes from these two.  One of my favorite parts is when you go to wake him up and as he's still asleep you start going through one of his books (maybe a medical textbook or a journal?) when he suddenly tells you to stop it.  Turns out that he's talking in his sleep and you get a really cute scene with him half awake.  I don't know why but when he gets a headache in one of the other routes strikes me as cute. (maybe I've developed another fetish. where do these keep coming from?) The part where you sprain your ankle is great.
And finally, before the final battle after you go back in time to change his fate, he confesses his love to you and there's a really sweet scene in your room afterwards. Harutoki is always really hush-hush about sexuality but this would have been the best place for some hanky panky.
So my main complaints are just with the voice actor.  A lot of the times he'd talk way too fast for me to understand and it was just too gruff for me but that's a personal preference.  There were parts where his tough facade would crumble and he'd start whispering and show SOME emotion.  Other than that the voice didn't fit him most of the time.  It was exhilarating when he yells at you though.  whoooo boy.
oh, but the whole time plaything this route all I could think of was this.  This is it, this is their whole relationship.

Harutoki 5: Chinami's Route

I wasn't planning to go down chinami's rout at all when I first got this game a week ago.  I some how ended up in his rout so I thought I might as well go through it.  First of I'm not really into shotas and there are 2 maybe 3 in this game if you count Sou.  I usually avoid them but Chinami is different.  Even though he's hot blooded and shy he's not mean about it (like a certain horse man in rune factory 4)

He does this little thing with his braid when he's embarrassed and every time he does it I just dawww.  There are some scenes where you interact with the other men where he gets all embarrassed like when Shyun... I don't know if he's feeding you or cutting up your food for you but it's somewhere along those lines, Chinami gets all red faced and runs out of the restaurant.  He's just the cutest little thing.  Miyako gives him a rough time.  I really like the dynamic between them.  First thing he does is berate her from having such a girly name and you have to say "Well, that's because she's a GIRL."  He's shocked which is funny because he looks pretty girly himself.  There gets to be a point when you've watched anime for so long, you can tell what gender a character is.  I'm not sure what the signals are but I'm usually able to tell.  With him it was easy, but wiith Miyako, it was really tough but I really like her now and see her as a woman.  It's just funny when even the characters in game can't tell.

So the reason why I decided just to go with Chinami's route was after he found out his brother had become a vengeful spirit and had run off.  The scene where you sit with him on the sea shore just hit me so hard because I know what it's like to have someone die.  I just wanted to help this poor babbys.  Amami convinces him that it was his fault that his (troup?) died and he wasn't there with them or something like that and he's in a lot of pain emotionally.  He goes to get his revenge against amami and ends up horribly injured at which point we take him into the other world and bandage him up at the collapsing hospital there.  (I'm thinking that Shun has medical experience.)  When Chinami wakes up we find that he has the DREADED AMNESIA!  OH NO! (you should all know how I feel about amnesia)

As for romance, there's a lot of chemistry between you two because of you wanting to help him after his brother's death and then helping him when he has amnesia.  Add onto all that that he gets flustered and frustrated easily.  My favorite scene with him is when after he lost his memory, You go to wake him up and find him fighting to braid his hair (you hear him cussing through the door, it's the funniest thing.)  You decide to help him braid it and the whole time he's just staring at you.  As she tries to explain things, perhaps how to braid all he does is stare and say yeah... even if you don't say anything he's still like "yeah..." SO CUTE.

Chinami's route was fantastic.  I loved his reactions to things and his scenes.  I'm just mad that he cut off his braid when he comes to the other world with you. NO NOT THE BRAID!  NOOOOOO.

Harutoki 5: Ernest's Route

So, as much as I admit to not understanding, I managed to stumble upon two routes.  Some how I ended up with Chinami and Ernest without even doing much.  They must be the easiest to get and I'm starting to think that Ryouma is one of the harder ones.  Oh dear.
Anyway, I was wanting to go through Ernest's anyway because I wanted to hear more of his english and oh boy... I understand why every one was complaining about his voice actor. While his pronunciation was excellent except for his Vs, He says everything in the same snakey snark voice as "If you WILL" and whatnot.  Some of the lines like "cross my heart" "Checkmate" and "please don't make me beg" were absolutely brilliant, but the longer ones... well, I think they were going for sexy but it just ended up... lispy sass?  I'm very forgiving in this area thought because of how deep his voice is.  I swear I've never heard anyone that sounded so high and low pitched at the same time like that.  It's like there's two levels to his voice.  What's weird is that it goes higher when he speaks english.  It's like there's two people talking.

As for his story line, I didn't trust this smarmy jackanapes the moment I saw him.  Those eyebrows, that combed back hair, and ENGLISH, gah, no good can come from that.  As the story line went along I feel into his gentlemanly traps.  Oh!  he's serving me tea, it feels just like home!  I can use english on him at some points, I can even make him blush really hard.  gah, I love the blushing. But then some things happen which I don't really understand.  Some orders from england or something and he pulls his gun on you.

As for his ending, I really didn't feel the chemistry.  He's sort of a really watered down womanizer that can speak english once and a while but other than that he's pretty bland but it is interesting seeing the conflict between being loyal to your country and being loyal to complete strangers that say you now have magical powers to protect some dragon god and their priestess.  I can see why he'd be conflicted.  Some of the interactions between him and Chinami were great.  I'm pretty sure that Chinami understands a bit of english but still tells Ernest that he's in Japan and needs to use JAPANESE.  Also the confusion of the other characters whenever he says something in english or mentions an english thing mid conversation is always fun. You'd get a lot more out of this character if your were fluent in both english and japanese. I wish they had more english interactions with him.  Maybe even a full conversation where you had to prove you understood what he was saying but that's asking a little much.  Over all I really enjoyed his rout because of how much I understood of this character and seeing a soft blushy side to this otherwise collected and serious character.  As a romantic interest though he's pretty low on the list.  I'm having loads of fun though.  Gosh I love this game.

Harukanaru Toki No Naka De 5 [slight spoilers ahead]

First off, I have to admit, I have a problem.  I'm completely obsessed with the Harukanaru toki no naka de series. and I thought I'd give you guys proof.  This is my manga wall.  I collect 70's manga, Nakayoshi, Chao and Ribon magazines, 80's toys and cartoons, art books from various animated movies and games and regular manga that I like the art of.  I have a bad habit of buying one volume of a manga just for the art and then never finishing it.  If I REALLY like the story or art, I would get the second volume and stop there.  Usually not in order either.  (hence why I have two of kimi ni todoke that are vol 1 and 5)  but this... this just proves how much of a fanatic I am for harutoki.

  This semester, I gave my self 5$ for each test I took.  With that money I would buy a vol or two of harutoki.  The first two went for mere pennies however as the books have progressed, the price escalated at a 90 degree angle. 70$ for some of the later volumes.  Why did I have to get into THIS series?  Most of the volumes are library rejects so they were covered with stickers and bar codes.  8 here was the worst!  however, I was able to clean it up and it's just like new.  I've got 7 and 9 in the mail as we speak but after vol 9 I think I'll have to stop because of the price jump in those volumes.  They don't even have them available new and they're nowhere to be found on ebay or amazon.

As for other Harutoki crap in my room, I have two of those plastic paper protectors that school kids stick in their folders so they don't smear.  (good heavens, I've forgot the name of them.)  I got them about 3 years ago at a local anime convention and I'm kicking myself for not getting more.  I had just gotten into the anime at the time and I didn't think much about finding these.  Also, Yasuaki was my favorite at the time so I got the ones of him.  As for my last bit of compulsive buying due to college stress...

I imported Haukanaru toki no naka de 5.  So the reason I chose 5 was because it was
1.) the cheapest
2.) had a smarmy English guy with really good pronunciation.
3.) Left to right text with quick saves and and a fast forward button.
4.) Fukuchi and Ryouma

PRESENTATION

The game is just absolutely beautiful.  While it's not fully voiced, I wasn't expecting as much so no gripes from me.  Especially coming off of rune factory 4 where they only say little words here and there.  It's also helpful to know if you're going into something important when they suddenly start speaking. POSITIVE THINKING DANG IT.  The music, while it doesn't have many tracks and repeats, is beautiful.  One track in particular will get annoying with it's straining flute but it's not bothering me much.  The background and art are so smooth and beautiful.  I also love just hearing the sound effects of people walking, moving fabric, swinging swords.  I can see it all in my mind.  As for how easy it is to follow, I was absolutely worried that I would be so lost in this game.  However the tutorials are easy enough to follow even if you don't know much Japanese.  The voice acting leads the mood and even if you can't read what's going on word for word, you can tell what's happening just by how they phrase things or how their character sprites react.  I've only taken 3 years of high school Japanese and a basic semester in college a year ago and I was not at all confident.  I thought I was going to be so lost but there have been times in the game where I've surprised myself on how much Japanese I really do understand.  I've been able to follow the story, understand what's going on.  I keep a notebook of the kanji that I don't know to look up later and of places and events since some a based on real things.  I'm so beyond pleased with the presentation but then again, I don't think I could ever hate anything Harutoki. 

STORY

I thought I knew what I was getting into.  Your basic thrown back in time romance with a bit of action in it.  I was suprised by some of the predictable twists of who ended up being good and bad ( that's because I'm gullible, not because it was written really well.) I have to admit I've gotten myself a little too emotionally invested in this game because I'm a lonely fangirl with a lot of feelings.  There's a part that just absolutely ripped out my heart because I thought I could get a certain guy on the first run and he ended up DEAD or maybe just horribly wounded... and then I thought I had ended up in the Trap Rout.  I was seriously in tears, wanting to give up on this game and sell it I was so upset.  I had to go rummaging through Japanese walkthroughs to learn that I was not in the trap rout and that I just had to play the game first to the end... or the middle.  I did not pay high amounts of shipping and wait a month and a half to have my favorite guy die and end up with my face in the hands of another woman two seconds after my heart has been crushed... because I WANT MY BEAUTIFUL MAN DANG IT and I'll go after the girl when I DECIDE.  dang it ruby party!  P.S. Don't trust the shota.

CHARACTERS

While harutoki 3 had English walkthroughs and the best reviews and was even cheaper, I decided on 5 because of the the guy design.  None of them appealed to me in 3 and I almost got 4 because I loved the design of all the guys but I really didn't like their personalities.  This game was the perfect balance between looks and personality.  

The main character is kinda bland as expected since she's suppose to be you.  However I'm all about cutesy sweet sugary girlishness so I don't have much say in how much you'll like her as a character.
She is accompanied by two guys and a trap (alright I'll stop calling her a trap but I was so convinced that she was a he because of the voice and body shape.  I spent the whole first half of the game trying to psyche my brain into recognizing her as a girl and when it finally did it, stuff happened in the game and my brain went on a complete fritz.)  She's actually a really great character and I like a lot of the interactions with her. As for the guys I plan on going for first, I can't decide between these two.

Such beauty.  Such perfection.  I just love these sweet babbys.  I have to admit, I love really tall shy and beautiful men. (speaking of which... I'll type up some stuff about my experience with rune factory 4 later) and spunky "I do what I want" kind of guys.  But you all already know this from my previous posts.

All the voice acting is fantastic in my opinion.  I know that it was one of the biggest gripes people had with the game.  The only character I felt like they didn't have the right voice for was Komatsu (his name too, my gosh).  I am especially pleased with Ernest's English and how well pronounced it is even if it is suppose to be an English accent.  I'm still happy whenever he says something in english.  He's even got snark in there.  Crap he's such an awesome jerk.  Some of the stuff he says in English I'm like "whooo, I'd smack this guy if I could."  Those who play this game with limited English knowledge are missing a whole side to his character.  It's like, he's just being nice to you because you're a woman and that really upsets me that under his little green eyes he considers you a barbarian and only humors you because of your gender.  GAH WHAT A JERK.  but it's fun.  

P.S.  DON'T TRUST THE SHOTA

THOUGHTS SO FAR

I'm so absolutely pleased with this game.  I play it for hours non stop and get my family mad at me because of my reclusive nature now. As much as the I hate JRPGs this one is set up in a really refreshing way where you can fast forward through he battles and arrange fun combos.  I also don't have to worry about healing much because I've been able to level up without feeling like I was grinding like I was in Fuun Kabuki Den.  other than that I love this game. Even when it horribly upset me, I still had to pick it up and keep playing.  Or it could be that I worship this series and I'm extremely biased and uneducated one what GOOD otome games are like or whatever.  I'm having a lot of fun so whatever.  Maybe it's good that this is my first Harutoki game so I don't have any sort of previous influence.  Maybe I'll buy myself 3 for my birthday.  Now if I can figure out how to get these guys... hmmmmmmmmmm....