SHUFFLE! Essence+

[momochi]

The website for this has FINALLY been updated with new character profiles.

http://www.project-navel.com/shuffle_ep/

[DJLowrider]

At a glance it doesn't look like there's anything there that we didn't find out from the Comptiq article. I will try to read it more at-length and see if there's anything new to be gleaned from it, though.

Kind of odd that they don't mention the mysterious kimono girl among the new characters.

On the other hand, they're listing Nadeshiko and Tsubomi under "New Characters". I guess that answers that question, then.

Mayumi's birthday is New Year's Day? Huh.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by DJLowrider

Kind of odd that they don't mention the mysterious kimono girl among the new characters.

Well, I'm wondering if they've decided to make her more of a "secret" heroine in terms of the official PR, since they hinted earlier that she was the key to a lot of the new material. Perhaps she'll be one of those heroines that can only be unlocked after you've beaten all of the other paths, or something.

[Draneor]

Just based on her profile, I think I'll like Daisy a lot. I'm glad to see Sakura made it (although I suppose this is old news).

[DJLowrider]

Sakura is pretty awesome, at least based on her role in R?R! I still think they ought to throw Kaede's yandere streak from the anime into the game, though, and it would work for either Asa or Sakura.

Spoiler for Why Sakura?:

Nothing like having the love of your life "stolen" from you by your best friend to make you snap after all.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by DJLowrider

I still think they ought to throw Kaede's yandere streak from the anime into the game, though, and it would work for either Asa or Sakura.

Spoiler for Why Sakura?:

Nothing like having the love of your life "stolen" from you by your best friend to make you snap after all.

I just want to say that the yandere deviation has always been something of a point of contention among people who were game fans first, since it added a dimension that wasn't originally part of the Shuffle universe. Personally speaking, I despise yandere (and the anime deviation from the original game story) so I'm selfishly hoping they don't go that way. I know that a lot of people became Shuffle fans because of that deviation, though, so I can see why you'd want it. I guess there are always two sides to every story.

[BlueGenome]

TBH, I'm not sure what Navel will do re: yandere Kaede. I know I agreed with DJLowrider earlier, but that was an expectation thing rather than a request: while yandere Kaede may attract more purchases (unlikely), I actually liked game Kaede better. Actually the yandere thing came as a bit of a shock to me: in the game you can see her get a little disappointed/sad when you choose another path, and

Spoiler for SHUFFLE! Asa's path:

she cries when you take Asa's path (gods I wanted to punch Rin in the face after seeing that )

but she's otherwise pretty accepting (Primula's ending FTW). So I'm gonna pretend Navel actually cares about my opinions () and ask that Kaede act like she has in the games.

/rant

[DJLowrider]

I'm sure this has been debated elsewhere before, but when Kaede snaps in the anime it really gives her character a lot more believability as well as adding a whole other dimension to the story. So often we get these harem anime series where everyone is just peachy keen with each other despite the rivalries for the protagonist's heart. Kaede's sudden turn gave us a glimpse of something that simply felt more real.

Furthermore, gven that Sakura is confirmed for Essence+ I feel reasonably confident saying the following:

Spoiler for Spoiler-based conjecture:

With Sakura in this means they're basically confirming that the back story events from Really? Really! are canon, which means that Kaede does indeed have a vicious streak to her. It also means she sees her co-dependent relationship with Rin as being repentance for all the crap she put him through as a kid. This sets things up in an almost identical manner to how her back story was shown in the anime. I won't go so far as to say this confirms or guarantees that she'll have a yandere turn in Essence+, but given all of this it's certainly not out of the question to assume it may very well happen.

My personal opinion is if they do adapt some of the anime's story points to the game the game's story will only be better for it. If, however, Kaede is depicted more or less exactly as she was in the original game then it will relegate her once again to being the most boring character of the story, not to mention it will waste so much potential for dramatic and character development. Though again, the Japanese do seem to have a soft spot for doormat characters.

[momochi]

For people who had played the original shuffle! and it's sequels Tick tack and Really? really!, would it be recommended to try out these two sequels before starting Shuffle Essence? I originally planned to play the original but stalled that idea when I heard that there will be a new release.

[DJLowrider]

I can't say as I'd recommend Tick! Tack! simply because it's a fairly weak story line with largely uninteresting cast additions save one. The only reason to play it is if you want to see more ero scenes of Nerine.

Really? Really! is another deal, though. I heartily recommend playing it as it's not only got a good story and great character development, but it's just damn fun to play. Not to mention there are some truly laugh-out-loud moments in it. And it will also give you a whole new perspective on at least a couple of characters.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by DJLowrider

I'm sure this has been debated elsewhere before, but when Kaede snaps in the anime it really gives her character a lot more believability as well as adding a whole other dimension to the story. So often we get these harem anime series where everyone is just peachy keen with each other despite the rivalries for the protagonist's heart. Kaede's sudden turn gave us a glimpse of something that simply felt more real.

All I can say is that, to me, it felt like an extremely cheap ratings grab, and anything but "more real". If it had been more restrained, I probably could have been okay with it, but I never bought into the "shock value" as a legitimate plot device, and all the more so because it was manufactured as anime-original. I don't really have any problem if they play up the co-dependence a bit more (as that was in the original game to begin with), but no yandere for me, thanks...

Anyway, there's no point in debating it, really; all we can do is wait to see what they do.

[DJLowrider]

On to some other speculative thoughts I've had lately.

In Essence+ there will be five Shinzoku girls, at least four of whom will have full paths (though with Tsubomi being on the "New Characters" page I wouldn't be surprised if she has a route as well.) It's well-documented that Shinzoku society is polygamous. Anyone else thinking "possible harem end"?

I've never played the PS2 version of Shuffle!, but from what I have read...

Spoiler for About Mayumi's path:

...Mayumi's path is supposed to create some conflict with Itsuki, who secretly has a huge crush on her. I'd love to see that make it into the game, but even more than that I'd love to have a side path where you get the two of them together.

I'm looking forward to the whole "Club Life" arc that's supposed to be party of Daisy's path. I wonder if it'll play out like the basketball game in CLANNAD where your success is determined by who you recruit?

[BlueGenome]

I pretty much agree with everything relentlessflame just said. Including the last line

Damn, DJLowrider, now you've got me even more excited! I know there were hints at the possibility of some kind of polygamy further down the line, but an explicit harem ending would be nice . Plus the other girls were so set on Rin it made me feel kinda bad for not choosing them too (although Nerine seemed to give up pretty quick in the anime ).

Man, I'm hopeless.

I've never played On The Stage either, but I always liked Mayumi. There is an curious lack of conflict in the games (for a high value of conflict) (not that I'm complaining), so hopefully any Rin v. Itsuki will end happily and without truckloads of wangst. Shuffle! has always managed to keep any sad feelings justified by sad events, so kudos to Navel for that.

[DJLowrider]

I'm glad you're excited for the game, I know I'm looking forward to it as well. Remember, though, this is all purely speculation on my part based on the information that's been made available to us so far. Not to mention it's got a fair bit of my own wishful thinking attached to it as well.

[Riker]

Tiny tidbit.

Q: 鈴平ひろは新規に参加するの？
A: 雑誌にツボミの新規イベントCGが掲載されたので参加確定のようです。


Looks like Suzuhira Hiro will be drawing new CGs for Essence+ too, so it won't be just new CGs from Nishimata Aoi.

[DJLowrider]

I wonder if we'll get some voice samples for Daisy and Ruri sometime so we can play the guessing game of who their seiyuu are. Presumably everyone involved will still be listed under their pseudonyms in the credits, despite the fact that we all know who they really are at this point.

Tangentially, I blew a friend of mine's mind away pointing out that Mikuru = Kaede.

[~A~]

Adult content....hmmmm *going to buy*

[DJLowrider]

Minor update on the official site for Essence+. The character pages for Daisy and Tsubomi both have screens from the game on them. The pic on Tsubomi's page seems to pretty much confirm that she does indeed have a path in the game, which leads me to believe that Nadeshiko also has a path.

This brings the official number of girls with routes in the game to 12. 13 if the mysterious kimono girl gets a path. This game's gonna be keeping people busy for a while...

[BlueGenome]

Nadeshiko could have a path? Awesome.

So, that makes 12 or possibly 13 paths, with additions to the 5 original ones. Can anyone who's played On The Stage comment on the differences between the PC paths for Sia, Nerine, Kaede, Asa and Primula vs. the OTS ones? I've heard that the paths were extended, but no specifics about how much was added.

Wow, this looks to be a serious time sink. Yay!

EDIT: Wow, just saw the pic of Rin on the site (how did I miss that). It's good to see he remains free of the disturbing Face Eating Shadow disease so many eroge protagonists seem to fall victim too...

[DJLowrider]

Originally Posted by BlueGenome

Nadeshiko could have a path? Awesome.

The way I'm interpreting it, since Tsubomi and Nadeshiko are both listed on the "New Characters" page and Tsubomi has a pic that makes it seem very likely that she does have a route, then by virtue of being listed on that page Nadeshiko probably has a route as well. Plus, considering...

Spoiler for Things that happened in Really? Really!:

...that Nadeshiko had H-scenes in Really? Really! it's not out of the question that she'd have a route here. Though I have to admit, her scenes kind of made me cringe. Her VA did not exactly handle them well IMHO.