Nekopara
| Nekopara | |
|---|---|
| File:Nekopara Cover.png Nekopara Vol. 0 Cover | |
| Genre(s) | Eroge, Visual novel |
| Developer(s) | Neko Works |
| Publisher(s) | Sekai Project |
| Creator(s) | Sayori |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| First release | Nekopara Vol. 1 December 29, 2014 |
| Latest release | Nekopara Vol. 2 February 19, 2016 |
Nekopara (ネコぱら) is a Japanese adult visual novel series developed by Neko Works and published by Sekai Project. The first game in the series, Nekopara Vol. 1, was released on December 29, 2014.[1] The series is set in a world where humans live alongside catgirls, known as "Nekos," and are able to keep them as pets.
Gameplay
Nekopara is a visual novel series, so the majority of the gameplay consists of the player reading the game's story. Nekopara does not offer choices to the player throughout gameplay, and the player has no influence over the story. The games are fully voiced (except for the protagonist) and use a system called "E-mote" that allows the in-game characters to be animated, instead of stationary sprites.[2] Nekopara Vol. 0 added a new feature where the player can click on characters in-game, to "pet" them. The characters will react in different ways depending on where the player pets them.
Plot
Kashou Minaduki is an aspiring chef who moves away from home to open his own confection shop. While he is unpacking in his new shop, he discovers that two of his family's Nekos, Chocola and Vanilla, came along with him by hiding in cardboard boxes. After the two Nekos convince Kashou to let them stay and live with him, the three of them work together to run his shop, "La Soleil". Throughout the story, Kashou is frequently visited by his younger sister Shigure, as well as the other Nekos owned by his family.
Characters
- Kashou Minaduki (水無月 嘉祥, Minaduki Kashou)
- The protagonist of the series. Kashou comes from a long line of chefs, and decides to move away from home and open his own shop.
- Chocola (ショコラ)
- Voiced by: Himari
- Chocola is a cheerful and energetic brown haired Neko. She is very fond of Kashou, and calls him "master". She could not bear the thought of being separated from her master, so she came along with him when he moved to his new shop. She is Vanilla's twin sister.
- Vanilla (バニラ)
- Voiced by: Amu Nakamura
- Vanilla is a quiet and calm white haired Neko. She rarely expresses her emotions, making her a somewhat of a kūdere character. She loves her twin sister Chocola, and will follow her anywhere she goes. Chocola and Vanilla are the youngest of the Minaduki family Nekos.
- Shigure Minaduki (水無月 時雨, Minaduki Shigure)
- Voiced by: Emi Sakura
- Kashou's younger sister. She appears to have romantic feelings for Kashou in an incestuous way. She and her older brother are the owners of the Minaduki family Nekos.
- Azuki (アズキ)
- Voiced by: Mia Naruse
- Azuki is the oldest of the Minaduki family Nekos. Despite being the oldest, she has a mischievous personality. However, she lives up to being the eldest catgirl by effortlessly managing and leading her sisters as they work in Kashou's cafe. She also has a tsundere personality, acting sarcastic and tough to hide her real emotions towards everyone. She is a Munchkin cat.
- Maple (メイプル)
- Voiced by: Yui Ogura
- Maple is the second oldest of the Minaduki family Nekos. She has an independent/mature personality. She enjoying visiting cafes to try different food and drinks. She is an American Curl.
- Cinnamon (シナモン)
- Voiced by: Yū Arisaka
- Cinnamon is the third oldest of the Minaduki family Nekos. She has a dirty mind, so she frequently interprets things in a sexual manner, and ends up becoming aroused. She has the largest busts of all the Nekos. She is a Scottish Fold.
- Coconut (ココナツ)
- Voiced by: Ryōko Tezuka
- Coconut is the third youngest of the Minaduki family Nekos. Other characters praise her for her "cool" personality, but she wishes she were cute rather than cool. She suffers from low self-esteem because of her klutziness and self-proclaimed lack of skills. She also tries to do more than she can to seem more like an older sister, as well as not seem burdening to Kashou and the other catgirls. She was revealed that she tries to be someone she's not. She is a Maine Coon.
- Milk (ミルク)
- Voiced by: Emi Sakura
- A young Neko who works at a nearby takoyaki stand.
Release history
Nekopara Vol. 1, was released in two versions: an uncensored adult version that includes explicit sex scenes and nudity, and a censored all ages version where the explicit content is removed.[3] The all ages version was released on December 29, 2014,[4] and the uncensored adult version was released a day later on December 30, 2014.[5] As of August 2015, Nekopara Vol. 1 has sold over 110,000 copies.[6] An all ages Fan disc titled Nekopara Vol. 0 was released on August 16, 2015.[7][8] Nekopara Vol. 2 was released on February 19, 2016.[9]
| Vol. | Release date |
|---|---|
| 1 | December 29, 2014 |
| 0 | August 16, 2015 |
| 2 | February 19, 2016 |
Reception
Hardcore Gamer gave Nekopara Vol. 1 a positive review, stating that "Nekopara is a light and fluffy visual novel that fans of catgirls will enjoy," but noted that "some may be put off by the sexual storyline aspect."[10]
References
- ^ "NEKOPARA Vol. 1 on Steam". Valve Corporation. December 5, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "Meet the Catgirls of Sekai Project's Visual Novel Nekopara Vol 1". Silicon Era. December 29, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "The Sex Games That Steam Censors". Kotaku. January 21, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "Catgirl visual novel Nekopara out today on Steam". Destructoid. December 29, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "Sekai Project Adds Nekopara Vol. 1 Visual Novel to Steam Greenlight". Anime News Network. November 12, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ "Neko Works tweet". Twitter. August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ^ "【ダウンロード版】ネコぱらvol.0～水無月ネコたちの日常！" (in Japanese). Neko Works. August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- ^ "NEKOPARA Vol. 0 on Steam". Valve Corporation. August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ "NEKOPARA Vol. 2 on Steam". Valve Corporation. February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Review: Nekopara Vol. 1". Hardcore Gamer. December 29, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2015.