About

The original "LovePlus" (ラブプラス) was a dating sim developed and published by Konami for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was released on 3 September 2009 in Japan only.

The second version of the game, "LovePlus+" (ラブプラス+), was released on 24 June 2010 in Japan only. "LovePlus+" was basically the same game with some new content, including field trips, fitness modes and sick days. It was possible to transfer data from the original game to "LovePlus+", and anti-piracy measures were also updated.

The third version of the game, "New LovePlus" (NEWラブプラス) was released on 14 February 2012 (Valentine's Day) in Japan only and was #1 in sales nationwide the same week. It was a complete overhaul of the game, which included many new features: upgraded graphics, realistic weather conditions, the ability to ride a bicycle, an in-game camera, a gyro sensor, boyfriend lock, Introducion Mode, new items, "Voice In Town" feature, the ability to have a meal during dates, a new area of town, "Seisyun No 1 Page", new events, mini games, "My Date Course", and greater ability to share with others.


A new version of the game, tentatively titled "New LovePlus+" (NEWラブプラス+)  is scheduled for release next year. It appears that Konami are planning to wind back some of the new features that didn't work so well in "New LovePlus", as well as introducing a lot of new events and dialogue for the girls. It also appears that the game will abandon 3D graphics in favour of a more stable 2D environment.

The optional extra program, "LovePlus Tools", which can be downloaded from the Japanese Konami eShop for 200¥, adds even more functionality, including AR (Augumented Reality) shooting and the ability to import/export data from previous versions of the game. An updated version of "LovePlus Tools" was released through the Japanese Konami eShop on 16 April 2012, and was free if you'd downloaded the earlier version.

In all three versions of the game, you play the protagonist - a second year High School student who has just transferred to Towano High School. (In the "LovePlus Rinko Days" manga his name is Wataru Aikawa.) Early in the game, you join various clubs and activities where you meet the three main female characters:

Rinko Kobayakawa (小早川 凛子) - A first year student, who you meet by joining the Library Committee;
Manaka Takane (高嶺 愛花) - A second year student, who you meet by joining the Tennis Club; and
Nene Anegasaki (姉ヶ崎 寧々) - A third year student, who you meet by taking a part-time job at Dixies restaurant.

In addition to this, each girl has three distinct "personality types" which are identified by a colour. The girls begin the game with a default personality, but will then ask the player what type of girl they prefer. The player's response causes your chosen girlfriend to subtly change her personality accordingly. So, in effect, there are nine different girls you can choose in the game:

Rinko
BLUE (Default) - Cool and quiet (クールで物静か)
GREEN - Intellectual and Knowledgeable (知的で強気)
PINK - Kind and Active(優しくて積極的)

Manaka
BLUE (Default) - Cool and quiet (クールで物静か)
ORANGE - Kind and Obedient (優しくて大人しい)
PINK - Cheerful and Active (明るくて積極的)

Nene
ORANGE (Default) - Kind and Obedient (優しくて大人しい)
GREEN - Intellectual and Knowledgeable (知的で強気)
PINK - Kind and Active (優しくて積極的)

The game basically has two parts. In the first part of the game (sometimes known as "before confession" or "Friendship Mode"), your goal is to try to get close to the girls and get one girl to be your girlfriend within 100 days. This is pretty much like every other dating game on the market...except that it's not the end of the story with "LovePlus".

If you succeed in the first part, you can proceed to the second part of the game (sometimes known as "after confession" or "Lover Mode"), where your chosen girl becomes your "virtual" girlfriend. This part of the game is much more free-form, with no real structure, nothing to achieve, and no real end. You organise your time, earn money, take your girlfriend on dates, and deepen your relationship with her. You can hold your girl's hand, touch her, and even kiss her. The game goes on for as long as you want to keep playing.

There are two different ways to play the second half of the game. The first is "Skip Mode", where a day in the game takes 5-10 minutes of real time to play (just as it did in the first part of the game). This mode is useful to speed things along, earn extra money or points, and visit locations to unlock them for dating. However, when you play this way, you miss out on a lot of extra features in the game.

The second way to play - and the way the game is intended to be played - is in "Real Time Mode". When you play this way, a day in the game takes a day in your real life. You don't have to leave the DS/3DS turned on and play the game all day. But if you make a date with your girl at 5:30pm on Sunday, you'd better be playing the game at 5:30 on Sunday or she will be mad at you for blowing the date.

It probably sounds demanding, but it's actually a lot of fun. The "LovePlus" series is a fascinating experiment in just how much it's possible to integrate a gaming experience with your actual, everyday life. What it gives you is not a game, but a functioning virtual girlfriend who becomes part of your day.