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This is probably a very stupid question but...

What is the difference between the PS2 game releases for HaruToki etc that are "Best!" version, normal version, "Premium box" version...?

In terms of actual game play, is there anything significantly different (ie voices, etc) or is it just the way it was originally sold (and what extras it had, etc)?

My copy of Ange Etoile says Premium Box on it although I got it second hand so I hadn't really thought much about it till now. BUT with the exchange rate taking a first class trip down the proverbial toilet, if I'm going to buy a HaruToki game of any kind, I'd at least like to know what I'm looking at.

(Be nice to me. I only JUST got my hands on a Japanese PS2 last autumn thanks to someone in London wanting rid of theirs and I'm still learning ;))

Any advice from those more experienced...? Particularly regarding the HaruToki games, since I'm having to prioritise and a HaruToki one is likely to be next on my list (with my birthday coming up I'm thinking I can justify it as a self-present...right??)

Thanks in advance anyone who can answer my question :)

Vraie

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info here. (http://www.my-neoromance.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=96)

Generally, the Premium version is the last one with bonus booklet/CDs/mang etc while the Best version is just a reprint of the first version of the game (at a cheaper price!). But since the HaruToki has multiple versions with one extra character in each new release... I'd just say go for the one that's the newest release, hopefully the other added characters would be in it too. @_@

I think it's best to check play-asia or the official website to see which version you might want. Though, I hear that HaruToki's Premium version comes with a small clock (http://marfisa.net/haruka/box.html)...

...Okay, that helps somewhat, thanks :D It's cleared up the best thing for me, too, which I'm grateful for :D

Another stupid question, if you'll indulge me - when you say added characters and the latest version, which HaruToki is that for? All of them? Or just specific ones?

I have HaruToki 2 on the PSP and don't plan on getting it for PS2 for that reason. I want to get the Hachiyou PS2 game for the first lot - because I'm not that fussed about the Maihitoyo storyline or Suefumi really, so I'm guessing maybe that's what you mean by additional characters.

But the Iza...whatever it is for HaruToki 3 - is that an add on to the original game or a game in its own right?

Very confusing. Very confusing!

No problem, it always good to help fellow (otome) gamer. :]

I'm referring to the first game really, though it could apply for the others too I guess. I actually haven't played HaruToki yet, most of my information comes from sites when I'm looking for otome games in general.

Yeah, those were the new characters I was referring to. I guess you have it all covered, haha.

I have no idea really, the series is so big I get everything muddled up. @_@

The series is pretty big, so it does get pretty confusing. I think this (read the info then click on the HaruToki page) (http://www.neoroma.info/games) will help you a lot since it has info on when the games were set and stuff. You can check which version was released latest too, so yeah. Good luck~

wow...I have forgotten that I wrote that article already. It was ages ago...

Anyway, first of all, are you interested in playing Haruka 1, 2, 3 or 4? They are 4 totally different games with different characters.

Each version has different versions and remakes due to KOEI (the game company) wanting to squeeze more money out of their gamers to buy the same game on different type of systems. e.g. Haruka 1 Hachiyosho is the same as the original Haruka 1 but on a PS2 format and additional character Akuram added. (this is so, people wont feel bad about buying the same game thinking its different)

Then there are different "packages". This once again is KOEI's way of making money. So they usually launch 3 versions, Normal, Premium and Treasure.

Normal= just the game
Preimum=game + some sort of CD + character design books
Treasure= game + some sort of CD + character design books + CG collections + some other toys/gadgets/goodies

As for HaruToki3 and Izayoiki you can read the topic of discussion here

http://forum.my-neoromance.com/index.php?showtopic=939

Each version has different versions and remakes due to KOEI (the game company) wanting to squeeze more money out of their gamers to buy the same game on different type of systems.

Yeah, totally. 8D

All the game info is very very helpful because in that respect I'm a total rookie and need all the help I can get. I will definitely be reading that article later on, though I've got to go run to my driving lesson now *meh, more money* :)

Thanks all :D

e.g. Haruka 1 Hachiyosho is the same as the original Haruka 1 but on a PS2 format and additional character Akuram added.
To be fair, each of the hachiyou each got another ending in Hachiyoushou which also meant another CG for each of them.

Looks like your questions were generally covered -- I'll give it a go, too, in case you want one more opinion :)

Normal/Premium/Treasure/KOEI THE BEST versions only differ in pricing and extras, not in the software itself.

That said, there were various iterations of the four Haruka sub-series and their games -- I'll paraphrase what I commented to a pal on another post in hopes it will delineate differences for you:

- Haruka1 first released on PS1, and I think was followed up by a GBA release of the same.
- Haruka1 ~Hachiyoushou~ for PS2 is essentially a re-release with a few extras (think "Haruka1, expanded") of Haruka1. Released in conjunction with the anime (2005, I think?) and included the OP animation off the anime series, 8 new ending CGs, the ability to get an Akram ED, and a few special extras.
- Maihitoyo for PS2 is a standalone game, a sub-story of Haruka1. Based off the animated movie, and plotwise takes place mid-anime series.

- Haruka2 so far is just Haruka2 and (as you know) takes place 100 years after Haruka 1, but I'm really hoping they'll expand on that universe one day, to prove to the world that they're not all just Haruka1 character clones. ♥

- Haruka3 takes place during the Genpei War, about 100 years after Haruka2 (200 years after Haruka1).
- Izayoiki is the expansion to Haruka3, providing 8 more ED tracks for the Hachiyou, 2 new character ED tracks, and a completely new alternate storyline progression. Effectively requires the Haruka3 disk to play (you have to use it to "unlock" the full version of Izayoiki every time you start up the machine).
- Unmei no Labyrinth (kanji: meikyuu) is the Haruka3 equivalent of Maihitoyo, being a standalone game with a sub-story (in this case a sort of alternate ending), that takes place in the modern world. Save data from regular!3 and Izayoiki open up event-viewing options, and are required for a FULL-full complete, but I'm pretty sure they aren't required for normal play (i.e. Hachiyou endings).

- Haruka4 is the super-prequel of the Haruka series, dealing with the first Hachiyou and their Miko and taking place in Toyoashihara.

-Yume no Ukihashi (for DS) mixes characters from 1-3 in an AU. :)

If you have any other questions let me know, I'd be happy to help!

Thank you :)

Luckily I'm familiar with all the canons and characters and history and stuff fine (lots of drama CDs and so on and so forth, plus manga, OVAs, etc so that's not an issue, thank goodness. If it was my brain would've exploded by now *lol*) And because of that I know I intend on playing the first characters because they're my favourites, although I'm debating whether I can stretch to one of the others too and I know much less about the gameplay and so on for those, even though I've heard people say a lot of good things about HaruToki 3.

Your clarification of those has really straightened that out for me, I think. I thought Izayoiki (and you'd think I could remember that since I have the drama CDs for it :P) was an expansion but I wasn't sure about the labyrinth one. So it's given me plenty of things to think about up until payday (which is a week tomorrow...yay!)

Doubtless I'm going to focus on HaruToki 1 first and see how I get on with that. Now I know what I'm looking at it should be much easier!!

Thanks again :D Much appreciated :D

You are very welcome! Sorry to stick in all the stuff you already knew :)

I read that you said you weren't particularly interested in Suefumi/the Maihitoyo storyline, but since you're pretty well versed in the Haruka1 world already, I still might give a recommendation for buying/playing Maihitoyo first. The plot and character development of Haruka1/Hachiyoushou is comparable to that of Haruka2 -- interesting but relatively limited, and contains a lot of information already covered in the manga and the anime series. Being (versions of) the earliest game in the Haruka series they also have kind of clunky gameplay and interface (and, regular Haruka1 for the GBA can be found in ROM form in a pinch).

Maihitoyo, because it was released recently, benefits from story-progression and user interface revamps that were improved upon in Haruka3. It also has the plus of having plot twists and personality traits and stories that were not developed anywhere else (i.e. they don't come from the manga/series/dramas, and I believe the 8 Hachiyou tracks/endings are all unique from the story (Suefumi's) told in the movie). I also found the voice acting pleasantly stronger and more, well, in character (naturally, considering they'd had how many years/CDs/anime episodes+movie to really settle into their characters by this point). And, being a standalone game, you don't have to worry about buying a second game in order to get full functionality out of it like Haruka3. :) But I totally understand the need-want to start at the beginning -- that's what I did with the games, and I don't regret that choice either.

If you decide to go further after whatever game you decide to go with first, I put in my vote for Haruka3, too. XD The storyline(s) and characters of Haruka3 blew me away; and as much as Haruka1 is dearest to me, Haruka3 as a whole would be my favorite in terms of characters and plot.

...sorry to ramble. I got excited. :(

If you do decide to go with ~Hachiyoushou~, I'm actually sitting on an extra copy of the Premium Box version, if you're interested! The original carton has been almost-lost so it's squished, but the actual extras and the game itself were all taken out and stored separately and safely elsewhere, and are in near-perfect condition -- all still shrink-wrapped if I recall correctly. If you might be interested you can email me (see my user info) and we'll see if we can work something out!

Edited 2009-01-21 21:24 (UTC)

Ah, that's good and very useful advice, thanks (and don't worry about repeated information, LOL :D It's my own bad because I didn't specify what I did know in my original post, after all!)

So now I have to do some careful thinking. The exchange rate vs the $ and the yen is truly awful at the present time, so whatever I do has to be well thought out. With your advice in mind I may well go after Maihitoyo and see how I get on with that (though when prices improve I might go after the Hachiyou game also)...I will need to think on it some more, I think.

((I appreciate your offer, though I probably can't give you a fair price on it given the $/£ situation at the moment. :S.))

This time last year I could've bought all of them without a problem, but this time last year I didn't have a Japanese ps2. Typical, isn't it...?

Vraie ;)

I'm glad that it was helpful! Good luck on your quest for the games ^^/

Again, do feel free to let me know any time you're interested in the game since I don't think it will be going anywhere. If the exchange rate doesn't work out now, we can always try again later. :)

Thanks :D LOL :D

Though it took five years the last time there was a major change. *I wonder if my PS2 will still work in five years time. She's an old lady already, bless her...*

I did actually take a bit of your advice, too, and bought the Maihitoyo game because I managed to get a reasonable rate for it. So I'll see how I get on with it. Either way though, eventually I will still want the Hachiyou one because heck, I'm officially their fangirl :P It just seems a lot harder to lay hands on because it's so much older!!

Thanks again for all your very helpful advice!!

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