Thursday, April 10, 2014

After taking in its first trailer, I'm still hot to trot for Nippon Ichi's htol#NiQ (Vita)

I'd be even more hot to trot (hotter to trot?) for this upcoming Vita game if said trailer, below, did a better job of showing or explaining how it will play, of course, but even in its current state I'm still pretty hot for it.

The game's full title is Hotaru no Nikki, by the way, which translates to something akin to Firefly's Diary or Firefly Diaries.



A digital version of htol#NiQ will hit the Japanese PlayStation Store (with a price tag of 3,086 yen, or approximately $30) on June 16, while a "premium box" will arrive at retail (for about $58) on the same day.

See also: 'You say htol#NiQ, I say gorgeous Vita game'

13 comments:

Obscure Video Games said...

I've only been able to find a little info about this (on siliconera of course), but it sounds like a pretty basic 2D puzzle platformer with a light/dark world-switching gimmick. But it's NIS, it's gorgeous, and we're almost guaranteed to get it in the US. So if they can inject their trademark sense of humor into it, then I'm definitely getting it.

finchiekins said...

That really looks so nice. I hope the game's as good as the trailer and that they manage to keep that dreamy atmosphere. I love the weird choppy animation they have in some of the scenes of the girl.

thegaygamer.com said...

Well, not to be snarky, but I don't think Siliconera knows much more about how this game plays than anyone else out there. Yes, the game features touch controls and a light/dark mechanic, but other than that the folks at NIS have been pretty tight-lipped about its content.


For instance, why has it basically been given a "mature" rating? Nothing we've seen so far suggests the game will be overly violent or pervy--although the bit of gameplay that can be found on the game's official site points to the fact that the protagonist can, in fact, die or be killed.


I guess what I'm saying here is that I wouldn't go so far as to describe the game as a "pretty basic 2D puzzle platformer" just yet. Yes, that's probably what it'll be in the end, but we definitely don't know that right now based on the little official info we've been given.

thegaygamer.com said...

Agreed all around, finchiekins :) I also really like the music that plays throughout this trailer!

Obscure Video Games said...

Well hopefully you're right, and there is more than meets the eye here. But even if it just plays like an easier version of the Prinny games, I'd be totally fine with that. My guess is that (knowing Japan) the rating you saw would be for blood/gore/violence. They're a lot more touchy about that stuff then we are, so it may not even be that bad. I wouldn't be surprised if we see that innocent little girl suffering all kinds of gruesome deaths (or inflicting it on others). And just the fact that it's a little girl (and not an adult) might make it worse.

thegaygamer.com said...

Yes, you're right. I do hope there's a bit more to it than guiding the girl around, though. For instance, Dokuro seems to have a bit more depth than what has been implied here, so I'm hoping this game at least matches that game's ambition, if not surpasses it.

Monster_Hunter2882 said...

I should probably make the PS3 my next console purchase but with games like this, the Vita is becoming mighty alluring.

thegaygamer.com said...

Hey there, Sam! I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the Vita over the PS3 myself. I just prefer handhelds these days, and the Vita has more than enough games to keep me happy. The question is: when will I finally buy one? I have no idea...

Monster_Hunter2882 said...

I feel the same way. I love being able to play games where ever in my home I want.

thegaygamer.com said...

Yep, me, too. And it's nice that both the Vita and the 3DS XL have big enough screens that you don't feel like you have to squint to take in all the action :)

apricotsushi said...

Ah, this looks so interesting! I keep thinking it's like Dokuro but instead of having a little skeleton solve puzzles to rescue a princess, we've now got a firefly guiding a little girl. The light/dark switching might add more variety to it if it is a puzzle-like game... I'm really just drawing on the obvious similarities between the two, though, it's probably not as related to Dokuro as I'm inclined to think


The game information at 2:37 describes it as a "light and shadow action game" which is oh so helpful, haha

thegaygamer.com said...

Have you played Dokuro, Anne? I can't remember. If so, did you enjoy it?


I ask because it's one of those games I definitely want to get after I buy a Vita--as long as people don't tell me it's a waste of time, etc.


Anyway, yes, I can see how this game reminds of Dokuro--I thought the same thing myself the first time I saw this trailer. I do hope there are some differences between the two, though; it would be too bad if they were overly similar, IMO.


Oh, and I, too, love that the game's genre is described as "light and shadow action game." Wow, so helpful! ;P

apricotsushi said...

Oh yep, I've played Dokuro! I really like it. Definitely one of the more standout Vita titles, in my opinion! The puzzles can get pretty tough!