A visual novel is an interactive fiction game, featuring mostly static graphics, most often using anime-style art or occasionally live-action stills (and sometimes video footage). As the name might suggest, they resemble mixed-media novels.
In Japanese terminology, a distinction is often made between visual novels proper (abbreviated NVL), which consist predominantly of narration and have very few interactive elements, and adventure games (abbreviated AVG or ADV), which may incorporate problem-solving and other types of gameplay. This distinction is normally lost outside Japan, where both NVLs and ADVs are commonly referred to as "visual novels" by international fans. Visual novels and ADVs are especially prevalent in Japan, where they made up nearly 70% of the PC game titles released in 2006.
Visual novels are distinguished from other game types by their extremely minimal gameplay. Typically the majority of player interaction is limited to clicking to keep the text, graphics and sound moving (most recent games offer "play" or "fast-forward" toggles that make even this unnecessary).
Most visual novels have multiple storylines and many endings; the gameplay mechanic in these cases typically consists of intermittent multiple-choice decision points, where the player selects a direction in which to take the game.
Hana Ki Sou, sometimes translated as "Flower Funeral", is a doujin PC Boys Love Game released by Haccaworks in 2003. A voiced Playstation 2 port with new content was released in 2006; a PSP port followed in 2010. There is also a two-volume manga adaptation.
Kuroto was born to destroy the world; and so Hanashiro was born to save it. The only way Hanashiro can do that is by killing Kuroto. However, they one day meet and become very close, and Hanashiro becomes completely unwilling to fulfill his duty as the Savior. With conflict rising among the nations, the fate of the world has become unclear...
In Hana ki sou a young man awakens in the snowy wilderness with no memory. The boy watching over him informs him that his name is Kuroto, which means the winter that announces the end. Claiming to be a traveling companion, Hanashiro reassures Kuroto and says he will help him regain his memory. More questions arise once they reach the nearest town and are soon confronted by the military. While Kuroto attempts to grasp the quickly developing events around him, snow quietly continues to fall.
The PS2 version is fully voiced and contains some new material.
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:
Adventure game multiple endings that tragedy is spelled and anguish of the people that are at the mercy of fate. Upon porting from the PC version, new elements such as adding a new visual and story packed. I was born to set to destroy the world as "Genfuyu", boy was brought up in order to save the people from destruction "Hanashiro". In the world that has been Somenuka in silver, two people continue to fate ... Aragai.
FEATURES:
- First person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Medieval Japan & Anime themes.
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