Hanako Games

anime boys on your Nintendo DS

#1 by hanako - Jun 26 2008

These boys aren't really to my taste, and the game is in Japanese, so I don't know how much sense it will make to anyone, but if you want to wipe the sweat off of boy chests....

#2 by Jinroh - Jun 27 2008

The game looks interesting, but sadly,

These boys aren't really to my taste

either. *sigh* Why can't we have a game like this for the Sohmas or some other Anime boys that are at least easier on the eyes. I'd love to see Prince Yuki and Kyo Sohma in a game like this. ;)

EDIT: Kotaku Review
http://kotaku.com/370972/duel-love-review-hard-bodies-limp-game

Didn't seem to be favored very much by Kotaku.

#3 by Biawog - Jul 12 2008

Another game with anime graphics and compatible wit the DS is "Tokimeki Memorial 1st Love" and "Tokimeki Memorial 2nd Love"!Once again,the game is all in japanese and it has never been released to other countrys.It's a sad thing :(...I watch litlle cutscenes people post on Youtube and read about it,but I can't have it!

#4 by Biawog - Jul 12 2008

Ops..The second game is not "Tokimeki Memorial 2nd LOVE"!It's "Tokimeki Memorial 2nd KISS"!
Anyway,sorry :)

Games in English

#5 by hanako - Jul 12 2008

There's also this figure skating game (not related to the one I'm working on!) which is supposed to include a bit of boy-dating on the side. It's in English, but there's not a whole lot of reviews out for it, so I'm not sure how much dating you do.

Also a ballroom dancing game where you get to date 'six princes' but that game hasn't been released in English yet, it's due out in the fall.

Harvest Moon DS Cute has different boys you can marry. (Apparently in the Japanese version you could marry girls as well, but they removed that from the English one.)

Re: Games in English

#6 by Sara - Jul 12 2008

I'm not terribly fond of the graphics, but they are not bad. But I agree, these are not my "kind" of guys either.

But of course I'd give it a shot if the game was in english. Or in another language other than japanese. It pisses me off how such good games come out in Japan, only to stay in Japan. I absolutely love visual novels, but most of them aren't translated! And now that Hirameki (my big hope ) stoped their activity, it looks worse than ever. Especially when the few visual novels that come out in english nowadays are eroge or oriented mainly for the male-players... I want more stuff like Fatal Hearts...

Fortunately we have Hanako games, and that's really awesome! Nowadays this is the only company I'm interested in. And Okashi Games as well, because I really want to play Shira Oka (which is going to be 100% in english =D).

(And I love Harvest Moon! I have played almost all the games they released until now. Personally I am currently waiting for Harvest Moon Island of Happiness. I love how these games are sim-oriented, and still with cute anime graphics! And Rune Factory is great as well.)

#7 by lill_sweetty - Jul 12 2008

I love sims games and visual novels, but Duel Love sounds...lame. Like, stereotypical. XD Even though the idea of wiping sweat off boys sounded slightly interesting at first (if only for novelty) now that I look at it...the guys aren't even that hot and there will most likely be no plot. Or even fun-ness (Like Yo-Jin-Bo, 100% in English released by Hirameki-can't believe they're gone-, which is totally weird and total insanity).

There's actually a Princess Maker 2 beta floating in cyberspace somewhere....and even though you play a father, technically you're influencing the girl. XD It's a lot like Cute Knight to me, actually, with more specific guys to marry, so anyone like stuff like that can go for it too....

But you know, I recently found Ever 17, and even though I play a guy, It Has. The. Best. Story. I. Have. Ever. Seen. I got a bad ending at first, and it made me cry buckets and I even dreamed about it when I went to sleep. XD

For Harvest Moon, I have to say Harvest Moon More Friends of Mineral Towns satisfy the "I Love Bishies" side of me as well as gameplay, and Rune Factory's graphics and gameplay just rock, although...once again...no marrying guys.

@Sara-Thanks for telling me about Shira Oka. Sounds cool and it looks like it has had money poured into it so the art shouldn't be too shabby.

#8 by Biawog - Jul 13 2008

Oh!I know that figure skating game!You know,I have one of Imagine games,and it´s not really a big deal :(...Actually,it was rally poor and it had no plot!The Princess Debut may be worth a shot,if it had some images,I would know...
Thanks for telling me about Shira Oka!It seems really cool!Just one question:is the game going to be released only to download for the PC?Or it will be for some kind of console,like the DS x_x?Just wondering,but it seems awesome,anyway!

#9 by Sara - Jul 13 2008

lill_sweetty:

@Sara-Thanks for telling me about Shira Oka. Sounds cool and it looks like it has had money poured into it so the art shouldn't be too shabby.

You're welcome. ;)

I'm a huge fan of Princess Maker 2, I remember playing it when I was really young. It still remains one of my favourites. It is really sad, though, that they only translated that one. I'd really love to play Princess Maker 4, out of all of them it is the one with the graphics I enjoy the most!

I'm starting japanese classes this autumn, mainly because I want to be able to play these kind of games. It should take a few years before I am able to do that, though. It's not a problem, really, I'm willing to wait.

And I know! Even though I wish there were more girl-oriented games in english... Ever 17 is freaking awesome!!! I didn't leave my house for 6 days until I finished Coco's path.

And that's why I'm waiting for HM: Island of Happiness. I really like wooing guys. xD Rune Factory rocked though, because even though you have to play with a guy AND marry a girl, the gameplay was awesome.

Biawog:

Thanks for telling me about Shira Oka!It seems really cool!Just one question:is the game going to be released only to download for the PC?Or it will be for some kind of console,like the DS x_x?Just wondering,but it seems awesome,anyway!

It's going to be for the PC only. ;)
But a great thing about that game will be, even though you will play as a guy, you will be able to date guys too. x)

Another games that I like are those created by Akane (a spanish girl, but the games are in english). She creates mostly yaoi/shounen-ai doushinjis, but they are really cute, and both the story and the art are beautiful. I have to say that my favourite is Death Note: Poisoned, even if you don't like the Death Note anime/manga (I do, though!!), it's such a cute game. And it has got lots of endings. ;) And on top of that she's working on a sequel.

#10 by lill_sweetty - Jul 13 2008

Yes! More girl-oriented games please!! This is one reason why manga and casual games are so "in" right now. Because they tap into markets not touched before. For mostly male-oriented fields such as comic books and games, they've created one for females so of course it's booming. I still think games have some catching up to do though. The sooner the better.

That being said, interesting guy games with good stories are also fine with me. Check out thisgame. Apparently a girl version will come out if the first one runs well....Still in development but will be commercial. Thai made but an English version will also be made.

x_x I'm not very into yaoi, so I can't really get into the whole theme. Mostly because often it's just fangirl-service. But if it's done well like with Fatal Hearts (ChristinaxLucy) I will be just fine.

#11 by Sara - Jul 14 2008

lill_sweetty:

x_x I'm not very into yaoi, so I can't really get into the whole theme. Mostly because often it's just fangirl-service. But if it's done well like with Fatal Hearts (ChristinaxLucy) I will be just fine.

Well, that's yuri, not yaoi. And I agree, most yuri has too much fanservice for my taste... But I'm a huge yaoi fan, if done beautifully, of course.

That game sounds interesting! I've never heard of it so I'll have to wait to try it before commenting, although the artwork loos beautiful. I'd love a girl-oriented version. =D Thankfully there are more and more girl-gamers... But not all of us are into pet-caring and fashion games... So kudos again to Hanako Games.

#12 by lill_sweetty - Jul 14 2008

Ah, I know....Yuri is girlxgirl, and yaoi is guyxguy, but you know, the concept's the same. Only....yaoi is much huger with girls for some reason...That's what I meant by fangirl service, because mostly it's girls that read yaoi. Yuri is a bit more half-and-half, from my experience.

And I think with yuri or yaoi, it's fanservice either way mostly, but for yaoi, I think it's even more so. Yuri OR Yaoi can be done beautifully, I'm just worried it won't be...

Hm...I guess I should try the game first before making up my mind whether it's done right.

#13 by Sara - Jul 14 2008

I think yaoi is much more tasteful than hentai or yuri (if there is such a thing as tasteful anime porn xD). Mainly because it is aimed at a female or a gay audience, while yuri and hentai is all about pleasuring male viewers/players.
However, although I enjoy yaoi, I agree that it's heavily flawed in general. I have played both Enzai and Absolute Obedience (the only yaoi games translated into english so far) but I didn't manage to finish any of the games, they were way too hardcore for me (Enzai was a shotacon (underage/androgynous boys getting raped); and Absolute Obedience didn't have a story at all and the caracters were not my type (they were either too manly, or too cute/girly-looking)). However, in general, I do think that yaoi is more about the story, about the feelings of the characters in general. I mean, the female/gay audience is usually more demanding when it comes to that, also more sensitive. The writers are aware of that, even though I know I'm stereotyping.

I really really suggest you play D.nd Poisoned, the story is REALLY cute, the fanservice is almost none (there is no nudity, etc), and most of the endings don't even have sex scenes, and when they do they are really tasteful and not graphic.

#14 by lill_sweetty - Jul 15 2008

I don't want to get into a yaoi debate, but I will say that I think most yaoi, especially the "hard yaoi", is really only read by females because gay males probably will find the "uke" and such a bit distasteful. There are, of course, exceptions such as the wonderful Antique Bakery (actually josei but with gay males) and Seduce Me After the Show.

And it being written by a female manga-ka or game created by a female creator doesn't make it any less...well...tasteful (check out Hot Gimmick-aka the biggest anti-feminist manga in America to find out what I mean). The overvoices of speaking about feelings, rescuing, destiny, romance, comes over from the female. But, especially for the hardcore games, there's rape, ect. Is that tasteful? But like you said, it is flawed. I think Yuri is actually quite tasteful as well, from my personal experience. (That not being much). Like, taking Fatal Hearts, I did not squirm when I found out about Lucy. It seemed very natural. By the way, I think most people who make yuri are females.

I'm not even going to put hentai into the equation.

#15 by Sara - Jul 15 2008

They just turned Antique Bakery into an anime, I'm excited to watch it. (I'd love to read the manga but you can't find it anywhere here in Portugal. Actually, here you can't find any mangas at all )

#16 by Jinroh - Jul 15 2008

Sara:

Actually, here you can't find any mangas at all )

That's really uncool. Is it a deal with censorship or lack of localization? Either way that is really no fun for anybody.

#17 by Sara - Jul 15 2008

Well, you can find the basics. Naruto, Death Note, Rurouni Kenshin, Nana (all in english and/or french)... But if you're looking for less-known mangas, then you're out of luck! There is a small BD-shop in the town where I study, but you can barely find any mangas there.

#18 by Jinroh - Jul 15 2008

Ah, I see.

That's about how it is where I live. The book stores have a lot of the more mainstream manga. Some more obscure ones, but a lot of the more obscure ones I like get pulled from shelves pretty quickly due to small production runs I suppose.

Cute Avatar BTW, ^_^

#19 by Sara - Jul 15 2008

Jinroh:

Cute Avatar BTW, ^_^

Thank you, I drew it from scratch. ;) I love creating anime characters.
Your's is cute too.

And yeah, it kind of pisses me off how the only manga collections I have got are mainstream. I mean, when you are looking for western comics, they are so much easier to find! But that's okay, I collect Donald Duck comics as well. I have been thinking about buying manga online (I do want Vampire Knight a lot!!!) but the shipping costs are too much.

#20 by Jinroh - Jul 15 2008

Sara:

Thank you, I drew it from scratch. ;) I love creating anime characters.
Your's is cute too.

Thanks for commenting on my avatar, I like Izuna the Unemployed Ninja love that title. She's a cute Konoichi, too bad I didn't create her. ;) or I could be raking in from her popularity. Oh well. I had to resize it was a filesize larger than the forum would allow.

Wow, you have quite good art/computer inking skills. As well as an amazing grasp of Anime style. Any particular Anime that you mimicked to get yourself started.

Personally for me it was Dragonball Z I really like Akira Toriyama's style though his characters for other anime and games look like rehashed versions of characters from the Dragonball series. Just look at Blue Dragon or Chrono Trigger.

That was about 6th Grade, then in about 9th I started evolving art-wise. I made my own 'style' which is very Anime inspired but decidedly western influenced at the same time with at dark grittiness to it. The influence was probably most done by games like Killer 7 and Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. I digress it seems I'm getting off on a tangent here. Enough about the tiresome tirade of words that is my art history.

To sum it up your art is graphically superior to mine Anime-wise, but I'm no good at Computer Inking and Such. I use g-pens and coloured pencils primarily so that could be why. I do like the look though. My wife is less of an Anime artist, she is schooled in the more formal western art styles of realism and more mute colours. She is heavily influenced by Degas and the fashion industry. So she has a very interesting style and is quite more talented than I. She has a much better grasp of the human figure and can draw arbitrary poses whereas I struggle a bit more. ;)

Again I rant. Forgive the rudness. I would like to hear about your art history however as I do find hearing them very interesting.

Sara:

And yeah, it kind of pisses me off how the only manga collections I have got are mainstream. I mean, when you are looking for western comics, they are so much easier to find! But that's okay, I collect Donald Duck comics as well. I have been thinking about buying manga online (I do want Vampire Knight a lot!!!) but the shipping costs are too much.

It is a shame though I can understand shipping to Portugal would be a bit of a haul and hard on the old purse strings. My colllection is mostly mainstream as well. The most obscure I have is...Judas or Moon..something or other that is a very Yaoi looking Manga about Vampire boys and such. It's cute, but a bit confusing at times. Any favorite series that you own? Mine would have to be Hyper Police or Wolf's Rain. Love furries.

Donald Duck comics, that's pretty cool. I've not read any, but I bet they would be a fun read. I used to collect Sonic the Hedgehog back in the day, but those times have long since past now that the storyline is insane.

Perhaps we should continue this conversation through PMs as I believe I just majorly hijacked this thread. Sorry Hanako.

#21 by Sara - Jul 15 2008

Oh, you're too nice. I'm not that good. I still try to improve every single day. And no, I don't mimick any particular artist. I have been sketching anime characters in various poses since I was 4 or 5 years old.

Thanks for the compliments though, they really mean a lot. As I mentioned, I do want to work for Hanako Games someday, so that's my goal.

#22 by Jinroh - Jul 16 2008

Sara:

Oh, you're too nice. I'm not that good. I still try to improve every single day. And no, I don't mimick any particular artist. I have been sketching anime characters in various poses since I was 4 or 5 years old.

Thanks for the compliments though, they really mean a lot. As I mentioned, I do want to work for Hanako Games someday, so that's my goal.

Wow!! 4 or 5 that's amazing. I drew like garbage up until like 9th Grade.

I see, well yes, your work doesn't really seem to be like any Manga-ka's style that I've seen so yes I can see why you don't mimic any style lol. Your amazing on your own. I'll have to get a scanner and put up some of mine and my wife's art sometime.

I think at the rate your going if Hanako expands she'd be foolish not to pick you up as an artist. :p

#23 by lill_sweetty - Jul 16 2008

I like your style, Sara. That being said, I think it is very very manga-inspired, especially because my manga list is basically all shojo. lol.

It reminds me a lot of Beauty Pop mixed with some Kimi ni Todoke...and a lit bit of Arina Tanemura too, with the big eyes, but not half as flashy and much smaller in size (aka no huge head).

I like it. It's mainstream but still really unique. And I have to say, expression well-done, and by the way, really really good coloring. I think I revere colorists more than I do artists (which is saying a lot already, because artists really are very amazing.)

#24 by Sara - Jul 16 2008

Well, if you were trying to make me blush, you succeeded.

But this is getting off-topic, so we should stop here.

#25 by Biawog - Aug 2 2008

Wow.how come you find all these great games?It's pure luck if I find something interesting ...I think I will try that D.Nd:Posoned game...I'm not really fan of yaoi,I kind of prefer yuri xD.
Wow,Sara,you're from Portugal :O???I'm from Brazil!You say that there aren't lots of mangas or anime stuff in Portugal?That's just so wrong and no fun >_>!!!!!!Here in Brazil,you can find mangas in lots of magazines shops (I don't know if that is the term x_x...),but none in librarys and stuff...It's amazing how we can find people so far away but so close by internet !

#26 by Biawog - Aug 2 2008

Um...sorry,it dosen't seem like I can play the game,my system dosen't have one of the requirements or something like that...And I so won't ask my dad to download that thing so I can play a yaoi game x_x.My dad will have a fit if I show him the reason why I wanna him to do so.Not that he has anything against homo relations,but I think it would be kind of embarassing to show him this stuff.So sorry!But the game looked really great!I saw some screenshots and I felt like playing!