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== Games ==
== Games ==
=== '''Muv-Luv Alternative''' ===

Muv-Luv Alternative (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ) is a sequel to the first Muv-Luv game, taking place after the events of Unlimited (to Takeru, at least). The DVD version of the game was released on 24 February 2006, the CD version was released on 3 March 2006, and the all-age version was released on 22 September 2006.

The all-age version features new opening sequence with a new song by JAM Project, 5.1 surround sound, and the ability to skip to any chapter (even before the player starts the game, making this convenient for people who already played the original version). There are also new events and event CGs, and more voice acting for Takeru. Adult content is no longer present (toned down to the level of what one might see in a TV drama), and the more gory scenes were toned down. Some of the new events can only be seen if one has saves in which certain decisions were made from Extra/Unlimited (for example, in order to get the boat event, you have to first find the boat in Unlimited).

Unlike the first Muv-Luv game, it consists of only one part, Muv-Luv Alternative.

According to âge, Muv-Luv Alternative's genre is "a tale of love and courage" ("あいとゆうきのおとぎばなし"). It is even more serious in tone than Unlimited. It also features a lot of cameo appearances from other games by âge. In addition to the new main characters, one other main character from Kimi ga Nozomu Eien shows up, and several characters from other games are mentioned.

It is worth noting that Alternative takes up over 4.5 GB of hard drive space, and requires at least 256 MB of RAM as well as a minimum screen resolution of 1024×768. It also takes 14–20 hours (most report it to take around 16) to clear one playthrough (which is very long when compared to other adventure games).

Unlike most adventure games, there is only one ending and one route in Alternative. While it is possible to influence small portions of the story (like determining which letter Takeru reads at the end), the ending ultimately remains unchanged, and the characters who die cannot be saved.

In Alternative, Takeru wakes up three years after the end of Unlimited to find himself back in his room. Although he first thinks that everything that had happened to him was a dream, he soon feels that something is wrong, and leaves the house to find that he has been sent back in time to the beginning of the events in Unlimited. Unwilling to accept something like Alternative V, he decides to help professor Kouduki to complete Alternative IV and save mankind.

While the game starts off loosely following some of the events of Unlimited, Takeru soon makes enough of a difference for all sorts of things that didn't happen in the previous timeline to occur.

When talking about Alternative, fans typically use "AL" when referring to the world, and "Oruta" (オルタ) when referring to the game.

"Oruta madaa?" (オルタマダー?), "Is Oruta here yet?") was a frequent chant in Muv-Luv threads on BBSes such as 2ch during the three year wait after the first Muv-Luv. This was replaced with "Oruta FD madaa?" (オルタFDマダー?), "is the Oruta fandisc here yet?) after Alternative was released, but isn't seen nearly as often as its predecessor was.

While Alternative answers most of the questions and ends Muv-Luv's story (only three members of the Isumi Valkyries are left by the end of the game, excluding Takeru, who has left the world), the conflict with the BETA is far from resolved. While the Original Hive and the Superior (Target A) have been destroyed, the solar system, and indeed, the universe, is still filled with BETA (according the Superior, at least 10^37).

The game has been heavily criticized for its inclusion of several "grotesque" (gory) scenes, especially Marimo's death scene, which is undoubtedly the worst of the lot, in which she gets her head bitten off. However, fans argue that said scenes are necessary to let players know why Takeru is affected so heavily by those events (Takeru's reaction to Marimo's death results in a series of major plot twists).

Even the fans agree that that scene could have been censored, and shouldn't have been seen again in so many flashbacks, though. Due to this, a censor patch has been made available.

There is one last unique alternate world introduced in Alternative at the end of the game, which is referred to by fans as "FEX", for "final Extra".


''' Muv-Luv Supplement'''

Muv-Luv Supplement (マブラヴ サプリメント) is a Muv-Luv fandisc. The first edition was released on 17 December 2004, and the normal version was released on 24 December 2004.

It contains:

Sakura no Hana ga Saku Mae ni ～Muv-Luv After Episode～ 桜の花が咲く前に ～Muv-Luv After Episode～: An after story for Sumika's ending in Muv-Luv Extra

Muv-Luv Duelist: A spin-off of Muv-Luv featuring the Rumbling Angel trading card game

Muv-Luv ～Another Episode Collection～: An assortment of short stories featuring Muv-Luv's various characters

Kiminozo Rajio Shucchouban 2 (君のぞらじお出張版２): Kiminozo Radio, part two

=== '''Altered Fable''' ===
=== '''Altered Fable''' ===


Revision as of 22:42, 15 August 2011

Muv-Luv
File:Muv-Luv DVD-ROM cover.jpg
Cover of Muv-Luv (DVD Version)
マブラヴ
(Mabu Ravu)
GenreRomantic comedy
Manga
Written byUkyou Takao
Published byMediaWorks
MagazineDengeki Daioh
DemographicShōnen
Original run2002 – 2004
Volumes3
Video game
Developerâge
5pb. (Xbox 360)
GenreVisual novel
PlatformPC, Xbox 360
ReleasedFebruary 28, 2003 (CD)
April 30, 2004 (DVD)
September 22, 2006 (all-age)
October 27, 2011 (Xbox 360)
Manga
Muv-Luv Unlimited
Written byTomo Hirokawa
Published byMediaWorks
MagazineDengeki Daioh
DemographicShōnen
Original run2004 – 2007
Volumes4
Video game
Muv-Luv Alternative
Developerâge
5pb. (Xbox 360)
GenreVisual novel
PlatformPC, Xbox 360
ReleasedApril 24, 2006 (DVD)
March 3, 2006 (CD)
September 22, 2006 (all-age)
October 27, 2011 (Xbox 360)
Serial novel
Published byShueisha
Original runOctober 25, 2006 – present
Volumes7
Serial novel
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
Published byEnterbrain
MagazineTech Gian
Original runFebruary 2007 – present
Volumes2

Muv-Luv (マブラヴ, Mabu Ravu) is a Japanese visual novel developed by âge, which was originally released as an adult game for the PC in February 28, 2003. Subsequent versions with the adult content removed were sold for the PC and Xbox 360. Consisting of two parts, Muv-Luv Extra (マブラヴ エクストラ) and Muv-Luv Unlimited (マブラヴ アンリミテッド), the gameplay in Muv-Luv follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the differing scenarios of the female main characters. Muv-Luv was followed by a sequel, Muv-Luv Alternative (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ), which was released for the PC on April 24, 2006 and follows the storyline of Muv-Luv Unlimited. Two fandiscs were also released, Muv-Luv Supplement (マブラヴ サプリメント) and Muv-Luv Altered Fable (オルタード ALTERED FABLE), containing alternate scenarios, short stores, computer wallpapers, and audio dramas.

Muv-Luv has also made the transition to other media. Three manga series based on the games were published by MediaWorks and later ASCII Media Works and serialized in the manga magazine Dengeki Daioh. Shueisha published a seven volume novel series based on Muv-Luv and Muv-Luv Alternative while Enterbrain publishes a follow-up novel series, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse in its Tech Gian magazine and follows the events after Muv-Luv Alternative. Total Eclipse has also been adapted into the manga format by ASCII Media Works and an anime series which will air in 2012.

Gameplay

An average conversation in Muv-Luv featuring the player character talking to Sumika.

The gameplay in Muv-Luv requires little player interaction as much time is spent on reading the text that appears on the lower portion of the screen, representing either dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point", where he or she is given the chance to choose from multiple options. The time between these points is variable and can occur anywhere from a minute to much longer. Gameplay pauses at these points and depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress in a specific direction. There are multiple plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, one for each of the heroines in the story, and there are twenty possible endings. To view all plot lines, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and make different decisions to progress the plot in an alternate direction. The game can end prematurely is the player makes the wrong decisions. When this occurs, the player must go back to a previously saved spot and choose different decisions.

Muv-Luv is divided into two segments, or story arcs—Extra and Unlimited—which serve as different phases in the overall story. At the beginning of the game, only the Extra arc is available to play, but once the player has completed the scenarios available in Extra, Unlimited is made accessible. This is achieved by completing the scenarios for the two main heroins, Sumika Kagami and Meiya Mitsurugi.

Plot and characters

The plot of Muv-Luv is divided into two parts. The first part is called Muv-Luv Extra while the second part is called Muv-Luv Unlimited. In Extra, Takeshi Shirogane wakes up one morning to find a beautiful young woman sleeping in his bed and an infuriated Sumika Kagami, Takeshi's neighbor and childhood friend. The young woman, Meiya Mitsurugi, is the heiress to a financially powerful family and is determine to be Takeshi's bride. As the game progress, both girls compete for Takeshi's affections while Takeshi has reoccurring dreams about a marriage promise he made to a girl long ago. At first, he believes the girl was Sumika, but eventually realizes that it was actually Meiya. At the conclusion, Takeshi must choose between which of the girls he truly loves.

Muv-Luv Unlimited takes place in an alternate world to Extra, where aliens called BETA (an acronym for "Beings of the Extra Terrestrial origin which is Adversary of human race") have invaded and mankind fights back against the alien aggressors with giant robots called Senjutsuhokousentouki (戦術歩行戦闘機, Tactical Surface Fighter), usually referred to as simply Senjutsuki (戦術機), as almost all conventional weapons were ineffective.

The BETA first arrived on Earth in 1973 (in China and Canada) after arriving on the Moon in 1967 and being spotted on Mars in 1958. By 2001, the world population has been reduced to 1 billion people, and most of Europe and central Asia have been wiped out. The Soviet Union, though, is still around, operating out of Alaska. When the BETA first arrived in Japan in 1998, 36 million people were dead within a week.

Most of the major characters from the Extra timeline are present in Unlimited, except for the Unlimited world's Takeru, who is said to be dead, and Sumika, who does not seem to exist in the Unlimited timeline. The characters are, for the most part identical to their Extra counterparts, with the possible exception of Mikoto, who is now female.

In the sequel Muv-Luv Alternative, Takeru wakes up three years after the end of Unlimited to find himself back in his room. Although he first thinks that everything that had happened to him was a dream, he soon feels that something is wrong, and leaves the house to find that he has been sent back in time to the beginning of the events in Unlimited. Unwilling to accept something like Alternative V, he decides to help professor Kouzuki to complete Alternative IV and save mankind.

Games

Altered Fable

A Muv-Luv Alternative fandisc, Altered Fable (オルタード フェイブル) was announced in February 2007. It was released on August 31, 2007.

While it is claimed in the game that it is unrelated to the main series, the visual novel on the disk, Kagayaku Toki ga Kienu Ma ni is, for all intents and purposes, the continuation of Alternative and a rather different take on the story of Extra.

The outset of the story has Takeru(who apparently lost all memories of his planeshifting) lead a settled down life the way it was presented in the final moments of Alternative. The story quickly transforms into an absurdist comedy, especially concerning the unfathomably huge wealth of the Mitsurugi sisters who dote on and compete for the affections of the hapless Takeru. They go very far in their (surreal) spending. For example, they have no second thoughts(nor misgivings) about literally importing/dropping down on the schoolyard a massive piece of jungle using military airforce - to serve as a stage for the school Airsoft competition.

The Extra counterparts of all the male and female characters(including Mitsuki and Haruka from Kimi ga Nozomu Eien) who were introduced in the second half of Alternative make an appearance, some of them as assistant teachers, some of them as senior students. The highly literate, even obscure Japanese the foreign teachers speak is a running gag throughout the game. The story also includes an extended parody of the American series 24.

The disk also features a radio drama, a Senjoki vs. BETA strategy RPG, a batch of wallpapers and a Total Eclipse short story.

Contents of Fandisc 

   Kagayaku Toki ga Kienu Ma ni (The main story)
   Muv-Luv Alternative game (its a turn battle simulator with the robots vs the BETA, very hard to play)
   Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse AVN
   Muv luv web radio
   Character Gallery
   DVD with openings and promos

Total Eclipse

Total Eclipse is a new Muv-Luv Alternative project which started on 21 December 2006 with the February 2007 issue of Tech Gian. Its main medium is short stories supplemented with photographs of dioramas mainly featuring senjutsuki action figures by Volks. Total Eclipse is set in the same world as Alternative, at Alaska's Yukon base, test site 18, where first-class staff from all over the world regardless of country gather to work on new senjutsuki. The main characters are engineers and pilots. Total Eclipse is to feature many senjutsuki that failed to show up in Alternative.

Muv-Luv Chronicles

Muv-Luv Chronicles are two extras detailing the destruction of Marimo's squadron at the hands of the BETA during training, and the botched sortie resulting in the death of Sumika's sister.

Comics

There are three Muv-Luv comic series available. Muv-Luv, which covers Extra, Muv-Luv Unlimited, which covers Unlimited, and Muv Luv Alternative which covers Alternative. The first two have been completed, with Unlimited ending its run in the February 2007 issue of Dengeki Daioh. There are also several anthologies available.

Muv-Luv

A comic adaptation of Muv-Luv Extra's Sumika route.

Muv-Luv #1 (ISBN 4-8402-2334-3)

Muv-Luv #2 (ISBN 4-8402-2649-0)

Muv-Luv #3 (ISBN 4-8402-2924-4)

Muv-Luv Unlimited

A comic adaptation of Muv-Luv Unlimited's Meiya route, which ended its run in the February 2007 issue of Dengeki Daioh. Unlike the game, its ending suggests that Takeru has died (the game version of Unlimited does not touch the subject at all). However, the ending included a scene from Alternative's prologue and the words "to be continued: MUV-LUV ALTERNATIVE," and Muv-Luv Alternative's comic adaptation was announced shortly after on the Age official website.

Muv-Luv Unlimited #1 (ISBN 4-8402-3053-6)

Muv-Luv Unlimited #2 (ISBN 4-8402-3369-1)

Muv-Luv Unlimited #3 (ISBN 4-8402-3790-5)

Muv-Luv Unlimited #4 (ISBN 4-8402-3832-4)

Muv-Luv Alternative

An ongoing comic adaptation of Muv-Luv Alternative, which started its run in the October 2007 issue of Dengeki Daioh. Three collected volumes published by Dengeki Comics are now available in Japan covering up to episode 19.

Muv-Luv Alternative #1 (ISBN978-4-04-867049-4)

Muv-Luv Alternative #2 (ISBN978-4-04-867442-3)

Muv-Luv Alternative #3 (ISBN978-4-04-867866-7)

Novels

List:

Muv-Luv (1)- EXTRA: Unmei (マブラヴ〈1〉EXTRA 運命) (ISBN 4-0863-0323-X)

Muv-Luv (2)- EXTRA: Yuujou (マブラヴ〈2〉EXTRA 友情) (ISBN 4-08-630344-2)

Muv-Luv (3)- Unlimited: Sensou (マブラヴ〈3〉Unlimited 戦争)

Muv-Luv (4)- Unlimited: Haiboku (マブラヴ〈4〉Unlimited 敗北)

Muv-Luv (5)- Alternative: Saiki (マブラヴ〈5〉Alternative 再起)

Muv-Luv (1)- Alternative TOTAL ECLIPSE : rougetsu no eishi (トータルイクリプス〈1〉 朧月の衛士)

Muv-Luv (2)- Alternative TOTAL ECLIPSE : shukumei no dourin (トータルイクリプス〈2〉 宿命の動輪)

Characters

Extra/Unlimited/Alternative

Main

Shirogane Takeru (白銀武) Voice by: Soichiro Hoshi

Extra - The protagonist, a third-year Hakuryou Hiiragi student. Denser than diamond, he remains ignorant despite obvious hints of various things, and is outright shocked when revelations arrive.

Unlimited - The protagonist, who one day finds himself in a parallel world. He is taken from one week before the end of Extra (and by extension, choosing a route), he strives to live in this cruel, new world, and go home. Unlimited World's Takeru is already dead, killed by BETA.

Alternative - Through time-warping, he is the "same" Takeru from Unlimited, 2-3 years after Alternative V. He seeks to change the future with his experience, and through harsh and constant trauma/PTSD, becomes a hardened soldier, willing to spill blood and make hard decisions to save humanity. Is revealed to be a Causality Conductor, a pipe for causality information (events taking place in other worlds), causing untold chaos in other worlds, due to Sumika's meddling, from her loneliness. AN amalgamation of Takeru's he eveyr Takeru in one, with his memories erased after every death or failure (such as Alternative V succeeding). Through trauma or triggers, can occassionalyl see glimpses of memories from previous lives, lost in imaginary space. This version is completely in love with Sumika, as she in the first he sees in the Extra world (again) causing his memories and love from her route to resurface first.

Kagami Sumika (鑑純夏)Voice by: Hiroko Taguchi

Extra - Takeru's childhood friend and classmate. They've been together for so long that he can't imagine what life would be like without her. Has adored Takeru since childhood, and has a diary full of nothing but Takeru, and considers Takeru's existence to be half of her. Surprisingly not yandere.

Unlimited/Alternative - Her status in Unlimited is unknown. Is revealed to be the brain inside the jar in Alternative and is cloned with an intensive hatred of the BETA to be Unit 00, the last hope for humanity, a non-carbon based life form capable of telepathy, in an attempt to communicate with the BETA. Very yandere, and spends most of her first appearances ranting about killing BETA as vengeance for Unlimited World's Takeru.

Mitsurugi Meiya (御剣冥夜)Voice by: Kazumi Okushima

Extra - A rich girl who showed up in Takeru's bed one day. Heir to the prestigious Mitsurugi Group and possesses endless resources and riches, fully prepared to use them for Takeru.

Unlimited/Alternative - A cadet in unit 207, and later a pilot in squad A-01. Also a member of the shogunate's family, she is the twin sister of the Shogun, and her shadow, expected to take over should the Shogun die. Due to the Japanese belief of twins foreshadowing grief and misfortune, she was adopted by the Mitsurugi family, to split apart the twins.

Sakaki "Class Rep" Chizuru (榊千鶴)Voice by: Masayo Kurata

Extra - Class rep of Takeru's class. Constantly at loggerheads with Kei. Captain fo the (dwindling) Lacrosse Club and fond of optical illusions.

Unlimited/Alternative - A cadet in unit 207, and later a pilot in squad A-01. Still at loggerheads with Kei. Joined the UN as a political hostage and an act of rebellion against her father, President of Japan, throwing away her draft exemption.

Ayamine Kei (彩峰慧)Voice by: Yuuko Nagashima

Extra - One of Takeru's classmates. Very eccentric, she is mostly quiet and speaks with sentence fragments. Constantly at loggerheads with Chizuru.

Unlimited/Alternative- A cadet in unit 207, and later a pilot in squad A-01. Still strange, and still constantly at loggerheads with Chizuru, she detests Chizuru's background and her attentiveness to planning. Prefers on the spot decision-making, due to her heavy bias against inept superiors and their orders, costing many lives and branding resistors (like her father) traitors.

Tamase Miki (珠瀬壬姫)Voice by: Hitomi

Extra - The class mascot. And Archery Team Ace. Has a lot of similarities to a cat and is nicknamed "Tama". Wears a cat's tial as cosplay for completion.

Unlimited/Alternative - A cadet in unit 207, and later a pilot in squad A-01. Specializes in sniping. Worries over the actions of her father, the Undersecretary of the UN, and the role he plays int he coup. Also sent her father some letter filled with lies regarding her status and squadmates.

Yoroi Mikoto (鎧衣尊人)Voice by: Megumi Kubota

Extra - One of Takeru's classmates, who plays Valgern-On with him quite often. Seemingly male, but is implied several times to be female. And (unwilling) adventurer, he gets lost or kidnapped (by his father) a lot, and is frequently stranded, left with nothnig but the wilderness to survive.

Unlimited/Alternative - Cadet in unit 207, is explicitly female int hi world. Specializes in outdoor survival, due to her uncanny luck and sense for traps and the wilderness. Is unaware of her father's activities as a spy in the Imperial Ministry.

Jinguuji Marimo (神宮司まりも)Voice by: Miki Inoue

Extra - English teacher of Takeru's class. Yuuko's best friend since their school days, and constantly forced into situations by Yuuko (like cosplaying). Has a very unfortunate dating history.

Unlimited/Alternative - Unit 207's instructor. Extremely caring for her pupils, due to her traumatic past, she gives her all toward teaching cadets to survive longer. Taught all of Squad A-01.

Kouzuki Yuuko (香月夕呼)Voice by: Emi Motoi

Extra - A physics teacher. Marimo's best friend since their school days, a genius who developed a quantum brain from and idea in PS2 RPG. Frivolous and carefree, she seems to control everyone, but values her best friend Marimo.

Unlimited/Alternative - Vice-commander of the Yokohama base. Working on mankind's last hope, Alternative IV. Cold, calculating and heartless, a perfect example of the cold genius, willing to stage BETA attacks and the death of Marimo, for the sake of results.

Support

Tsukuyomi Mana (月詠真那)Voice by: Chizuko Hoshino

Extra- A shotacon ninja maid, servant to Meiya.

Unlimited/Alternative- A first lieutenant in the imperial defense army. And Meiya's protector from the Honor Guards.

Kamiyo Tatsumi (神代巽)Voice by: Hyousei

Extra- A ninja maid trainee.

Unlimited/Alternative- A second lieutenant in the imperial defense army.

Tomoe Yukino (巴雪乃)Voice by: Rituko Kasai

Extra- A ninja maid trainee.

Unlimited/Alternative- A second lieutenant in the imperial defense army.

Ebisu Minagi (戎美凪)Voice by: Aya Sakaguchi

Extra- A ninja maid trainee.

Unlimited/Alternative- A second lieutenant in the imperial defense army.

Suzumiya Akane (涼宮茜)Voice by: Kaori Mizuhashi

Extra- From Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. A friend and rival of Chiduru's.

Alternative - A member of squad A-01.

Ichimonji Takahashi (一文字鷹嘴)Voice by: Takehito Koyasu

Extra - Meiya's chauffeur, who drives an extremely long limousine. Parody of Takahashi Ryousuke from Initial D.

Alternative - Captain of the destroyer Yuunagi.

Kashiwagi Haruko (柏木晴子)Voice by: Chie Matuura

Extra- One of Takeru's classmates. Has her own fandisk entitled "Haruko Maniax". Member of the basketball team, and assisted during the Lacrosse Tournament.

Alternative- A member of squad A-01, cool and level-headed, makes effective decisions for a soldier.

Sagiri Naoya (沙霧尚哉)Voice by: Takehito Koyasu

Extra- A doctor, and fiance to Ayamine.

Alternative- A captain in the imperial defense army's capital defense forces, ex-fiance to Ayamine, he held great respect for her (traitorous) father, and still cares for her. Due to Takeru's meddling, the treatment of the people at Mt. Tengen lead him to start a coup d'etat in an attempt to forcibly remove the influence of America and the UN, restoring power to the Imperial Family.

Tamase Genjousai (珠瀬玄丞斎)Voice by: Tetsu Inada

Extra- Miki's father, One of the best archers in Japan.

Unlimited/Alternative- Under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Miki's father, makes tough decisions for humanity's survival.

Isumi Michiru (伊隅みちる)Voice by: Kumiko Watanabe

From Kimi ga Ita Kisetsu. Captain of squad A-01. Perfectionist and "jack-of-all-trades".

Hayase Mitsuki (速瀬水月)Voice by: Chiaki Takahashi

From Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. A member of squad A-01. Storm Vanguard specializing in close quarters combat. Skilled and competitive, while still childish and temperamental, seems to have a rivalry with Takeru.

Suzumiya Haruka (涼宮遙)Voice by: Minami Kuribayashi

From Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. A member of squad A-01. Best friends with Mitsuki, lost her legs in a vehicle accident and is wearing prosthetics, rendering her unable to pilot. She is essentially the control center, and goes by the codename "Valkyrie Mum" during missions.

Munakata Misae (宗像美冴)Voice by: Yuu Asakawa

A member of squad A-01, self-proclaimed bisexual, she's bifauxen and a "cool" character who attracts boys and girls. Seems to be level-headed and playful. Is described to say "dangerous" things.

Kazama Touko (風間梼子)Voice by: Shizuka Itou

A member of squad A-01, appears to be graceful and refined, also level-headed.

Koubuin Yuuhi (煌武院悠陽)Voice by: Kozue Yoshizumi

The shogun, twin sister to Meiya, who is her "shadow". Seems to care greatly for her sister, but tradition demands they never see the other's face. And extremely caring ruler bogged down by an ineffective government. Seems to care greatly for her people.

Yoroi Sakon (鎧衣左近)Voice by: Masaaki Yajima

Section chief of the second division of the imperial information agency, and Mikoto's father. Similar to Mikoto but uses his queerness and ability to redirect conversations to derail others and manipulate information. Extremely cunning, and willnig to make sacrifices for humanity, but understands the burden, and utilizes each sacrifice fully.

Alfred Walken (アルフレッド・ウォーケン)Voice by: Takashi Maejima

A major in the American army. A parody of 24 star; Jack Bauer. A level-headed soldier with plenty of experience, patriotic and well-experienced.

Irma Thesleff (イルマ・テスレフ)Voice by: Kiyomi Asai

A second lieutenant in the American army. Originally from Finland, which was destroyed by the BETA, she fights to gain her family citizen ship, out of the refugee camps. Her unexplained firing during a ceasefire, and subsequent death cause the breaking of truce and destruction of the Rebel Imperial forces.

Homura Manami (穂村愛美)Voice by: Maki Amamiya

From Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. An orderly in the Yokohama base.

Mitsurugi Raiden (御剣雷電)

Meiya's grandfather, seen in the Muv-Luv Supplement short story Waga Na wa Meiya (我が名は冥夜). Looks like a human version of the super robot Raideen.

Guren Daizaburou (紅蓮醍三郎)

Meiya's master, seen in the Muv-Luv Supplement short story Waga Na wa Meiya (我が名は冥夜). Looks like a human version of the super robot Grendizer (Gurendaizaa). The attacks he uses are all references to Grendizer's weapons (similar names, and they look exactly the same). For example, the attack Hanjuuryoku-no-Arashi (反重力乃嵐) that he uses comes from Grendizer's Hanjuuryoku Storm, and the attack Uchuu-no-Ikazuchi (宇宙乃雷) comes from Grendizer's Space Thunder.


Terminology

Beings of the Extraterrestrial Origin which is Adversary of Human Race Main article: BETA (Muv-Luv)

The Beings of the Extra Terrestrial origin which is Adversary of human race or BETA are a fictional extraterrestrial life-form in Unlimited and Alternative.

The BETA invaded Earth in 1973 after arriving on the Moon in 1967 and being spotted on Mars in 1958. By 2001, the world population is down to 1 billion people. When they first arrived in Japan in 1998, 36 million people were dead within a week. They vary greatly in size, the smallest kinds (soldier-class) being around three metres tall, and the largest kinds (fort-class) being around fifty metres tall. They cannot fly, and so shoot down anything that does, rendering aircraft useless and making evacuation a lot more difficult.

They are (obviously) hostile, are carbon-based lifeforms, and don't consider humans to be living beings. Mankind has identified seven strains of BETA. Ultimately, these are only what have been identified, and there are probably many more.

Senjutsuhokousentouki Main article: Senjutsuki

Senjutsuhokousentouki (戦術歩行戦闘機), "tactical walking battle machines"), also known as "tactical surface-fighters", but usually Senjutsuki (戦術機), "tactical machines"), are large bipedal robots used as weapons in the fight against the BETA in Unlimited and Alternative.

As Muv-Luv Unlimited and Alternative take place in alternate timelines to the real world, where mankind has been at war with aliens since 1967, they have been around since the 1970s. The creation of Senjutsuki was essential to fighting the BETA, because most kinds of airborne units were rendered obsolete by laser-class BETA and other ground weapons could not fight effectively inside BETA hives.

The original senjutsuki were created in America, and many are based on real-life fighter jets (e.g.- F-4 Phantom). Also, note that in Japanese, fighter jets are referred to as "sentouki".

A senjutsuki action figure line by Volks (A3 =Advanced System of Action Arms=) is in the works and to be released in 2007.

Alternative Projects

Alternative Projects (オルタネイティヴ計画 "Orutaneitibu Keikaku"). A series of projects originally beginning with the objective of finding a way of communicating with the BETA.

Alternative I The first alternative. A plan attempting to find a way to understand the BETA by analysing their language and ways of thinking. Ended in utter failure.

Alternative II The capture and subsequent dissection and analysis of BETA. Many lives were sacrificed for this to come to pass, and all that came of the research done on the samples was the conclusion that the BETA are carbon-based life-forms.

Alternative III Started due to the 1973 invasion. The finding of a way to understand the BETA through the use of ESP. Since the psychics' powers only covered a limited range, they had to enter the hive themselves in order to get thought readings from the BETA. Because of this, the survival rate of the psychics was only 6%。 All attempts to communicate with the BETA through the use of thought projection failed (they were ignored), and all they managed to get was the information that the BETA did not see the humans as life forms (through the readings).

Alternative IV Started in 1995. The finding of a way to understand or communicate with the BETA through the use of the 00-unit.

Alternative V First proposed by the American army in 1995 as a fallback in the case of the failure of Alternative IV. 100000 people were to be selected and allowed to flee Earth through the use of immigrant spaceships, while the rest of humanity stays on to fight the BETA to the bitter end, using a large number of G Bombs. Also known as Operation Babylon. The immigration ships were not really expected to survive to find another habitable planet; this was simply something added on to the plan in order to get the UN to agree with it. Regardless, when it is executed at the end of Unlimited, the ships do manage to find their way to a habitable planet (the status of Earth after the initiation of Operation Babylon, though, is unknown). A similar plan is prepared in the case of Operation Ouka's failure, but it is not the same thing; It is known as Operation Trident.

Element G

A previously undiscovered element recovered from the BETA drop units in Canada found after analysis by professor William Grey at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The G comes from his surname.

Eleven types of Element G have been discovered so far. Grey Six has negative mass, Grey Nine is super-conductive at above room temperature, and Grey Eleven is used in the G Bombs and the gravity-defying Moorcock-Lechte engine.

HI-MAERF Project

XG-70b Susanoo #2 (凄乃皇弐型 "Susanoo Nigata").

The second prototype "strategic high maneuver aeronautic fortress" created in America's 1975 HI-MAERF project. Over five times taller than a senjutsuki (around 100 metres). Equipped with a Moorcock-Lechte engine, Rutherford Field (which deflects laser attacks in a way similar to the distortion fields of Nadesico), and a particle cannon powerful enough to blow away an entire hive monument in a single shot.

Created to clear out entire hives on its own, but due to the Rutherford Field, it cannot be piloted by humans. The project was abandoned after the invention of G-bombs, and the unit was taken for use in the Alternative project, with the Japanese name being added on after that. Its original, American name (if it had one) is unknown. Piloted by the 00 Unit in the Sadogashima hive battle. When it is self-destructed, it vapourizes not only the hive but also the entire island it was on.

XG-70d Susanoo #4 (凄乃皇四型 "Susanoo Yongata")

A product of the HI-MAERF and Alternative projects, created to be powerful enough to clear out entire hives on its own, and what a completed Susanoo #2 would have been. Hidden away deep under the Yokohama base, to be mankind's trump card in the Original Hive battle. Even bigger than the #2, over eight times taller than a senjutsuki (about 160 metres). In addition to a Moorcock-Lechte engine, particle cannon, and Rutherford Field like the #2, it is also armed with 2700 mm railguns, 120 mm gatling guns, 36 mm chain guns, and VLS2 missile launchers loaded with armour-piercing homing bunker buster missiles, among other things. Due to time restrictions, though, many of the weapons are unable to be made operational by operation Ouka. With the problems with the Rutherford Field fixed, it can be safely piloted by humans. Piloted by Takeru, Kasumi and Sumika in operation Ouka.


Development and release

Muv-Luv was released on February 28, 2003 on Windows CD-ROM,[1] and re-released on DVD-ROM on April 30, 2004.[1] A fandisc, called Muv-Luv Supplement containing a number of short stories, computer wallpapers, audio clips, and a trailer for the upcoming Muv-Luv Alternative. The limited edition DVD was released on December 17, 2004 and the regular edition was released on December 24.[2]

Muv-Luv Alternative is a sequel to Muv-Luv and taking place after the events of the Unlimited arc in the original game. The DVD version of the game was released on February 24, 2006[3] and the CD version was released on March 3, 2006.[3] A Muv-Luv Alternative fandisc, Muv-Luv Altered Fable, was released on August 31, 2007 containing an alternate version of the Extra arc from Muv-Luv along with a radio drama, a Senjoki vs. BETA strategy RPG, computer wallpapers, and a Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse short story.[4]

"All-age" versions of Muv-Luv and Muv-Luv Alternative with the adult content removed were released simultaneously on September 22, 2006.[5][6] In 2011, both games were ported to the Xbox 360 by 5pb. and are scheduled for simultaneous released on October 27, 2011.[7][8]

Related media

Manga

Three manga adaptations based on Muv-Luv and its sequel Muv-Luv Alternative have been serialized in MediaWorks's, and later ASCII Media Works's Dengeki Daioh manga magazine. The first adaptation, called Muv-Luv, is written and illustrated by Ukyō Takao and covers the Extra part of the first game. It was collected and republished in three volumes by MediaWorks. The second series is Muv-Luv Unlimited and covers the Unlimited portion of the first game. It ran for four volumes and was written and illustrated by Tomo Hiryokawa. The third series, Muv-Luv Alternative, is written and illustrated by Azusa Maxima and based on the second game of the same name. It began its serial run in the February 2007 issue of Dengeki Daioh. As of April 4, 2011, six compilation volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works. The novel series Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse has also been adapted into a manga by Takashi Ishigaki and two compilation volumes have been published as of February 26, 2011.

No. Release date ISBN Muv-Luv
01 May 27, 2003[9]978-4-8402-2924-1
02 July 27, 2004[10]978-4-8402-2649-3
03 December 17, 2004[11]978-4-8402-2334-8
Muv-Luv Unlimited
01 April 27, 2005[12]978-4-8402-3053-7
02 February 27, 2006[13]978-4-8402-3369-9
03 February 27, 2007[14]978-4-8402-3790-1
04 March 27, 2007[15]978-4-8402-3832-8
Muv-Luv Alternative
01 April 26, 2008[16]978-4-04-867049-4
02 November 27, 2008[17]978-4-04-867442-3
03 June 27, 2009[18]978-4-04-867866-7
04 January 27, 2010[19]978-4-04-868369-2
05 August 27, 2010[20]978-4-04-868896-3
06 April 4, 2011[21]978-4-04-870406-9
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
01 May 27, 2010[22]978-4-04-868623-5
02 February 26, 2011[23]978-4-04-870327-7

Novels

No. Title Release date ISBN
01Muv-Luv 1: Extra: Unmei (マブラヴ 1 EXTRA 運命)October 25, 2006[24]978-4-08-630323-1
02Muv-Luv 2: Extra: Yūjō (マブラヴ 2 EXTRA 友情)February 23, 2007[25]978-4-08-630344-6
03Muv-Luv 3: Unlimited: Sensō (マブラヴ 3 UNLIMITED 戦争)July 25, 2007[26]978-4-08-630371-2
04Muv-Luv 4: Unlimited: Haiboku (マブラヴ 4 UNLIMITED 敗北)November 22, 2007[27]978-4-08-630390-3
05Muv-Luv 5: Alternative: Saiki (マブラヴ 5 ALTERNATIVE 再起)March 25, 2008[28]978-4-08-630414-6
06Muv-Luv 6: Alternative: Ruten (マブラヴ 6 ALTERNATIVE 流転)November 21, 2008[29]978-4-08-630458-0
07Muv-Luv 7: Alternative: Kessen (マブラヴ 7 ALTERNATIVE 決戦)June 25, 2009[30]978-4-08-630488-7


No. Title Release date ISBN
01Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 1: Oborozuki no Eji (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 1 朧-の衛士)December 25, 2007[31]978-4-7577-3920-8
02Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 2: Shukumei no Dōrin (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 2 宿命の動輪)May 30, 2008[32]978-4-7577-4234-5
03Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 3: Uro耗 no Ori穽 (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 3 虚耗の檻穽)December 26, 2008[33]978-4-7577-4521-6
04Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 4: 懺業 no Senya (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 4 懺業の戦野)January 30, 2009[34]978-4-7577-4650-3

Anime

On July 24, 2011, a teaser website announced that television anime adaptation of the Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse novels will air in Japan in 2012.[35]

Music

The opening theme of Muv-Luv is "Muv-Luv" (マブラヴ) by Minami Kuribayashi. The closing theme for the Extra segment of Muv-Luv is "I Will" and the Unlimited segment's ending theme is "Harukanaru Furusato no Uta" (遥かなる地球の歌), both by Minami Kuribayashi. For the all ages version, the opening theme the Extra segment is "divergence" by Minami Kuribayashi. For the Unlimited segment, the opening theme is "-sion-" (紫音-sion-) by Masami Okui. The all ages version featured several ending themes depending on the ending, including "I will" by Minami Kuribayashi, "Kizu wa Kaseki ni Narenai Keredo" (傷は化石にならないけれど) by Aki Misato, "Astraea" by Miyuki Hashimoto, and "Little More" (リトル・モア) by CooRie.

The opening themes for the sequel Muv-Luv Alternative are "Asu e no Houkou" (未来への咆哮) by JAM Project for the original release and "NAME ～Kimi no Na wa～" (NAME ～君の名は～) by JAM Project for the all age release. The ending theme for both releases is "Muv-Luv (2005 ver.)" (マブラヴ(2005ver.)) by Minami Kuribayashi.

References

  1. ^ a b "マブラヴ 製品概要" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "マブラヴ　サプリメント　トップページ" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "マブラヴ　オルタネイティヴ - スペック" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "マブラヴ ALTERED FABLE" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  5. ^ "全年齢版『マブラヴ』　製品情報" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "マブラヴ　オルタネイティヴ - スペック" (in Japanese). âge. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "マブラヴ for Xbox 360 公式サイト" (in Japanese). 5pb. Retrieved July 29, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ for Xbox 360 公式サイト" (in Japanese). 5pb. Retrieved July 29, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "マブラヴ(1)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "マブラヴ(2)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  11. ^ "マブラヴ(3)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "マブラヴ アンリミテッド(1)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  13. ^ "マブラヴ アンリミテッド(2)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  14. ^ "マブラヴ アンリミテッド(3)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  15. ^ "マブラヴ アンリミテッド(4)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  16. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(1)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  17. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(2)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  18. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(3)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  19. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(4)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  20. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(5)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  21. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ(6)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  22. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス(1)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  23. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス(2)". ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  24. ^ "マブラヴ 1 EXTRA 運命". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  25. ^ "マブラヴ 2 EXTRA 友情". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  26. ^ "マブラヴ 3 UNLIMITED 戦争". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  27. ^ "マブラヴ 4 UNLIMITED 敗北". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  28. ^ "マブラヴ 5 ALTERNATIVE 再起". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  29. ^ "マブラヴ 6 ALTERNATIVE 流転". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  30. ^ "マブラヴ 7 ALTERNATIVE 決戦". Shueisha. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  31. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 1 朧-の衛士". Enterbrain. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  32. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 2 宿命の動輪". Enterbrain. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  33. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 3 虚耗の檻穽". Enterbrain. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  34. ^ "マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ トータル・イクリプス 4 懺業の戦野". Enterbrain. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  35. ^ "Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse Novel Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muv-Luv&oldid=445052911"