Akai Ito (アカイイト, lit. "Red Thread") is a Japanese horror adventure game by Success Corporation, released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on October 21, 2004. A reduced price "popular edition", included in developer and publisher SUCCESS' SuperLite 2000 Series, was released on October 27, 2005. The title refers to the mythical red string of fate.
| Akai Ito | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Success Corporation |
| Publisher(s) | Success Corporation Hamster |
| Designer(s) | Hal |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch |
| Release | PlayStation 2
|
| Genre(s) | Visual novel, adventure, horror, yuri[1] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
A remastered "HD" version for the Nintendo Switch and PC, alongside with its younger "sister-game" Aoi Shiro, was released on May 24, 2023. It has English language option and was released outside Japan.[2]
Story
editAfter the death of her mother, orphaned high school student Kei Hatō heads for her late father's house in Hemizuka to settle issues with her inheritance. In the train on the way there, Kei has a mysterious dream of a huge tree and a woman who seems to be lost in sadness. In Hemizuka, Kei learns the secret concealed in her own blood through various meeting with an Oni Slayer, a friend of her late mother, a young girl accompanied by a white fox, and even the mysterious girl from her dreams. Throughout the story Kei is antagonized by the twin oni Nozomi and Mikage. Akai Ito's story varies greatly based upon the player's decisions, which not only affect the flow of the story but also the ending the player receives (several of which suggest romantic feelings among the female characters).
Character
edit
- Kei Hatō (羽藤桂) (CV: Miyu Matsuki)
The main character of the story, Kei is a rather careless person, which is quite ironic considering her favorite phrase is "always be prepared".
- Yumei (ユメイ) (CV: Yūko Minaguchi)
The mysterious girl from Kei's dreams.
- Uzuki Senba (千羽烏月) (CV: Akeno Watanabe)
The Oni Slayer Kei meets at the train station, her sword is the bane of the oni.
- Tsuzura Wakasugi (若杉葛) (CV: Rie Kugimiya)
A girl half Kei's age, accompanied by a white fox. Kei meets her in her father's now abandoned house.
- Sakuya Asama (浅間サクヤ) (CV: Asami Sanada)
A friend of Kei's deceased mother. She goes by the nickname "West".
- Nozomi, Mikage (ノゾミ・ミカゲ) (CV: Megumi Kobayashi)
Twin oni and the antagonists of the story.
- Kei (ケイ) (CV: Kazutaka Ishii)
A mysterious male, later known as Kei's brother called Hakuka.
- Mayumi Hatō (羽藤真弓) (CV: Nana Furuhara)
- Yōko Nara (奈良陽子) (CV: Mamiko Noto)
- Rin Tōgo (東郷凛) (CV: Miyuki Sawashiro)
Staff
edit- Character design / Original picture: HAL
- Script: Tomoyuki Fumotogawa
- Music: MANYO (Little Wing)
- Background: J.C.Staff
Music
edit- Opening theme song 『 Mawaru Sekai de (廻る世界で) 』 by Haruka Shimotsuki / Riya
- Ending theme song 『 Tabiji no Hate (旅路の果て) 』 by Haruka Shimotsuki / Riya
Adaptations
editManga
editAkai Ito has also received several manga adaptations: a one-shot by Muttri Moony published in the July 2004 issue of Yuri Shimai, by the name "Swear"; and a short manga published in the May and June 2007 issues of Monthly Comic Rush. A special anthology was created for a limited edition, featuring various stories from different artists.
Web novel
editA free web novel of Akai Ito was released on Success' official Akai Ito website,[3] and follows one of the storylines accessible when playing the video game.
Drama CD
editOne drama CD has been released. It was first released as a Limited Edition version in October 2005 and later a regular version was released on December 26, 2006.[4]
Notes and references
edit- ^ Morishima, Akiko (April 2007). "YurixYuri Kenbunroku". Comic Yuri Hime (in Japanese) (8). ASIN B000PAAJN8.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 14, 2022). "Akai Ito & Aoi Shiro HD Remaster announced for Switch, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Akai Ito web novel Archived 2009-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, Akai Ito's web novel.
- ^ "アカイイトドラマCD「京洛降魔」（通常版）" (in Japanese). Success. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
External links
edit- Akai Ito official website (in Japanese)
- SUCCESS official site (in Japanese)
- Aoi Shiro official site (in Japanese)
- ZoharContact's Akai Ito fan translation Archived 2020-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Aoi Shiro/Akai Ito HD official website (in Japanese)