Twinkle Crusaders
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
visual novel
developed by Lillian, and was originally released as an adult game
for the PC
on September 26, 2008. The game is described by the development team as a . The gameplay in Twinkle Crusaders follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters.
Twinkle Crusaders has also been adapted into four manga adaptations: a four-panel
comic strip
adaptation was serialized in the bishōjo
magazine Dengeki Hime
, a second adaptation was serialized irregularly in Dengeki Daioh
and concluded with four chapters, an adult
one-shot manga chapter was published in the adult magazine Megastore, and a fourth adaptation entitlted Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! was serialized in Dengeki Daioh.
has a very long dialogs and conversations. Often mix with jokes and humor from the cast. In each certain date, the player can decided to pick a heroine to talk with which was connected to the following conversations. There are also easter eggs hidden in the game which is during a certain date in real time. This such as a character's birthday event or an occasion. There also battle scenes which seem to be simply but required with some luck and is required to continued the progress of the story.
, another heroine, is a first year student and is the student council's secretary. Despite her attempts to hide that she's actually an angel, it is generally known to the other characters, unbeknownst to her.Contradicting to her looks and her voice, she's a real foul-mouth thorough without any malicious intention.
She has her buttler リースリング遠山 in some battles.
Twinkle Crusaderss third heroine, , is the student council's vice-president. Misa thinks of Shin as a rival, and always challenges him despite always ending up in second, falling behind Shin.She's especially annoyed about losing the election which Shin won by chance. She has her cousin Shion Asukai(飛鳥井紫苑)(who actually calls her "姉上(Big Sister)") as her assistant in some battles.
, the fourth heroine in Twinkle Crusaders, is a clumsy and soft-spoken third year student. Ria serves as an adviser to the student council due to her past experience as the student council president. She has an affection towards wagashi
, and participates in the wagashi club at school.She's also the younger sister of the current chief director
Helena (ヘレナ) who was in the current student council's shoes when she was a student. Helana assists Ria is some battles. The final heroine in Twinkle Crusaders is , a second year student who transferred into Shin's class in the middle of the story. Azel is very quiet and has a cold attitude towards others. She does not participate in any school activities, and like Shin, comes from a poor family.
.
s were distributed online at the visual novel's official website, while a separate demo were distributed at retail stores. The demos gave the player a glimpse into the characters and the story of the game, and also introduced the player to the gameplay system, typically the battle system used in the game. The full game was first released on September 26, 2008, as both a limited edition and a premium edition. The limited edition release included the game itself, an arrange album titled Kira-kira Sound Festival, an art collection by twelve different artists, and a clear plastic casing. The premium edition release included the extras found in the limited edition release along with a silver necklace, and is limited to one-thousand units. An all-ages version entitled Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! will be released for the PlayStation Portable
published by ASCII Media Works
on September 9, 2010, and will contain additional content not found in the original release,namely a new heroine and promoting a sub heroine to heroine status.
A release for windows 7 named Twinkled Crusader Remaster will be out on 24 June 2010, since this will be released before Twinkled Crusaders GoGo!,
it will not contain the extra content from it.
show to promote the Twinkle Crusaders, titled was first streamed online on August 27, 2008 as a pre-broadcast episode. It began its regular broadcast on September 10, 2008, and was streamed online bi-weekly on Mondays. The radio show is hosted by Kimiko Koyama
and Shizuka Itō
, who voiced Melilot and Herena in the visual novel, and is produced by Onsen.
comic strip
manga adaptation was serialized in ASCII Media Works
' bishōjo
magazine Dengeki Hime
between the December 2007 and October 2008 issues sold on October 30, 2007 and August 30, 2008, respectively. The story of the manga is based on the visual novel, despite it not having been released yet, and was illustrated by Japanese
illustrator
Kotamaru, who has also contributed to the art in the game. A second manga adaptation was serialized irregularly between the April 2008 and August 2008 issues of Dengeki Daioh
, published by ASCII Media Works on February 21 and June 21, 2008, respectively, and concluded with four chapters. The second manga was illustrated by Jin Arima, and unlike the first manga which is inspired from the visual novel, the story of the second manga's story is instead based on the game's storyline. A one-shot manga chapter was also serialized in the adult
magazine Megastore on May 17, 2008. The manga chapter was drawn by Yasushi Kawakami, and contained adult content not found in the other two manga adaptations. A fourth manga adaptation entitled Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! began serialization in Dengeki Daioh July 2009 issue on May 27, 2009, and is illustrated by Hijiki.
, after which the game was again placed as the most pre-ordered title in Japan for two consecutive months.
Japanese popular culture
Japanese popular culture not only reflects the attitudes and concerns of the present but also provides a link to the past. Japanese cinema, cuisine, television programs, manga, and music all developed from older artistic and literary traditions, and many of their themes and styles of presentation...
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 Lillian, and was originally released as an adult game
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
on September 26, 2008. The game is described by the development team as a . The gameplay in Twinkle Crusaders follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters.
Twinkle Crusaders has also been adapted into four manga adaptations: a four-panel
Yonkoma
thumb|right|150px|Traditional Yonkoma layout, a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
adaptation was serialized in the bishōjo
Bishojo
is a Japanese term used to refer to young and pretty girls, usually below university age. Bishōjo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kōjien...
magazine Dengeki Hime
Dengeki Hime
is a Japanese magazine published monthly by ASCII Media Works publishing information mainly on adult visual novels. The magazine started as a special issue of the now discontinued Dengeki Oh in 1997, and in 2001 it became its own entity. Originally, it held information on boys love series but...
, a second adaptation was serialized irregularly in Dengeki Daioh
Dengeki Daioh
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...
and concluded with four chapters, an adult
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
one-shot manga chapter was published in the adult magazine Megastore, and a fourth adaptation entitlted Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! was serialized in Dengeki Daioh.
Gameplay
Twinkle Crusaders gameplayGameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
has a very long dialogs and conversations. Often mix with jokes and humor from the cast. In each certain date, the player can decided to pick a heroine to talk with which was connected to the following conversations. There are also easter eggs hidden in the game which is during a certain date in real time. This such as a character's birthday event or an occasion. There also battle scenes which seem to be simply but required with some luck and is required to continued the progress of the story.
Principal characters
The player assumes the role of , the protagonist of Twinkle Crusaders. Shin is the student council president of , a position which he thought is given free meals from the cafeteria, as he has been raised in a poor family and is in need of money. Unfortunately there's no such thing as a free meal. , one of the five heroines, is Shin's lively childhood friend. Nanaka actually has a crush on Shin, and has been following him around since little, as far as enrolling into the same school and joining the student council due to such reason. She has an affection towards sweet confectioneries, and is the president of the sweets club at school. She holds a grudge against the president of the wagashi(Japanese Sweets) Club Akane Misasagi(御陵彩錦).While the sweets club receives no budget from the school and not even recognized as a proper club, Misasagi's wagashi club have "wagashi for thought" and was recognized as a club(through only in name)., another heroine, is a first year student and is the student council's secretary. Despite her attempts to hide that she's actually an angel, it is generally known to the other characters, unbeknownst to her.Contradicting to her looks and her voice, she's a real foul-mouth thorough without any malicious intention.
She has her buttler リースリング遠山 in some battles.
Twinkle Crusaderss third heroine, , is the student council's vice-president. Misa thinks of Shin as a rival, and always challenges him despite always ending up in second, falling behind Shin.She's especially annoyed about losing the election which Shin won by chance. She has her cousin Shion Asukai(飛鳥井紫苑)(who actually calls her "姉上(Big Sister)") as her assistant in some battles.
, the fourth heroine in Twinkle Crusaders, is a clumsy and soft-spoken third year student. Ria serves as an adviser to the student council due to her past experience as the student council president. She has an affection towards wagashi
Wagashi
is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, azuki bean paste, and fruits.Wagashi is typically made from natural ingredients...
, and participates in the wagashi club at school.She's also the younger sister of the current chief director
Helena (ヘレナ) who was in the current student council's shoes when she was a student. Helana assists Ria is some battles. The final heroine in Twinkle Crusaders is , a second year student who transferred into Shin's class in the middle of the story. Azel is very quiet and has a cold attitude towards others. She does not participate in any school activities, and like Shin, comes from a poor family.
Development
Twinkle Crusaders was first announced as the first project to be developed by the visual novel developer Lillian in the Japanese bishōjo magazine Tech Gian, on November 21, 2006. Art direction and character designs were provided by Rei Kannagi and Kotamaru who assisted Kannagi in the process. While the scenario in the game was worked on by Shigeta and Hideto Mayura, with Hozumi Nakamoto who provided assistance in the preparation of the story. The music in the game was composed entirely by Amedio. With the exception of Hozumi Nakamoto, the entire development team has previously worked on previous titles developed by Pajamas Soft, such as Prism ArkPrism Ark
is a Japanese erotic video game and the sequel of Prism Heart developed by Pajamas Soft. Its first release was on August 25, 2006. This work contains adult-only content of a sexual nature....
.
Release history
Before the game's release, three game demoGame demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
s were distributed online at the visual novel's official website, while a separate demo were distributed at retail stores. The demos gave the player a glimpse into the characters and the story of the game, and also introduced the player to the gameplay system, typically the battle system used in the game. The full game was first released on September 26, 2008, as both a limited edition and a premium edition. The limited edition release included the game itself, an arrange album titled Kira-kira Sound Festival, an art collection by twelve different artists, and a clear plastic casing. The premium edition release included the extras found in the limited edition release along with a silver necklace, and is limited to one-thousand units. An all-ages version entitled Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! will be released for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
published by ASCII Media Works
ASCII Media Works
is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
on September 9, 2010, and will contain additional content not found in the original release,namely a new heroine and promoting a sub heroine to heroine status.
A release for windows 7 named Twinkled Crusader Remaster will be out on 24 June 2010, since this will be released before Twinkled Crusaders GoGo!,
it will not contain the extra content from it.
Internet radio show
An internet radioInternet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
show to promote the Twinkle Crusaders, titled was first streamed online on August 27, 2008 as a pre-broadcast episode. It began its regular broadcast on September 10, 2008, and was streamed online bi-weekly on Mondays. The radio show is hosted by Kimiko Koyama
Kimiko Koyama
is a female seiyū. She was born in Tokushima, Japan.-Notable voice roles:*Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ - Natsuki Komiya*Asura Cryin' - Reiko Saeki*Asura Cryin' 2 - Reiko Saeki*Doujin Work - Sōra Kitano*Gokujou Seitokai - Maachi Hisakawa...
and Shizuka Itō
Shizuka Ito
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is currently represented by Ken Production. When voicing adult games, she is also known as , , , , or .Itō and fellow voice actress Hitomi Nabatame formed a voice acting unit called "Hitomi Nabatame and Shizuka Itō"...
, who voiced Melilot and Herena in the visual novel, and is produced by Onsen.
Manga
Before the game's release, a four-panelYonkoma
thumb|right|150px|Traditional Yonkoma layout, a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
manga adaptation was serialized in ASCII Media Works
ASCII Media Works
is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
' bishōjo
Bishojo
is a Japanese term used to refer to young and pretty girls, usually below university age. Bishōjo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kōjien...
magazine Dengeki Hime
Dengeki Hime
is a Japanese magazine published monthly by ASCII Media Works publishing information mainly on adult visual novels. The magazine started as a special issue of the now discontinued Dengeki Oh in 1997, and in 2001 it became its own entity. Originally, it held information on boys love series but...
between the December 2007 and October 2008 issues sold on October 30, 2007 and August 30, 2008, respectively. The story of the manga is based on the visual novel, despite it not having been released yet, and was illustrated by Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
illustrator
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Kotamaru, who has also contributed to the art in the game. A second manga adaptation was serialized irregularly between the April 2008 and August 2008 issues of Dengeki Daioh
Dengeki Daioh
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...
, published by ASCII Media Works on February 21 and June 21, 2008, respectively, and concluded with four chapters. The second manga was illustrated by Jin Arima, and unlike the first manga which is inspired from the visual novel, the story of the second manga's story is instead based on the game's storyline. A one-shot manga chapter was also serialized in the adult
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
magazine Megastore on May 17, 2008. The manga chapter was drawn by Yasushi Kawakami, and contained adult content not found in the other two manga adaptations. A fourth manga adaptation entitled Twinkle Crusaders GoGo! began serialization in Dengeki Daioh July 2009 issue on May 27, 2009, and is illustrated by Hijiki.
Reception and sales
From mid-February to mid-March, the limited edition of Twinkle Crusaders was the eighth most pre-ordered title, according to a Japanese national ranking of PC games. It was then ranked as the most pre-ordered title in Japan from mid-March to mid-April, the fifth from mid-April to mid-May. The game was also the second most pre-ordered game from mid-May to mid-June, only falling behind Little Busters! EcstasyLittle Busters!
is a Japanese visual novel developed by Key which was originally released, rated for everyone as a limited edition version, on July 27, 2007 playable on a Windows PC; a regular edition, also rated for everyone, followed on September 28, 2007. Little Busters! is Key's sixth game, along with other...
, after which the game was again placed as the most pre-ordered title in Japan for two consecutive months.