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To Heart Remake Game's Video Reveals June 26 Release With English Version

AQUAPLUS unveiled a new promotional video for the remake of its 1997 To Heart visual novel/dating sim game on Thursday. At the same time, Shiravune announced that it will release an English version of the remake. The video reveals the game's June 26 release date, and Shiravune will release the game in English on June 25 (or June 26 depending on time zone). Shiravune is streaming an English version of the game's promotional video. The video features a new version of the game's original opening song "Feeling Heart" by YURiKA (originally performed by Nakatsukasa Masami in the PSX version of the game, and the 1999 television anime).

The below video by AQUAPLUS shows a comparison between the 1999 opening and the new remake opening, entirely recreated.

Shiravune's release of the game will also feature Chinese as well as English. The release will be the first official international translation of the game ever made.

The game's website also reveals some new features of the game, which include in-game events fully recreated in CG with cinematic camera presentations. The game will also allow players to switch between one or two lines of text being displayed in a bottom text box (so-called "ADV" presentation in Japanese), or with multiple lines of text overlayed over the graphics (so-called "NVL" presentation in Japanese), as in the original game.

The site revealed new cast members, including Kakeru Hota as Shiho (originally voiced by Chieko Higuchi), Saho Shirasu as Aoi Matsubara (originally voiced by Mayumi Iizuka), and Shōgo Sakata as protagonist Hiroyuki Fujita (unvoiced in the original game, but voiced by Kazuya Ichijō in the anime). Previously announced cast members include include Kana Ichinose as Akari Kamigishi and Hina Yomiya as Multi (Ayako Kawasumi previously voiced Akari, while Yui Horie previously voiced Multi). The game allows players to switch between the original and new voice cast at any time.

The game's website notes that the game will have a download version on Switch and Steam, as well as a regular physical edition on the Switch. The game will also have a premium edition release on both the Switch and Steam that will include all 13 episodes of the game's 1999 television anime adaptation. Shiravune's English release does not mention the inclusion of a premium edition with the anime.

AQUAPLUS released the To Heart visual novel on Windows for PC in 1997, and later released it as the company's first ever console game in 1999 on the PlayStation (though both versions have many significant plot differences). The visual novel/dating sim is known as a classic in the genre, whose character designs and relaxed pacing have influenced numerous otaku media thereafter. Notably, the character of Multi is known by Japanese otaku as a hallmark of moe character design and writing, with her spirited attitude and cute demeanor contrasting with her sad fate.

The game inspired a television anime in 1999, as well as a second season focusing on Multi titled ToHeart - Remember my memories in 2004. The game received the sequel game To Heart 2 in 2004, which itself inspired a television anime in 2005, as well as numerous OVAs and spinoff games in subsequent years.

Sources: Press release, To Heart remake's website