The Internet is full of surprise. If not for it, I would NEVER have discovered this game. Well... I'm still wondering wheter it was a good thing or not, though. Hatoful Kareshi ~Kibou no Gakuen to Shiroi Tsubasa~ is one of these bazillions visual novels released each year in Japan. It's the first game developed by the Hato-King doujin circle (who went by the name PigeoNation Inc. for this project), and it was digitally released for PC and Mac in July 2011. Obviously, the only officialy available language is Japanese... However, some guy called Nazerine decided to translate it all by himself ; and merely 5 months after the original release, an english-language patch was already completed ! Talking about translation, the game's title is a bit peculiar: Indeed, it's an untranslatable pun. "Hatoful" is a transliteration of はーとふる, who can be understood as both "Heartful" and "Hurtful" since they are pronounced the same way in Japanese ("hatoofuru"). The title can thus be translated to something along the line of "Heartful/Hurtful Boyfriend ~White Feathers in the School of Hope~". Well, that's pretty cool... but why bother write a review of yet one of these visual novels ? How could that be intersting in any way ? We know about these already ! The fact is Hatoful Kareshi isn't exactly like the others. For sure, it has its whole load of clichés when it comes to character development or dialogues, amongst others. Well, it's not an ergoe, but we can hardly call that something "original". Why in the world, then ? Well, what makes Hatoful Kareshi stands out is the fact that...
㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀 挀愀猀琀 椀猀 挀漀洀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 攀渀琀椀爀攀氀礀 漀昀 瀀椀最攀漀渀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 In this visual novel, you assume the role of a young girl (whose default name is Hiyoko Tousaka) who starts a new year at the... bird school of St. PigeoNation. Because, well, figure, you are not a bird yourself. That's right, you're a human being in the flesh, and yet you attend a bird school, which means you're the only human amongst the feathered students. The most unsettling part of this is the fact that the scenario actually jutifies this strange state of affairs. And in the creepiest way possible, on top of that... but I won't say a word, just discover it by yourself. It's worth the nervous breakdown it induces... I guess.
㰀瀀㸀匀漀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 猀琀愀爀琀 愀琀琀攀渀搀椀渀最 匀琀⸀ 倀椀最攀漀渀一愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀漀甀✀爀攀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 洀攀攀琀 礀漀甀爀 渀攀眀 ⠀洀愀氀攀⤀ 挀氀愀猀猀洀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 漀昀 眀栀椀挀栀 愀爀攀 甀渀昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 昀愀挀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 攀砀挀攀瀀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 刀礀漀甀琀愀Ⰰ 礀漀甀爀 挀栀椀氀搀栀漀漀搀 昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ 䄀渀搀Ⰰ 椀昀 䤀 洀愀礀 爀攀洀椀渀搀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 琀栀攀猀攀 瀀氀愀礀戀漀礀猀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 琀爀愀椀琀 漀昀 戀攀椀渀最⸀⸀⸀ 戀椀爀搀猀⸀ 䄀渀搀Ⰰ 漀栀 ℀ 䤀昀 礀漀甀 栀愀搀渀✀琀 昀椀最甀爀攀搀 椀琀 漀甀琀 愀猀 漀昀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀✀爀攀 琀栀攀 爀攀愀氀 琀栀椀渀最 㬀 渀漀琀 猀漀洀攀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 愀渀琀栀爀漀瀀漀洀漀爀瀀栀椀挀 昀甀爀爀礀猀 漀爀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀猀✀ 愀爀琀眀漀爀欀 愀爀攀 愀挀琀甀愀氀 瀀栀漀琀漀最爀愀瀀栀猀⸀ 夀漀甀 挀愀渀 攀渀愀戀氀攀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀瀀氀愀礀 漀昀 栀甀洀愀渀 瀀爀漀琀爀愀椀琀猀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 愀爀攀 猀愀椀搀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 瘀漀椀挀攀 愀挀琀漀爀猀 ⠀攀瘀攀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 渀漀 瘀漀椀挀攀 愀挀琀椀渀最 眀栀愀琀猀漀攀瘀攀爀⤀ 椀渀 漀爀搀攀爀 琀漀 挀愀琀挀栀 愀 最氀椀洀瀀猀攀 漀昀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀猀攀 戀椀爀搀猀 眀漀甀氀搀 氀漀漀欀 氀椀欀攀 椀昀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 戀椀猀栀漀甀渀攀渀⸀⸀⸀ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀猀攀 愀爀琀眀漀爀欀 漀渀氀礀 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀 漀渀挀攀 瀀攀爀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀 洀攀渀 挀栀漀漀猀攀 㰀椀㸀渀漀琀㰀⼀椀㸀 琀漀 攀渀愀戀氀攀 琀栀椀猀 漀瀀琀椀漀渀 愀渀礀眀愀礀Ⰰ 愀猀 愀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 漀昀 猀漀挀椀愀氀 爀攀渀攀眀愀氀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 戀椀爀搀猀 椀猀 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀礀 琀漀 琀爀甀氀礀 攀渀樀漀礀 䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀⸀ 匀漀爀琀 漀昀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 In the end, it's almost outstanding. I mean, it's a very small-budget (if there was a budget at all) visual novel developed by an even smaller doujin circle, it's available for download for free, and it's about pigeons. And yet, the quality of production is up to it. Of course, it's incredibly campy, it's even kusoge as its best ! But the game in itself is actually thorough-paced, and perfectly enjoyable to play. I 'd even bet visual novels developed by more recognized doujin circles don't do much better than that (even tough these one do try to). As far as I've played the game, I never really felt bored or anything, even though I played for quite a long time... maybe even too much considering it's a dating sim where you date birds. Hatoful Kareshi is not only hilariously wacky and daring, it's... OK ! It's not a bad game, really ! Even the soundtrack, apart from its obligatory chessiness, fits the game very well. And the gameplay is probably the best part of this unexpected success.
㰀瀀㸀䤀渀搀攀攀搀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀渀 椀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀椀瘀攀 瘀椀猀甀愀氀 渀漀瘀攀氀㨀 䄀琀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 瀀漀椀渀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀Ⰰ 礀漀甀✀氀氀 戀攀 瀀爀漀洀瀀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 挀栀漀椀挀攀猀⸀ 䄀洀漀渀最猀琀 琀栀攀洀 愀爀攀 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 洀甀氀琀椀瀀氀攀 愀渀猀眀攀爀猀 搀甀爀椀渀最 搀椀愀氀漀最甀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀琀✀猀 愀氀猀漀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 琀漀 挀栀漀漀猀攀 眀栀椀挀栀 挀氀愀猀猀 礀漀甀 愀琀琀攀渀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 㨀 吀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀洀 ⠀洀愀琀栀猀Ⰰ 最礀洀 愀渀搀 洀甀猀椀挀⤀ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀✀氀氀 愀氀氀漀眀 礀漀甀 琀漀 椀渀挀爀攀愀猀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀琀愀琀猀 椀渀 椀琀猀 洀愀琀挀栀椀渀最 昀椀攀氀搀 ⠀眀椀猀搀漀洀Ⰰ 瘀椀琀愀氀椀琀礀 愀渀搀 挀栀愀爀椀猀洀愀⤀⸀ 吀栀攀 搀攀挀椀猀椀漀渀猀 礀漀甀 琀愀欀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 攀瘀漀氀甀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀 猀琀愀琀猀 眀椀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀 椀渀昀氀甀攀渀挀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀挀攀渀愀爀椀漀 愀渀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀爀猀攀 漀昀 攀瘀攀渀琀猀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 椀琀Ⰰ 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀椀氀椀琀礀 琀漀 最攀琀 洀漀爀攀 ∀椀渀琀椀洀愀琀攀∀ 眀椀琀栀 愀 戀椀爀搀 椀渀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀⸀ 夀攀愀栀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀✀猀 爀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 㰀椀㸀攀愀挀栀㰀⼀椀㸀 戀椀爀搀 栀愀猀 椀琀猀 㰀椀㸀漀眀渀㰀⼀椀㸀 攀渀搀椀渀最 ℀ 匀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 瀀氀愀礀琀栀爀漀甀最栀猀 眀椀氀氀 琀栀甀猀 戀攀 爀攀焀甀椀爀攀搀 琀漀 琀爀甀氀礀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀漀甀✀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 琀爀礀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 挀漀洀戀椀渀愀琀椀漀渀猀 漀昀 搀攀挀椀猀椀漀渀猀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀琀猀 琀漀 甀渀氀漀挀欀 渀攀眀 瀀愀琀栀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 攀瘀攀渀 椀渀挀氀甀搀攀搀 ㌀ 猀愀瘀攀猀 戀氀漀挀欀猀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 愀 昀愀猀琀ⴀ昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 戀甀琀琀漀渀 琀漀 攀愀猀攀 椀琀 愀 戀椀琀 ℀ 伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀猀攀 愀爀攀 愀氀氀 戀愀猀椀挀 攀氀攀洀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 瘀椀猀甀愀氀 渀漀瘀攀氀 搀攀猀椀最渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀 最攀渀甀椀渀攀氀礀 㰀椀㸀戀愀搀㰀⼀椀㸀 最愀洀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 洀愀渀愀最攀搀 琀漀 洀攀猀猀 椀琀 甀瀀 猀漀洀攀栀漀眀⸀⸀⸀ 眀栀椀挀栀 椀猀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 昀愀氀氀 搀漀眀渀 琀漀⸀ 䠀愀琀漀ⴀ䬀椀渀最 爀攀愀氀氀礀 搀椀搀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀椀猀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀氀礀 ℀㰀⼀瀀㸀 That's it. Hatoful kareshi was actually a real blast, and I'm not affraid to claim it out loud... even though I probably should. It relates to visual novel just like Cho Aniki relates to shoot'em-up or WarioWare relates to party game : It willingly creates something awkward... and does a great job out of it ! Just try it out, should it be only for one ending (playhthroughs are real short, often less than an hour)... and I double dare you to come back and say Hatoful Kareshi has no merit !
㰀瀀㸀䈀礀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀Ⰰ 椀琀 猀攀攀洀猀 愀 ⠀瘀攀爀礀⤀ 甀渀搀攀爀最爀漀甀渀搀 䨀愀瀀愀渀攀猀攀 愀甀搀椀攀渀挀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 氀攀昀琀 甀渀洀漀瘀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀椀猀 瘀椀猀甀愀氀 渀漀瘀攀氀✀猀 漀搀搀 挀栀愀爀洀⸀⸀⸀ 琀漀 猀甀挀栀 最爀攀愀琀 氀攀渀最栀琀猀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 愀 氀漀琀 漀昀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 洀攀爀挀栀愀渀搀椀猀攀猀 昀漀氀氀漀眀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀攀氀攀愀猀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 漀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 最愀洀攀⸀ 䄀 瀀栀礀猀椀挀愀氀 瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 愀搀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀 ⠀渀攀眀 瀀愀琀栀猀Ⰰ 渀攀眀 攀瘀攀渀琀猀 愀渀搀 攀瘀攀渀 愀 渀攀眀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀⤀ 眀愀猀 爀攀氀攀愀猀攀搀 愀猀 㰀椀㸀䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀 縀䬀椀戀漀甀 渀漀 䜀愀欀甀攀渀 琀漀 匀栀椀爀漀椀 吀猀甀戀愀猀愀縀 倀氀甀猀㰀⼀椀㸀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀挀攀 漀昀 ☀礀攀渀㬀㘀 ⠀愀爀漀甀渀搀 ␀㠀⤀⸀ 䔀瘀攀渀 戀攀琀琀攀爀Ⰰ 愀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀漀爀✀猀 攀搀椀琀椀漀渀 眀愀猀 愀氀猀漀 爀攀氀攀愀猀攀搀 愀猀 㰀椀㸀䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀 䬀愀渀稀攀渀戀愀渀 ⴀ栀甀爀琀昀甀氀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 攀搀椀琀椀漀渀ⴀ㰀⼀椀㸀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 瀀爀椀挀攀 㬀 椀琀 愀氀猀漀 猀攀爀瘀攀猀 愀猀 愀 ∀搀攀昀椀渀椀琀椀瘀攀∀ 瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀 ⠀眀椀琀栀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀爀攀 攀砀琀爀愀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀⤀ 愀渀搀 挀漀渀琀愀椀渀猀 愀 氀椀洀椀琀攀搀 攀搀椀琀椀漀渀 倀椀最攀漀一愀琀椀漀渀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀 䤀䐀 挀愀爀搀⸀ 唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 渀漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀猀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 琀爀愀渀猀氀愀琀攀搀 ⠀⸀⸀⸀礀攀琀 㼀⤀⸀ 䴀漀爀攀 爀攀挀攀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 猀攀攀洀猀 琀漀 戀攀 愀 猀攀焀甀攀氀 漀爀 猀瀀椀渀ⴀ漀昀昀 琀椀琀氀攀搀 ∀䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀 䠀漀氀椀搀愀礀匀琀愀爀∀ 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 爀攀氀攀愀猀攀搀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 渀漀 挀漀洀瀀爀攀栀攀渀猀椀戀氀攀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀椀猀 琀漀瀀椀挀 愀猀 漀昀 琀漀搀愀礀⸀ 䄀 洀愀渀最愀 眀愀猀 愀氀猀漀 瀀甀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 最漀漀搀椀攀猀 猀甀挀栀 愀猀 瀀椀渀✀猀Ⰰ 瀀漀猀琀挀愀爀搀猀 愀渀搀 挀氀漀琀栀 戀愀最猀 愀爀攀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀ 䈀甀琀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 甀渀戀攀氀椀攀瘀愀戀氀攀 椀猀 礀攀琀 琀漀 挀漀洀攀㨀 䘀爀漀渀琀椀攀爀猀 圀漀爀欀猀 椀猀 挀甀爀爀攀渀琀氀礀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 漀渀 愀 搀爀愀洀愀 䌀䐀 戀愀猀攀搀 漀昀昀 䠀愀琀漀昀甀氀 䬀愀爀攀猀栀椀 ℀ 夀攀愀栀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 栀攀愀爀搀 椀琀 眀攀氀氀⸀⸀⸀ 䘀爀漀渀琀椀攀爀猀 圀漀爀欀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 最甀礀猀 琀栀愀琀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀 愀甀搀椀漀 搀爀愀洀愀猀 昀漀爀 猀攀爀椀攀猀 氀椀欀攀 匀琀攀椀渀猀㬀䜀愀琀攀Ⰰ 䠀椀最栀甀爀愀猀栀椀 渀漀 一愀欀甀 䬀漀爀漀 渀椀 漀爀 䰀甀挀欀礀☀⌀㤀㜀㌀㌀㬀匀琀愀爀 ℀ 圀栀愀琀✀猀 眀漀爀猀琀 椀猀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 琀栀椀渀欀 愀氀氀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 㰀椀㸀琀栀愀琀㰀⼀椀㸀 愀戀猀甀爀搀 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀⸀ 䤀 攀瘀攀渀 栀攀猀椀琀愀琀攀 琀漀 戀甀礀 琀栀攀 最愀洀攀⸀⸀⸀ 吀栀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀氀礀 戀攀 愀渀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀洀攀渀琀愀氀 椀洀瀀甀氀猀攀 戀甀礀椀渀最⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 Once again: Try Hatoful Kareshi. Put your assumptions aside, and try it out. I have uploaded an archive containing both the game and the patch here, so you just have to launch the exe file. There is a bunch of walkthrough videos on YouTube, so you can watch them if you're stuck, or simply if you don't feel strong enough to play the game by yourself... which is something I can understand, but still a sadening error you shouldn't make as well !
㰀瀀㸀䴀倀㌀ 㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀最 开栀愀琀漀昀甀氀⸀爀愀爀∀㸀䐀漀眀渀氀漀愀搀 栀攀爀攀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀瀀㸀倀椀最攀漀一愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䤀渀挀⸀ ⴀ 吀椀琀氀攀 匀挀爀攀攀渀㰀⼀瀀㸀