Tokimeki Memorial - ~ Only Love ~

(Originally posted on Sunday, 25 May 2008)

• The recent weather, and recent events, reminded me again of this post:
• What -is- tokimeki ?

---

Tokimeki Memorial - ~ Only Love ~ OP Theme (TV Size)

Just started watching this anime 'Tokimeki', which I received from my friend as early back as February 2008. It has to be said that I haven't enjoyed myself this much in the same way since... probably more than 5 (five) years ago since the days of Hanaukyo Maids (*begins prostrating in deep reverence*)

Tokimeki: Heartbeat, Palpitations, Throbbing, Excitement... that feeling one gets when looking at or being close to someone one really likes (like, a crush)

 

It's an anime, set in school times which brings back memories of nostalgic schoolyard romances (or rather, in many cases, what could have happened T_T )

So........... what's the premise of the story? 

 

Ah... And so we have here again the recurring theme in numerous animes: A regular guy holding so much appeal for the girls to all gravitate towards him.

It's truly a mystery why this could even happen, as he appears to have no special qualities at all apart from holding so much appeal for the girls to all gravitate towards him. I still can't figure out the reason, could somebody help me out with this one please.

 
 

This inexplicable, yet incredibly irresistible attraction force invariably gives rise to chance misunderstandings whereby you bite your nails in anxiety whether this instance will cause the male lead to get the 'general bad ending' where he ends up with none of the girls in the end -- often in a scene looking up into the sky and narrating some boring monologue. More importantly, this means that, when that happens, apart from that profound sky scene, no memorable images are forthcoming.

  

Anyway, for those of you who are wondering, this anime is tastefully SFW (Safe For Work) folks, it's an official release by the same people who brought to you the genre of 'love simulations'... the famed video game maker Konami. Sorry to disappoint you, gomen ne...

The much desired (or dreaded) bento of Love

  

And what exactly then does one do in school life?

Let me see... first of all, one has to study hard to match up to all the hopes and dreams that one's parents have so earnestly vested (and monetarily invested) in one's goodself, and take exams.

But of course 26 episodes to detail out all that would meet with lukewarm response so what is featured in this anime is interaction between friends.. friendships, rivalries (oooh) fights of animated violence and so on... and 'events', which involve at least one of

 

i. going to the beach (waaaa...... umi ~!!!)

ii. going camping in the rural mountains (where some truth or dare type game inevitably leaves a couple (the male lead and one of the selection of comely anime girls) stranded all alone by themselves

iii. the hot springs (where the boys & girls are separated by just a bamboo wall in the pool)

 

or all of the above, which expedite the occurence of 'RABU-RABU' (LOVE LOVE) situations... ohoho...

And of course, join clubs, competitions, and organize activities.

 

But come on, who hasn't joined a club, activities, or helped to organize club activities, for the motive of furthering self-development at the same time forming lasting friendships? ...

 

...

 

Let me rephrase that: Who hasn't joined a club for the sole motive of facilitating the getting close to a certain girl(s)?

 

So for all you lucky kids who are still insulated from the rigours of adult situations (like paying the bills and doing the taxes) in the institution called school ... Remember children... we will regret the things we did not do more than the things we did do (and subsequently regretted.)

 

Sore ja, minna-san, tokimeki kioku yoku tsukurimashou ne ~

Well, everybody... Make yourself some exciting memories ~ ^_~

    

 

Jikai yokoku (Preview of Next Episode) 

Mina: I've never gotten wet before... (watashi... nureta koto nai desu kedo...)   Hiromi: ...Ehhhhh?   Mina: It seems like the rain avoids me, so it doesn't rain around me...

 

Next Episode:

Jikai: ときめきの雨

tokimeki no ame
Excitement in the Rain.

 

O-tanoshimi ni ~

Why Raise Stats?

(Originally posted on Friday, 28 March 2008)
Notes to the Repopulation Edition:

• It's been a long time already since this post was first written... and now the first two videos are no longer available on Youtube. However, the ever-loving me has thoughtfully saved the representative screenshots of each, which still exist, for your convenient viewing benefit ;D

Now, on with the show!

---

All that talk about stats in the previous post brings me today to the topic of:
 

Love Simulations.

Yes my friends, today I am going to talk to you about that which is also affectionately known as dating sims.
However, the one that I am going to introduce to you today is not one that most of you are familiar with ... (of course, I could be wrong on that.)
Something you might not have known even existed... until today...

Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side PV

ときめきメモリアル Girls Side 2nd Kiss タイピング OP

This is by respected game publisher Konami, which has produced a lot of mainstream mega hit video games, series with remarkable longevity throughout all these years - a mean feat for video game company.

 

Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side and its sequel - Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side: 2nd Kiss. The natural consequence from a genre initially started off for guys, from this you know that it was very well received in Japan... it spawned a host of other merchandise such as soundtracks, albums, memorabilia etc. which sell like hot cakes.

 

So what is the premise of the game? Not a big departure from its prequels tailored for guys - the main character (you!! Yess you!!) has entered the first year of (senior) high school. So it happens that in this three years of halcyon school life, you have to net a catch and upon graduation have one of them confess his undying love to you. Of course, you could remain single and concentrate on your studies like every good student is supposed to.. in which case you get the general bad ending where you end up with no one (you might get the ending where your kid brother shows up to console you, though) and is definitely not the reason why you bought the game (or spent all those hours playing it.)

 

So, having said that, what choice(s) do you have?

 

First of all of course is the catch - good in everything and handsome but very lansi (arrogant) one... usually with his own fan club among the girls in the school *KIRA KIRA smile of sparkling teeth sends said girls into uncontrollable pirouettes of ecstacy bordering on epileptic*

 

Oh, he also has the fortituous attribute of being either your early childhood friend... or your next-door neighbour... who for some reason you haven't kept in contact with for ages... and bump into on the first day in school. But rejoice not too early, for this does not help much your case in staking your exclusive claim on him...

 

Of course then there's the sporty type who's no good in studies, the bespectacled bookish type for those who are into that, the rebel who's no good in school but usually a musician... the artsy-fartsy type who places a lot of importance on elegance (goes into affected monologue on the divine beauty of a certain subject matter) ... and the underclassman (kakyuusei 下級生 【かきゅうせい】) of bubbly cuteness for those of you ladies with shotacon* fetishes (i.e. cradle-snatchers. xD )

 

You can also choose to end up with the headmaster (the mustachioed guy in the video, described by one walkthrough as the hentai geezer) ... I wonder why would anyone choose to from their own free will. My, that's a disturbing thought. (Hold on, I need to disinfect my brain.)

 

The teacher, however, is rather cool though... Himuro Reiichi (Ice Room Zero-One) ... would appeal to girls who like mature guys (or those who like cold guys, too)

Here below is the ending with him. For those of you who want to practice your dialogue in Japanese.

 

Or even one of your girl friends... (No such option, though, in the guy's prequels to end up with your male best friend. Tell me why.)

 

Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Ending - Himuro Reiichi

 

So of course you're asking now... how do I know all of this?

 

Well I've (regretfully) never played this/(these) games before. All the dedicated hours required to achieve the desired ending with the desired guy (girl in my case) ... subsistence pastimes call. However, this all important website

   

www.gamefaqs.com Specifically, http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/game/934799.html

contains all the detailed walkthroughs that you need to win the heart of the guy of your dreams. In effect, telling you how to press his buttons - literally. For the Nintendo DS version of the game incorporates the added feature of "Skinship" (if I remember) where you can use the touchscreen to lovingly deliver your pixelated affection.

 

Seriously, guys never had it so good all in the (guy-dates-girl) prequels.

 

Now, the FAQs originate from this website, run by two Singaporean girls ( http://hanegasaki.piyo-piyo.org/about.php ) who played the game in such remarkable detail - even finishing the game with some of the characters that you'll never want to touch in real life (gotta disinfect your brain after that.) So here's a plug to their websites:

Utsukushiki Sekai    //. a tokimeki memorial girl's side walkthrough http://habataki.piyo-piyo.org/   Seaside Sketch //.    for tokimeki memorial girl's side second kiss. http://hanegasaki.piyo-piyo.org/

 

Rather interesting expositions they write there! :D

 

Okay children, this post would not be complete if I did not post a PV for the guys here (being the hot-blooded guy that I am, too... ^_^ )

Remember folks, always continue to raise stats for your loved one.
Until I hear from you again, ja... ~

Tokimeki Memorial 3 opening

 

*The female counterpart of lolicon, which is no obscure market as there are cafes in Tokyo with pretty boys dressed in school uniforms to cater to this expanding market (aging population of lonely single women in Japan... perhaps?)

The Two Things - About Raising Stats

(Originally posted on Friday, 28 March 2008)
Preface to the Repopulation Edition:

• This post is one in which I refer to the principle of the Two Things, although not the first time that I have referred to it (in more ancient blogs, I have, also).

• And definitely, find that this principle comes to mind, for a great many subject matters.

Now, on with the show!

---

Do everything that your self is screaming at you to not do. Do everything different from what you have done before.

I find myself doing as the above at certain points in time, for numerous times, already.

 

The tradeoff for this level of masochism is the long-term reusable benefits. The downside is that the stress stat increases.

 

Well as in all things that is the challenge in raising stats.

To decrease the stress stat, REST is needed.

 

---

Also, a long period of time is required to raise stats to an appreciable level - so as long as you're putting in all that you can, you can't be in a hurry to become owning.

 

The solution to that is to start as early as possible, rather than trying to force expedition of the process - which should be enjoyed as much as possible.

The good thing is that it you get better faster, the better you get. As a natural consequence.

---

About the "Two Things":

It is said that everything there is to know about anything can be distilled into two things - that will completely describe the whole of the subject matter.

For other examples an Internet search for the Two Things will do. Here I can instantly present you one though:

U Bill's Two Things about Human Motivation:

1. Survival.
2. Comfort.

Enumerated in descending order of precedence.

Indeed, these two things, for all animal life (including hamsters and earthworms.)




Again, the comment box:

Preston   - The two things.           |2008-05-29 19:05:09

hmmm..your "Two Things" reminds me of the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Without survivorship and comfort being secured, need not to mention the next level of needs or human motivation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs