HoneyComing

Infobox animanga/Header
name = HoneyComing


caption = "HoneyComing" original visual novel cover.
ja_name = ハニーカミング
ja_name_trans = HanīKamingu
genre = Drama, HaremInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Hook
illustrator = Ui Takano
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kadokawa Shoten
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Comptiq
first = January 10 2007
last = ongoing
volumes = 2Infobox animanga/Manga
author = Hook
illustrator = Yuki Kiriga
publisher = flagicon|Japan MediaWorks
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Dengeki G's Magazine "(former)"
Dengeki G's Festival! Comic
first = February 30 2007
last = ongoing
volumes = Infobox animanga/Game
developer = Hook
publisher = Hook (PC)
Kadokawa Shoten (PS2)
released = June 29 2007 (limited ed.)
August 24 2007 (regular ed.)
2009 (PS2)
genre = Eroge, Visual novel
ratings = 18+ (PC)
platforms = PC, PlayStation 2Infobox animanga/Novel
light = yes
author = Jōji Kamio
illustrator = Makako Matsumoto, Rakko
publisher = flagicon|Japan GoodsTrain
first = October 25 2007
last = ongoing
volumes = 2Infobox animanga/Novel
light = yes
author = Hack, Masamune Yotsuya
illustrator = Makako Matsumoto, Rakko
publisher = flagicon|Japan Harvest
first = December 1 2007
last = March 2008
volumes = 3Nihongo|"HoneyComing"|ハニーカミング|HanīKamingu is an adult Japanese visual novel developed by Hook which was released as a limited edition version on June 29 2007 playable on the PC as a DVD; a regular edition followed on August 24 2007. "HoneyComing" is Hook's sixth title, along with other games such as "Orange Pocket", and "_Summer". The gameplay in "HoneyComing" follows a plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters. The game offers three different modes to play it in: Amusement, Feeling, and Only One. Depending on which is chosen, the player will have a different experience. The story revolves around Kōichirō Ogata, a young man entering his first year of high school into a former all-girls school. However, at this school, there are still mandatory subjects taught on love and romance, much to the dislike of Kōichirō.

Before the game's release, a manga based on the story, drawn by Japanese artist Ui Takano, started serialization in the seinen magazine "Comptiq" on January 10 2007, published by Kadokawa Shoten. Another manga, this time a four-panel comic strip, drawn by Yuki Kiriga, was serialized in the bishōjo magazine "Dengeki G's Magazine" between February 2007 and January 2008, published by MediaWorks; the manga transferred to "Dengeki G's Festival! Comic" in April 2008. Five character song CDs entitled "First Impression", one for each of the five heroines, were released between December 2006, and April 2007. Two light novel series were adapted based on the game, the first written by Jōji Kamio and published by GoodsTrain while the second is written by Hack and Masamune Yotsuya and is published by Harvest.

Gameplay

The gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the duration of the game is spent on simply reading the text that will appear on the screen; this text represents either dialogue between the various characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point" where he or she is given the chance to choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time. During these times, gameplay pauses until a choice is made that furthers the plot in a specific direction, depending on which choice the player makes. There are five main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, one for each of the heroines in the story. In order to view the five plot lines to their entirety, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and choose different choices during the decision points in order to further the plot in an alternate direction.

The game begins with a choice of three modes: Amusement, Feeling, and Only One. Amusement Mode is intended for beginners where each of the heroines with have a favorable impression, and an icon on the screen shows the player how far in the game they have progressed. The Feeling Mode does not have an icon to show how far the player has progressed, and is seen as the typical setting for an adult visual novel. The last mode, Only One, starts with a selection for the player to choose one of the five heroines. Whichever girl the player chooses will determine which route the player will experience.

Plot

tory

"HoneyComing"'s story revolves around the protagonist Kōichirō Ogata, a male first-year high school student who does not have any interest in matters such as love or romance. The high school he is admitted to, named Nihongo|Aikyō Academy|愛嬌学園|Aikyō Gakuen, used to be an all-girl school formally named Nihongo|Aikyō Girl's Academy|愛嬌女学園|Aikyō Jogakuen, and still carries a high population of female students. He starts school with his childhood friend Asahi Kamijō, his younger sister-in-law Mio Ogata, and best male friend Masanori Shinozaki. Kōichirō eventually meets two more female upperclassmen from the same school named Clarissa Satsuki Maezono, and Yuma Shichiri, along with a female underclassman from an affiliated school named Marino Tagaya; Kōichirō becomes friends with them. Since the school used to only have female students, there are certain classes oriented towards girls which are still required to take, such as lessons on love and romance.

These lessons are known as Nihongo|"Love-making Lessons"|恋愛授業|Renai Jugyō, and students at Aikyō are required to take these classes on how to fall in love, and the ways of proper romance techniques. Each lesson, two people (of the opposite sex) pair up to make something, such as a meal for example, and they must form good communication if they intend to pass the test. There are also tests on practical skills which required note taking to later be studied for tests. During these lessons, students from Aikyō, and a nearby affiliated junior-high school, are combined for a total range of six grades from the lowest to the highest. Each time, forty new students from either school are chosen to taken part in a special class for the "Love-making Lessons". The students in the special class this year include: Kōichirō, Asahi, Clarissa, Mio, Yuma, Marino, Kaoru, Masanori, and Hiroko. Two teachers are assigned to this class: Ichigo Raidō (who is in charge of the boys), and Tsukasa Kurebayashi (who is in charge of the girls).

Characters

Main characters

;Nihongo|Kōichirō Ogata|緒方 光一郎|Ogata Kōichirō:Kōichirō is a first-year high school student and is the protagonist of the story. He lives in a four-person household with his father Hajime, his mother-in-law Minatsu, and his younger sister-in-law Mio; Mio is Minatsu's daughter, and is not related by blood with Kōichirō. Due to the relationship between his father and birth-mother, Kōichirō dislikes matters such as love or romance. Kōichirō's father wants to change this side of his son, so he enrolls him into Aikyō Academy because they teach lessons on love and romance. He dislikes sweet food.

;Nihongo|Asahi Kamijō|上条 朝陽|Kamijō Asahi:anime voices|Kyōko Hirano:Asahi is Kōichirō's childhood friend, and is the same age as him; since they have known each other for a long time, she likes to address him as Nihongo|"Kō"|コウ. She has a strong personality, however she is sometimes shown to be shy. Unlike Kōichirō, she is very interested in love and romance, and gets excited about the lessons at Aikyō about them. Again in contrast to Kōichirō, she loves sweet food, especially chocolate, so much so that Kōichirō sometimes refers to Asahi as a "chocolate junkie".

;Nihongo|Clarissa Satsuki Maezono|前園・クラリッサ・皐|Maezono Kurarissa Satsuki:anime voices|Ichigo Momoi:Clarissa, or simply Nihongo|"Clair"|クレア|Kurea, is a second-year student at Aikyō. Her father is Italian and her mother is Japanese, making her half Italian, and half Japanese. A year before the story began, Clarissa's grandmother on her mother's side was sick and Clarissa and her family moved back to Japan from Italy. She has a gentle personality accentuating through her kind heart and speech patterns. Due to this, she is seen as an idol at school and around her neighborhood. She is in the Gardening Club, and will often help out at the local senior citizen's home as a volunteer.

;Nihongo|Mio Ogata|緒方 未央|Ogata Mio:anime voices|Mio Ōkawa:Mio is Kōichirō younger sister-in-law, not related by blood, but since their age difference is not by much, she is also a first-year student at Aikyō, and is in Kōichirō's class. She has a small build, is short, and has a quiet personality. She is a delicate person, and is known to be a crybaby. She loves her brother very much, and will often go to great lengths to please him. She is in the Drama Club at school.

;Nihongo|Yuma Shichiri|七里 由馬|Shichiri Yuma:anime voices|Riko Koide:Yuma is a third-year student at Aikyō. Despite Aikyō transitioning to a school with both male and female students, Yuma still embraces the school as an all-girls school, and is seen as an upper-class type of girl. However, she loves the lesser expensive food of the working class, and is known to be quite a glutton in this respect. She is always reserved, and expressionless, though when she wants to talk, she will often speak with a wicked tongue. Yuma is in the Naginatajutsu Club, and is very skilled at the sport.

;Nihongo|Marino Tagaya|多賀谷 麻里乃|Tagaya Marino:anime voices|Yō Ochi:Marino is a third-year student at an affiliated junior-high school of Aikyō's. She was once the daughter of a rich man, but her father's business eventually went bankrupt. Due to this, she has taken a part-time job so she does not have to willingly live in poverty. She still has pride for her upbringing, and will add Nihongo|"-desu wa"|～ですわ at the end of some of her sentences. Her school's students are combined into Aikyō's love and romance lessons, of which she is an unwilling participant; this is because she has androphobia, a fear of men.

upporting characters

;Nihongo|Hajime Ogata|緒方 肇|Ogata Hajime:Hajime is Kōichirō's father. He is the manager of a small company, and returns home early most of the time. Unlike his son, Hajime can go on and on about how wonderful love and romance is, and he wants his son to be the same way; Kōichirō just treats him like an annoyance when he is like this, which is almost all the time. If he is in a quarrel, or gets excited, he yells very loudly, which is something the neighborhood has grown accustomed to.

;Nihongo|Minatsu Ogata|緒方 美夏|Ogata Minatsu:anime voices|Shino Kujō:Minatsu is Mio's mother, and Kōichirō's mother-in-law after his father remarried. She often gets mistaken for Mio's older sister due to her young appearance. Kōichirō and Mio were still very young when the Minatsu married Hajime.

;Nihongo|Masanori Shinozaki|篠崎 政則|Shinozaki Masanori:Masanori is Kōichirō's best male friend, and is a fellow first-year student at Aikyō. He is a skinhead and has a strong build. Due to this, he appears as though he would fit in with the Japanese Yakuza, but he is just impulsive by nature. He has a younger sister named Koyori that he dots on constantly due to his sister complex and lolicon behavior.

;Nihongo|Koyori Shinozaki|篠崎 こより|Shinozaki Koyori:anime voices|Aoi Kamizugi:Koyori is Masanori's younger sister. She does not like her brother at all and thinks of him as if he were trash.

;Nihongo|Kaoru Nakanishi|中西 薫|Nakanishi Kaoru:anime voices|Yukari Aoyama:Kaoru, like Masanori, is a good friend of Kōichirō. He has a small build and has a reserved personality, and many of the girls at school think he is cute.

;Nihongo|Ichigo Raidō|雷堂 苺|Raidō Ichigo:"Voiced by:" Izumi Maki:Ichigo is Kōichirō's homeroom teacher and is in charge of the lessons on love and romance for Kōichirō's class; she heads the boys in such lessons. When she gets angry, her speech becomes rude, and with wield a naginata; she is a very enthusiastic teacher. Since Yume is in the Naginatajutsu Club, Ichigo often advises her on the sport.

;Nihongo|Tsukasa Kurebayashi|紅林 司|Kurebayashi Tsukasa:anime voices|Marino Kawashi:Tsukasa is another teacher at Aikyō Academy, and is also in charge of the lessons on love and romance for Kōichirō's class; he heads the girls in such lessons. He appears to be female, but almost all the students know he is male. He is always seen wearing traditional female Japanese-style clothing. He differs from Ichigo in that Tsukasa has a calm personality. Tsukasa often gives advice to Mio in the Drama Club.

;Nihongo|Hiroko Yano|矢野 弘子|Yano Hiroko:anime voices|Sakura Fubuki:Hiroko is Marino's roommate in the women's dormitory, and is her close friend. She wears glasses, and is a plain member of the working class. Hiroko and Marino often call each other Nihongo|"Maririn"|まりりん, and Nihongo|"Piroko"|ぴろ子 as terms of endearment.

;Nihongo|Ryōko Sumeragi|皇城 椋子|Sumeragi Ryōko:anime voices|Yukari Aoyama:Ryōko is a girl in the same class as Clarissa. She has a bright, vigorous personality. Without knowing exactly why, Ryōko finds herself thinking about Clarissa often.

;Nihongo|Mana Tagaya|多賀谷 真奈|Tagaya Mana:anime voices|Marino Kawashi:Mana is Marino's younger sister, and is the youngest of her three siblings. She has a similar competitive spirit as with her older sister, and is also very strong-willed.

;Nihongo|Mamoru Tagaya|多賀谷 護|Tagaya Mamoru:"Voiced by:" Izumi Maki:Mamoru is Marino's younger brother. He still has a childish attitude and is mischievous. However, he takes great care with Mana.

;Nihongo|Mitsutaka Saionji|西園寺 三孝|Saionji Mitsutaka:Mitsutaka is a son of the distinguished Saionji family. He has a haughty attitude typical of such an upbringing.

;Nihongo|Manato Shimoyanagi|下柳 港|Shimoyanagi Manato:"Voiced by:" Hitomi:Manato is a female maid in the Saionji household. She is in charge of looking after the Saionji family, but flat-out dislikes her line of work.

Development

The producer for "HoneyComing" was Akira Asami, while supervision of the project was headed by Mujin Kawanami, who was also the main scenario writer. The art director for the game was Shitano, but the character artwork was headed by Makako Matsushita, and Racco. General computer graphics was headed by Rohei Yamane, who was accompanied by Mitsuki, and Mahiro. The music in the game was composed by Takao Matsūra, while sound in general was done by VⅡ.citeweb|url= http://www.hook-net.jp/honeycoming/spec.htm|title=HoneyComing official website, Specifications section|accessdate=2007-09-20| language=Japanese]

Release history

On May 16 2007, a free game demo of "HoneyComing", "Ver. 1.00", for Clarissa's scenario became available for download at "HoneyComing"'s official website via a direct download link or BitTorrent. More free game demos followed, one for each heroine, and then yet another free game demo, "Ver. 1.02", for all five heroines later became available for download in early July 2007. An update for Ver. 1.02 was released on September 13 2007. The full game was first introduced in Japan as a limited edition version on June 29 2007 as a DVD playable on a Microsoft Windows PC. The regular edition was released on August 24 2007. A version without adult content playable on the PlayStation 2 will be published by Kadokawa Shoten and released in 2009 entitled "SweetHoneyComing".

Related media

Manga

The first manga adaptation, under the title Nihongo|"HoneyComing: Sweet Love Lesson"|HoneyComing ～すうぃーとLOVEレッスン～|HoneyComing ~Swīto LOVE Ressun~, started serialization in the Japanese seinen magazine "Comptiq" on January 10 2007 illustrated by Ui Takano, and is published by Kadokawa Shoten. The first bound volume was released on August 10 2007 featuring Asahi Kamijō on the cover. [citeweb|url=http://www.comptiq.com/release/comic/70honeycoming1.html|title=Official listing of "HoneyComing: Sweet Love Lesson" volume 1|publisher=Comptiq|accessdate=2007-09-20|language=Japanese] The second volume was released on January 10 2008 featuring Clarissa and Marino on the cover. [citeweb|url=http://www.comptiq.com/release/comic/91honey2.html|title= Official listing of "HoneyComing: Sweet Love Lesson" volume 2|publisher=Comptiq|accessdate=2008-02-15|language=Japanese] The second manga, this time a four-panel comic strip, under the title Nihongo|"HoneComi The 4-panel"|ハニカミ The4コマ|HaniKami The 4-koma, was serialized in the Japanese bishōjo magazine "Dengeki G's Magazine" between February 30 2007 and January 30 2008 illustrated by Yuki Kiriga, and was published by MediaWorks. The manga was subsequently transferred to "Dengeki G's Festival! Comic", a special edition version of "Dengeki G's Magazine", on April 26 2008. The four-panel comic strip had also appeared in "Dengeki G's Festival! Comic" with the first issue sold on November 26 2007.

Light novels

There are two light novel series based on "HoneyComing". The first series is written by Japanese author Jōji Kamio, with illustrations by Makako Matsumoto and Rakko, and is published by GoodsTrain under their "TwinTail Novels" label. The first novel was released on October 25 2007 featuring Asahi on the cover, [citeweb|url= http://goodstrain.jp/novel/honeycoming01.html|title=HoneyComing light novel volume 1 official listing|accessdate=2007-09-28| language=Japanese] and a second novel was released in February 2008 featuring Clarissa on the cover. The second light novel series is written by Hack and Masamune Yotsuya with the same illustrators, and is published by Harvest. Three novels were published in the second series released between December 1 2007 and March 2008. The novels contain adult material not suitable for children.

Music and audio drama

"HoneyComing"'s opening theme is "Love Hell Rocket" by Haruko Aoki. The short version of the opening theme is available for download at "HoneyComing"'s official website;citeweb|url=http://www.hook-net.jp/honeycoming/down.htm|title=HoneyComing official website, Download section|publisher=Hook|accessdate=2007-09-20|language=Japanese] an "eight-bit-shooting" arrange version of the song is also available for download. The game's ending theme is Nihongo|"Return Trip"|帰り道|Kaerimachi by Miki Tsuchiya. A music album entitled "HoneyComing Variety Sound Collection "IF" was sold with the limited edition version of the game; the album contained the opening and ending themes along with background music featured in game. [citeweb|url=http://www.hook-net.jp/honeycoming/ycp3.htm|title=HoneyComing official website regarding the Sound Collection "IF"|accessdate=2007-09-20|language=Japanese] Five character song CDs under the main title of "HoneyComing First Impression" were released; each CD covers one of the heroines from the game. The first, "Asahiism", was released on December 29 2006; the second, "Clairism", followed on January 26 2007; the third, "Mioism", went on sale on February 23 2007. The last two, "Yumaism", and "Marinoism", were released on March 23 2007, and April 27 2007, respectively. [citeweb|url=http://www.hook-net.jp/honeycoming/first.htm|title=HoneyComing First Impression official listing|publisher=Hook|accessdate=2007-09-20|language=Japanese] The game's original soundtrack will be released on January 9 2008. A drama CD entitled "HoneyComing: one more chime!" will be released by Marine Entertainment on December 29 2007. The voices will be the same as provided for the visual novel. [citeweb|url= http://www.dengekionline.com/data/news/2007/12/13/2bc0dc89ba5cdd8ae48bcb86b39a4f51.html|title=Drama CD "HoneyComing" voice cast comments|publisher=MediaWorks (publisher)|accessdate=2007-12-12|language=Japanese]

Reception

In the October 2007 issue of "Dengeki G's Magazine", poll results for the fifty best bishōjo games were released. Out of 249 titles, "HoneyComing" ranked nineteenth with fourteen votes, and was tied with "ToHeart". [citeweb|url=http://gs.dengekinet.com/ranking/index.html|title=Dengeki G's Magazine top fifty bishōjo games|accessdate=2007-09-03|language=Japanese] "HoneyComing" was the highest selling game for the month of June 2007 on Getchu.com, and dropped to eleventh in the ranking the following month. [citeweb|url=http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking200706.html|title=Highest selling games of June 2007 on Getchu.com ranking|accessdate=2007-09-21|language=Japanese] [citeweb|url=http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking200707.html|title=Highest selling games of July 2007 on Getchu.com ranking|accessdate=2007-09-21|language=Japanese] "HoneyComing" was the third most widely sold game for the first half of 2007 on Getchu.com, just behind "" in second and "Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de" in first. [citeweb|url=http://www.getchu.com/pc/2007-1salesranking.html|title=Highest selling games of the first half of 2007 on Getchu.com ranking|accessdate=2007-09-20|language=Japanese] Furthermore, "HoneyComing" was the fourth most widely sold game of 2007 on Getchu.com. [citeweb|url= http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking2007.html|title=Highest selling games of 2007 on Getchu.com ranking|accessdate=2007-12-31|language=Japanese]

References

External links

* [http://www.hook-net.jp/honeycoming/ "HoneyComing" official website] jp icon