Posts Tagged ‘VitaminX’

December News

• New game with gorgeous character designs from Yura, Hana Awase. So far there are just some characters shown and some teasers, nothing about the game system or specs is known yet.

The heroine, Mikoto, and Iroha.

• Another spinoff from D3, VitaminX Detective B6 for the PSP! The character personalities are the same, but they’ve made it into a detective game. It’s scheduled for release on Feb 9. Vitamin’s system of tsukkomi and through is being used here again.

• A fandisk for Tokyo Yamanote Boys is announced (that was fast!) It’s called Sweet Jelly Beans, and is coming out January 13 for the PC.

• Fandisk for Harutoki 5!!! Actually, it’s called a continuation, not a fandisk, so maybe it will be the same game system? Spring 2012 on the PSP, it’s called Kazahanaki. Drat, I haven’t even finished the first game yet, I still have a couple characters to finish.

And, mark this historic day on your calendars, because for the first time in years (at least, I think it’s years), the top 3 favourite characters are not all from Hakuouki. #1 still is, though (Saitou Hajime, yeah he’s  kind of adorable). #2 and #3 are from Uta no Prince-sama.

• Amnesia fandisk – Amnesia Later, scheduled for March (for the PSP bien sûr).

• Hetalia is being adapted for the DS

• little cheese (the developer of KuroKin) is making a new R18 game, Trick or Alice, for release next year.

Trick or Alice

• Fandisk for Hiiro no Kakera 3 (Soukoku no Kusabi)

• Juuzaengi coming in April on the PSP

Cast for Bakudan Handan!

• Urabe Kimimaro (CV: Suwabe Junichi) long-haired fortune teller
• Mitarashi Ryuusei (CV: Hino Satoshi) a host
• Shidou Subaru (CV: Suzumura Kenichi) a mercenary
• Meoshi Kouta (CV: MOrita Naruichi) a gamer
• Wakasa Towa (CV: Kaji Yuuki) member of an idol group
• Mikami Makoto (CV: Suzuki Chihiro) university student
• Shirabe Ayumu (CV: Narita Ken) freelance writer

VitaminZ vs. VitaminX

It’s been a while since I finished MOST of VitaminZ (still haven’t got those bonus events!), and I think I can finally do a kind of final review.

If you haven’t gotten VitaminZ OR X, go out and get one! They are both awesome. The system and story might seem boringly similar if you haven’t played both, so here’s my rundown on the differences:

Characters

The characters in both games are totally different. You might think that the student in Z with a certain teacher from X would be similar, but it’s only a surface thing. For example – Both Tenjuurou and Tsubasa are rich heirs to a conglomerate, but Tenjuurou, unlike Tsubasa, has a great family, and doesn’t care at all about “high-class” stuff like Tsubasa did. Their personalities are almost opposite.

I enjoyed all the characters in both X and Z. Even the two characters I wasn’t looking forward to, Yakumo and Arata, had me really liking them in the end. If there’s an overall difference to X, in Z they’re nicer to the heroine in the beginning, though they still don’t really trust her until later. I also liked this heroine better, she’s not as ditzy as X’s heroine.

Depending on who you liked, and what you liked about them, in X, you can probably find someone in Z that has that aspect. If you like Tsubasa’s arrogance mixed with cluelessness, you’ll probably love Kei. If you liked Hajime’s ‘bad boy’ aspect, you might go for Nachi. And of course, if you like cute boys like Gorou, Yakumo will definitely be your pick.

Apart from the A4/P2, there are of course the B6, GTR, and the president & VP. Personally I wish the GTR had had a little more airtime and the B6 a little less, but with the extra ‘ura’ route and the append chapters, if you do a full complete they still have a lot of material. I’m also hoping for an adaptation like VitaminX Evolution to flesh out their stories a bit Plus, if you’re a huge fan of one of the B6 then you’ll probably be quite happy. Another thing that I like is that there is no flirting or anything between the B6 and the heroine, they still all like X’s heroine.

Plot:

The overall goal is the same, but in VitaminZ the school president actually has a sinister motive in picking an inexperienced teacher, and so the overall plot is a little more complex and interesting. The events happen mostly the same way no matter whose route you’re in, but what you actually see as opposed to what goes on behind the scenes, and the details that you’re shown, are always different.

You have the same school events as in X, but in Z there are also assemblies where things happen (mostly in the P2′s routes), and there’s a summer ‘study camp’ (gotta have that kimodameshi doncha know!).

Gameplay:

VitaminX was quite easy to play (in terms of saving etc) and VitaminZ is apparently even easier. The setup of tsukkomi/through and month-end quizzes is the same, but in VitaminZ you have to pass a special quiz in Chapter 11 to finish a route, so it might take a couple tries. The character designer’s style evolved since X; though it’s still obviously the same artist, I like the newer designs better (Chisato, マジでかっこいい!!)

Other differences:

I think VitaminZ has a little more romance than X, in that the characters all show in little ways that they like the heroine earlier, and (maybe) a little more obviously than in X. And though each route has some drama in it, I don’t think there’s quite as much angst as in X (not that it was huge there either).

So. If you loved X, I think you’ll love Z too. Which one you like more will probably depend on your favourite character. And if you didn’t like X, because of the gameplay or setup, you may not enjoy this either. And if you haven’t tried either, go check out the characters on the D3 site (Vitamin X / Vitamin Z) and try out whichever appeals to you most! Although, if possible, I’d recommend playing Vitamin X first, just because you’ll then understand the B6 interactions in Z more, and it makes Z even more fun ^_^

Oh, if you choose Vitamin Z, YesAsia, has the Limited Edition on sale for cheaper than the regular version! In addition to the limited edition box, you get a drama CD and a calendar.

Vitamin Z!

OK, I’m still here!

I’m very excited about the Vitamin Z game scheduled for next spring, and the December B’s Log had a big spread on the characters.

It’s a whole new bunch of students and teachers, and they seem pretty original.

Let’s start with the main character, Kita Manami. She just got her teaching license when she got a job offer from Seitei. Then the ‘Aho 4′ or A4 start at Seitei and are put into her new class, Class Z. As before, she has to try and guide them towards successfully finishing high school and getting into college.

The Idiot 4:

Narumiya Tenjuurou – the charismatic leader of the A4, Tenjuurou is uncomplicated – he loves surfing and watching pro wrestling, and dislikes indecisive people. Though he’s also the son of a big company like Tsubasa, he has a good relationship with his family and is very loyal to people once he sees them as friends.

Fuwa Chisato – the most apathetic member of the A4, his family has been servants of the Narumiya family for a long time, and Chisato kind of takes care of Tenjuurou. He’s an expert in martial arts and likes cooking.

Mine Arata – Arata’s major goal in life is to be popular with women, and he spares no effort to achieve it. He plays tennis (to look cool), always takes care of his looks, and prefers French cuisine to gyoza (they smell too strong).

Tachibana Yakumo – a cute and slightly selfish idol, apparently there’s some secret about his family. He’s usually cheerful, but people say you should try not to make him really angry.

Next up, the Perfect Twins and the teachers!

The scoop on Vitamin Y and Z!

Thanks to sonnakai, my burning curiosity about the new Vitamin game is satisfied – there will be TWO games; one is a compilation of mini-games and not a new full story, but it sounds like Vitamin Z will have new characters and a story! Yayyyy!! Ahem. I’m very tired and giddy, so please excuse me if I start rambling.

Now, the lowdown!

Vitamin Y:

• Being released this fall on the DS, expected price Y4410
• 26 minigames – one bigger game with the B6 and T6 (and 3D rendering!) and 25 others
• the 25 are split into 2 with each B6 guy, 1 each with each T6, and 7 with a variety.

Apparently the games become available as you move through the main game. It’s school festival time, and though the class has decided on a café, Tsukasa announces that he’s getting his company to take over the whole festival and do everything.
Somehow you manage to convince him not to, but by the school festival, the B6 have still used Tsukasa’s resources to set up a bunch of attractions on school grounds.

Screencap shamelessly lifted from Gamewatch.

Vitamin Z:

• Scheduled for Spring 2009!
• New characters, and the B6 will appear as well – as teachers!! O.o
• It will have animation in it!
• It’s set 5 years after VitaminX
• The new characters are the A4 (aho) and P2 (perfect 2)
• No word that I could find about platform

And I can’t believe, this was announced two weeks ago!! Gyaah, I could have been squeeing for two weeks already! I’ll just quote a Japanese blogger and say, “ギャー！買う、買います、全部下さい！！”

OH, and since I’ve been enjoying the gymnastics at the Olympics, some real-life pics (never thought you’d see any on here eh??) of some awesome athletes that I’m cheering for!

Uchimura Kohei – one of the young guys (19) on the Japanese team – the commentators are driving me CRAZY pronouncing his last name as Oocheemeree – c’mon guys, Japanese names are not hard!! That’s an A not a Y!

And some Canadian guys who are representing us in the all-around competition:

Nathan Gafuik

and Adam Wong.

OK, bedtime!