X-Change (video game)
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X-Change is a Japanese erotic game produced by Crowd and distributed in English by Peach Princess. So far, there have been four versions released in Japan, and three of those four have been made fully available to the English-speaking market. The only exception is X-Change Three, which is available in English, but has had content deleted and changed from the original version. In addition, re-releases of the first two games with additional characters and improved graphics are available in Japan, titled XchangeR and Xchange2R. Peach Princess has stated they do not intend to market these remakes for the English market. In October 2005, two titles were re-released as Xchange3 Reprinted and Yin-Yang! Xchange Alternative Reprinted. These two are reprinted versions of the originals and do not have additional scenarios or characters.
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[edit] X-Change
[edit] Plot
The main character is Takuya Aihara, an average junior college student with one character flaw: he is a bit of a mental weakling. No matter how hard he tries, it seems that all the girls around him are constantly pushing him around: his teasing step-sister Natsumi, the genius president of his chemistry club Asami, and especially Asuka, his beautiful childhood friend.
One day, while cleaning some shelves in the chemistry room, he spills a mysterious chemical on himself. The next thing he knows, he is transformed into a girl. The game has six different endings; in some Takuya remains a woman, in others he returns to being a man.
[edit] Gameplay
As the game unfolds, you make various decisions/actions at set various points in the game. These choices lead to different interactions with the multiple characters throughout the game.
[edit] Characters
- Takuya Aihara (相原拓也/たくや): The Main Character. He turns into a female by spilling a mysterious chemical on himself.
- Asuka Katakiri (片桐明日香): A close friend of Takuya. Takuya has secretly been in love with her since childhood.
- Asami Satoh(佐藤麻美): The president of the science club, of which she and Takuya are the only members. Though very smart, she is also somewhat unscrupulous in experimenting on Takuya.
- Professor Miyagi: The art teacher at Takuya's school. He is extremely kind and he gets along well with the students. Miyagi doesn't treat Takuya any differently after Takuya becomes a female by the accident.
- Nurse Keiko Matsunaga (松永啓子): The school nurse. Most of the male students are smitten with her, enough though there have been rumors about her private practices in the nurse's office.
- Mr. Terada: The gym teacher, who was hard on the weak Takuya and is even worse when Takuya becomes a girl.
- Natsumi (相原夏美): Takuya's older step-sister. She is controlling and always demands for things to go her way. She often abuses Takuya, the degree of which increases in the third game.
- Seiji (清次): Natsumi's boyfriend, who shows an interest in the female Takuya.
- Koji Kudo(工藤弘二): Being very shy, he doesn't have many friends. Strangely, he has fallen for the new Takuya.
[edit] X-Change 2
In the second game, you play as Takuya again, who now has gained Asuka as a girlfriend since the first game. Chisato Kawahara, an inquisitive scientist and your junior in the chemistry club designs a machine which is supposed to increase your strength and intelligence. When she uses it on you, however, it turns you into a girl. As usual, you must try to make the right choices to end up normal.
[edit] New Characters
- Koji Kudo (工藤弘二) - Your chemistry club partner. He is in love with your female half, and seeks to continue the relationship you had with him in the first game.
- Chisato Kawahara (河原千里) - Your chemistry club leader and partner. She enjoys performing experiments on people.
- Kyoko Fukagawa (深川恭子) - A college student who appears younger then her age. She has problems regarding family relationships.
- Maiko Nagata (永田舞子) - A girl who is the target of unwanted affection by many perverted guys. She has turned to lesbianism for love and support.
- Shizuka Ootori (大鳥静香) - A top pianist who studies in an all girls' school. She is unable to leave the grounds on her own, and is a bit reserved as a result.
- Megumi Fujieda (藤枝めぐみ) - A quiet girl who secretly loves the male Takuya.
- Miyuki Watanabe (渡辺美由紀) - President of the school's Drama Club.
[edit] X-Change 3
In the third game, Kōji, a male student you had an encounter with in the first game, is still trying to get Takuya's female side in love with him . He secretly gets Asami Satoh to make more of the sex-change potion and proceeds to trick Takuya into drinking it. This game is the first in the series to be released on DVD-ROM, and the first to have the English release censored.
On July 22, 2006, Peter Payne admitted that Peach Princess had censored the English release of X-Change 3. A total of seven graphics had been removed from the game due to them being of a lolicon nature. Two other graphics were edited to remove tears and other details from a rape scene. An unknown number of speech and sound effects were removed, and the amount of dialog changed during the translation/conversion is unknown. After backlash from fans of the series, the company has claimed that they had no possible option to release the full game claiming legal reasons, despite having sold games of a similar nature, and continuing to do so.
A petition has been created by fans in hopes of an anti-censorship patch being released by the company.[1]
[edit] Yin-Yang! X-Change Alternative
Kaoru Sakurazuka is a normal Japanese young man, not unique in the least except for his oddly feminine facial features, which drive him crazy. His name doesn't thrill him either -- Kaoru is a common name for both girls and boys. He tries to make up for looking like a girl by wearing an extra coating of male bravado wherever he goes. He enjoys his time at school with his friends Touya and Renji.
In the game, Kaoru begins to have dizzy spells. After going to the school nurse -- who's also famous for inventing new concoctions in the name of science -- and accidentally drinking a vial of experimental medicine, Kaoru is shocked to wake up the next day to find that he's been transformed into a girl.
[edit] Characters
- Kaoru Sakurazuka - A normal, 19 year old, Japanese youth who has never had much to do with girls and is sure he'll die a virgin. He has a complex about his effeminate features and his unisex name.
- Mizuki Asakura - Kaoru's classmate. She's secretly in love with him, but is unable to confess her feelings. Age 19.
- Sakuya Kamishiro - Kaoru's classmate, and a friend of Mizuki. A stylish girl who get good grades and is good at sports, her family owns a famous Shinto Shrine, where she helps out by working as a Shrine Maiden. Age 19.
- Miu Kotosaka - Kaoru's stepsister, the daughter of Kaoru's step-father. Her last name is different from Kaoru's because Kaoru decided to keep his old last name in honor of his deceased father. She's secretly in love with Kaoru. Age 18.
- Kyoka Saionji - Daughter of a famous family, Kyoko was raised with nothing but the best a girl can have. Popular with the other students, she can't keep her hands off anyone she considers to be kawaii, whether they be male or female. Age 19.
- Touya Sakaki - A close friend of Kaoru's, he and Renji are always hanging around. He doesn't have a girlfriend, and is a virgin, like Kaoru. He has a rock band that specializes in doing covers of others' music. Age 19.
- Renji Saotome - Kaoru's other close friend. He's not especially handsome, but he's got a confident personality, and doesn't have a problem finding girls to date. He likes cute girls, and doesn't really care much about them as long as they're cute. Age 19.
- Rui Nanami - The servant of the Saionji family for generations, Rui is always at Kyoka's side, guarding her from harm. Age 19.
- Yui Nanami - Twin sister to Rui. She is also always guarding Kyoka's person. Age 19.