Gift (2005 video game)

Did You Know?

• The gameplay involves decision points with two to three choices, and the player must replay the game multiple times to see all five heroine routes.
• The PC release of Gift ranked No. 2 in sales on Getchu.com for May 2005, behind Princess Witches.
• The fan disc Gift Rainbow-colored Stories ranked first on Getchu.com in January 2006.

Plot

Gift is set in the town of Narasakicho, where a rainbow always hangs in the sky and every inhabitant possesses a power called Gift. This ability can be used once per lifetime to grant a single miracle, but only if the feelings of giver and receiver are mutual; otherwise, the Gift distorts and causes chaos, marked by a black streak in the rainbow. The story begins when Haruhiko Amami's younger sister Riko Fukimine returns after years away, stirring up past emotions and changing his life rapidly.

Characters

Haruhiko Amami, voiced by Yūki Tai in the PS2 and anime, is the protagonist and a second-year student at Shimano Gakuen. He is the childhood friend of Kirino Konosaka and the older brother of Riko Fukimine, though they are not blood-related. Haruhiko is blunt and enjoys teasing Kirino, and he believes Gift is a beneficial power because he owes his life to it. His mother Haru Amami created Gift on the day he was born, and to remove the Gifts of Riko and Kirino, he must eliminate the source—the rainbow—which costs him his life temporarily. Riko Fukimine, voiced by Ai Shimizu in the PS2 and anime, is Haruhiko's sister in name only; they are the same age and in the same class. She joined his family in third grade and later left for several years, returning because she is in love with him. Kirino Konosaka, voiced by Ui Miyazaki in the PS2 and anime, is Haruhiko's childhood friend and neighbor. She is a timid first-year student who often wakes him up and makes breakfast, and she is in love with him despite his teasing. Rinka Hokazono is another heroine, voiced by Shiho Kawaragi in the PS2 and anime.

Development and release

Koizumi Hotaru managed production of Gift, with cooperation from Lantis. Character designs were by Mitha, Koma Miyama, and Misuzu Takano, while art was illustrated by Amerika Tamugi, Yuu Touka, and Karuya Yuka. Shigezo Tsuchiyama handled programming, and Kure worked as scenario planner. The limited edition was released on May 27, 2005, as a DVD for Windows, followed by a regular edition on June 10, 2005, and a CD-ROM version on December 16, 2005. A fan disc, Gift Rainbow-colored Stories, came out on January 27, 2006. The PlayStation 2 version, Gift: Prism, was released on October 19, 2006, with adult content removed and three additional heroines; it was later re-released at a lower price on August 9, 2007. An iOS edition of the PS2 version appeared on April 16, 2009, and a PlayStation Portable version by CyberFront on February 2, 2012.

Adaptations

A five-part illustrated story series ran in Dengeki Hime from February to June 2005, each focusing on a different heroine. A five-volume light novel series by Mako Komao, with illustrations by multiple artists, was published by Harvest from December 25, 2005, to May 1, 2006. A separate light novel, Gift Prism: Over the Rainbow, was published by Kadokawa Shoten on November 7, 2006. The manga adaptation, Gift: Under the Rainbow, illustrated by Yukiwo, was serialized in Comptiq from January 10, 2006, to February 10, 2007, and collected in two tankōbon volumes. Two art books were published: Gift First Fan Book by Broccoli in May 2005, and Gift Artworks by MediaWorks on August 1, 2006. Lantis released a vocal mini album on July 7, 2005, and an original soundtrack for the fan disc on January 12, 2006. Two anime albums were published: a character song mini album and an original soundtrack on January 24, 2007. Five drama CDs, one per heroine, were released from September 22, 2005, to February 22, 2006. Two Internet radio shows, Gift Rainbow Station and Gift Rainbow Homeroom, aired from 2005 to 2006.