Koihime Musō
A gender-swapped retelling of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Koihime Musō is a series of Japanese adult visual novels and strategy video games primarily developed and published by BaseSon for Windows, based on the classic 14th century Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. The first game was developed by BaseSon and first released on January 26, 2007, for Windows as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM. The series has made transitions to other media, including a manga adaptation and an anime adaptation produced by Doga Kobo that began broadcasting on July 8, 2008.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action, comic fantasy
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The game is set in ancient China during and after the fall of the Han dynasty, with most male characters from the novel reimagined as female. The Three Kingdoms have already been established, each ruled by an independent monarchy that remains nominally loyal to the Han empire. As the empire collapses, civil unrest, banditry, and infighting spread. Major factions emerge: the Shoku faction led by Kazuto Hongō (and later Queen Ryūbi), the Gi faction led by Queen Sōsō, the Go faction led by Princess Sonken (and later Queen Sonsaku), the Tōtaku faction led by Governess Tōtaku, and the En/Yuan faction led by Lady Enshō. A sequel adds the Yellow Turban Rebels led by the Zhang sisters and the Southern Barbarians led by Mōkaku.
Development
Koihime Musō is BaseSon's fifth game, arriving after their debut title One2: Eien no Yakusoku. K. Baggio directed and planned the project, also co-writing the scenario with Izumi Kumashiro, Takuya Aoyama, Assault, and Shiina Arai. Five artists split art direction and character designs: Kanan Yatsuha, Kantaka, Hinata Katagiri, Eiji Hikage, and Hokuto Saeki. The music team comprised Takumaru, Ryō Mizutsuki, and Ichinoryū Uehara.
Release
Koihime Musō was first released on January 26, 2007, for Windows as two DVD-ROMs, with a re-release on April 11, 2008, that included an extra fandisc titled Sheishei Musō. An all-ages PlayStation 2 port developed by Yeti and published by Regista followed on October 30, 2008. An enhanced re-release, Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Ryōran Sangokushi Engi, came out on December 26, 2008. An English translation by MangaGamer was released on February 28, 2011. A web-browser MMO, Web Koihime Musō, launched on December 7, 2010, allowing players to control generals from the Shin Koihime Musō cast. Further games include Shin Koihime Musō: Moe Shōden (July 23, 2010), and the Kakumei trilogy beginning with Shin Koihime Musō – Kakumei: Sōten no Haou on June 28, 2017, followed by the second part in 2018 and the third in 2019. A DX version with restored voices was sold through Jlist.com in June 2012 in partnership with MangaGamer.
Media
A manga adaptation by Yayoi Hizuki began serialization in Dengeki G's Festival! Comic on April 26, 2008. An anime adaptation produced by Doga Kobo started broadcasting on July 8, 2008, on Tokyo MX and Chiba TV. The anime differs from the visual novel: protagonist Kazuto Hongō is absent, and the story follows Kan'u's journey through China. An OVA set in a modern high school was released on April 1, 2009. A second season, Shin Koihime Musō, aired from October 5, 2009, and a third season, Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Tairan, began in April 2010. Sentai Filmworks licensed all three seasons in North America, releasing the first on DVD on January 4, 2011, the second on March 1, 2011, and the third on May 24, 2011. The visual novel has four main theme songs: promotion theme "Sōten no Mukō e" by ☆396☆, opening "Hφwling Sφul" by Rekka Katakiri, insert "Kuon: Utakata" by Chata, and ending "Shizai Senri: Koihime Yobite Hyakka no Ō to Nasu" also by Chata, all composed by Takumaru with lyrics by K. Bajjo.
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