Clear (video game)
A visual novel about a young man searching for connection and belonging on a rural island.
**Clear** (クリア, *Kuria*) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Moonstone. It first came out for Windows on August 24, 2007. A PlayStation 2 version followed on February 19, 2009, which removes all adult content and adds two new story routes. The story centers on Kōichi Yukino, a young man who feels disconnected and longs for a sense of belonging. He leaves the city and returns to Harukajima, the island where he was born. There, he uncovers more about his past and meets several girls with whom he forms deep connections.
The gameplay mostly involves reading dialogue and text that appears on screen. The player’s choices affect how the story unfolds. There are five main heroines the player can pursue romantically, each with her own route and ending. At the time of its release, *Clear* ranked as the third best-selling PC game in Japan. A manga adaptation, drawn by Yukiwo, was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s *Comp Ace*. A novel, two drama CDs, and a fan disc called *Clear Crystal Stories* were also released.
**Gameplay**
*Clear* is a romance visual novel where the player takes on the role of protagonist Kōichi Yukino. Most of the game involves reading dialogue and the protagonist’s inner thoughts, shown as text on screen. These are accompanied by character sprites over background art that represent whoever the player is speaking to. At certain points, the player reaches a “decision point” where multiple options appear; the choice made here influences the plot’s direction and the ending achieved.
There are five main story routes and endings—one for each heroine—plus one bad ending. After completing a heroine’s route, a playable afterstory for that character becomes available from the game’s menu. Once all routes are cleared, an additional epilogue unlocks, also accessible from the menu. Throughout the game, CG artwork sometimes replaces the character sprites and background art; the Windows version includes CGs depicting sexual intercourse. The PlayStation 2 version adds two new story routes for Hisame Arima and Yuzuru Kisaki.
**Plot**
**Setting and story**
The story mainly takes place on Harukajima, a small rural island off the coast of mainland Japan. It is known for its vivid natural scenery, beaches, and older infrastructure. A truss railway bridge connects the island to the mainland, and some bus services run between them.
- Developer
- Moonstone
- Platform
- Windows, PlayStation 2
- Release date (windows)
- August 24, 2007
- Release date (ps2)
- February 19, 2009
- Genre
- Romance visual novel
- Number of heroines
- 5 main (plus 2 added in PS2 version)
- Sales rank
- Third best-selling PC game in Japan at release
Lore & Background
Clear is the fifth title developed by Moonstone. Planning began in spring 2005 during production of the previous visual novel Gift, with scriptwriting starting in February 2006. The title was chosen to reflect the 'transparent wall' the protagonist feels between himself and others, symbolizing alienation. The production was overseen by Hotaru Koizumi, with planning and scenario writing by Kure, who aimed to create a protagonist with a strong personality rather than the typical bland bishōjo game lead. Artwork was handled by four artists: Mitha, Mamoru Naruse, Mīko Inagaki, and Endori, with Mitha designing main characters and Endori sub-characters. Music was composed by Angel Note.
The story is set on Harukajima, a small rural island connected to the mainland by a truss railway bridge. The protagonist, Kōichi Yukino, is a cynical, lazy young man who is actually a bloodsucking vampire. He returns to the island to find belonging, reuniting with childhood friend Miki Tsukimura and moving in with his grandfather Kangetsu. His younger stepsister Natsuki Yukino follows him, and both enroll at Kotogaoka Academy. The five main heroines are Natsuki, Miki, Nonoka Okamoto (a maid with amnesia), Haruno Motomachi (an apprentice shrine maiden), and Sayu Miyagino (a cheerful girl who uses ventriloquism with a doll). The PlayStation 2 version adds routes for Hisame Arima and Yuzuru Kisaki.
Reader's Guide
Clear holds significance as a commercially successful visual novel, ranking third in PC game sales in Japan at its release. It exemplifies the romance visual novel genre, where gameplay consists primarily of reading dialogue and making choices that affect plot progression and endings. The game features five main heroine routes plus a bad ending, with afterstories and an epilogue unlocked upon completion. Its Windows version includes adult content, while the PlayStation 2 port removes it and adds new routes, voice acting, and event CGs. The game's legacy includes a manga adaptation drawn by Yukiwo serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace, a novel, two drama CDs, and a fan disc titled Clear Crystal Stories. The development team's deliberate choice to give the protagonist a strong personality, contrasting with typical bishōjo game leads, and the thematic focus on alienation and belonging, contribute to its distinct place in Moonstone's catalog.
Did You Know?
- Clear was ranked as the third best-selling PC game in Japan at the time of its release.
- The protagonist Kōichi Yukino is a bloodsucking vampire, not an ordinary human.
- A fan disc called Clear Crystal Stories was released after the game.
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