got to the harem part and lost interest in playing this game :( but I have to admit great review, I like how you take the time to park in things at the right height of interest to either make people curious to get it and try it out or to back away slowly and leave it be :) but, over all, it does sound like an interesting game none the less, I have watched a few harem anime, and played a few harem games, but who knows what I find want to do in the future sort of thing :)
Koihime Musou game Review
Story & Playability
Story Introduction
Hongo Kazuto , an average high school student whom is fairly well trained in the art of kendo.
He stumbles across a mysterious guy and after sometime , he decides to follow him to the museum as he found him acting
suspiciously around an artifact. Upon confrontation , the mysterious man dropped the artifact and the two warped to the
time of the Three Kingdoms , but Kazuto found himself not in a history of which he knows it - for this is an alternate
dimension - a dimension where the brave heroes of the Three Kingdoms turn out to be... girls.
Early Character Introduction
Hongo Kazuto
Your typical everyday Highschool student - as usual.
Well , at the very least , he is learnt in the arts of the kendo - though he have no real actual combat experience and
his skills are that of an amateur compared to those whom are involved in actual warfare.
In the story , he takes on the role of "Liu Bei" of Shu , displaying kindness and an ability to attract
talents to his side.
He is mistaken to be the "Messenger of Heaven" due to his unusual clothing - which is made from
polymer.
Kan'u / Aisha ( Guan Yu )
Known by the name Kan'u but her true name is Aisha.
She takes on the role of Guan Yu and does bear some resemblance to him.
For one , she have extremely beautiful hair ( Guan Yu have a beautiful beard... ) and she have a fiery passion in
helping those around her.
Chohi Yokutoku / Rinrin ( Zhang Fei
)
A loli whom uses a spear larger than herself with a fiery temperament in combat to match.
She is usually very naive and innocent but can be as powerful as Aisha in combat.
Unusually enough , she does not bear the trait of being "ill-tempered" like the real Zhang Fei , whom is known
for his temper , but she is about just as impatient as him.
Story Overview
There are like well over 20+ characters - I can't possibly list them all now can I?
Well , let's get started.
Typically , this game does follow the plotline of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms , but only in the introductory
phase.
There are a lot of deviations as the plot goes on - particularly since this particular Liu Bei is actually a time
traveler whom finds himself in an alternate past for no reason at all and characters whom are supposed to die lives
on.
Not to mention the war is slowly tipping itself in the protaginist's favour , unlike in real history where Shu is
supposed to fall in the end.
Amusingly , all the genders as in real historical texts were... well , flipped. Males whom are supposed to be males become beautiful girls and women whilst women whom are known for their beauty became males with a screw loose in their head.
The concept itself is very interesting - not to mention amusing , but the story is , to a certain extence , unoriginal
for it is slightly based off the Romance of the Three Kingdoms but is mixed with some original content.
How do I put it - it's like taking an idea off something , changing it dramatically and there you have it ,
something new and fresh out of the oven.
To put it bluntly , it may have an interesting concept and setting but the vital factor which makes this Visual Novel all so amusing is because of the unpredictably of what would happen next even if you have read The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the fact that EVERYONE had swapped genders in this alternate world.
However , it is not of without a flaw. The game took on a lighter aspect of Chinese history and had not displayed nor depict any of it's darker pasts. However , it is interesting to see how each of the character's distinct traits being exaggerated to the state of which it becomes as clear as day itself. Certainly , it makes everything look unrealistic - but it also makes everything impossibly amusing.
It is difficult to explain the exact traits of the plotline , it is amusing , typical , yet unique and unpredictable at
the same time.
Certainly , the story isn't deep nor requires a lot of effort to understand but it can prove addictive in a strange
way - perhaps owing to how alien and unique it is compared to typical Anime and Visual Novel settings.
Still , I wouldn't mind if the main character is a bit more useful and does a bit more for the people rather than
just hitting on the girls ( Though it's unintentional... ) and having the ability to "attract talents around
him".
His practically useless in combat and strategical warfare... I mean , how does it feel to control someone that indept as
a protaginist!?
Rating:
Graphics
Artwork Review
The artwork does not bear a distinct trait to set itself apart from any other Visual Novels but the design itself is
fairly unique.
It is good to see that their not actually taking off much or any design concept off Dynasty Warriors - well , seeing
that the characters are mostly girls I don't think they can do that in the first place.
For example , some characters may wear a certain clothing in real life but in the game , it is displayed in a different
manner , like the ahoge of the female Lu Bu in this game is a replacement of the headdress that Lu Bu himself usually
wears.
It can be quite satisfying to see that the developers had taken the dresses of the real historical figures and distort ,
warping and changing it to suit their female counterparts - making them beautiful , cute or well , beautiful at the same
time...
Ack , I repeated myself.
Rating:
Sound
Music Review
Truth be told , the music doesn't really give me a strong impression that I am currently in an era of ages past as
it ought to be.
It's not particularly soothing nor is it significant in any sense.
If I must say so myself , it's just somewhat above average in it's own way.
Yet I won't say that the music is bad , it's just above average - at the very least the looping sounds decent
enough.
Voice Review
Ahh yes , the voice.
Rinrin's loli voice really ticks me off with the cheesiness but I really like Kan'u's voice. It sounds...
dignified , strong and firm in moments of battle but it can sound feminine , kindly and even somewhat sisterly in times
of peace.
So much so that it makes you go "hngh!"
Still , the matter of voices is still a rather mixed response. Some characters sound really , REALLY annoying. So much
so that I want to seal my delicate ears with an earplug whilst others can be quite fitting of their roles.
Rating:
Fun
This is a Review of Koihime
Musou
Waddya know , this Visual Novel was unexpectedly good in comparison to what I had expected it to be like.
Well , sure , it can be perverted at times - but heck , at least it isn't a 24/7 matter like in it's Anime
counterpart and nor is it quite as boring.
Storyline-wise it may be somewhat average but the artwork , unique concept and the fact that they've altered
history in such a "horrible and horrendous" way is simply... amusing.
I mean , turning the fiesty and proud Lu Bu into a quiet and peaceful girl who just happens to be a monster in
combat?
Now , how can anyone not drop their jaws at that!?
Overall : Others
Age Rating : 18+
Console : PC
Romance
Well , the romance part of things may feel fairly awkward at times , particularly since the fact that "these girls
are guys in an alternate dimension and in real history" keeps sticking out in your head.
But slowly but surely , perhaps owing to their feminity , that factor seems to disappear over time.
Still , this isn't really a heartbreaking romance or anything like that - it can be cute , somewhat... ehh...
perverted at times and delicate and somewhat beautiful - but the longer you play this game , the closer it steps towards
the Harem side of things.
Still , it's a matter of choice - whether you stick to a single girl or fool around like a playboy.
The path is your's...
Harem!!
Well , this is pretty much a Harem Visual Novel.
You can pretty much "hit on" several heroines at the same time.
I guess that's logical in a way - seeing that there are well over 20+ heroines.
There are three main heroines and hordes of side-heroines...
So , yes , this game pretty much have a certain level of replay value.
Gameplay
This game is intergrated with a mild strategical warfare-based gameplay.
Essentially , you have to ensure you have enough troops for the next battle by preserving as much troops in your current
battle.
Prior to the battle , you have to pick your Strategist and your General.
Strategists give boosts to formations whilst Generals will dish out damage or defend your troops against damage from
potential damage.
As for the actual gameplay itself , all you have to do is select a battle formation and counter your opponent's own
formation.
There are a dozen or so formations , each with a weakness and strength of it's own.
Whilst it may sound simple , I assure you , I find myself on the verge of losing MANY , MANY times.
As an add-on , this Visual Novel does not take on the usual "route system" of typical Visual Novels. After
every battle , you have a limited amount of points of which you can use to grow closer to a certain heroine by engaging
in special events.
Of course , you can't engage all the events at once so choose the heroine you want to grow closer to.
Trivia
- There is a newer version called Shin Koihime Musou ( True Princess War ) which features MORE heroines and EVENTS
- There is an English patch for Koihime Musou , but sadly , none for Shin Koihime Musou
- The Anime is based off the newer version of Koihime Musou
- Shin Koihime Musou's storyline is different as there is an actual Liu Bei in the game - whom is also a girl... a
pretty one at that
Reviewer's Comment :
I'm not too fond of Harems but I really , really like this Visual Novel for one reason or the other.
It's not plot-heavy - it's more or less a game for enjoyment.
Rating:
Final Verdict
7.5000 (good)
Reviewed by z827, Jul 17, 2011
Comments
-
angelxxuan Banned Member Jul 17, 2011
page 1 of 1 1 total item
Only members can post replies, please register.