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SaitoHajime101's Hatsukoi Limited Manga Review

Hatsukoi Limited manga Review

Story & Playability

Its the manga "Boys Be" on steroids, The End!

Okay not that easy of a review, especially for those who haven't read "Boys Be" or seen the anime counterpart.

Hatsukoi Limited is a set of short stories following a cast of about 8 to 9 characters all connected to each other in some way. Thats right ladies and gentlemen, its a mix of "Boys Be" deep romance, intellectual talk with "Boogie Pop Phantom"' story-telling (to an extent). Let me explain in greater detail. You have these characters, ranging in ages between 14 to 16, all of whom live in the near proximity of each other and go to nearby schools (the 14 year old 2nd year middle schoolers at one school and the 16 year old high schoolers go to the nearby high school). Now initially this story started with Zaitsu Misao (16 years old) unexpectedly confessing his love for Arihara Ayumi (14 years old). Notice the ages. Thats one of the big things they play on in this manga is despite how old or young, love can still flourish. Now to get the whole reason why he even knows of Aihara considering they go to seperate schools, you'll have to read the manga because I won't spoil it. From then on, each new chapter up til I would say the Christmas Chapters, take the main character from the previous chapter. Here's an example because I know that was extremely confusing:

The first chapter started out with Arihara Ayumi has kinda the main character, but at the end of said chapter you get a panel of Zaitsu Misao's younger brother, Mamoru hiding watching the situation. Now the second chapter is about Mamoru and the final panel(s) in the second chapter introduces the third chapter's main character and so on and so forth.

Thats how each chapter connects to each other which allows for a huge cast list but enough time to kind of get us attached to each character. I would say out of the huge character list I was more attached to Yayoi's older brother (can't recall his name at the moment). However just like every one of Kawashita-san's works, everyone gets attached to a different character. For example for those of us who can recall Ichigo 100% (by far Kawashita-san's most famous manga), people were split between Satsuki, Nishino, or Toujou. The same goes for this series but this time we have a broader list to work from. Instead of 3, we get approximately 9, with an added bonus that they're not all females. Most people think that romance stories are usually written for females, but I find that Kawashita-san has this uncanny ability to write it so even us men can have something to enjoy about it. Its not sappy or corny, its not overly-dramatic, and supplies some of that "ecchi"-ness or "manly"-type plot devices. There are even some chapters dedicated to soley what one of the male characters is feeling. I do have to say its right on the money to with how guys typically feel about situations, no joke.

That helps bring this review back to the comment I made about Boys Be on steroids. For those who haven't seen Boys Be it was a series that more prided itself on the intellectual conversations about what love really is versus your typical romance story. Hatsuoki Limited took the basis of Boys Be worked with and expanded on it a bit more. It helped to make this story more unique and not to be your typical romantic comedy.

Now I will say this though I wish there was more to this series because there was just too many questions I had at the end about where they went with what they learned. It showed us they learned something but it never showed us if they truly applied what they learned and how long it succeeded. I'll touch base with this thought more in the Presentation Section.

Rating: 8

Graphics

Kawashita-san always had amazing art. I remember when I first read Ichigo 100%, I was taken aback with all the detail put into the panels yet how quickly it was all done. Now its not a style I recommend every manga have because this is definitely a unique style only meant for these types of stories. I've never found detailed work such as this work for series like Naruto or Negima and such. This art is definitely meant only for romance-types with specific type stories. That's a plus and a minus. Minus in the fact it can't be used elsewhere but its a plus because I know when I pick up a Kawashita Mizuki manga, I know I can look foreward to some good looking panels that I can't take my eyes off of.

A couple points will be taken off however because it seems Kawashita-san has a limited selection of hair-styles and character designs to work with. I saw alot of her previous characters from Ichigo 100% in this series which was disappointing. Now I'm not saying she must have a variety so big that we could never see some look-alikes but you can really so alot of the same characters in Hatsukoi Limited which supplied the feeling "been there, done that".

Beautiful artwork, but it seems it has limitations.

Rating: 8

Sound

As this is a manga, there is no sound. I put an 8 rating here to try to maintain approximate what i want the rating to be at.

Rating: 8

Fun

A 32-chapter series, approx 6 to 8 volumes, depending how many chapters you put into a volume and how many pages the chapters are. It was a fun 32-chapters, but it could've definitely lasted alot longer. Whereas Ichigo 100% seemed to drag at points, this series seemed to have went too quick at times. Some people could disagree but I felt Kawashita-san could've done alot more with this series if she really wanted to. I like the ending but as I made mention in the story section, I had too many questions about what happened after the end. I really wished there was more.

By far my favorite chapters being the Valentine's Day 3-chapter arc, was simply amazing in discussion. It raised some interesting points that had me even wondering what I believed about that "holiday".

As mentioned before the series was based on the different perspectives on love and relationships. Of course the main morale being that love doesn't matter where it comes from or how it comes about, nor about the person's looks but about whats on the inside. Its a good morale, but unfortunately thats a lesson that is only learned from experience, not from reading it in a manga. I think this series is best enjoyed by those who are currently undergoing their first serious relationship, or going their their first real love (crush or actual love, either or). Its an enjoyable series overall. Not all will find this series a winner, but its definitely one to check out at least a couple chapters. If you don't get hooked on the first couple chapters just put it to the side, but if you like the first couple, keep reading, it gets better.

Rating: 7

Final Verdict

7.6667 (good)

Reviewed by SaitoHajime101, Dec 23, 2009

Comments

  1. rukasu04 Mute Member Dec 31, 2009

    Nice Review

  2. mona12 Jan 04, 2010

    thanks for the review

  3. SchRita Aug 27, 2010

    I really like it.

  4. back07 Sep 26, 2012

    thanks for the nice review
    :)

  5. Shimazaki Feb 03, 2015

    pretty detailed preview thanks

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