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.
Kokoro no Tobira is a remake of a PC title that saw release in October 2003. You play as a character asked by his sick sister to share with her a picture book that he made. Inevitably, this leads to romantic entanglements with a group of young girls, including Yukina Sakura, Yun Kitami, Nanami Mizuhara, Kaori Kashima, and Mayuko Hatuse. Gameplay is of the traditional Japanese adventure variety -- use a simple text-based conversation and single-screen navigation system to get around and make friends, then watch animated anime cutscenes of the events unfold. Kokoro no Tobira translates to "Closet of the Heart."
It's important to keep memories from fading and to this end, maintaining a picture book with integral cues and photos from the past is a step in the right direction. Interact with five lovely maidens, including the impressively endowed Mayuko Hatuse, and attempt to win a happy ending by way of keeping interactions recorded in a book. Photos, important moments and other good times may be stamped onto the virtual pages for posterity.
Updates in the PS2 version include a new game scenario, voice action and a new opening cinema. A limited edition of Kokoro no Tobira which includes a bonus DVD containing artwork in a virtual photo file is also available today.
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:
Appeared to PS2 "story - that spelled door - Kimi Midsummer" the popular is powered up on the PC. Including full voice of, to add such as OP movie and new scenario. The theme that it "Making picture book" unfinished one book, sad love story of the heroines of Kaori Kashima and Suwon classmate Nanami hero and sister, and sister Hatsuse Mayuko bytes of destination begins.
FEATURES:
- First person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Romance & Anime themes.
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