Moo... Still milking the Ai yori Aoshi cow. This is the first game released after the second season was finished. It had an original release date of 4/29/04, but was delayed until 5/20/04. And believe it or not, they're still milking it with the upcoming release of another drama CD at the end of September.

The game engine itself sucks compared to other adventure games. You can't scroll back through the text and there's barely any choices to make in the game. Each chapter takes about an hour to complete and doesn't even have an intro nor ending movie.

The stories are what I've come accustomed to Ai yori post-season 1. Short, episodic, and not much substance with a little sentimental scene between Kaoru and Aoi at the end. I really hope the manga can make up for the serious shortfall of the anime.

The only redeeming factor is that the CDs come with a bunch of wallpapers of previously published Ai yori images. I don't know how complete they are, but I remember seeing all of them somewhere before, many from the artbook and media covers. At least I don't have to scan pictures in anymore as I have the direct digital transfers I can use for wallpapers.

First edition of this game comes with postcards of previously used pictures as well as a pack of cards with previously used pictures. There's a special mail-in offer for those two bought both games but the deadline was end of July. The box is gigantic but the packaging comes in regular shrinkwrap instead of a resealable plastic, so I had to scan it with the sticker on.

Rating: 2/4

1. 春 (Spring): It's a spring day and the Sakura leaves are falling. Since it's so busy during the day, Kaoru and Aoi decide to invite everyone to visit the park at night. They arrive only to find that it's as crowded as it was during the day. After some searching, they find a spot to sit and enjoy the night singing, drinking, and playing card games. Chizuru and Natsuki come visit too. Aoi and Kaoru manage to find some time alone, only to be interrupted by a drunk Tina. Kaoru carries Tina home and Aoi remarks that she's a bit jealous of Tina.

2. 夏 (Summer): Kaoru has been assigned summer vacation homework to do some research in Okinawa. It just so happens that the Sakuraba group has a beach house there, so the gang heads to Okinawa. They play at the beach and visit some of the historical landmarks there. That night, Aoi accompanies Kaoru as he's writing up his report and ends up falling asleep on his shoulders.

Title: 恋愛出世絵巻えんxむす (En x Musu) Vol. 6
Artist/Author: たかひろ瀬口 (Seguchi Takahiro)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 192pp., w/furigana
Volume: 6/6
Original Serialization: Weekly Shonen Champion Vol 31, '03 - Vol 42, '03
First Printing: 1/10/04
Rating: 2/4

A prime example of a series that was forced to be cut short. I liked the stories in this volume up to chapter 50. Starting 51 to the end, it seemed really obvious that the author knew the series was coming to an end and had to end it soon. He starts throwing in things like DNA clones and such, much of which I'm still confused by, and then proceeds to eliminate each character one by one. The ending was a cop-out, but I guess there was no other choice.

There's the usual (incomplete) summary of characters but no letter from the author after the series has finished.

46. 久保直巳 (Naomi Kubo): Asuka plans to overthrow Koan by doing a hostile takeover with the remaining stockholders. The first target is Naomi Kubo with a 10% stake in company. Naomi runs an amusement park that's lacking in business. Sonya accidentally appears in one of the shows and becomes very popular. Word travels fast and people are flocking to the park. Naomi offers his stake if Sonya will keep performing and keep the customers coming.

47. 色仕掛け (Trap): The next two people are the current president, Koan's father, and 服部寛二 (Kanji Hattori, VP?). They get won over when Gisuke visits the grave of the president's late wife/Koan's mother. The president remembers when Koan made a desperate call to his father when his mother was going to die, but got a cold response and so Koan has blamed his father for the death. Gisuke says he can do a better job and gets the support of the two of them. The tally is now 46% Gisuke, 35% Koan, 10% Yanagi, and 9% others. Later, Gisuke tells Yanagi about their plan as he trusts her.

48. 役員会 (Director's Meeting): At the meeting, they do a count, but Koan seems to already know what they are up to and says that he's arranged it so that he'll get the 9% others in addition to Yanagi's share. But at the last moment, after Yanagi has a flashback to when she had a talk with Koan's maid, she breaks free from Koan's charm and gives her share to Gisuke.

49. 休みスタート (Vacation Start): Yanagi has a nightmare again about being left alone by her parents. Gisuke and gang go on vacation and stay in a fancy resort as he's the president of the company now. While everyone else is playing, Yanagi is doing everyone's homework. She falls asleep and has the dream again, but wakes up to see all her friends.

50. ビーチでSOS (SOS at the Beach): Asuka and Sonya have a swimming competition and Sonya gets lost in the currents. Without thinking, Gisuke swims out to the sea to rescue her, but also gets in trouble and passes out. They get picked up by Tendo in his motorboat. Ritsuko (company subordinate) scolds Gisuke for being so reckless.

51. 祭りの夜 (Night of Festival): At the summer festival, Kyosuke gets attacked by Genichiro's maid, Sayoko. Possessing the invicibility charm, he has his own maid, Rose, shoot her. She misses and surprisingly kills her master. When the police come, Rose kills herself knowing that it wasn't Sayoko who pulled the trigger but her.

52. 帝王のDNA (King's DNA): Genichiro talks about how Gisuke is a clone of the the previous head of Dragon. Gisuke gets news of Kyosuke's death and later gets a pummeled by Tendo, but claims that his injuries are from an accident. From the beating, he realizes what he must do and proposes to Yanagi.

53. ダスビターニャ (Goodbye [Russian]): Sonya stays behind for a bit to prepare for the reception at the house later. Tendo and Genichiro have a duel, and Tendo comes out on top, thereby removing one more successor (last one?). As Sonya is taking a taxi to the wedding, she gets killed underneath a rock slide.

54. 最後の選択 (The Last Choice): Gisuke leaves Yanagi at the alter and finds out that Sonya has died. He offers his body up to save her.

55. 伝説 (Legend): Afterwards, Gisuke is no longer alive (maybe?) and a statue is erected in his name. Sonya has a short monologue.