Konami’s got a new dating game coming out for guys that’s pretty revolutionary. Love Plus is scheduled to debut on the DS on September 3, 2009. The tagline is, “Always in love… 365 days. Feel this love every day and night.” Incredibly appropriate because it’s the first dating game visual novel to take place in real time.
While Love Plus is technically a visual novel dating simulation, Konami is billing it as a communication game. How long you spend playing, combined with what time and what season, help determine what events you’ll trigger. By spending extended periods of time with one of the three chaseable girls in the game, Manaka Takane, Rinko Kobayakawa and Nene Anegasaki, you help build an emotional connection with her. As time goes on, you can even end up marrying one of them.
Konami is known for touch screen dating games, such as Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 1st Love, TMGS 2nd Season and Hana Yori Dango DS, so it should come as no surprise that there is a physical element as well. There’s a touching/flirting option, where players can touch and “kiss” the girls. Famitsu also mentions that there will be a beach event with the girls where the player rubs suntan lotion on them.
Also, like the Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side DS games, people play Love Plus while holding the DS like a book. The touch screen features the girl you’re talking to and meeting with, while the opposing screen displays pertinent additional information. Especially intriguing is the fact that there’s a combination of CG images and 3D character models used throughout the game. It seems like CG images will be used for special in-game “events” and the 3D models will appear during normal daily visits and dates.
Of course, this means Love Plus is going to be a bit like Animal Crossing. If you want a character like you more, you have to visit on her birthday and holidays. Conversely, if you slip up, you’ll fall from grace and likely have to spend more time trying to win her back.
