Tokimeki Memorial (video game)

Did You Know?

• Tokimeki Memorial sold 1.1 million copies by 1996.
• The game was voted the 23rd favorite video game of all time in a 2006 reader poll by Japanese magazine Famitsu.
• A video essay by Tim Rogers helped the game become more well-known in English-speaking communities.

Gameplay

The player controls a male freshman at Kirameki High School. The game features a bomb mechanic: neglected girls become angry and gossip, lowering love meters across the board. As the number of known girls increases, bombs become the primary concern, requiring careful planning such as round-robin dating. Players select responses when prompted by characters. Twelve icons on the left side of the screen, divided into six rows of two, represent commands the player can perform.

Development

The dating simulator genre was preceded by the raising simulation genre, best exemplified by Gainax's Princess Maker series. Writer Koji Igarashi received assistance from his then-girlfriend, later his wife, who advised him on writing the story while he played Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, the game she was working on. Igarashi requested not to work on a sequel and was allowed to work on the next Castlevania game instead. The developers aimed to evoke high school memories; Konami director Akihiko Nagata stated the creator wanted experiences like those from his high school days.

Release and promotion

Pre-release response to the game was one of shock and surprise, as dating games were considered poor quality while Konami was known for hardcore games like Gradius, and there was prejudice against bishōjo-styled games. Tokimeki Memorial first released on May 27, 1994 for the PC Engine. The PlayStation version, Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You, released on October 13, 1995 as a limited edition that received many pre-orders; the game became more popular after this release. The Super Famicom port, released on February 29, 1996, had reduced graphic and sound quality, with voice clips only during loading; it included an exclusive CD with a radio drama and a new arrangement of the ending theme sung by most of the girls. A fan translation of this version was released in March 2022. The Sega Saturn version released on July 19, 1996. In 1999, two Game Boy Color versions were released, dividing ten characters between them and adding three new winnable characters; these versions included a Beatmania mini-game, Super Game Boy compatibility, a screen saver mode, and a two-player versus minigame. A sequel released the same year.

Reception

In an early review in Dengeki PC-Engine, Keima Iwasaki noted the game may appear a simple raising game but highlighted the huge number of events, varied mini-games, and depth of gameplay. Three of four reviewers in Dengeki PC-Engine called it the best release of the month, praising its control and depth; one reviewer lost track of time playing, while another noted the only drawback was the long save time. Reviewing the PlayStation version, the four reviewers of Weekly Famitsu complimented its addictive qualities and subtle character reactions; one reviewer praised the larger number of events and improved graphics.