Girlfriend of Steel 2
Encyclopedia
, subtitled in English Neon Genesis Evangelion: Iron Maiden 2nd, is a Gainax
-produced adventure anime-style video game, and manga
based on that game, set in the alternate universe seen in episode 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The player controls Shinji Ikari
, the hero of the original Evangelion series, as he navigates his home, school, and social life in a now-peaceful "Tokyo-3".
Each character from the original Evangelion makes an appearance but some of their circumstances and personalities have radically changed. Misato Katsuragi
is now a popular homeroom teacher, and Ritsuko Akagi is the school nurse (however, these two still have their posts at Nerv from the original storyline). Asuka Langley Soryu
is Shinji's childhood friend and neighbor, Kaworu Nagisa
is an enigmatic playboy type who has known Shinji for years, and Rei Ayanami
is a hyperactive transfer student.
Although the game's name suggests it is a sequel to the previous Evangelion visual novel
Girlfriend of Steel
, the story is unrelated. While no plot-elements are connected, the gameplay is exactly the same.
-style "additional episode". While this game features official art, backgrounds and music in the style of the original series and full-voice, it is fundamentally different from the first Girlfriend of Steel. The artwork was done by a new team, but the voices were provided by the same seiyū
from the original series cast. The game also has dating sim
elements and includes three "dateable" characters (Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu). Reward CG for each character can be uncovered and collected in a CG gallery accessible from the game's main menu.
In spite of its "Alternate Universe" billing, elements of the original Evangelion make appearances: plugsuits, mentions of Gendo Ikari
's research in creating an artificial human being, Ritsuko's past feelings for Gendo and visual and verbal references to Angel
s and Evangelion
s.
The game is available in Japanese for Mac OS
, Mac OS X
, Windows
and PlayStation 2
.
, following roughly the same storyline as the game, was serialized in the Monthly Asuka in November 2003 and is available in volumes from the same publisher. It was announced that the manga would be released in English in the magazine Newtype USA under the title: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
. It made its debut in the August 2005 issue of Newtype USA. It was later collected into graphic novel format, the entirety of which were released before and after the cancellation of Newtype USA.
: PC PS2
Gainax
is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Gunbuster, The Wings of Honneamise, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which have gone on to critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with...
-produced adventure anime-style video game, and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
based on that game, set in the alternate universe seen in episode 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The player controls Shinji Ikari
Shinji Ikari
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Hideaki Anno. The protagonist of the series , he is the Third Child and pilots the Evangelion Unit 01...
, the hero of the original Evangelion series, as he navigates his home, school, and social life in a now-peaceful "Tokyo-3".
Each character from the original Evangelion makes an appearance but some of their circumstances and personalities have radically changed. Misato Katsuragi
Misato Katsuragi
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Hideaki Anno. She is the operations director at Nerv, initially with the rank of captain; she is later promoted to major. In Rebuild of Evangelion Misato's rank is lieutenant colonel...
is now a popular homeroom teacher, and Ritsuko Akagi is the school nurse (however, these two still have their posts at Nerv from the original storyline). Asuka Langley Soryu
Asuka Langley Soryu
is a 14-year old fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. Within the series, she is designated as the Second Child and the pilot of the Evangelion Unit 02...
is Shinji's childhood friend and neighbor, Kaworu Nagisa
Kaworu Nagisa
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. He is the Fifth Child and the seventeenth Angel, Tabris. He is sent to Nerv by Seele as a replacement pilot for Unit 02 after Asuka Langley Soryu's synchronization ratio falls below usability...
is an enigmatic playboy type who has known Shinji for years, and Rei Ayanami
Rei Ayanami
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, a Japanese anime from Gainax. She is the First Child and pilot of the Evangelion Unit 00....
is a hyperactive transfer student.
Although the game's name suggests it is a sequel to the previous Evangelion visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
Girlfriend of Steel
Girlfriend of Steel
, also known as Neon Genesis Evangelion: Iron Maiden, is a video game based on the Gainax anime/manga series Neon Genesis Evangelion, released officially only in Japan.-Releases:...
, the story is unrelated. While no plot-elements are connected, the gameplay is exactly the same.
Gameplay
The game functions as a visual novelVisual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
-style "additional episode". While this game features official art, backgrounds and music in the style of the original series and full-voice, it is fundamentally different from the first Girlfriend of Steel. The artwork was done by a new team, but the voices were provided by the same seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
from the original series cast. The game also has dating sim
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
elements and includes three "dateable" characters (Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu). Reward CG for each character can be uncovered and collected in a CG gallery accessible from the game's main menu.
In spite of its "Alternate Universe" billing, elements of the original Evangelion make appearances: plugsuits, mentions of Gendo Ikari
Gendo Ikari
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. He is the commander of Nerv. While all of the English versions romanize his given name as Gendo, Gainax's website romanizes it Gendoh, and some fansites romanize his name as "Gendou"....
's research in creating an artificial human being, Ritsuko's past feelings for Gendo and visual and verbal references to Angel
Angel (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
In the anime and manga Neon Genesis Evangelion, are beings which attack Tokyo-3 over the course of the story. They are the main antagonist of the series and were designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto.-Description:...
s and Evangelion
Evangelion (mecha)
In the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, , are the fictional mecha piloted by the Children chosen by the Marduk Institute . The Evas were created by Nerv. Their principal purpose is defending Tokyo-3 from the Angels...
s.
The game is available in Japanese for Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
Manga
A spin-off manga drawn by Fumino HayashiFumino Hayashi
is a Japanese manga artist of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days, a manga based on the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion by Gainax). This was the first project Hayashi had worked on for Kadokawa Shoten.- External links :...
, following roughly the same storyline as the game, was serialized in the Monthly Asuka in November 2003 and is available in volumes from the same publisher. It was announced that the manga would be released in English in the magazine Newtype USA under the title: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
is a manga by Fumino Hayashi based on an original story by Gainax. It is an adaptation of the video game Girlfriend of Steel 2, and dramatizes the actions of the Instrumentality from the final episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, which featured the show's cast in a high school romantic comedy in...
. It made its debut in the August 2005 issue of Newtype USA. It was later collected into graphic novel format, the entirety of which were released before and after the cancellation of Newtype USA.
External links
Official Website IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
: PC PS2