Hourglass of Summer (Natsuiro no Sunadokei) is a Japanese visual novel that was released by Princess Soft. It was brought to the U.S. by the Hirameki International Group. It was one of the few interactive dating games that were first translated into English (although there was never an English voice dub for the US release). Originally, it was released exclusively in Japan in a PlayStation 2 format that could only be played on Japanese systems. Later, a PC version, also exclusively Japanese, was released, only this time with erotic content added to it. The U.S. version was released as an interactive DVD that didn't contain sexual content.
Hourglass of Summer also has a 2 episode OVA that was released in Japan.
PLOT:
The story revolves around a Japanese sophomore named Kotaro Makimura. As the school year ends and summer vacation approaches, he decides to admit his feelings to his crush, the beautiful Kaho Serizawa. As hopeless as the situation looks to his best friends Ai and Takeshi, he is determined to make Kaho his girlfriend by the end of summer vacation. However, on his way home, he has a collision with a mysterious stranger, and ends up getting covered in a strange multi-colored powder. When he wakes up the next day, he finds himself waking up on September 1 - the first day of the next school year. He also learns that Kaho, who had been his girlfriend, had died in a car accident. Eventually, Kotaro discovers that he has begun day-dropping, in which he skips days, and goes back and forth in time through different days of the summer vacation. With the help of Ligene the Time Patroller (also translated as Lee Jane), Kotaro must win Kaho's heart and prevent her death before he runs out of time.
Although Kaho is the girl that Kotaro aspires for at the beginning of the game, the player can choose different decisions that will eventually lead him to relationships with one of the other four girls. Of course, the wrong decisions could result in an ending in which Kotaro wins the affections of none of them. Although the objective of the game is to become the boyfriend of one of the girls, some of these other endings can be the only way to view certain images not found in the other paths.
CHARACTERS:
- Koutarou Makimura (Voiced by Hideki Ogihara):
The player views the story from the point of view of Kotaro Makimura, who is also the protagonist. Although the player decides what Kotaro does through most of the game, he does have a background. He's had a crush on Kaho since he saw her years before in a play, and he's the vice president of the almost non-existent boxing club. Although he appears to most of his peers as unrefined and lazy, he's really a kind and sensitive person.
- Kaho Serizawa (Voiced by Nana Mizuki):
Although she is very shy, especially around the opposite sex, Kaho is undeniably the most popular girl in school. President of the drama club and daughter of a wealthy artist, she is especially known for her intelligence, grace, kindness, dedication to fine arts, and most of all her flawless looks. She is liked by nearly every boy in school (and even some girls), but so far she hasn't eyes for anyone. She lives in an enormous mansion with her father and their maid. Kaho is kind, but hates people who are weak, thus yelling at Koutaro if he asks Ai to deliver his love letter instead of him delivering it to her himself.
- Ai Senou (Voiced by Masayo Kurata):
Almost the complete opposite of Kaho, Ai was brought up with humble surroundings and a loud personality. She is also Kotaro's best friend and next-door neighbor. She may be a huge sports fan, but she's also extremely clumsy, and has a tendency to have dizzy spells. Running the family fish shop with her father has given her an eagerness to help others, but at the same time she's easily taken advantage of by others. She's also very emotional, and can quickly change to laughter, tears and back very quickly.
- Tomomi Yanagihara (Voiced by Kikuko Inoue):
A biology teacher at Kotaro's high school, she is affectionately referred to as Tomo-chan, much to her disliking. Her favorite hobby is the study of the supernatural, which tends to get her classes off subject. She also enjoys making a hard time for Kotaro and his friend Takeshi. Short of stature and usually dressed in a white lab coat, thick glasses, and a messy hairstyle, she appears unattractive on the outside. But with a little makeup she can be a real beauty. Because of her knowledge of paranormal phenomena, Kotaro goes to her as a source of advice on time travel.
- Mana Kawamura (Voiced by Rikako Aikawa):
A freshman at Kotaro's school and a rising star on the diving team, Mana has an air around her that makes her difficult to approach. She never laughs and never socializes with anyone but her coach. When Kotaro gets to know her, he finds that she's actually a bit of a romantic. She has a deep love of the water and enjoys fairy tales about mermaids. When Kotaro finds out that she is somehow tied to Kaho's accident, he begins an uphill struggle to break through her antisocial barrier and become her friend.
- Ligene (Lee Jane) (Voiced by Fumiko Orikasa):
A mysterious girl from the future who has been assigned to help Kotaro prevent Kaho's death. She works as a Time Patroller, or TP, and regularly travels through time on assignments. It was Ligene whom Kotaro encountered and covered him with the multi-colored powder. Although she is faced with a serious task, she hardly seems to realize the gravity of it, constantly joking and playing around. A bit ditzy and irresponsible, she is also very curious, fascinated with the time period Kotaro's living in. In the end of the anime, she kisses Koutaro, so maybe she loves him like Kaho, Ai, Mana and Tomomi.
The Limited Edition comes with a drama CD. The CD also contains the full length, karaoke and normal length versions of the intro song.
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:
Current, past, and love adventure game Novell format wandering the future in order to save the lives of lovers. Hero that would witness the future of the worst Serizawa Koho ??of unrequited love during that encounter a traffic accident on last day of summer vacation. Player returns to the past to become a hero, while looking for ways to save her from the accident, we will fight with fate and time travel that can not be predicted.
FEATURES:
- First person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- High School, Romance & Anime themes.
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