Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time
Encyclopedia
is an otome
visual novel
developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. It is a part of Ruby Party's Neoromance label. Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time has given rise to a franchise including several sequels, numerous drama and music CDs, a manga
series, four OAV
s, a movie, and an anime
TV series, and a live-action theatrical.
-like interaction mode, a simple CRPG battle mode, and a board game
-like map.
Haruka is made up of ten chapters, eight of which involve the core gameplay. These chapters take place over a 2 week period and involve traveling around the Kyō map, searching for various key items. Kyō is made up of roughly 20 areas and it is possible to visit three in one day. However, most areas are possessed by that must be dispelled before you can enter, and fighting them consumes one of the three visit chances.
Harukas battle system is limited in comparison to most CRPGs of its day. The maximum party size is 3 characters, but only Akane is under the direct control of the player. Though Akane can attack and defend, her other abilities - the use of healing items and spells, and the ability to encourage her comrades, are more useful. There is no magic point
system as such. Casting spells is based on the morale of the Hachiyō members and the number of elemental cards Akane has. Furthermore, there is no experience system and the character's hit points are refilled automatically between fights. The main reward for fighting, besides gaining entrance to a given area, is the chance to gain the trust of Hachiyō. The greater a Hachiyō member's rapport with Akane, the more effective he will be in battle.
during the Heian Period
. According to the young scion of the , Fujihime, Akane is the who has come to save Kyō from the ambitions of the . In this task, the Akane has the help of eight men known as the , and her friends Tenma and Shimon number among them. Initially, Akane is bewildered by her new circumstances, but she gradually comes to face up to her own destiny and understand the world of Kyō.
series that is serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Lala
The individual chapters are being collected into volumes
published by Hakusensha
. The story was adapted from the video game that preceded it, and was illustrated by Tohko Mizuno
. There are currently 14 volumes that have been published.
The English edition of the series has been licensed by Viz Media
and is currently serialized in Shojo Beat
magazine as Haruka ~Beyond the Stream of Time~
.
adaptations of Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time. The first OVA adaptation in 2002 was two episodes, and followed the story line of the first video game. In 2003, a second OVA was made titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 2 ~Priestess of the White Dragon~, which covered the story line of the second video game. An anime TV series adaptation of "Haruka" began in 2004, and adapted the story from the manga, which covers the story line of the first game. It ran for 26 episodes. Shortly after the series finished, a two episode OVA titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Hachiyou Shou~ continued the story from the TV series. In 2006, a feature film titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Maihitoyo~ was released, and continued where the OVA left off. Finally, on December 28, 2007, a 1 episode OVA titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 3 ~Kurenai no Tsuki~ was released which adapted the story line from the third video game.
Otome game
An is a video game that is targeted towards a female market, where one of the main goals, besides the plot goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the female player character and one of several male characters. This genre is most established in Japan. The label includes both visual...
visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. It is a part of Ruby Party's Neoromance label. Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time has given rise to a franchise including several sequels, numerous drama and music CDs, a manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series, four OAV
OAV
OAV is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Original animated video* Österreichischer Alpenverein * Object–Agent–Verb * Odour activity value...
s, a movie, and an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
TV series, and a live-action theatrical.
Gameplay
Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time places the player in the role of a girl who is surrounded by attractive young men, and gives her the option of trying to win the heart of one and live happily ever after. The heroine must also fight evil with the help of the attractive young men. The result is a hybrid game with an visual novelVisual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
-like interaction mode, a simple CRPG battle mode, and a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
-like map.
Haruka is made up of ten chapters, eight of which involve the core gameplay. These chapters take place over a 2 week period and involve traveling around the Kyō map, searching for various key items. Kyō is made up of roughly 20 areas and it is possible to visit three in one day. However, most areas are possessed by that must be dispelled before you can enter, and fighting them consumes one of the three visit chances.
Harukas battle system is limited in comparison to most CRPGs of its day. The maximum party size is 3 characters, but only Akane is under the direct control of the player. Though Akane can attack and defend, her other abilities - the use of healing items and spells, and the ability to encourage her comrades, are more useful. There is no magic point
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
system as such. Casting spells is based on the morale of the Hachiyō members and the number of elemental cards Akane has. Furthermore, there is no experience system and the character's hit points are refilled automatically between fights. The main reward for fighting, besides gaining entrance to a given area, is the chance to gain the trust of Hachiyō. The greater a Hachiyō member's rapport with Akane, the more effective he will be in battle.
Plot
On the first day of a new school term, high school student Akane Motomiya, her classmate Tenma Morimura, and their underclass friend Shimon Nagareyama are sucked into a mysterious old well. When they awake, they are in , another world that resembles KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
during the Heian Period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. According to the young scion of the , Fujihime, Akane is the who has come to save Kyō from the ambitions of the . In this task, the Akane has the help of eight men known as the , and her friends Tenma and Shimon number among them. Initially, Akane is bewildered by her new circumstances, but she gradually comes to face up to her own destiny and understand the world of Kyō.
Releases
| Release Date | Title | Characteristic Genre Name | Developed By | System | Regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6, 2000 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time | Ruby Party | PSX | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| April 1, 2005 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Hachiyousho~ | Ruby Party | PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| |Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Maihitoyo~ | Ruby Party | PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
||
| September 28, 2001/February 28, 2002 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 2 | Ruby Party | Windows/PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| December 22, 2004 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 3 | Ruby Party | PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| September 22, 2005 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 3 ~Izayoiki~ | Ruby Party | PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| March 23, 2006 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 3 ~Unmei no Meikyuu~ | Ruby Party | PS2 | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
| |Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 4 | Ruby Party | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|||
| August 28, 2008 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Yume no Ukihashi~ | Ruby Party | DS | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
Remakes and ports
| Release Date | Title | System | Developed By | Notes | Regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 23, 2002 | Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time | GBA | Port | JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
|
Manga
The first Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time game was adapted into an ongoing' mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series that is serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Lala
Lala
Lala VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth soldiers.-Details:...
The individual chapters are being collected into volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
published by Hakusensha
Hakusensha
is a Japanese publishing company. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo.The company mainly publishes manga magazines of various genres and is involved in certain series' productions in their games, original video animation, musical and their animated TV series....
. The story was adapted from the video game that preceded it, and was illustrated by Tohko Mizuno
Tohko Mizuno
is a Japanese manga artist who wrote and illustrated Haruka ~Beyond the Stream of Time~, a manga series based on the video game Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyō Shō.-External links:* at Hakusensha Harukanaru Tokino Nakade...
. There are currently 14 volumes that have been published.
The English edition of the series has been licensed by Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
and is currently serialized in Shojo Beat
Shojo Beat
Shojo Beat is a shōjo manga magazine formerly published in North America by Viz Media. Released in June 2005 as a sister magazine to Shonen Jump, it featured serialized chapters from six manga series, as well as articles on Japanese culture, manga, anime, fashion and beauty...
magazine as Haruka ~Beyond the Stream of Time~
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyo Sho
is a Neoromance anime series based on the PlayStation 2 romantic adventure video game developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. The series features the characters from the original Harukanaru Toki no Naka de game, while the PlayStation 2 game is an enhanced remake of the original game.-Release...
.
Anime
There have been multiple animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptations of Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time. The first OVA adaptation in 2002 was two episodes, and followed the story line of the first video game. In 2003, a second OVA was made titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 2 ~Priestess of the White Dragon~, which covered the story line of the second video game. An anime TV series adaptation of "Haruka" began in 2004, and adapted the story from the manga, which covers the story line of the first game. It ran for 26 episodes. Shortly after the series finished, a two episode OVA titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Hachiyou Shou~ continued the story from the TV series. In 2006, a feature film titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time ~Maihitoyo~ was released, and continued where the OVA left off. Finally, on December 28, 2007, a 1 episode OVA titled Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time 3 ~Kurenai no Tsuki~ was released which adapted the story line from the third video game.
See also
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyō ShōHarukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyo Shois a Neoromance anime series based on the PlayStation 2 romantic adventure video game developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. The series features the characters from the original Harukanaru Toki no Naka de game, while the PlayStation 2 game is an enhanced remake of the original game.-Release...
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2is an otome adventure game developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. It was originally released for PC, and has since been ported to PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable...
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3is a PlayStation 2 otome adventure game developed by Ruby Party and published by Koei. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 is the third main entry in the Haruka series, and it is a part of Ruby Party's Neoromance label....
- Angelique SeriesAngelique (Japanese series)' is a video game series. Currently, the series has only been released in Japan, with the exception of a Chinese PC version of the first game in the series. It is somewhat popular with overseas import gamers, who have started petitions in the hopes of English-translated releases of various games in...
- Kiniro no CordaKiniro no cordais a role-playing game series targeted at a female audience under the Neoromance series from Koei. The title comes from the Italian for The Golden String....