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Random VNs: Koitate


Clephas

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Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate - The Code Name is "Shield 9" is the VN that most vets think of when they think of AXL as a company.  For better or worse, this has become the defining work in this company's library, and it is the only one that has any sort of English release patch out (though it is only a partial with Yukino's route). 

This VN is something of a thriller, focusing on Kisaragi Shuuji as he protects Yukino, Ren, and Marina from the assassins and would-be kidnappers inside their school.  Unfortunately for him, this means he has to dress up as a woman... and this was another part about this VN that has become genre-defining looking at it in retrospect.

There are generally two types of 'trap protagonists', the type that is always uneasy with it and the type that adapts completely to it (when they don't think about it deeply).  Examples of the former include Shuuji in this one, the original Otoboku protagonist, and Ruitomo's protagonist.  Examples of the latter include the protagonist of Koi no Canvas, the protagonist of Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou, and a few others.  Most of the former type tend to have a heavy comedic element and/or a strong serious element.  This VN is definitely of the serious type, though there are a lot of amusing moments.

Because of his role as a bodyguard, Shuuji is constantly on the lookout for threats, and there are some nice showdowns throughout the VN, though which of the two final antagonists serves as the main in individual heroine routes varies from route to route.  The common route has some serious 'wtf, he/she is an assassin?!' moments, and there are some moments where Shuuji gets to show off how cool he is.  However, as was the tradition with 'school life' VNs at the time, Shugotate deliberately breaks up those moments with mild comedy and a ton of slice-of-life. 

This is a VN that is the most enjoyable the first time around, when you aren't spoiled to whom the villains/antagonists are, and you aren't yet familiar with the background of what is going on.  Looking at it on my third time around, my thoughts are identical to the second time... 'this VN is best when you aren't spoiled about the antagonists'.  Part of this VN's attraction is not knowing who the enemy is until the game actively hints at it, as well as not knowing how a scene will turn out.  While the endings are classic AXL, being reasonably satisfying and bringing setting the tone for future imaginings on the characters' futures, I have come to the conclusion that they are a lot more touching the first time around, lol.

Even looking at it from this perspective and despite the somewhat dated conventions of the time (the somewhat ridiculously fast-moving romantic elements), this VN is still amongst one of those most high-class VNs in history... it just doesn't survive multiple playthroughs by people who happen to remember who the enemy is, lol.

That said, Setsuko's and Yukino's paths are still great even now and after multiple playthroughs.  However, that just shows that those two heroines are the ones the writers liked the most, due to the level of emotional impact you get from their stories. 

Now, comparing this to Bara no Seibo, the sequel released earlier this year, I have to say that Bara no Seibo built nearly perfectly on the foundation established in this VN, keeping the nice suspense and action writing while cutting down on the 'break the mood' moments that sometimes pop up in this one.  Moreover, it is based off of a non-romance version of Setsuko's ending, which is a huge plus for me, since her route is my favorite by far (Setsuko is awesome.  Setsuko Banzai!).  After playing this again, I almost wished I'd only played this one for the first time immediately before Bara no Seibo due to the degree to which the two games meld together.

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