So now that I've got a couple of months of work under my belt here in Japan, I've actually been able to buy some things. I recently got my hands on the limited edition version of the Playstation 2 Strawberry Panic video game. When I first heard about it I was actually uncertain of its existence. Now that it's here, sitting in my game library I'm kind of excited. If I can figure out how to get OK pictures of the TV screen during gameplay I'll try to share them!

What I can tell you so far: there are two different boxes - the regular one just has all the girls in a big group picture. This one's box, for some reason, has Tamao and Nagisa looking like they're about to kiss amidst falling cherry blossoms. It came with what's either a drama CD or combo of that with a DVD of some kind (the packaging/disc aren't all that clear). But inside that case is an envelope with school ID cards for each Astraea Hill academy. You get stickers for the ID picture and individual's information. Probably gonna keep mine as is. Kind of a cool little extra.

The actual game's case appears to say that there area bunch of different couples that you can get together during the game. I can already tell that different artists worked on the PS2 adaptation of the anime/manga since the art style is different. And Chiyo has green hair for some reason? But you do get to select a character to play as, which is intriguing. From the manual it looks (again not totally sure) like your initial choices include Nagisa and Hikari. So once I figure that part out I'll take suggestions on who to play as. Maybe make this an interactive Let's Play kind of thing. Anyway, Maiko out!

Sounds super cool!!

So it appears that I can play as Nagisa (for Miator), Hikari (for Spica) or a girl named Kizuna (for Lulim). I'm tempted to go the Lulim route simply because the anime/manga don't explore Lulim as much. On the other hand going with Nagisa and taking a different route than Shizuma could be fun.. suggests, anyone?

Nagisa could be cute. I also know there's software that let's you hook up your TV to the computer and record it. You could look into that for a Let's play.

Dad says you need a video capture device. It will hook up to the PlayStation and your USB and come with the software.

I'd go with the LeRim character, but that's just me since LeRim is my favorite of the three schools!!!!!

Thanks for the tip, Homura! Still working on getting that figured out as well as the camera. I had to buy a new (used) one since my American one finally broke permanently; I guess dropping it on the ground that one time was enough after all. Once I figure out how to turn the flash off I think I can get some OK screen shots to share.

I started playing a little bit as Nagisa to try the game out and it looks like you actually have a good bit of freedom in choosing who to pursue for a relationship. There are 9 girls to choose from but at the moment I've got only 5 of them on the 'short list' for Nagisa. This may expand or contract depending on how the game develops. Right now that 'short list' includes Tamao, Chikaru (Lulim SCP!), Yaya, Tsubomi and Amane. Each of their initial interactions with Nagisa were pretty cute. Though Chikaru telling Nagisa she can come play at Lulim anytime, and I think offering to let her borrow a Lulim uniform for disguise, sounds like fun to pursue.

Okay, so I have screen shots now! I'll get a proper interactive playthrough here after this, but I thought I'd show everyone what the game looks like. So in my current save I chose to play as the anime/manga's main character Nagisa. As I already described, your first experiences in the game involve meeting all the other characters through various methods during your character's first day on campus. These screen shots are from her second day (or the second one you play anyhow), going to class and having her first event at Miator.

First, here's the save screen which gives you a little bar with information on your character and her current #1 partner (I think?). When we start Nagisa's second day she's all alone.

Obviously we need to fix that! As lovely as her pairing with Shizuma is in the anime and manga, I think Nagisa needs to expand her horizons. There are 9 girls you can end up with after all! Let's explore the possibilities of love on Astraea Hill some more! At first Nagisa just gets up and sets out for the day. You occasionally get a choice of two actions/dialogue options taking the form of buttons that appear on screen during decision time. When she realizes the halls are really full of students you have two options for Nagisa - go find Chiyo (and presumably traverse the halls with her?) or go get breakfast. While debating the two I accidentally pressed a button which made Nagisa decide to go get some food solo.

It's after this that the screen shots come in. When you get to class, Tamao-chan is waiting for Nagisa. Unlike what I was expecting she is not Nagisa's roommate in this retelling of Strawberry Panic. Just a nice girl who's the same year as Nagisa and still coy as ever.

Some of Tamao's poses from your conversation in the classroom about the party, etc.

After pleasantries Tamao mentions that there's some kind of party taking place that evening, and that a lot of people will be going. I'm thinking it's a beginning of the term party or maybe a welcome party, but the terminology is new to me. Must check up on that when I get the chance. Anyway Nagisa asks if Tamao is going, to which Tamao responds, "Well, I'd like to go to the party, buuut......". She looks uncertain and leaves that dangling for you to pick up on: she wants you to go with her.

And this is where some of the actual game mechanics come in. Most of the game so far is like a visual novel that retells the story of Strawberry Panic. Occasionally you get a chance to make some key decisions - first by simple action/dialogue choices. Then there's this meter which has a white and black side, accompanied by chibi angel and devil Nagisas. Angel is offer to go to the party with Tamao. I'm not sure exactly what devil will do so let's go with angel Nagisa's suggestion!

Which results in this new save game tag.

Yay! After agreeing to go together, Tamao tells Nagisa, "If Nagisa-chan wasn't going to the party, I don't think I'd go either." Which means my Japanese is better than I thought! And also that the first romantic overtures are between Tamao and Nagisa. Once at the party Nagisa's a little nervous about the amount of other students but happy to have someone nice with her (again, I think this is what's going on). Then she notices a camera. What she's saying is basically, "What a nice camera!" - surely this won't lead to anything awkward for our heroine.

Tamao explains it's there so that girls can get their pictures taken at the party, so basically this party has a photo booth. Fair enough. Then she suggests they have a picture taken together. Nagisa waffles on the issue and you get a chance to decide if she goes along with the proposal. It's the simple button options - one has a picture of Tamao by it, the other doesn't. I decide that they should go ahead and do it! Which results in them sitting down and Nagisa looking really awkward.

Nagisa's paranoid about how many people are watching them and can't seem to calm down. Now you get the angel meter - and it's only angel Nagisa this time - to decide (I think) if Nagisa is going to actually take the picture with Tamao. We've come this far, I'm not turning back! Take just one picture! This is where Tamao takes the initiative in a sneaky little way. She's come up with a solution that will make the redhead calm down, alright. Tamao tells the transfer student, "Then it'll be alright if we hold hands." She takes Nagisa's hand in a subtly bold move that still leaves Nagisa nervous. Well played, Tamao.

Despite Nagisa's panic Tamao reassures her that everything's fine. It's just the two of them, only the two of them. The picture is taken though there's no indication whether Nagisa's expression changes at all. Then we time skip from the party to a bit later with Nagisa in her room, feeling tired from the party but happy all the same. And then Tamao shows up again. With the picture they took together (although you don't get to see it!) as a present for Nagisa who after initial surprise likes the picture and decides she should buy a cute frame for it. And that is as far as I got before getting too tired to continue.

So no screenshots, but before I go to bed I thought I'd share the conundrum I'm in with the game now. Since Nagisa/Shizuma actually happens in the anime and manga I wanted Nagisa to go for someone different this time. Originally Tamao had the lead, but now there are a couple other strong contenders. I'll get the screens up from them tomorrow. Things are picking up and rather than 1 or 2 events in a day I'm getting 3 now! The last one being three separate people coming in to visit Nagisa in her room. First Shizuma wakes her up and they talk about that waltz the silver haired girl taught Nagisa. All well and good.

Until at long last Chiharu, the Lulim SCP appears in the Miator dorms with a problem over deciding on swimsuits. Not sure for what function but definitely something for Lulim. Nagisa mentions she's bought one and the troubled SCP suddenly perks up and asks really cutely if she can see Nagisa's swimsuit. This being the first time I'd seen Chiharu since the game's opening I seized on the opportunity and had Nagisa invite her up to the dorm room. Which is where Chiharu practically begs Nagisa to try it on for her. She insists that 'for my same.. no, for Lulim's sake, you have to!' And in the interest of seeing what happens, Nagisa chose the 'wear the swimsuit' option on one of the minigame screens (the Panic! minigame, which I'll explain sometime). Ultimately it ended up with Nagisa wearing her new swimsuit in front of a mirror while Chiharu marvels at it and makes recommendations to Nagisa. At some point the word 'bikini' gets thrown around a lot. Chiharu then leaves after stating she'll go get swimsuits from the same shop Nagisa went to. This put Chiharu into the thick of the 'which charrie does Nagisa go for this time' sweepstakes.

Already an eventful day, but then who should show up after the swimsuit incident than the girl who actually seems most fixated on Nagisa? Not Shizuma or Tamao, but.. Yaya. Yes, she's just as into Nagisa as she normally would be with Hikari.. or just about. Earlier in the play through she encountered Nagisa while the latter was panicking about not having gotten a report done, and they study together in the library since Yaya was 'heading there anyway'. Now she asks if she can come inside Nagisa's room, and when told it's okay (another player choice) she hangs out for a bit before leaving to get some cookies. Then the two girls share the dessert and Yaya refers to the redhead as 'Daisuki Nagisa-oneesama' (basically 'I really like Nagisa-oneesama'). This shocks Nagisa, but Yaya doesn't relent.

Eventually Yaya notices how comfortable the bed looks and asks if she can try it out. She does, but then falls asleep. The player gets to see (another screen shot I'll share tomorrow) Nagisa kind of tucking Yaya in, getting close enough to hear the Spican talking in her sleep. At first it's just 'su... su..', but eventually it's 'Nagisa-oneesama ga.. suki...'. So she's quite possibly dreaming about Nagisa? Eventually Yaya wakes up, apologizes for falling asleep and says goodnight. That ends Nagisa's eventful day. And I'm torn between Tamao, Chiharu and Yaya at the moment.

Aaaaagh hard choices there, they're all equally adorable. Yaya didn't really get a happy ending in the anime, but neither did Tamao, and Chikaru didn't really get any ending at all, so it's hard to know which one to recommend.

So here are some more screen shots! Here's a shot of the 'Panic!' minigame I mentioned in my last post. I forgot to mention that Amane also has appeared a couple of times, and here was helping Nagisa find the right page in the hymn book during a service on Sunday. Really cute! Anyway in the minigame you get the beating heart in the background and a change of music, then get a choice of actions. One will calm things down for your girl, the other creates a 'panic up!' which I assume means you're farther along that girl's romantic storyline. So in this case Nagisa has gained points with Amane.

And at the end of each day you get a chance to choose one of the girls yours has interacted with to write about. She then writes about them in her diary, recounting the events you share with the girl in question. So here Nagisa writes about the time at the church with Amane.

Now some shots of the Chiharu/Nagisa swimsuit event I wrote about: Chiharu hears about the swimsuit!
"Nagisa-chan, please show it to me!"

Chiharu is thrilled to be in Nagisa's room.

Now she's encouraging Nagisa to try it on for her.

"Nagisa-chan.. for my sake.. no, for Lulim's sake, please try it on!"

"O-ne-ga-i."

And Nagisa gives in, trying on her swimsuit for the Lulim SCP.

Then, of course, Yaya comes for a night visit.

Nagisa's agreeing to let Yaya come in makes the brunette very happy. Yaya looks both sly

and adorable in this scene.

Tucking Yaya in after she falls asleep.

Lots of stuff to report for the newest update to what's turned into my Nagisa playthrough. So some things to clear up for those who might be following this. The save game tag that I thought showed whoever your top match was actually just shows whoever is in the scene with your character. This means that when I save the game (it lets you save at any point, which is nice) I can get a spoiler for the next scene - it'll show me who's going to be in it with Nagisa. There's this thing that gives you a prompt to tap one of the thumbsticks during a conversation but I'm not exactly sure what it does. Usually I get devil Nagisa appearing and looking cheeky, along with a message telling me I only have 'x' number of those left. I think it steers the conversation in a certain direction but can't tell completely.

So anyway, the next big event for Nagisa is the sports day on Astraea Hill. There had been a lot of hints dropped along the way by the other girls about wanting to attend this event with our heroine. That being said there wasn't actually a choice to make on who to go with. Why? Because they were all there and got equal chance to talk to her! During the morning assembly time/opening ceremony for the festival she comes across Tamao, who's going to be busy working as staff for the event. Which is too bad, she says, since she'd rather spend the time with Nagisa. On the way there from the dorms she meets a very genki Tsubomi and Kagome, both of whom are excited about possibly doing things alongside Nagisa. They wouldn't show up again until much later.

After this Nagisa goes back to the strawberry dorms briefly and comes across Shizuma. Since this is decidedly a 'let's-have-Nagisa-get-with-someone-else', Nagisa has been going with any option that doesn't create extra events with Shizuma. Nothing against you, Shizuma, you're still lovely. That said there's no choice to make here so it's back to the grounds for the sports festival.. where Amane is waiting for Nagisa as if she's Hikari. She's kind of flirting, I think, but mostly it's just Amane being gallant and princely. And after Amane leaves we get some screen time with Yaya!

This is where I feel like it's appropriate to mention how much I've really started liking Yaya. She's really cute in how eager she is to spend time with Nagisa, though always fairly polite about it. On top of that she's the only girl who looks to be openly flirting with Nagisa, which has been going on ever since Nagisa decided to walk to school with Yaya. It's been tough choosing who to go for, but Yaya is definitely in the top 2 now. If nothing else the next playthrough maybe I'll go for her. Arg, the decisions!

So after Yaya, we get some interaction with Chikaru. Who once again has snuck away from her class president duties to talk with Nagisa. After getting excited about the folk dance coming up (a staple of many an anime sports festival) a Lulim girl calls out to her and reminds her she actually has work to do. With that it's "see you later, Chikaru!" and "hello Remon". Another Lulim girl, who's also generally excited. Followed by Chiyo who looks really pumped up about the folk dance for some reason..

And then Tamao returns to inform Nagisa that she'll be free to take part in the folk dance herself. During said dance each girl gets her chance to dance with Nagisa, though there appears to be surprisingly little actual dancing going on. And it's a pretty long song since they all get enough time for a little conversation before moving on. After all of this you run into Tamao again, who's a bit overworked due to taking on too much responsibility. Tamao being one of my top 3 choices for Nagisa matchmaking now, Nagisa goes ahead and offers to help even if it might make her late for something else. This gets bonus points with Tamao, I'm pretty sure. During lunchtime Tamao takes Nagisa over to the dorms for lunch, where Shizuma and Chiyo are waiting. They've plotted a picnic that's Miator-exclusive, and we get treated to the sight of all three Miator girls taking turns feeding things to Nagisa.

Then, to make a long story short there are a few weeks in between this and the next big event. During this time Nagisa a) turns down invitations to join Shizuma for various things and b) sleeps in too much and has three girls come in to room at various time (one each time). First Shizuma does it on a weekend, where Nagisa asks if she can keep sleeping. The next to try, during a weekday is Chikaru. Which makes me wonder how she managed to get into the Miator wing that early, let alone Nagisa's room. Maybe she's just using her SCP powers. Or maybe she's a ninja. Either way this time Nagisa is game for it and sneaks into the Lulim building. Where, because it's a rainy day and it's a Sunday, Chikaru has decided they'll have a special activity. Which is giving each other manicures. And thus adorable.

Around the same time Nagisa forgets her notebook, or thought she did, until she ends up with Tamao's somehow. Thus she's saved from embarrassment in class, and gets to peer at Tamao's notes which are apparently written in really pretty handwriting. These are the sorts of things Nagisa notices. A couple of events are offered up in the class scene and I chose the one with Tamao's name next to them both times. In the end Tamao returns Nagisa's note, since I guess she deliberately switched them out. Once again Tamao makes her move in a subtle manner

This is about when the next big event came up - the Princess Seminar. Which sounds fancy but is actually just a day with a number of workshops like flower arranging and such. And being a big campus event that means everyone wants to go with Nagisa, and of course there are no events to actually choose them that I found. The first to bring it up is Yaya, who now has hearts show up after half the things she says to Nagisa. During one of Nagisa's sleep-in moments someone knocks on the door, then leaves a letter when Nagisa stays in bed. Later she reads it and finds it's from Yaya, who mentions how she would really like to go to the seminar with Nagisa. I really wanted to have Nagisa go chase down Yaya and say she would, but that wasn't a choice.

So at the Princess Seminar Nagisa runs into everyone else again, they chat, but ultimately she spends the day with Tamao. I think this may be because of a buildup of previous events, but can't say for certain. Another event comes up and I choose again to have Nagisa go join Tamao for a baking session. Together they don frilly aprons and make deserts, during which time Nagisa gets icing on her nose. Which Tamao notices and finds adorable! After it's all said and done she lets Nagisa know it wouldn't have been fun without the redhead at her side.

Aaand after all of that I save and the status bar reveals something a bit different: Nagisa and Tamao, but with a beating pink heart between their portraits. What does this mean? I've never seen it before! Could it mean that Tamao has fallen for Nagisa? Stay tuned for the next overlong installment of my Strawberry Panic the Video Game playthrough! Screenshots to follow in the next post.

Screenshots galore! The quality isn't as good on some of them but you get the basic idea.

The Panic! minigame with Tamao.
Morning of the sports festival, Tamao shows us Miator's PE uniform.
Tsubomi is first to greet Nagisa outside the dorms.
Kagome sure is genki when she meets Nagisa..
But something about her teddy bear is unsettling in this scene.
The dashing Amane-sama!
Yaya arrives and immeidately starts flirting.
Chikaru at the sports festival, with her 'knowing is half the battle!' pose.
A really intense Chiyo tells us she'll do her best.
I forgot what was going on here, but I like Yaya's expression while Tsubomi is freaking out.
Miator girls at lunch!
"Nagisa-oneesama!" - guess who?
That's right, it's Yaya-chan! The hearts are a dead giveaway.
Tamao-chan just before the notebook incident, and showing us the Miator summer uniform.
Forgot this one - Nagisa les Chiyo camp out in her room during a storm, the power goes out and they share the candlelight. Also check out Nagisa's pajamas, is that a squid pattern?
"We should do the Princess Seminar together. It'll be really fun! *heart*"
"-From Yaya. *heart* love! *heart, heart*" This is a literal translation.
Chikaru in the Lulim summer uniform.
EVERYONE wants to be in a picture with Nagisa during the Princess Seminar.
Tamao/Nagisa at the seminar; Nagisa looks really intent on attacking that pastry.
Nagisa & Tamao in the save game box, with a heart! What does it mean?

Alrighty! So I have breaking news to report about the Strawberry Panic PS2 game: last night I finished my first playthrough! The game's story appears to only take place over the course of months from late March to July, so no Etoile candidacy for our player character girls. All the same it has a lot of cute moments, so I'm ready for another run through the story. Here's what happened after I discovered the save game status image was different! And last time in the game, Nagisa spent the day of the Princess Seminar with Tamao making a strawberry shortcake and getting really intense over putting the frosting on.

It appears the Princess Seminar was the last step to securing a girlfriend for Nagisa-chan, as all the next scenes featured the girls together. First they met in class and talked about how there's going to be a party soon. (the subtitle reads 'Nagisa-chan, let's go!) Tamao of course is eager to invite "her special Nagisa-chan" to go with her, but there's a tiny problem. It's a formal event and Nagisa has no dress to wear to it! As usual Tamao is a very resourceful girl and offers to lend one of her own dresses, assuring Nagisa that the size will be okay.

Midday a younger Miator girl approaches Nagisa and asks if she knows Tamao-oneesama. Then she gives Nagisa a letter and chocolates to deliver to Tamao. You can choose yes or no on this but I figured Nagisa's a nice enough girl to deliver the gift. Tamao is surprised at first but then they decide to split the chocolates between her and Nagisa.

They next go to swimming class, though for some reason they're still wearing their regular PE uniforms for it. Regardless they're practicing saving someone who can't swim. Tamao is the pretend victim whom Nagisa has to 'save' and after an action choice, Nagisa jumps in quickly after her. After getting to Tamao they seem to be having a nice conversation until Tamao's leg cramps badly. Nagisa gets her out of the water and they end up being just fine, though Tamao apologizes for the incident.

On the day of the party tragedy strikes! Tamao has come to wake her would-be girlfriend up but the redhead is feeling under the weather. At first Tamao says she'll get the Sisters and tell them about it, but Nagisa isn't sure. Another action choice later and she asks Tamao to stay with her, which the girl eagerly does despite it costing her a day of school. At this point we see Tamao sitting at Nagisa's bedside after getting her a hot towel, doting on the suddenly sick girl.

That evening Nagisa wakes up feeling better and wants to go to the party. Tamao is hesitant, concerned for Nagisa's safety but eventually says they can at least go for a little bit. At this point both change into the dresses (with Tamao leaving for her room temporarily), and they meet in the hall. Confronted with Tamao in a pretty gown Nagisa's worried that she looks silly and asks if this is so of the blue haired girl. With reassurance that she looks fine the pair head to the party, then Tamao asks for a dance. During this dance Tamao finally confesses, telling her that she would have been sad if Nagisa hadn't come to Miator. Then she says that she likes Nagisa, who in turn says she really likes Tamao! Then Tamao assures Nagisa that they'll always be together. Cue credits!

Except there's one more scene after them! Once they've finished rolling, we see Nagisa and Tamao as a couple on vacation at a hot spring. Specifically in the hot spring together and looking happy as can be. Once returned to the main title screen I dug around and confirmed that, yes, you can have your character get with any of the 9 NPC girls. Furthermore it tells you how much progress you've made towards their ending, how many events you've had with them and all that good stuff. Also there's a way to go back and replay those events and theoretically see what might have happened with different choices. I found the sound test screen adorable because it has a chibi Hikari listening to whatever music you're testing on a CD player, bobbing her head back and forth.

Now for reader participation, I hope. I've gotten the Nagisa/Tamao ending, which I'm happy about because Tamao is one of my favorite characters in Strawberry Panic. Who should I try for next? Or moreover, would anyone be interested in seeing what happens if I do it again? And who should I play as? Having Hikari end up with Chikaru sounds fun, but then anyone with Yaya could be nice too. Let me know!

I decided I hated Yaya after what she did to Hikari, and I never liked Tamao because she reminds me of an evil frenemy i had. My favorite love interests are Amane, Shizuma, and Chikaru. I think Chiyo had a crush on Nagisa in the anime so that could be cute. But we could totally mix it up, maybe hikari with shizuma? Or Nagisa with chikaru? Or something else unexpected. :3

Hikari with Shizuma sounds like it could be fun. Alternately, Hikari and Chikaru. Oh man, the potential for adorable is staggering.