Koihime Musō

Koihime Musō

Koihime Musō original visual novel cover.
恋姫†無双 ~ドキッ☆乙女だらけの三国志演義~
(Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi)
Genre Drama, Historical, Romance, action
Game
Developer BaseSon (PC)
Yeti (PS2)
Publisher Nexton (PC)
Regista (PS2)
MangaGamer (PC)
Genre Visual novel, Strategy, Eroge
Rating 18+ (PC)
Platform PC
PlayStation 2
Released January 26, 2007 (PC)
April 11, 2008 (PC re-release)
November 20, 2008 (PS2)
February 28, 2011 (PC)
Game
Shin Koihime Musō:
Otome Ryōran Sangokushi Engi
Developer BaseSon (PC)
Yeti (PSP, PS2)
Publisher Nexton (PC)
Yeti (PSP, PS2)
Genre Visual novel, Strategy, Eroge
Rating 18+ (PC)
  • CERO: C (PSP, PS2)
Platform PC
PlayStation Portable
PlayStation 2
Released PC
December 26, 2008
July 23, 2010 (Shin Koihime Musou Moeshouden)
PlayStation Portable
September 22, 2010 (Wu-Hen)
October 28, 2010 (Wei-Hen)
November 25, 2010 (Shu-Hen)
PlayStation 2
November 10, 2011
Game
Shin Koihime Musō:
Otome Taisen Sangokushi Engi
Publisher BaseSon
Genre Fighting
Platform Arcade (RCI Neo Standard)
Released July 30, 2011
Manga
Written by BaseSon
Illustrated by Yayoi Hizuki
Published by ASCII Media Works
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Dengeki G's Festival! Comic
Original run April 26, 2008 – ongoing
Volumes 1 (4 chapter so far)
TV anime
Directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi
Studio Dogakobo
Licensed by Sentai Filmworks
Network Tokyo MX TV, Chiba TV, TV Aichi, KBS Tokyo, TV Saitama, AT-X
Original run July 8, 2008September 23, 2008
Episodes 12 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Shin Koihime Musō
Directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi
Studio Dogakobo
Licensed by Sentai Filmworks
Network Tokyo MX TV, Chiba TV, TV Saitama, AT-X
Original run October 5, 2009December 21, 2009
Episodes 12 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Tairan
Directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi
Studio Dogakobo
Licensed by Sentai Filmworks
Network Tokyo MX TV, Chiba TV, TV Saitama, AT-X
Original run April 4, 2010June 17, 2010
Episodes 12
Anime and Manga Portal

Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi (恋姫†無双 ~ドキッ☆乙女だらけの三国志演義~ lit. Love Princess†Unmatched ~Throb☆Romance of Three Kingdoms Filled with Girls~?) is a Japanese adult visual novel and strategy game based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was developed by BaseSon, and was first released on January 26, 2007, for the PC as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM. The gameplay in Koihime Musō follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters. A PlayStation 2 version, titled Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想?) developed by Yeti and published by Regista was released on October 30, 2008.[1] A new version of Koihime with many new characters Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Ryōran Sangokushi Engi (真・恋姫†無双 〜乙女繚乱☆三国志演義〜?) was released on December 26, 2008. European game publisher MangaGamer acquired licensing rights to the first game and released it on February 28, 2011.[2]

Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi has made several transitions to other media. A manga adaptation by Japanese illustrator Yayoi Hizuki was first serialized in the Japanese magazine Dengeki G's Festival! Comic on April 26, 2008. An anime adaptation produced by Dogakobo began broadcasting on July 8, 2008, and several seasons have continued.

Contents

Settings

The game is set in ancient China during and after the fall of the Han dynasty with some major differences, most notably; Most of the male characters in the novel have become female and The Three Kingdoms that were formed after the Han Dynasty, had already been established. Despite each kingdom being ruled by an independent monarchy, the three kingdoms are still loyal to the Han empire. However, the empire is on the verge of collapse as civil unrest, banditry and infighting bring turmoil to the nation.

As the empire finally collapse and warlords wage war with each other, amidst the turmoil several major factions are formed, ready to rule and unite the fractured nation. These major factions (5 in Koihime Musō, 7 in the sequel) are the Shoku faction (Chinese: 蜀, Shǔ) led by Kazuto Hongō in Koihime Musō and in the sequel, Queen Ryūbi (Liu Bei) of the Kingdom of Shu, the Gi faction (Chinese: 魏, Wèi) led by Queen Sōsō (Cao Cao) of the Kingdom of Wei, the Go faction (Chinese: 吳, ) led by Princess Sonken (Sun Quan) of the Kingdom of Wu and in the sequel, her older sister Queen Sonsaku (Sun Ce), the Tōtaku faction (Chinese: 董卓, Dong Zhuo) led by Governess Tōtaku, Governor of Dong province, the En/Yuan faction led by Lady Enshō, Lord of Yuan province, and in the sequel the Kōkintō/Yellow Turban Rebels led by the Zhang sisters, Chōkaku, Chōhō and Chōryō and the Nanban/Southern Barbarians led by Mōkaku. (The anime is set before the Han empire fell and before the power struggle between the warlords began.)

Development

Koihime Musō is the fifth game developed by BaseSon, known for creating their first title, One2: Eien no Yakusoku, sequel to Tactics' One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e. Direction and planning for Kohime Musō was done by K. Baggio,[3] who has also provided scenario used in the game, along with fellow writers Izumi Kumashiro, Takuya Aoyama, Assault, and Shiina Arai.[4] Art direction and character designs were split between five people, Kanan Yatsuha, Kantaka, Hinata Katagiri, Eiji Hikage, and Hokuto Saeki.[4] Music in the game was provided by Takumaru, Ryō Mizutsuki, and Ichinoryū Uehara.[4]

Release history

Koihime Musō was first available to public on January 26, 2007, as an adult game playable only on Microsoft Windows PCs as two DVD-ROMs. It was subsequently followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008. While the gameplay and scenario in the game is essentially the same, an extra fandisc not available in the original version titled Sheishei Musō (謝謝†無双?) was included with the re-release as a CD-ROM.[5] An all-ages consumer port for the PlayStation 2, retitled as Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想?), developed by Yeti and published by Regista was released on October 30, 2008.[1] An enhanced re-release of Koihime Musō, Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Ryōran Sangokushi Engi (真・恋姫†無双 〜乙女繚乱☆三国志演義〜?) was released on December 26, 2008, with extended scenario. An English translation of Koihime Musō was released by European publisher MangaGamer on February 28, 2011.[6] Additionally, Gamania formally launched a web-browser based MMO strategy game titled Web Koihime Musō (Web恋姫†夢想?) on December 7, 2010,[7] which has since been running on eight different servers. The game allows players to control up to 5 generals at a time from the Shin Koihime Musō cast, join one of the 3 warring factions and try to conquer players of the other two opposing factions with the Red Turban Bandit faction acting as a NPC faction. Like most other browser based MMOs, this game is free to play with a Gamania account, however paying users gain access to enhancements otherwise unavailable or very difficult to obtain.

Adaptations

Manga

A manga adaptation based on the original visual novel drawn by Japanese illustrator Yayoi Hizuki, with its title renamed as Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想?) began serialization in the second issue of the manga magazine Dengeki G's Festival! Comic published by ASCII Media Works on April 26, 2008.[8]

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by Dogakobo began broadcasting in Japan on July 8, 2008 on the Tokyo MX TV and the Chiba TV broadcasting networks, followed by other broadcasting networks later during the same month.[9] The anime series, with its title shortened to simply Koihime Musō, featured a story very different to that found in the original visual novel. The original protagonist, Hongo Kazuto, is not present in the anime, nor does the grand battle between the three kingdoms take place. Instead, it feature Kan'u's adventure in China, meeting many other characters from the game along the way. The anime is among those noted for sometimes depicting the characters in an exaggerated super deformed manner. After the last episode aired, it was announced an OVA was in production and it will follow the games plot. The OVA was released on April 1, 2009, and actually featured all the characters in an alternate setting - that of a modern highschool.[10] The second season of anime, a series based on the second game, entitled Shin Koihime Musō (真・恋姫†無双?), continue where the last season left off, aired from October 5, 2009 to December 2009. The third season began airing April 2010, titled Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Tairan (真・恋姫†無双 ~乙女大乱~?). The first season has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks; distributor Section23 Films, who released the first season on DVD on January 4, 2011. [11] This release, however, uses the Japanese TV masters and omits improvements made to the animation for the Japanese DVD release. The second and third seasons of Koihime Muso are also licensed by Sentai Filmworks. The second season was released on March 1, 2011, while the third season was released on May 24, 2011.[12]

Music

The visual novel has four main theme songs, one promotion theme, one opening theme, one insert song, and one ending theme. The promotion theme was "Sōten no Mukō e" (蒼天の向こうへ On Towards the Blue Skies?), and was performed by ☆396☆. The opening theme song was "Hφwling Sφul", which was performed by Rekka Katakiri. The insert theme was "Kuon: Utakata" (久遠 〜詩歌侘〜 Eternity: Simple Poem?), while the ending theme was "Shizai Senri: Koihime Yobite Hyakka no Ō to Nasu" (志在千里 〜恋姫喚作百花王〜 Aiming Far: The Princesses in Love Summon the Ruler of Flowers?), both performed by Chata. All of the songs were composed and arranged by Takumaru, with the lyrics written by K. Bajjo.

The opening for Shin Koihime Musou is called "HE∀ting Sφul" also by Rekka Katakiri. The ending song is a Piano Arranged version of "Shizai Senri: Koihime Yobite Hyakka no Ō to Nasu" (志在千里 〜恋姫喚作百花王〜 Aiming Far: The Princesses in Love Summon the Ruler of Flowers?) by Chata.

The anime has two theme songs. The opening theme, titled "Flower of Bravery", was performed by fripSide, and was composed and written by Chiyomaru Shikura, and arranged by Satoshi Yaginuma. The ending theme, titled "Yappari Sekai wa Atashi☆Legend!!" (やっぱり世界はあたし☆れじぇんど!!?) was performed by fripSide NAO project!, composed and arranged by Satoshi Yaginuma, and written by Nao, Shinichirō Yamashita, and Satoshi Yaginuma.

The anime adaptation of Shin Koihime Musou also has two theme songs. The opening is titled "Tōen no Chikai" (闘艶結義〜トウエンノチカイ〜?), also performed by Rekka Katakiri. The ending is titled "Otome Ryouran☆Battle PARTY" (乙女繚乱☆ばとるPARTY?) by Mai Goto, Nami Kurokawa and Miya Serizono. They also voice lead characters Ryūbi, Kan'u and Chōhi respectively.

References

  1. ^ a b "Top page at Koihime Musō PlayStation 2 game official website" (in Japanese). Yeti. http://www.yetigame.jp/koihime/. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  2. ^ "Top page at Koihime Musō MangaGamer Adds Koihime†Musō, More Da Capo Games". AnimeNewsNetwork. http://www.siliconera.com/2010/01/22/release-windows-for-koihime-musou-and-cosplay-alien-confirmed//. Retrieved 2009-12-21. 
  3. ^ "Top page at Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi official website" (in Japanese). BaseSon. http://www.tactics.ne.jp/~baseson/koihime/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  4. ^ a b c "Information on Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi at ErogameScape" (in Japanese). ErogameScape. http://erogamescape.ddo.jp/~ap2/ero/toukei_kaiseki/game.php?game=7843. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  5. ^ "Top page at the Koihime Musō: Doki Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi official website" (in Japanese). BaseSon. http://www.tactics.ne.jp/~baseson/koihimesinsou/sinsouban_top.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  6. ^ "Top page at Koihime Musō MangaGamer Adds Koihime†Musō, More Da Capo Games". http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-11-19/mangagamer-adds-koihime-muso-more-da-capo-games/. Retrieved 2009-12-21. 
  7. ^ "Web Koihime Musō home page" (in Japanese). http://kh.gamania.co.jp. 
  8. ^ "Koihime Musō TV anime adaptation by Yeti and manga adaptation announced" (in Japanese). Moonphase. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/moonphase/20080227/p3. Retrieved 2008-07-16. 
  9. ^ "Top page of the Koihime Musō anime series at its official website" (in Japanese). Dogakobo. http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/koihime/. Retrieved 2008-07-16. 
  10. ^ "Information on Koihime Musō OVA at Dengeki" (in Japanese). Dengeki. http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/143/143236/. Retrieved 2009-03-11. 
  11. ^ "Section23 Films Adds Koihime Muso, 11Eyes, Kampfer". Anime News Network. 2010-10-21. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-21/section23-films-adds-koihime-muso-11eyes-kampfer. 
  12. ^ "Sentai Adds Shin Kohime Muso Sequel, Akasaka". Anime News Network. 2010-12-08. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-12-08/sentai-adds-shin-koihime-muso-sequel-akasaka. 

External links