Rewrite (visual novel)

Infobox VG
title= Rewrite


caption=
developer= Key
publisher= Visual Art's
released=
genre= Visual novel
modes= Single-player
ratings=
platforms= PC
media=
requirements=
input= Nihongo|"Rewrite"|リライト|Riraito is a Japanese visual novel being developed by the visual novel company Key that will be a DVD playable on a Microsoft Windows PC. "Rewrite" is Key's seventh game, along with other titles such as "Kanon", "Air", and "Clannad". The gameplay in "Rewrite" follows a plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the three female main characters. As indicated by the title, rewriting is the theme of the game's scenario, and the basis of the story is set in a high school setting. The tagline for the game is, Nihongo|"Could it possibly be rewritten, that fate of hers?"|書き換えることが出来るだろうか。彼女の、その運命を。|Kakikaeru koto ga dekiru darō ka. Kanojo no, sono unmei o..

Gameplay

"Rewrite"'s gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the duration of the game is spent simply reading the text that appears on the screen which represents either dialogue between the various characters or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Every so often, the player will come to a point where he or she is given the chance to choose from multiple options. The time between these points is variable and can occur anywhere from a minute to much longer. Gameplay pauses at these points and depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress in a specific direction. There are three main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, one for each of the heroines in the story. To view all three plot lines, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and make different decisions to progress the plot in an alternate direction.

Premise

"Rewrite" is set in the fictional Nihongo|Kazamatsuri City|風祭市|Kazamatsuri-shi where treeplanting and afforestation have caused the city to become overgrown with trees and flowers in much the same way that other cities are filled by buildings. While set in a modern setting, the city also gives off a strange sense of nostalgia. The basis of the story is set in a high school setting, and the main characters attend one of two high schools featured in "Rewrite"; two of the heroines attend the same school. The first half of "Rewrite" primarily consists of the characters interacting in many everyday, enjoyable scenes. The latter half, however, is more serious, emotional, and carries a sense of mystery to the plot. The main heroine is named Nihongo|Kotori|小鳥.

Development

Itaru Hinoue, normally only working on the art and character design for Key visual novels, heads the project's planning. During the time when Key was developing "", Hinoue had more free time since she was just helping Fumio with the character design, [citeweb|url= http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/tomoyo/|title=Key's official "Tomoyo After" website|publisher=Key| accessdate=2007-03-18|language=Japanese] [citeweb|url=http://erogamescape.ddo.jp/~ap2/ero/toukei_kaiseki/game.php?game=5986|title="Tomoyo After" staff information|publisher=ErogameScape|accessdate=2007-06-08|language=Japanese] and that is when Hinoue got the initial idea for "Rewrite".citation|title=Rewrite Staff Interview|periodical=Dengeki G's Magazine|publisher=ASCII Media Works|issue=November 2008|language=Japanese] Despite Key having the two artists Hinoue and Na-Ga as co-art directors with their sixth game "Little Busters!",citeweb|url=http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/little/products.htm|title=Products section at Little Busters!' official website|publisher=Key|accessdate=2008-06-09|language=Japanese] Key went back to having Hinoue as the sole art director and character designer,citeweb|url= http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/rewrite.html| title="Rewrite"'s official website|publisher=Key| accessdate=2008-06-09|language=Japanese] as was with Key's first three games "Kanon", "Air", and "Clannad". [citeweb|url=http://erogamescape.ddo.jp/~ap2/ero/toukei_kaiseki/game.php?game=187|title="Kanon" staff information|publisher= ErogameScape|accessdate=2008-06-09|language=Japanese] [citeweb|url=http://erogamescape.ddo.jp/~ap2/ero/toukei_kaiseki/game.php?game=84|title="Air" staff information|publisher=ErogameScape|accessdate=2008-06-09|language= Japanese] [citeweb|url= http://erogamescape.ddo.jp/~ap2/ero/toukei_kaiseki/game.php?game=3454|title= "Clannad" staff information| publisher=ErogameScape|accessdate=2008-06-09|language=Japanese] However, Na-Ga assists with the computer graphics, along with Shinory, Mochisuke, and Minimo Tayama. Background art is headed by Torino, who has worked previously with Key during the production of their first three games.citeweb|url=http://airfun.fc2web.com/staff.html|title=Key-Tactics staff information|accessdate=2008-09-18|language=Japanese] The school uniforms for the heroines in the game are old designs that Hinoue created and used in "dōjinshi" (self-published work) before.

For work on the scenario, Key has employed Ryukishi07 of 07th Expansion, the creators of the "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" game franchise, and Romeo Tanaka, known for his work on "" and "Cross Channel"; Yūto Tonokawa returns after his help on the scenario for "Little Busters!". Hinoue nominated Tanaka for the scenario staff after she played "Cross Channel" and became a fan of his work, and Tanaka drew up the entire scenario framework. For Ryukishi07, the Visual Art's president suggested around autumn 2007 that Key ask him to join the scenario staff for "Rewrite". The music in the game will be composed by Key's signature composers Jun Maeda and Shinji Orito. Maeda will also contribute as the quality controller for the game.

References

External links

* [http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/rewrite.html "Rewrite" official website] ja icon