Yume Miru Kusuri: A Drug That Makes You Dream
Encyclopedia
is an adult
visual novel
for the PC
developed by Ruf. The visual novel was initially released in Japanese
on December 22, 2005 and translated into English by Peach Princess
. It was written by Romeo Tanaka
and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura
. According to Peter Payne, founder of Jast USA
, it is believed the writers were trying to explore themes relevant in Japan for high-school students.
The plot follows the same basic route for the first half of the game. Kouhei goes about his life and interacts with the three main girls: Aeka, Mizuki, and Nekoko. If the player manages to pursue one of the girls successfully the plot eventually diverges.
Voiced by: Shiho Kawaragi
Voiced by: Ryoko Tanaka
Voiced by: Kayo Nagata
Voiced by: Michihiko Hagi
Voiced by: Kaori Suzumoto
Voiced by: Kisho Taniyama
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
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...
for the PC
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
developed by Ruf. The visual novel was initially released in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
on December 22, 2005 and translated into English by Peach Princess
Peach Princess
Peach Princess is a California-based English translator, publisher and distributor of Japanese bishōjo games; so far, all its releases have been eroge, which has made it one of the few companies in North America with games rated "Adults Only" by the ESRB....
. It was written by Romeo Tanaka
Romeo Tanaka
is a male Japanese free artist and scenario writer for bishōjo games and adult games. At one time, he had attended the University of Tsukuba. In 2007, Tanaka started to write his first light novel series entitled Jinrui wa Suitaishimashita which is published by Shogakukan...
and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura
Kiyotaka Haimura
is a Japanese game character designer and manga style artist best known for his work on the Toaru Majutsu no Index.- Character design :*Hotel ergriffen *Kokyu Shohu *Minato Genso...
. According to Peter Payne, founder of Jast USA
JAST USA
JAST USA is a licensor and distributor of English-language bishōjo games, some of which are as dating sims or eroge. It was founded in 1997 with Sakura Soft's Season of the Sakura and JAST's Three Sisters' Story as its first eroge titles...
, it is believed the writers were trying to explore themes relevant in Japan for high-school students.
Gameplay
Yume Miru Kusuri is a visual novel where players read the story and at certain points must make a choice between multiple options. The story branches in different directions depending on what the player chooses. In this case, there are three separate storylines. Each one is focused on a specific girl's relationship with Kouhei. The storylines branch again into good and bad endings. Good endings are recognizable by credit roll after the game ends, which bad endings lack. In addition there is a bad ending if you fail to pursue any girl.Plot
Kouhei Kagami is a Japanese student with excellent grades and a fairly normal social life, but feels empty and transparent inside. The story revolves a pivotal moment in Kouhei's life where three girls more depressed and lonely than himself get involved with him and make his boring life a roller coaster of emotions. Kouhei must choose one of them or risk losing all of them to their own despair.The plot follows the same basic route for the first half of the game. Kouhei goes about his life and interacts with the three main girls: Aeka, Mizuki, and Nekoko. If the player manages to pursue one of the girls successfully the plot eventually diverges.
Release
Ruf initially released the game in Japanese on December 25, 2005 and was later reprinted on March 19, 2009. The game was translated into English by Peach Princess and released April 25, 2007.Main characters
Kouhei Kagami- Kouhei is the stereotypical average Japanese high school student. He often hears the sound of a train when he is bored or otherwise unoccupied. The player experiences the game through his eyes as the main protagonist.
Voiced by: Shiho Kawaragi
Shiho Kawaragi
, is a Japanese voice actor who works for Kenyu-Office.-Notable voice roles:Note: Main character role in bold letters.*Aisling in The Secret of Kells*Aki Aoi in Aki Sora*Barou Esharotto in Law of Ueki...
- Aeka has been a victim of bullying, initiated usually from Kyoka or her friends, for almost her whole enrollment at Kouhei's high school. The whole class tends to laugh at her or ignore her problems, even if not directly involved in bullying her.
Voiced by: Ryoko Tanaka
Ryoko Tanaka
is a female Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She works for the company Pro Fit.-Anime:*_Summer as Kasumi Suda*3000 Leagues in Search of Mother*Agent Aika as Blue B; White Delmo S*Battle Athletes Victory*Chūka Ichiban*Coji-Coji...
- Mizuki is the high school student council president. To people who don't know her, she is the typical student idol, out of reach to most. To those who do know her, she can be slightly annoying, as she pushes all work onto other people. Mizuki comes from a rich family and doesn't see a future for herself, even the most basic one of living to the next day, something most people take for granted.
Voiced by: Kayo Nagata
- Kouhei discovers Nekoko outside of his workplace one day. She claims to be a fairy, and enlists Kouhei to help her find the home of the fairies. However, as he associates with her, Kouhei finds that this is not her real problem.
Supporting characters
Voiced by: Riko Hirai- Misaki is a female friend in Kouhei's class. She tries to get him not to interfere with Aeka because she doesn't want Kouhei to be picked on, though she appears to have sympathy for Aeka. Often hangs out with Takeshi.
Voiced by: Michihiko Hagi
- Takeshi is a male friend in Kouhei's class. He generally ignores what happens in class, being a very lazy and unproductive person, but still knows about the situation with Aeka. He is less sympathetic towards her than Misaki is. Often hangs out with Misaki.
- Female student in Kouhei's class. She has a grudge against Aeka Shiraki and is the cause of why the class picks on Aeka so much. She likes to flirt with everyone, especially Kouhei. Kouhei comes to dislike her cruel personality, and gives her the nickname Antoinette, after Marie AntoinetteMarie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
, because of her attitude and personality.
Voiced by: Kaori Suzumoto
- Aya is Kouhei's stepsister. Kouhei was adopted into the family and has had trouble seeing his family as people who love him. He often makes fun of Aya's flat chest at her age. There are rumors about a scenario ending with her being cut before the Japanese release.
Voiced by: Kisho Taniyama
Kisho Taniyama
' is a seiyū who is affiliated with Ken Production. He is also the vocal and lyricist of the Japanese rock unit / band GRANRODEO under the name KISHOW.-TV Anime:* Basquash! * Bleach * Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo...
- Hirofumi is the manager of the convenience storeConvenience storeA convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
where Kouhei works, and has a friendly relationship with Kouhei. Hirofumi is gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and always goes out of his way to act gay around Kouhei, but draws the line at any touching, usually. He is always trying to get Kouhei to play h-games, specifically those with storylines as that is what Hirofumi likes, regardless of the sexual orientation.
- Gaito is a male student who was suspended for a long time before coming back to school. He is supposed to be Kyoka's boyfriend, but she tries to distance herself from him. He tried to cheat on her with Aeka in the past which led to Kyoka's treatment of Aeka.
Impact
A fourth route for Aya Kagami has been theorized. Shingo, an official spokesperson for Jast USA, has stated that no such route existed in the Japanese version. Shingo goes on to note that while without official comment from Ruf, there is evidence to warrant it.
Considering that they [Ruf] went to the trouble of arranging a non-blood-related scenario and providing at least some romantic interest between the protagonist and her [Aya] (not to mention giving Aya her own block of scenes in the scene replay extras section) it does seem suspicious,[...]