Hanako Games

Planet Stronghold - RPG / VN (with romances)

#1 by hanako - Mar 5 2011

This is an RPG set in the future, exploring alien planets with rayguns and psionic powers. You can play as either a male or female character, and there are three romances for each option. (I believe one of the three is same-sex and the other two aren't, but I'm not 100% sure.)

[Could not load http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8889/damstronghold.th.jpg]
This game also has a Damien, but he's a little bit different than Magical Diary's Damien.

Follow this link for more information, a trailer video, and a demo download!

Available for PC/Mac/Linux.

#2 by witchboy - May 10 2011

I played the demo, and I did like it, will buy it soon.
I played as a guy, and I definitely got the feeling there was a male/male love intrest possibility, which is a big plus. I am a little put out that the text has the character expressing attraction to girls, since that's not how I want to play him, but that's just a small thing that probably wouldn't bother anybody besides me mostly. Seems like the story is written default hetero, but probably does have a gay storyline option. It would be a good game anyways, but being able to have yaoi going on is a huge plus in my book!

#3 by jack_norton - May 16 2011

Yes the game has both hetero (2 romance) and homo (1 romance) possibility

#4 by witchboy - May 16 2011

SPOILERS for game (only a little bit on who the love intrests are)











I thought for sure Tom was the gay love intrest, as I really thought I was picking up subtext there for my guy, but poking around it seems like Cliff is the gay love intrest. Maybe what I picked up from Tom is something that was intended for a female lead character? Of course, it's possible that Tom is into the character, but the story just doesn't have him as an option.
I am probably thinking about this too much lol
I do appreciate having a male/male relationship as an option, that isn't done very much. At least not as much as I would like. I enjoy playing otome games with a female heroine too, but it's nice sometimes to see gay guys included

#5 by Muse - May 17 2011

witchboy:

SPOILERS for game (only a little bit on who the love intrests are)











I thought for sure Tom was the gay love intrest, as I really thought I was picking up subtext there for my guy, but poking around it seems like Cliff is the gay love intrest. Maybe what I picked up from Tom is something that was intended for a female lead character? Of course, it's possible that Tom is into the character, but the story just doesn't have him as an option.
I am probably thinking about this too much lol
I do appreciate having a male/male relationship as an option, that isn't done very much. At least not as much as I would like. I enjoy playing otome games with a female heroine too, but it's nice sometimes to see gay guys included

Spoilers since I'm replying to the spoilers part!


Personally, I love the male and female homosexual options! I can see where you thought that for Tom though, especially given his intro... I think maybe it's just supposed to be that he is a nice commander that you befriend really well despite the circumstances. Definitely feels rather bromancy for the guy though, in the very least (if it's the same as the girl dialogue at first; I've only played as a female so far).

But the idea of it just being Cliff makes me fangirl squeal thinking of the political messiness of it all (what with needing an heir to the throne and all, unless something happens in the very end to change that (I haven't beaten the game yet)). (In the guide there is some discussion of making him a datable for females option, but I really hope they don't. I just really like him as the malexmale option.) The femalexfemale option is Michelle, who I think is perfect for it! She is just so spunky and fun, but not overdoing it or the typical "in your face lesbian" type that you see in a lot of games.

#6 by witchboy - May 17 2011

I think it would be easy to just have all the love intrests be gender blind, so we'd have three male and three female love intrests for each player character's gender option.

#7 by Muse - May 19 2011

witchboy:

I think it would be easy to just have all the love intrests be gender blind, so we'd have three male and three female love intrests for each player character's gender option.

I agree. I think the problem is though that can get rid of some of the realism, since it doesn't work like that in real life either. (Be kinda nice if it did, eh? XD) But I know what you mean, since I am an avid fan of purely aesthetic gender in games. Although what would be really fun is a game where you can woo whoever you want but have different/more fitting dialogue in the different gender characters.

Then again it might fall into the "sexist" category if people change it too much. I think overall it's just quite hard to program in options to make most people happy, and impossible for all, so we just have to enjoy what same-sex couples we get. At least we're seeing more games with the option!

#8 by jack_norton - May 19 2011

In the add-on I'm working on I was asked to include:
Cliff-Lisa - sorry got too many requests! haha though... maybe is not exactly Cliff ;)
Shiler-Joshua - I particularly like this one since is human-alien romance/sex and can be interesting

If you're looking for homosex, you'll appreciate a lot my next two RPGs. In particular for lesbian, the Loren Amazon Princess will have lots (but also other options):
[Could not load http://pics.brizzly.com/4HK8.jpg]

#9 by Muse - May 20 2011

jack_norton:

In the add-on I'm working on I was asked to include:
Cliff-Lisa - sorry got too many requests! haha though... maybe is not exactly Cliff ;)
Shiler-Joshua - I particularly like this one since is human-alien romance/sex and can be interesting

If you're looking for homosex, you'll appreciate a lot my next two RPGs. In particular for lesbian, the Loren Amazon Princess will have lots (but also other options):
[Could not load http://pics.brizzly.com/4HK8.jpg]

Either way I'll be getting the add-on, since Planet Stronghold is quite fun. Also, I didn't mean to be all "if Cliff is bisexual, it's horrible"; it just doesn't trigger my inner fangirl as much, and then the line about "I can assure you her tricks won't work on me" regarding Schiler trying to seduce him isn't as comical. Although that wink has me hopeful for a fun twist to it! (Plus, no reason a guy can't be bi, eh?) And the next two RPGs sound like they will be quite interesting, then! Always nice to see more sexual orientation diversity.

#10 by witchboy - Jun 6 2011

Sweet baby Jesus, that's a nice picture of the half naked guy there.
I hope he's available for boy/boy romance
Nice to know there's more homosex options in upcoming games.
Lesbian content is great and all, but it's man/man options I'm more interested in

#11 by jack_norton - Jun 7 2011

Yes will try to put at least one BxB romance option, even if being this game about AMAZONS, you can imagine what will be one of the main theme

#12 by witchboy - Jun 7 2011

I'd expect an Amazon themed game to have a lot of lesbian content.
Love your art and games so I expect I'll be an easy sell anyways, but throw in a boy/boy path and I'm there

#13 by Benazir - Jun 7 2011

I guess it's not for me, because I don't like G+G romance....

#14 by Muse - Jun 7 2011

I'm happy with romance options of any type! I am very excited for this game; looks very fun!

#15 by perch - Jun 8 2011

I just purchased Planet Stronghold and I love it. I'm very excited for its add-on and your next RPG Loren.

I also thought Tom was going to be a gay option at first or a bisexual one and I'm not going to lie I wanted more scenes with Lucille who was my favorite secondary character. As for the add-on/expansion Cliff as a bisexual option is cool, but Shiler as a romance option sounds really interesting.


My main frustration with Planet Stronghold was my inability to get the Leviathan weapon. No matter how many five packs of Lifegiver I had in my main characters inventory Damien would not take them for his quest. I felt like I was missing something really simple to complete it. I even tried have a set in my inventory and then having another set of livegiver equipped and not equipped. Just take it you sexy, smug bastard and give me that helmet!

Overall fun game and worth the money I spent on it. I'm definitely keen for your next RPG (though I'll freely confess I only played Planet Stronghold on easy mode).

#16 by Benazir - Jun 8 2011

I played Planet Stronghold too and I'm waiting for add-on now.I would like a romantic option for Lisa+Jacob Miles.

#17 by perch - Jun 8 2011

@Benazir

I really liked Jacob too and his plot twist. He'd be cool too as a love interest especially as it would focus on his character arc. My favorite character would be Lucille though, even though she's a secondary, there were just a lot of aw, wanna hug her, moments for me.

#18 by jack_norton - Jun 8 2011

Thanks everyone for the nice comments:

Jacob is one of my favorite character too! Was lot of fun to write. And I agree about Lucille (if you know me from Bionic Heart, you know I like robot fetish... )
If my artist wasn't so busy I'd ask her +1 extra CG for the expansion (Jacob - Lisa and Joshua - Lucille). Well, I guess I can always ask her after the various conventions!

@perch the expansion will have a much more balanced gameplay, meaning that if you choose easy, it WILL BE super easy to play, since I had too many complaints about difficulty! Sometimes when you code the game yourself is easy to underestimate the difficulty.

#19 by Muse - Jun 9 2011

I loved Lucielle too! I actually saw the video before I saw the website, and she was what convinced me to the buy the game. If she becomes an option I will be very happy!

#20 by perch - Jun 16 2011

@jack_norton

If that could happen I'd be over the moon, but I understand if budget/time/artist constriction means it can't happen. Bionic Heart is your Blade Runner-esque style visual novel right? I have a bit of a robot fetish as well so I'll have to check out the demo.

#21 by jack_norton - Jun 16 2011

Well adding a CG wouldn't be a problem of budget, more of the artist which now seems superbusy
And yes, if you have robot fetish you'll definitely like Bionic Heart !!

#22 by lunanight - Nov 18 2011

So I have a question, I just started playing planet stronghold, and I took the path of joshua and cliff I got the ending of them seeing each other only to stop cuz of rumors, do they get a better ending or this it?

#23 by jack_norton - Nov 19 2011

No, that's the best ending (there's only one ending for each romance). The sequel I'm working on has much hotter stuff though!

New player

#24 by addams013 - Jan 27 2012

I just picked up Planet Stronghold, and I. Stinking. Love. It. Still haven't reached the end, but based on the fact that there's only one place left on the map that isn't open, I'm guessing that I'm close.

I wish there were a lot more turn-based sci-fi RPGs. Especially ones where I feel like my decisions and interactions matter, and that things could have gone very differently and still yielded a story every bit as deep.

Thanks for this game. It's scratching itches I didn't even know I had.

#25 by jack_norton - Feb 1 2012

Thanks. I'm working on the sequel, though not sure when will be finished, probably end of this year or next

#26 by kyoli - Feb 1 2012

i am so looking forward to the sequel!
i about squeeled like a little fangirl with the whole romance with damien! it makes me not even want to try for the others! ^_^

#27 by addams013 - Feb 17 2012

kyoli:

i am so looking forward to the sequel!
i about squeeled like a little fangirl with the whole romance with damien! it makes me not even want to try for the others! ^_^

I know what you mean. I almost quit playing when I discovered the (spoilers?) Lisa and Michelle romance subplot; it was too perfect for the goals I was playing for, and I didn't want to ruin it by going any further. But then I wanted to see if homo romances were possible with all the female members of the team. Alas, no. But I can't complain; the game is amazingly deep as it is. The last thing I want to do is complain.

#28 by jack_norton - Feb 18 2012

Thanks The sequel has more choices for all tastes, including Alien romance!
I posted some sneak peeks images in my twitter/forums, will post here too:
JOSHUA
http://p.twimg.com/AhvUC3rCQAAb15p.jpg:large
From top-left to bottom-right: with Lakadema, Rebecca (I love this one), Milo (gay shower! woohoo) and Shiler (this one is sexy but also too fun, Joshua seems completely shocked by Shiler's enthusiasm haha).

LISA
http://p.twimg.com/AdaXN6_CQAEQf8l.jpg:large
From left to right, top to bottom: Lisa-Milo, Lisa-Cliff, Lisa-Lakadema (hot!) and Lisa-Tom (one of my favorites). Interesting stuff I think!