Rewrite (visual novel)

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Rewrite
Rewrite game cover.jpg
Rewrite original visual novel cover.
リライト
(Riraito)
Genre Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Manga
Rewrite: Side-B
Written by Key
Illustrated by Sakana Tōjō
Published by ASCII Media Works
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Dengeki G's Magazine
Original run October 2010 – ongoing
Volumes 2
Manga
Rewrite: Side-R
Written by Key
Illustrated by Shūichi Kawakami
Published by ASCII Media Works
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Dengeki Daioh
Original run April 2011 – ongoing
Volumes 2
Manga
Rewrite Okaken e Yōkoso!
Written by Key
Illustrated by Mirura Yano
Published by Ichijinsha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Manga 4-koma Palette
Original run June 2011 – ongoing
Game
Developer Key
Publisher Visual Art's
Genre Visual novel
Rating All ages
Platform Windows
Released
  • JP June 24, 2011 (Rewrite)
  • JP July 27, 2012 (Harvest festa!)
Manga
Rewrite: Okaken Blog
Written by Key
Illustrated by Yayoi Hazuki
Published by ASCII Media Works
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Dengeki G's Festival! Comic
Original run October 26, 2011 – ongoing
Anime and Manga Portal

Rewrite (リライト Riraito?) is a Japanese visual novel developed by Key, a brand of Visual Art's. It was released on June 24, 2011 playable on Windows PCs and is rated for all ages. Rewrite is Key's ninth game, along with other titles such as Kanon, Air, and Clannad. The story follows the life of Kotarou Tennouji, a high school student with superhuman abilities who investigates supernatural mysteries with five girls from his school. This ultimately leads him into the middle of a conflict between demon summoners and superhumans searching for a demon girl named Kagari who is the key to intelligent life and its destruction on Earth.

The gameplay in Rewrite follows a branching plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the six female main characters by the player character. There are additional minigames and quests added into the gameplay, which are necessary to complete the game. The game ranked as the best-selling PC game sold in Japan for the time of its release, and charted in the national top 50 twice more afterwards. Key will release a fan disc expanding on the game's story titled Rewrite Harvest festa! on July 27, 2012. There have been four manga adaptations based on Rewrite: one each serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine, Dengeki Daioh, and Dengeki G's Festival! Comic, and Ichijinsha's Manga 4-koma Palette. Comic anthologies, light novels and an art book were also published, as were several music albums.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Average dialogue and narrative in Rewrite depicting the main character Kotarou talking to Kotori.

Rewrite is a romance visual novel in which the player assumes the role of Kotarou Tennouji.[1] Its gameplay requires little player interaction as much of the game's duration is spent on reading the text that appears on the screen, which represents the story's narrative and dialogue. Rewrite follows a branching plot line with multiple endings, and depending on the decisions that the player makes during the game, the plot will progress in a specific direction.

There are eight main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, three which are initially available and five more which can later become available.[1] Every so often, the player will come to a point where he or she is given the chance to choose from multiple options. Text progression pauses at these points until a choice is made. To view all plot lines in their entirety, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and choose different choices to further the plot to an alternate direction. When first playing the game, the scenarios for the heroines Kotori, Chihaya and Lucia are available.[1] To access Sizuru's scenario, Kotori's must be completed first. Similarly, to access Akane's scenario, Chihaya's must be done first. After the plot lines for these five heroines have been completed, an additional scenario called Moon is made available. Upon the completion of the Moon route, another scenario called Terra is made available, which serves as the true ending to the story; both Moon and Terra revolve around the main heroine, Kagari.[1]

Throughout gameplay, the player encounters minigames accessed through an in-game GPS system called Mappie, which is rendered as a point and click map.[1] In most cases, the player can choose to automatically skip the GPS mode, but sometimes the player is required to play through the minigame in order to move on to the next event. In the GPS mode, the player can meet various friends of Kotarou and have the option to do a quest. The names of the friends the player meets and the completed quests in the GPS mode are recorded in the Memory function, which serves like an encyclopedia of events. If the player completes the Terra scenario with all the quests finished and has recorded at least 100 friends in Memory, a bonus scenario called Oppai (おっぱい Breasts?) is made available. Oppai is a branch off Akane's scenario and serves as a comedic plot line not important to the overall story.[1]

The gear and dial in the bottom left of the game screen is related to the Kotarou's Rewrite ability. The dial moves whenever this ability is used, and before the player enters into one of the heroines' scenarios, the outcome of certain scenes is determined by how much the dial has moved. Throughout most of the game, the text is presented in a dialog box on the lower portion of the game screen, but this is changed for the Terra scenario, where the text is overlaid across the entire screen.[1]

[edit] Plot

[edit] Setting

The main part of Rewrite's story takes place in the fictional city of Kazamatsuri in Japan, where treeplanting and afforestation have caused the city to become overgrown with trees and vegetation.[1][2] The protagonist Kotarou and his friends in the occult research society attend a high school in Kazamatsuri,[3] and the characters also spend time in the society's clubroom.[4] Outside of the school, frequented locations include the forests of Kazamatsuri and Kotarou's house.[5][6] Throughout the story, Kotarou encounters an alternate dimension of Kazamatsuri where everything is silent and the sky is gray.[1][7] There are many entrances to this dimension throughout the city. In this secret world developed by Gaia, demons are free to roam and a sufficient ecosystem exists to support life. When on the Moon, a hill where daisies grow is prominently shown amid a ruined Kazamatsuri and the night is eternal. This hill appears again later on Earth in the forest of Kazamatsuri.[1]

Kazamatsuri is the setting for a secret war being waged by two main groups: Gaia and Guardian.[1] Gaia, an organization under the auspices of the environmental conservation group Myrtle, is populated by nihilistic and misanthropic people able to contract with demons, which manifest as constructs fueled by the summoner's life force. Myrtle itself used to be a church and contains within it a holy maiden group of girls with developmental disabilities. Guardian is dedicated to the destruction of demons and is composed almost entirely of humans who possess special powers. Gaia and Guardian came to Kazamatsuri in the pursuit of a special type of demon named Kagari, who manifests as a young, high school age-looking girl. Kagari, the main heroine of Rewrite, has the power to destroy all intelligent life on Earth, though can also initiate a period of re-evolution, which restarts the process of evolving another means of intelligent life. However, this is done with the use of the Earth's energy, and by the time the events of Rewrite occur, there is no more energy left to do another re-evolution. Gaia wants to capture Kagari to ensure the destruction of humanity, but Guardian wishes to seek out Kagari to kill her, ensuring that human life continues.

[edit] Principal characters

Main article: List of Rewrite characters

The player assumes the role of Kotarou Tennouji, the protagonist of Rewrite. He is a second-year high school student who has a bright personality and is sociable to others.[8] Kotarou is a superhuman with two powers called Rewrite and Aurora. Rewrite enables him to permanently restructure and modify any part of his body, including his blood, so as to make himself stronger or faster. Aurora manipulates his energy to form weapons like a sword or claw. Kotarou is invited into his school's occult research society by the club president Akane Senri, who is one year older than him and is referred to as the "School Witch" by other students because of her mysterious nature.[9] Akane, a heroine in the game, is unenthusiastic towards Kotarou's pursuit of the supernatural, which she initially claims she does not believe in, but is later shown to be a high ranking demon summoner in Gaia. Akane also invites into the club Chihaya Ohtori, a second-year transfer student in Kotarou's class who is very strong, but clumsy.[10] Chihaya, who is also a heroine, has led a sheltered life and now lives with her butler Sakuya Ohotri,[11] who poses as her brother at school. Like Akane, Chihaya is in Gaia and is a demon summoner.

Kotarou invites three other girls into the occult research society who are also heroines in the game. One is Kotori Kanbe, Kotarou's childhood friend in his class who has few friends[12] and starts attending school regularly after joining the club. She has a playful personality and has an extremely strong pet dog named Chibi-Moth.[13] Kotori, who can summon demons, is not affiliated with Gaia or Guardian, and instead evokes the qualities of an ancient sect of demon-worshipers called Druids who revered nature and protected Kagari with demons. Kotarou meets first-year student Sizuru Nakatsu, a shy girl on the public morals committee[14] with excellent hearing, eyesight and can read lips. She has heterochromia, though wears an eyepatch over her golden-colored right eye so as not to unnerve other people; her left eye is blue. Sizuru is a member of Guardian and has the ability to heal herself and others, inflict various forms of amnesia on people, and can also produce a mist that is harmful to demons. Sizuru joins the club with her close friend Lucia Konohana, the class representative of Kotarou's class.[15] Lucia is easily agitated by the antics of boys and is prone to punching Kotarou when he annoys her. She is obsessed with cleanliness and always wears gloves. Like Sizuru, Lucia is a member of Guardian and has the ability to produce harmful sound waves, and can debilitate or poison any living thing by touch.

[edit] Story

Rewrite's story revolves around the main protagonist Kotarou Tennouji, a male high school student living in Kazamatsuri, and the story begins on October 3, 2010. Kotarou, who is interested in the unidentified mysterious animals in the forests in and around Kazamatsuri, spends times with five girls in the occult research society at his school: Kotori Kanbe, Chihaya Ohtori, Sizuru Nakatsu, Lucia Konohana, and Akane Senri, who is also the club president. The club members spend fun, peaceful times together uncovering the supernatural mysteries of Kazamatsuri.

During his time with the five heroines of the occult research society, Kotarou falls in love with each of them in separate plot lines determined by the choices the player makes. These plot lines represent various timelines in which the conflict between Gaia and Guardian occurs. For instance, in Sizuru's route, Kagari initiates ruin over the human race, and though Kagari is killed in Akane's route, Gaia still destroys the world using their powers to cause rampant natural disasters to occur. In every timeline, the Earth and humanity are inevitably destroyed. After the five heroine's routes are completed, the story shifts to a setting on the Moon amid a ruined Kazamatsuri where Kotarou encounters the Kagari of the Moon, as opposed to the Kagari on Earth. Kotarou at this point is a conglomeration of all the Kotarous from previous timelines where the Earth was destroyed and he has memories of these events. The Kagari on the Moon is trying to research a way so the Earth and humanity are not destroyed, and Kotarou attempts to buy her time while fighting a hoard of demons attempting to kill Kagari. Kotarou ultimately fails, but Kagari sends him back to Earth to redo the events of the past in an attempt to save the Earth and humanity.

In the past, Kotarou had been a low-ranking member of Guardian posted in Kazamatsuri, where he encounters Kagari. In one timeline, Kotarou is badly injured by Kagari, though he is healed into a half-demon-like existence by a young Kotori with her druidic powers who was nearby at the time. Kotarou's aging is slowed as a consequence and he gains the power of Aurora. Kotarou falls into a coma, and he is administered an amnesiac drug to forget about Gaia and Guardian. By the time he wakes up, Kotori is in junior high school, and Kotarou graduates junior high with Kotori. He goes on to spend time in high school with the occult research society as shown before. In a different timeline when he encounters Kagari, Kotarou does nothing and leaves the forest.

Kotarou becomes disillusioned with Guardian while on a mission in a war-torn third-world country, and returns to Kazamatsuri where he meets Kagari. She tells him she must destroy the Earth, but since this would lead to a dead world, Kagari must find good memories brought out through the betterment of life on Earth, as opposed to bad memories caused by war and conflict. Kotarou agrees to help her, because of his love for her and he acts as a double agent, which demolishes Gaia's and Guardian's infrastructure in Kazamatsuri. However, the holy maiden group within Gaia attempts to force Kagari to destroy humanity by singing the song of destruction. Meanwhile, the forest's trees awaken as demons and begin destroying the city. Kotarou goes to the Gaia temple to stop the song of destruction, but finds the holy maidens all dead.

Kotarou uses his Rewrite ability to run faster back to Kagari, who thanks him for showing her good memories. Kagari tells him he left hope and potential in the world, but Kotarou is still forced to kill her. The two confess their love to each other and kiss, which leads to Kagari and Kotarou to become an orb of light. The demons destroying the city disappear and humanity survives, though the world experiences an ice age outside of Kazamatsuri. In Kazamatsuri, a huge tree grows 500 meters tall in three years, which contains the orb of light from Kagari and Kotarou. The five heroines, now in high school, investigate the tree as members of the occult research society. The end of the game shows a seedling on the Moon (as the embodiment of the Moon's Kagari) sprouting on the barren regolith that is not supposed to sustain life.

[edit] Development

System requirements
Minimum Recommended
Windows[16]
Operating system Windows XP, Vista, 7 (32- or 64-bit)
CPU Intel Pentium 4 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 256 MB RAM 512 MB RAM
Hard drive space 7.5 GB
Graphics hardware DirectX 9.0 128 MB DirectX 9.0 256 MB

Rewrite is Key's ninth game, and is the first of Key's visual novels to feature a 16:9 image aspect ratio instead of the previously-used 4:3 aspect ratio. Rewrite is also the first Key game to be developed on Visual Art's' game engine Siglus.[17] The project's planning was headed by Itaru Hinoue, who is also the art director and character designer for Rewrite.[18] During the time when Key was developing their fifth game Tomoyo After: It's a Wonderful Life in 2005, Hinoue had more free time since she was just helping Fumio with the character design, and that is when Hinoue got the initial idea for Rewrite.[19] Hinoue wrote a proposal for the basis of Rewrite's premise and passed it on to Takahiro Baba, the president of Visual Art's.[20]

After the project was accepted, Hinoue consulted Key's former main scenario writer Jun Maeda on various game scenario writers to employ for Rewrite.[21] However, the one writer Hinoue wanted on the project was Romeo Tanaka, who she had become a fan of after she played FlyingShine's 2003 visual novel Cross Channel, written by Tanaka.[19] While he did not initially accept the offer, Tanaka decided to take the project when he was given the time he needed to do the job. When he accepted it, Tanaka was still unaware that Maeda had stepped down as Key's main scenario writer, and he became more interested when he was told that he would write Rewrite's overall story.[21]

To the president [of Visual Art's], if something like poison were injected into Rewrite, an interesting chemical reaction would take place. Romeo's scenarios are very logical, and Key can do moe as a focus, so there was nothing that was "scary". Therefore, he had the sort of feeling that if Ryukishi's taste was mixed in, the result would definitely be something deep and interesting, I heard him say.[22]

—Yūto Tonokawa[21]

At the time, the only other scenario writer on the project was Yūto Tonokawa of Key, who previously contributed on Key's sixth game Little Busters!.[23] Tanaka was tasked with drawing up the entire scenario framework,[19] and during this time, Takahiro Baba suggested that one more heroine route be added to the story to bring the total to six, but to do that they had to hire another writer.[21] Ryukishi07 of 07th Expansion, the creators of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Umineko no Naku Koro ni game franchises, was brought in as the third scenario writer after Baba suggested in late 2007 that Key ask him to join the staff for Rewrite.[19] Ultimately, Tanaka wrote the story leading up to the heroine's routes, Kotori's and Akane's scanarios, the Moon and Terra routes, and the bonus Oppai route. Tonokawa wrote Chihaya's and Sizuru's routes, and Ryukishi07 wrote Lucia's story.[1] Tanaka initially planned on the length of Rewrite's story to be on about the same scale as Key's second game Air, but as it increased in size, he later attempted to keep it close to the scale of Little Busters!.[21]

Rewrite marked the first time since Key's third game Clannad that Itaru Hinoue was staffed as the sole art director and character designer in a Key visual novel.[21] The school uniforms for the heroines in the game are old designs that Hinoue created and used before in dōjinshi (self-published work).[19] In particular, Hinoue spent much time on drawing the character art in Rewrite due in part to the design of the school uniforms, the fact that most of the female characters have long hair, and because of the increased aspect ratio.[20] Six more graphic artists worked on Rewrite: Torino headed the background art, Ryou Shigawa designed and illustrated the monsters, and the computer graphics in the game were done by Na-Ga, Shinory, Mochisuke, and Minimo Tayama.[1] The game's soundtrack was composed by Key's signature composers Jun Maeda and Shinji Orito, in addition to Maiko Iuchi of I've Sound, Sōshi Hosoi, and Ryō Mizutsuki.[18] Maeda also contributed on the quality control for the game.[18]

[edit] Marketing and release

Rewrite was announced on April 1, 2008,[24] which lead to some speculation whether it was an April Fool's joke or an actual announcement of Key's new game.[25] It was announced the following day on Key's blog that production on Rewrite had begun.[25][26] On April 1, 2010, Rewrite's official website was updated with the announcement that the game would be an adult game, but this turned out to be an April Fool's joke the following day.[25] It was later reported by Key in February 2011 that an adult version of Rewrite would definitely not be produced.[27] On April 1, 2011, Key released an anime video featuring the song "Rewrite" by Psychic Lover. The video was animated by White Fox,[28] and directed by Motoki Tanaka.[1] Again there was some speculation on its validity,[29] but Key confirmed the following day that the video and song would be used in Rewrite as the game's second opening theme song.[28]

Key hosted a promotional event on May 8, 2011 called Rewrite Fes. in Akihabara.[30] Displayed in the event hall were various large illustrations of Rewrite characters by Hinoue, as well as illustrations of the characters by various artists that were originally posted on Rewrite's official website.[31][32] The event featured live performances by NanosizeMir and Psychic Lover, as well as on-stage discussions of Rewrite development staff members and voice actors featured in the game. The staff members included Tonokawa and Ryukishi07 who discussed the game's scenario, and Orito and Hoshi who talked about Rewrite's music.[30][31] Orito also performed at the event on an electric guitar decorated with images of Rewrite including character images and the title logo. The guitar was later sold on Yahoo! Auctions in July 2011 for 405,000 yen.[33] Promotional items that could be purchased at the event included a Rewrite introduction pamphlet, a Rewrite stationary set, a remix album titled Deejay Busters! featuring remixes of music from Little Busters! and Key's eighth game Kud Wafter, and a Kanon light novel titled Kanojotachi no Kenkai (彼女たちの見解 The Girls' Opinions?) written by Mariko Shimizu and illustrated by Zen.[34]

A lengthy game demo of Rewrite came bundled with the limited edition version of Kud Wafter released on June 25, 2010.[35] Another slightly longer version of the demo, ver. 2.00, was released on Rewrite's official website on March 26, 2011.[36][37] A free benchmark program titled Chihaya Rolling became available for download at Key's official website on August 20, 2010. The program, which also came with the previously released demo, features Chihaya rolling down a hill and hitting boulders and Kotori's pet dog Chibi-Moth. The purpose of the program is to test whether a given Windows computer will be able to play Rewrite or other games using the Siglus game engine. If a rank of D and above is shown, gameplay of Rewrite will be normal, but if E is shown, gameplay will be fairly normal other than a few exceptions.[36] Between April 21 and May 9, 2011, Visual Art's accepted orders for a "Rewrite Note PC" laptop in two versions: a normal version and an AKN version with higher specifications;[38] AKN refers to Akane.[39] The AKN version has one random signature from either Hinoue, Orito or Tonokawa, though Visual Art's also sold the AKN version without the signature.[40][41] The AKN version also contained 16 Rewrite wallpaper images, with the normal version having nine.[38] The laptops feature five separate themes of system sounds, which use dialogue of the voice actresses of five Rewrite heroines: Kotori, Chihaya, Akane, Sizuru and Lucia.[38]

Rewrite was originally planned to be released on April 28, 2011,[42] seven years to the day of the release of Clannad.[43] The game was released on June 24, 2011 as a limited edition version, playable as a 2-disc DVD set on a Windows PC.[44] The limited edition came bundled with an approximately 80-page official guide book titled Rewrite of the Life, a remix album titled Soil, a CD containing recordings of the Internet radio show Radio Rewrite, three original cards from the Weiß Schwarz collectible card game, an original card from the Lycèe Trading Card Game, three extra DVD case covers, and a mobile phone strap.[45] Over two dozen stores in Akihabara and online offered special promotional items if the limited edition version of the game was bought at their store. These items included telephone cards, gift cards, mobile phone straps, pin buttons, desk mats, posters, cushion covers, tote bags, tapestries, and bed sheets.[46] The regular edition of Rewrite was released on September 30, 2011.[47]

[edit] Fan disc

In interviews before the release of Rewrite, Tonokawa expressed interest in expanding on the story if the game was well-received. Shortly after Rewrite's release, Tonokawa approached Takahiro Baba with the proposal, who gave his approval for the production of a fan disc.[48] Titled Rewrite Harvest festa!, the fan disc is produced by the same staff as Rewrite, and will be released on July 27, 2012, playable on a Windows PC.[49] The scenario consists of various spin-off stories which expand on Rewrite's story,[50] and there are at least six scenarios, one for each heroine.[48] The harvest festival from Rewrite is expanded on in Harvest festa!, and the fan disc also features official character art of Inoue, a supporting character who was unillustrated in Rewrite.[48]

[edit] Adaptations

[edit] Printed media

A manga illustrated by Sakana Tōjō titled Rewrite: Side-B began serialization in the October 2010 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine.[51] The first tankōbon volume for Side-B was released on April 27, 2011;[52] the second followed on December 17, 2011.[53] A second manga illustrated by Shūichi Kawakami titled Rewrite: Side-R began serialization in the April 2011 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh.[54] The first volume for Side-R was released on June 27, 2011;[55] the second followed on December 17, 2011.[56] Side-B and Side-R are meant to be read together as a pair.[57] A third, four-panel comic strip manga illustrated by Miyura Yano titled Rewrite Okaken e Yōkoso! (Rewrite オカ研へようこそ!?) began serialization in the June 2011 issue of Ichijinsha's Manga 4-koma Palette.[58] Despite the manga being released before the visual novel, the stories are based from the game. A fourth manga illustrated by Yayoi Hazuki titled Rewrite: Okaken Blog (Rewrite ‒OKA☆KEN ぶろぐ‒?) began serialization in volume 20 of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Festival! Comic on October 26, 2011.[59]

There have also been several sets of manga anthologies produced by different companies and drawn by a multitude of different artists. An anthology published by Taibundo and illustrated by Zen titled Ace Star Comics Rewrite was published in September 2011.[60] Two volumes of an anthology series released by Ichijinsha under the title Rewrite Comic Anthology were released between September and November 2011.[61][62] The first volume of a collection of four-panel comic strips released by Enterbrain under the title Magi-Cu 4-koma Rewrite was released in December 2011;[63] volume two will follow in March 2012.[64] A manga anthology titled Rewrite Comic A La Carte: Okaken Katsudō Hōkokusho (Rewrite　コミックアラカルト オカ研活動報告書?) appeared in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace and a single volume was released in October 2011.[65]

A series of seven short stories titled Rewrite: Ha Yure Sasayaku Shōkei de (Rewrite -葉揺れささやく小径で-?) written by the scenario writers of Rewrite and illustrated by Zen were serialized between the September 2011 and March 2012 issues of Dengeki G's Magazine.[66][67] The stories are self-described as an official illustrated story for Rewrite.[67] Three volumes of a short story compilation series by several authors titled Rewrite SSS were published by Harvest between October 2011 and January 2012.[68][69] Four volumes of a light novel anthology published by Visual Art's under their VA Bunko imprint titled Rewrite Novel Anthology were released between November 2011 and February 2012.[70][71] A 224-page art book titled Rewrite Perfect Visual Book (Rewrite パーフェクトビジュアルブック?) was released on November 30, 2011 by ASCII Media Works.[72]

[edit] Internet radio show

An Internet radio show to promote Rewrite called Radio Rewrite: Gekkan Tera Kazamatsuri Gakuin Shikyoku (ラジオRewrite 月刊テラ・風祭学院支局?, Radio Rewrite: Terra Monthly Magazine - Kazamatsuri Academy Branch) began broadcasting on May 27, 2011.[73][74] The show is streamed online every Friday, and is produced by the Japanese Internet radio stations Hibiki and Onsen. The show is hosted by Masakazu Morita and Chiwa Saitō, voices of Kotarou Tennouji and Kotori Kanbe from the game, respectively.[73] The first volume of a CD compilation containing the first ten broadcasts was released on September 30, 2011.[75] Volume two was released on January 27, 2012 containing the broadcasts through episode 20.[76]

[edit] Music

Main article: List of Rewrite soundtracks

Rewrite has seven pieces of theme music: two opening themes, and five ending themes. The first opening theme is "Philosophyz" by Runa Mizutani of the dōjin music group NanosizeMir.[77] The second opening theme is "Rewrite" by Psychic Lover. The first ending theme is "Yami no Kanata e" (闇の彼方へ Beyond the Darkness?) by NanosizeMir, and it is used for Kotori's and Chihaya's scenarios. The next two ending themes are "Koibumi" (恋文 Love Letter?) and "Itsuwaranai Kimi e" (偽らない君へ?), both sung by Nagi Yanagi. "Koibumi" is used for Sizuru's route, and "Itsuwaranai Kimi e" is used for Akane's and Lucia's stories. "Itsuwaranai Kimi e" is also used as an insert song during Lucia's route. The last two ending themes are "Watari no Uta" (渡りの詩?) used in the Moon route, and "Canoe" used in the Terra route, both sung by Aoi Tada. Eight of the main characters from Rewrite have background music leitmotifs—the six heroines, Haruhiko Yoshino and Sakuya Ohtori.[78] Kagari's theme is "Hinagiku" (ヒナギク Daisy?); Kotori's theme is "Nirinsō" (ニリンソウ Soft Windflower?); Chihaya's theme is "Asagao" (アサガオ Morning Glory?); Akane's theme is "Anthurium" (アンスリウム Ansuriumu?); Sizuru's theme is "Carnation" (カーネーション Kānēshon?); Lucia's theme is "Sunbright" (サンブライト Sanburaito?); Yoshino's theme is "DIS is a Pain"; lastly, Sakuya's theme is "Sanka" (散花?).[78]

The single for "Philosophyz" was released on January 28, 2011.[79] The single contained "Philosophyz" and "Yami no Kanata e" in original, short and instrumental versions. A single for "Rewrite" was released on May 27, 2011.[80] As with Key's previous works (excluding Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume), a music album came bundled with the limited edition release of the game; the album, released on June 24, 2011, is titled Soil and contains arranged versions of ten tracks of the game's music.[81] The game's original soundtrack was first released on August 12, 2011 at Comiket 80 containing 63 tracks; it was later released for general sale on October 28, 2011.[82] A remix album titled Branch was released on December 29, 2011 at Comiket 81.[83] Each of the singles and albums released were on Key's record label Key Sounds Label.

[edit] Reception

From January to May 2011, Rewrite ranked five times in the top ten in national PC game pre-orders in Japan. The rankings were at No. 9 in January, No. 4 in February, No. 3 in March, and twice at No. 1 in April and May.[84][85] Rewrite ranked first in terms of national sales of PC games in Japan in June 2011.[86] Rewrite would rank twice more in the top 50 highest selling PC games in Japan, at No. 14 in July and at No. 29 in August 2011.[87] According to public sales information published at Gamasutra, taken from the Japanese Amazon website, Rewrite was the number one top seller of PC games in Japan the day of its release.[88] Rewrite premiered as the No. 1 game sold on Getchu.com, a major redistributor of visual novel and domestic anime products, during the month of its release,[89] and at No. 30 in July.[90] The game would go on to be the No. 8 game sold for the first half of 2011,[91] and at No. 11 for the whole year.[92]

On the day of its release, two video game retailers in Akihabara opened two hours early for advance sales of Rewrite.[93] The main Gamers store opened at 7 a.m. to a line of about 200 people. The Sofmap Amusement store opened at 9 a.m. and used two floors in the eight-story building for sales of Rewrite: the fifth floor was used for general sale and advance orders of the game, while the eighth floor was used solely for those who had reserved their copy.[93]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n (in Japanese) Rewrite パーフェクトビジュアルブック [Rewrite Perfect Visual Book]. ASCII Media Works. November 30, 2011. pp. 1–224. ISBN 978-4-04-886048-2. 
  2. ^ "世界設定 | 風祭市 [Concept | Kazamatsuri]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg01.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  3. ^ "世界設定 | 風祭学院高校 [Concept | Kazamatsuri Institute High School]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg04.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  4. ^ "世界設定 | オカルト研究会部室 [Concept | Occult Research Society Room]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg07.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  5. ^ "世界設定 | 森 [Concept | Forest]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg06.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  6. ^ "世界設定 | 瑚太朗の部屋 [Concept | Kotarou's Room]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg08.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  7. ^ "世界設定 | K-スラム [Concept | K-Slum]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/concept_bg05.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  8. ^ "Kotarou Tennouji" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_kotarou.html. Retrieved April 14, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Akane Senri" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_akane.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  10. ^ "Chihaya Ohtori" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_chihaya.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  11. ^ "Sakuya Ohtori" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_sakuya.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  12. ^ "Kotori Kanbe" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_kotori.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  13. ^ "Chibi-Moth" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_chibimosu.html. Retrieved January 16, 2012. 
  14. ^ "Sizuru Nakatsu" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_sizuru.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  15. ^ "Lucia Konohana" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/cha_lucia.html. Retrieved January 22, 2010. 
  16. ^ "Product Spec" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/product01.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  17. ^ "リトバスvitaのちょっとした作業日誌 [Little Busters vita's Small Work Journal]" (in Japanese). Key. October 7, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2011/10/lbvita111007.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  18. ^ a b c "Staff" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/product02.html. Retrieved March 31, 2009. 
  19. ^ a b c d e "Rewrite Staff Interview" (in Japanese). Dengeki G's Magazine (ASCII Media Works) (November 2008). 
  20. ^ a b "Key最新作「Rewrite」企画・原案の樋上いたるさんインタビュー [Interview of Itaru Hinoue, Designer and Planner of Key's Newest Work Rewrite]" (in Japanese). Gigazine. June 26, 2011. http://gigazine.net/news/20110626_key_rewrite_interview_itaru/. Retrieved June 27, 2011. 
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Rewrite Production Staff Special Interview" (in Japanese). Key 10th Anniversary Book (Kadokawa Shoten): 8–13. 2009. 
  22. ^ Untranslated quote: 社長的には「Rewrite」に毒のような物を注入できればおもしろい化学反応が起きるんじゃないかと。ロミオさんのシナリオは非常にロジカルなもの、Keyができるのは萌え中心。そこに「怖さ」みたいなものはない。そこに竜騎士さんのテイストが混ざれば結果的に深みのあるおもしろいものになるに違いない、そういう予感みたいなものだそうです。
  23. ^ "リトルバスターズ! 製品内容 [Little Busters! Product Details]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/little/products.htm. Retrieved June 9, 2008. 
  24. ^ "Key完全最新作「Rewrite」の製作が決定しました!! [Key's Latest Work, Rewrite, to be Produced!!]" (in Japanese). Key. April 1, 2008. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2008/04/eyrewrite.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  25. ^ a b c "「CLANNAD」「リトルバスターズ!」で知られるKeyの最新作「Rewrite(リライト)」発売日が決定 [The Release Date Has Been Decided for Key's Latest Work "Rewrite", from the Makers of "Clannad" and "Little Busters!"]" (in Japanese). Gigazine. October 28, 2010. http://gigazine.net/news/20101028_key_rewrite_releaseday/. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  26. ^ "マジですよ [It's True]" (in Japanese). Key. April 2, 2008. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2008/04/post_6.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  27. ^ "Rewrite開発日誌 [Rewrite Development Journal]" (in Japanese). Key. February 11, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2011/02/post_105.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  28. ^ a b "2ndOPが公開になりました。 [2nd OP Released]" (in Japanese). Key. April 2, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2011/04/post_112.html. Retrieved April 4, 2011. 
  29. ^ "Keyが6月24日発売の最新作「Rewrite」のアニメムービーを公開 [Anime Movie Released for Key's Latest Work "Rewrite" to be Sold on June 24]" (in Japanese). Gigazine. April 1, 2011. http://gigazine.net/news/20110401_rewrite_animation_movie/. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  30. ^ a b "Rewrite Fes." (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite_fes/. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  31. ^ a b "Rewrite Fes. Special Report" (in Japanese). Key Station (Kadokawa Shoten): 60–61. July 2011. 
  32. ^ "Rewrite 応援イラスト [Rewrite Support Illustrations]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/special/ouen.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  33. ^ "Key・折戸伸治さん使用の「Rewriteギター」がヤフーオークションで40万5千円 [Guitar Used by Shinji Orito of Key Sold on Yahoo! Auctions for 405,000 Yen]" (in Japanese). Excite. August 2, 2011. http://www.excite.co.jp/News/column_g/20110802/Terrafor_news_fZTEQYwegI.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  34. ^ "グッズ情報 [Goods Information]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite_fes/goods.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  35. ^ "Spec" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/kudo/spec.html. Retrieved April 6, 2010. 
  36. ^ a b "Rewrite:Download|Key Official HomePage" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/download.html. Retrieved August 22, 2010. 
  37. ^ "『Rewrite』体験版ver2.00配布のお知らせ [Rewrite Trial Version ver. 2.00 Distribution Notice]" (in Japanese). Key. March 26, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2011/03/rewritever200.html. Retrieved February 17, 2012. 
  38. ^ a b c "『Rewrite NotePC』オフィシャルサイト ["Rewrite Note PC" Official Site]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/rewrite_notepc/. Retrieved February 26, 2012. 
  39. ^ "RewritePC日誌 [Rewrite PC Journal]" (in Japanese). Key. April 6, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2011/04/post_113.html. Retrieved February 26, 2012. 
  40. ^ "Rewrite NotePC : AKN Ver" (in Japanese). Visual Art's. http://va.koubaibu.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=76. Retrieved February 26, 2012. 
  41. ^ "Rewrite NotePC : AKN Ver(サインなし) [Rewrite Note PC: AKN Ver (no signature)]" (in Japanese). Visual Art's. http://va.koubaibu.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=77. Retrieved February 26, 2012. 
  42. ^ "『Rewrite』発売の延期と通信販売再受付につきまして [Rewrite Sale Date Postponed and Will Re-accept Mail Orders]" (in Japanese). Key. March 23, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2011/03/rewrite_9.html. Retrieved March 23, 2011. 
  43. ^ "Clannad | Key Official HomePage" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/product/clannad/. Retrieved January 25, 2012. 
  44. ^ "Rewrite" (in Japanese). Visual Art's. http://www.product.co.jp/products/item.asp?rate=0&id=732. Retrieved January 16, 2012. 
  45. ^ "Rewrite 初回限定版特典情報 [Rewrite Limited Edition Special Favors Information]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/special/syokai.html. Retrieved June 22, 2011. 
  46. ^ "Rewrite 店舗特典情報 [Rewrite Store Special Favor Information]" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite/special/tenpo.html. Retrieved February 18, 2012. 
  47. ^ "Rewrite 通常版 [Rewrite regular edition]" (in Japanese). Visual Art's. http://www.product.co.jp/products/item.asp?rate=0&id=819. Retrieved January 16, 2012. 
  48. ^ a b c "Rewrite Harvest festa!" (in Japanese). Dengeki G's Magazine (ASCII Media Works) (November 2011): 22–23. ISBN 4-9101-6459-1114. 
  49. ^ "Rewrite Harvest festa! | Key Official HomePage" (in Japanese). Key. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/rewrite_hf/index.html. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
  50. ^ "RewriteHf開発日誌 [RewriteHf Development Journal]" (in Japanese). Key. September 30, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/diary/2011/09/post_128.html. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
  51. ^ "Rewrite" (in Japanese). Dengeki G's Magazine (ASCII Media Works) (October 2010). 
  52. ^ "Rewrite: SIDE-B (1)" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/B1105750. Retrieved June 23, 2011. 
  53. ^ "Rewrite: SIDE-B (2)" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/B1126830. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  54. ^ "『アイマス2』『Rewrite』『C3』が新連載!　ヒロイン満載のカレンダーも付いて、電撃大王4月号2/26発売 [The Idolmaster 2, Rewrite, and C3 Are New Serializations! A Calendar Fully Loaded with Heroines is Also Included in the April Issue of Dengeki Daioh Sold on February 26]" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. February 25, 2011. http://moeoh.dengeki.com/archives/2808. Retrieved February 26, 2011. 
  55. ^ "Rewrite：SIDE-R (1)" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/B1109230. Retrieved June 27, 2011. 
  56. ^ "Rewrite：SIDE-R (2)" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/B1126800. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  57. ^ "Rewriteコミック情報 [Rewrite Comic News]" (in Japanese). Key. February 26, 2011. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2011/02/post_59.html. Retrieved February 26, 2011. 
  58. ^ "まんが4コマぱれっと [Manga 4-koma Palette]" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 22, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y9TurTX3. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
  59. ^ "電撃G's Festival! COMIC Vol.20 [Dengeki G's Festival! Comic Vol. 20]" (in Japanese). Mangaoh. http://www.mangaoh.co.jp/catalog/259350/. Retrieved December 16, 2011. 
  60. ^ "アース・スター コミックス　Rewrite [Ace Star Comics Rewrite]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4803002789. 
  61. ^ "Rewriteコミックアンソロジー [Rewrite Comic Anthology]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4758006555. 
  62. ^ "Rewrite コミックアンソロジー(2) [Rewrite Comic Anthology (2)]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4758006652. 
  63. ^ "マジキュー4コマRewrite(1) [Magi-Cu 4-koma Rewrite (1)]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4047276189. 
  64. ^ "マジキュー4コマRewrite(2) [Magi-Cu 4-koma Rewrite (2)]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4047279234. 
  65. ^ "Rewrite　コミックアラカルト オカ研活動報告書 [Rewrite Comic A La Carte: Okaken Katsudō Hōkokusho]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4047158100. 
  66. ^ "最新号紹介 | 電撃G'smagazine.com [Latest Issue Introduction | Dengeki G's magazine.com]" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/617lzxmoo. Retrieved August 22, 2011. 
  67. ^ a b "Rewrite: Ha Yure Sasayaku Shōkei de" (in Japanese). Dengeki G's Magazine (ASCII Media Works) (March 2012). 
  68. ^ "Rewrite SSS vol.1" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4434159615. 
  69. ^ "Rewrite SSS vol.3" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4434161229. 
  70. ^ "Rewrite ノベルアンソロジー1 [Rewrite Anthology 1]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4894906309. 
  71. ^ "Rewrite ノベルアンソロジー4 [Rewrite Anthology 4]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4894906368. 
  72. ^ "Rewrite パーフェクトビジュアルブック [Rewrite Perfect Visual Book]" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/A1122640. Retrieved November 30, 2011. 
  73. ^ a b "「ラジオRewrite　月刊テラ・風祭学院支局」番組詳細 [Radio Rewrite Monthly Tera Kazamatsuri Academy Branch Office]" (in Japanese). Hibiki Radio Station. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5yXeSVtco. Retrieved May 8, 2011. 
  74. ^ "Rewriteのラジオ、ついに配信日決定! [The Transmission Day for Rewrite's Radio has Finally Been Decided!]" (in Japanese). Onsen. April 29, 2011. http://www.onsen.ag/blog/?p=13944. Retrieved June 27, 2011. 
  75. ^ "小鳥と瑚太朗の漫才トーク、ここに開幕! [Kotori's and Kotarou's Comedy Talk, Opening Here!]" (in Japanese). Onsen. July 15, 2011. http://www.onsen.ag/blog/?p=15065. Retrieved July 31, 2011. 
  76. ^ "ボケては突っ込み、突っ込んではボケて...　繰り広げられる、漫才トークの応酬― [Silly Lines are Retored, Serious Lines are Made Fun of...Unfolds with the Exchange of a Comedy Talk]" (in Japanese). Onsen. November 25, 2011. http://www.onsen.ag/blog/?p=17508. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  77. ^ "Profile" (in Japanese). NanosizeMir. http://nanosizemir.com/profile.html. Retrieved June 25, 2010. 
  78. ^ a b (2011) Album notes for Rewrite Original Soundtrack by Jun Maeda, Shinji Orito, Maiko Iuchi, Sōshi Hosoi, Ryō Mizutsuki [booklet]. Osaka: Key Sounds Label (KSLA-0073–0075).
  79. ^ "『Rewrite』OP主題歌マキシシングル2011.01.28発売 [Rewrite OP Theme Song Maxi Single to be Sold on January 28, 2011]" (in Japanese). Key. December 21, 2010. http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/info/2010/12/rewriteop20110128.html. Retrieved January 14, 2011. 
  80. ^ "Rewrite 2nd Opening Theme song/Rewrite" (in Japanese). Key Sounds Label. http://key.soundslabel.com/discography.html?ksl0069/ksl0069. Retrieved May 8, 2011. 
  81. ^ "Soil". VGMdb. http://vgmdb.net/album/25230. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  82. ^ "Rewrite Original SoundTrack" (in Japanese). Key Sounds Label. http://key.soundslabel.com/discography.html?ksl0073/ksl0073. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  83. ^ "Rewrite Arrangement Album Branch". VGMdb. http://vgmdb.net/album/30329. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  84. ^ "予約状況ランキングログ [Reservation Ranking Log]" (in Japanese). PCpress. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5ziIvIxBF. Retrieved June 25, 2011. 
  85. ^ "予約状況ランキング [Reservation Ranking]" (in Japanese). PCpress. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5ziJaroXD. Retrieved June 25, 2011. 
  86. ^ "セールスランキング [Sales Ranking]" (in Japanese). PCpress. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60WXVRqvL. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
  87. ^ "セールスランキングログ [Sales Ranking Log]" (in Japanese). PCpress. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/64hcqDPPg. Retrieved January 14, 2012. 
  88. ^ "Saling The World: Ocarina of Time 3D Tops Worldwide Charts". Gamasutra. June 24, 2011. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35434/Saling_The_World_Ocarina_of_Time_3D_Tops_Worldwide_Charts.php. Retrieved January 15, 2011. 
  89. ^ "PCゲームセールスランキング 2011年6月 [PC Game Sales Ranking June 2001]" (in Japanese). Getchu.com. http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking201106.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  90. ^ "PCゲームセールスランキング 2011年7月 [PC Game Sales Ranking July 2001]" (in Japanese). Getchu.com. http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking201107.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  91. ^ "2011年上半期　ゲーム・セールスランキング [First Half of 2011 Game Sales Ranking]" (in Japanese). Getchu.com. http://www.getchu.com/pc/2011-1salesranking.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  92. ^ "2011年　ゲーム・セールスランキング [2011 Game Sales Ranking]" (in Japanese). Getchu.com. http://www.getchu.com/pc/salesranking2011.html. Retrieved January 15, 2012. 
  93. ^ a b "「Rewrite」がアキバで早朝販売を敢行! [Rewrite is Sold Early in Akiba!]" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. June 24, 2011. http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/615/615208/. Retrieved January 19, 2012. 

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