Angelique (video game series)

The Angelique Series logo.

The Angelique Series logo.

Angelique (アンジェリーク, Anjerīku) is a series of Neoromance dating sims by Ruby Party and published by Koei with character designs by shōjo manga artist Kairi Yura and music by Kuzuu Chinatsu. The gimmick is that the games are by women for women. Due to its popularity, the series has expanded to include a wide variety of media, including a manga series, novels, several OVAs, and numerous CDs and dramas. A TV anime series began in July 2006.[1] Starting in 1994, it is possibly the first GxB dating sim to have ever been produced, predating the 1995 American Laser Games title McKenzie & Co which is often claimed as such.

Currently, the series has only been released in Japan, with the exception of a Chinese PC version of the first game in the series. It is somewhat popular with overseas import gamers, who have started petitions in the hopes of English-translated releases of various games in the series. KOEI mentioned in an issue of Newtype USA that it is a possibility if enough demand is shown.

Plot

The basic lore of the series is built around a Queen who fairly and wisely rules a Cosmos. By balancing elemental forces with the help of nine Guardians, she keeps the various planets in her domain stable and her people content. However, the powers of the Queen and the Guardians fade over time, and successors must be appointed. In the first game and its various remakes, the protagonist is a 17-year-old girl named Angelique Limoges who has been chosen by the current Queen and her aide Dia as one of two candidates from the Royal Smallney Girls' Academy to become the next Queen. She is transported to the Flying City to begin her final examination.

Each of the candidates is given a land to populate. Whoever finishes populating their land first wins and becomes the next Queen. It is done with the help of nine Guardians who use their powers to make the people of the candidate's land happy, or to devastate their rival's. Along the way, the candidates become friends with the Guardians and can fall in love. If they choose love, they forfeit their chance to become Queen, but will live happily ever after.

The story expands in later titles, but most entries in the series feature one of a succession of girls named Angelique as the protagonist, with ever larger casts of characters. The roster of potential love interests swells to 19 characters in later titles.

Game Software

Dating sim titles

• Angelique (アンジェリーク)

First installment in the series. Angelique Limoges, an ordinary high school girl, is chosen as a queen candidate. With help from the power of the nine Guardians, she aims to be the next Queen. Angelique Voice Fantasy, Angelique Special, and Angelique Duet are all different versions of this game.

• Angelique Special 2 (アンジェリークSpecial2)

Second installment in the series. Angelique Collet, a girl who lives in the cosmos that the heroine of the first game now rules, is chosen as a queen candidate for a new cosmos. The count of male characters increases to include the nine Guardians, as well as three Tutors and three Collaborators.

• Angelique Trois (アンジェリーク トロワ)

Third installment in the series. Angelique Collet now queen of a new cosmos, is drawn into a pocket cosmos, Arcadia, with the rest of the Angelique Special 2 cast. She develops the wilderness of Arcadia in order to free Elda, a strange being she finds there.

• Angelique Etoile (アンジェリーク エトワール)

Fourth installment in the series. The main character is a girl from the cosmos ruled by Angelique Limoges named Ange, who must save the cosmos as the "Legendary Etoile". Includes all of the major characters from previous Angelique titles, plus three new "Holy Beast Cosmos" Guardians.

Dating sim/Adventure titles

• Neo Angelique (ネオ アンジェリーク)

A renewal of the series with all new characters.

RPG titles

• Angelique Tenkū no Requiem (アンジェリーク 天空の鎮魂歌)

A traditional console RPG with dating sim events and multiple endings. Angelique Collet is the heroine. The cosmos which Angelique Limoges rules is under attack from a mysterious figure called the "emperor", and Angelique Collet must come to the rescue.

Board Game titles

• Fushigi no Kuni no Angelique (ふしぎの国のアンジェリーク)

Angelique Limoges is the main character. The goal is to explore the Flying City to find the Guardian's tea party. Though a board game, it has dating sim events and multiple endings.

• Sweet Ange (スワィートアンジェ)

Features the first two heroines, their rivals, the nine Guardians and the tutors and collaborators as students attending the same high school. The goal is to make dessert dishes and get rewards for them. Though a board game, it has dating sim events and multiple endings.

Doujin titles

• A doujin game based on the series also exists, a BxG PC title named Angeleo where the characters' genders have been switched.

Manga

• Angelique (Kairi Yura)
• Guruguru Angelique (ぐるぐるアンジェリーク) (J.O. Oda)

OVA and TV animation

• Angelique: Shiroi Tsubasa no Memoire (アンジェリーク 白い翼のメモワール)
• Angelique: Seichi yori Ai o Komete (アンジェリーク 聖地より愛をこめて)
• Angelique Twin Collection (アンジェリークＴＷＩＮコレクション)
• OVA Angelique
• Koisuru Tenshi Angelique (恋する天使 アンジェリーク)

CDs

Gaiden Drama Series

• Angelique Gaiden: Infinite Scale (アンジェリーク外伝　無限音階)
• Angelique Gaiden 2: Outline in Crimson (アンジェリーク外伝２　緋の輪郭)
• Angelique Gaiden 3: Mirrors of the Forbidden Land (アンジェリーク外伝３　禁域の鏡)'
• Angelique Gaiden 4: Rainbow Memories (アンジェリーク外伝４　虹の記憶)

Characters

Main article: List of Angelique characters

• Angelique Limoges
  • Age: 17
  • Role: Queen Candidate
  • Seiyuu: Shiratori Yuri
  • Personality: Cheerful and friendly, a bit a tad clumsy.

• Rosalia de Catargena
  • Age: 17
  • Role: Queen Candidate
  • Seiyuu: Mitsuishi Kotono
  • Personality: Confident and dignified.

• Julious
  • Age: 25
  • Role: Guardian of Light
  • Seiyuu: Hayami Shou
  • Personality: Cold and austere

• Clavis
  • Age: 25
  • Role: Guardian of Dark
  • Seiyuu: Shiozawa Kaneto, Tanaka Hideyuki (current)
  • Personality: Gloomy and remote

• Luva
  • Age: 26
  • Role: Guardian of Earth
  • Seiyuu: Seki Toshihiko
  • Personality: Sincere and warm

• Oscar
  • Age: 22
  • Role: Guardian of Fire
  • Seiyuu: Kenyuu Horiuchi
  • Personality: Playboy

• Lumiale
  • Age: 21
  • Role: Guardian of Water
  • Seiyuu: Tobita Nobuo
  • Personality: Gentle and delicate

• Olivie
  • Age: 22
  • Role: Guardian of Dream
  • Seiyuu: Koyasu Takehito
  • Personality: Cheerful and openhearted

• Randy
  • Age: 18
  • Role: Guardian of Wind
  • Seiyuu: Nobutoshi Canna, formerly known as Nobutoshi Hayashi
  • Personality: Outgoing and high spirited

• Zephel
  • Age: 17
  • Role: Guardian of Steel
  • Seiyuu: Iwata Mitsuo
  • Personality: Rebellious

• Marcel
  • Age: 14
  • Role: Guardian of Green
  • Seiyuu: Yuuki Hiro
  • Personality: Sweet and innocent

See also

• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de

External links

• Official Neoromance Site
• Angelique at Neo-Romance.net
• ANN Angelique OAV data
• My Neoromance