Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 is the fourth installment in the Haruka series. It's the first and so far only title in the series to be on the Wii and to be rendered with 3D models. It was voted as the number one otome game of the year for 2008.
Since the third installment was the climax of the Heian period, Ruby Party members wanted to explore the series's title of a "faraway time". They decided on a prequel title set in ancient Japan with aims to explain various aspects and origins of the series's lore. While its primary aim is to be a fantasy title to contrast its quasi-historical predecessors, it's heavily inspired by mythology in India and Japan. The overall theme of this title is "forbidden love".
Its Premium Box version included a still image collection book and an art card by Tohko Mizuno. The Treasure Box edition includes these books with a batch of new illustrations from Mizuno and a gemstone set used to represent the Eight Guardians in the series. A minor mistake was made with the gemstone collection for which the company issued an official statement and apology.
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 is a fantasy romance game with light RPG elements aimed at a female audience. The game is a Japanese-style adventure game with 3D exploration and RPG-style battles added in. Interactions with other characters will affect the story path and romantic interest between characters, leading to several different endings. During battles, up to four characters can be in the party, but the player only directly controls Chihiro; other characters' actions are controlled automatically.
PLOT:
The protagonist is one of two princesses of a prestigious kingdom stationed in a land called Nakatsu Kuni within the parallel world. During her childhood, the kingdom was invaded by forces led by the king of Tokoyo no Kuni, a distant rival land connected to her kingdom. As Nakatsu Kuni is quickly overwhelmed, a divine power sends the protagonist through space-time to the modern world, protecting her from her kingdom's slaughter and ruin.
The time is April 17, 2008. Five years have passed since the massacre and the protagonist has suppressed her memories of her true origins. She believes she has been raised in the modern world and enjoys her peaceful life as an average high school student. Yet a mysterious encounter she has after school soon forces her to remember her true past and birthright. Returning to her home world, the protagonist is determined to save her people and resurrect her dying kingdom.
GAMEPLAY:
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 follows a similar RPG dominant format featured in the series's third title:
The game's story is separated in a distinct chapter format and not by automated daily progression as the first two titles. The main story can be completed whenever the player desires.
The player can replay any chapter they have completed. Data gained before completing a chapter in progress, however, will be erased.
The party explores various locations throughout the game by moving the protagonist to locations on an overworld map screen. Glowing white areas on the map fully restore the party's vitality when the player reaches it. When a location is highlighted, the player can press the confirmation button to enter it.
Active party members can switched in between battles to form a maximum party of four. The protagonist cannot be removed under normal circumstances.
Quick battles rewards a miniature boost of relations for the participants and extra elements.
The game's skip feature can be used to fast-forward previously seen story events, battle animations and automated travel on the overworld map.
Though the game shares these similarities with its predecessor, there have been small changes to the system for a quicker and easier presentation.
Health and Will power are also shown through numerical values the player can easily follow. Combat remains turn based like other titles; normal battles are now random encounters on the overworld map. Like other titles in the series, elemental strengths and weaknesses apply to allies and enemies.
Battles are often set in a four versus four formation. The main party sits in the center with the opposition surrounding the outer edges. Party members have their backs to one another to defend themselves from the enemy on all sides. The goal of the formation is to defeat enemies one at a time so the free party members can move to assist one another. A character cannot change their position until they dispatch the enemy before them. Character affinity with the protagonist can increase if the formation to assist her is done within the battle's first turn. If the protagonist finishes first, she can choose to support whoever she wishes.
CHARACTERS:
Chihiro Ashihara
Kazahaya
Asvin
Sazaki
Nagi
Futsuhiko
Hiiragi
Tooya
Oshihito Katsuragi
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:
Women's popular romance adventure "Tokinonakade" series 4th! Is equipped with a new system to fight the enemy with a force of ties! A different world to the stage, is drawn story of princess to fight in order to regain the lost homeland, if more you get along with the boys together fight, also be developed in love! The ending to listen to love which is not allowed because of the difference of position! ? Space-time to improper story begins!
FEATURES:
- First person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Demons, Medieval Japan, Romance, Fantasy & Anime themes.
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