To Heart 2

"ToHeart2 (トゥハート２)" is a PlayStation 2 visual novel by Aquaplus. It was later ported to the PC and omake games were added. It has also been adapted into a thirteen episode anime, and an official manga is currently serialized in Dengeki Daioh.

The characters presented in the game are new to the series, although the Himeyuri twins and Konomi had made an appearance in ToHeart ~remember my memories~ and the original omake as cameos. The game is based two years after ToHeart.

This game also has unofficial Korean and simplified Chinese translated edition, both created in 2006 (All translations are PC version).

History

*December 28 2004: ToHeart2 released on PlayStation 2
*February 21 2005: ToHeart2 manga serialized monthly in Dengeki Daioh (電撃大王)
*March 18 2005: (ToHeart2～colorful note～) serialized in monthly G-Fantasy (月刊Gファンタジー)
*March 18 2005: ToHeart2 anime begins airing
*October 6 2005: Internet Radio 「Radio ToHeart2」airs
*November 11 2005: ToHeart2 Desktop Accessories (ToHeart2 デスクトップアクセサリー) released
*December 9 2005: ToHeart2 XRATED (PC) Limited Edition released 「ToHeart2 XRATED（エクスレイテッド）」. Rated 18+
*December 22 2005: ToHeart2 XRATED Standard Edition released

Game

ToHeart2 was first released on the PlayStation 2 after much fanfare. Although set in the same high school as ToHeart, the game features a brand new cast of characters who appears two years after the original cast had graduated. Numerous changes were made to the clothing design, and the character design was also tweaked to bring it in line with the current art style. Unlike its predecessor, it featured full voice acting throughout the entire game.

ToHeart2: Another Days is also slated to be released on PC in early 2008. It will feature the side characters from ToHeart2.

Anime

A thirteen episode anime series was produced based on the game. The voices were provided by the original actors from the game.

On February 28 2007, a OVA episode was released directly to DVD. It featured the cast from the PlayStation 2 game, as well as a few new characters from the "XRATED" version of the game. The second OVA episode was released on June 27, 2007. The third and final OVA episode was released on September 28, 2007.

A second OVA series, titled "ToHeart 2 AD", was announced in August 2007, with plans to debut it by early 2008, in conjunction with the upcoming game "".

Characters

*Nihongo|Takaaki Kōno|河野 貴明|Kōno Takaaki
*Nihongo|Konomi Yuzuhara|柚原このみ|Yuzuhara Konomi
*Nihongo|Tamaki Kōsaka|向坂 環|Kōsaka Tamaki
*Nihongo|Karin Sasamori|笹森 花梨|Sasamori Karin
*Nihongo|Sango Himeyuri|姫百合 珊瑚|Himeyuri Sango
*Nihongo|Ruri Himeyuri|姫百合 瑠璃|Himeyuri Ruri
*Nihongo|Yuma Tonami|十波 由真|Tonami Yuma
*Lucy Maria Misora/Ruko Kireinasora (ルーシー・マリア・ミソラ／るーこ・きれいなそら)
*Nihongo|Manaka Komaki|小牧 愛佳|Komaki Manaka
*Nihongo|Yūki Kusakabe|草壁 優季|Kusakabe Yūki
*Nihongo|Sasara Kusugawa|久寿川 ささら|Kusugawa Sasara

Differences

There are numerous differences between ToHeart2 and ToHeart.

;LogoThere has been a slight redesign in the lettering of 'ToHeart'. The new logo is straight text instead of being slightly curved at the edges, and the positioning of the heart has been moved to the right. The colour scheme has also been tweaked slightly, but the rainbow gradient in the text remains unchanged.

;UniformsThe uniforms have been given a redesign, with a larger, fluffier bow and a triangular collar.

GPL violation and source code release

On December 12 2005, Aquaplus announced that it would release all source code to ToHeart2 along with several other of their games because of a violation of the GPL:

* ToHeart 2 X-Rated
* Aruruu to Asobo!! (Launcher and Routes mini-scenario)
* Tears To Tiara
* Chain Kusari

The games themselves had used source code from the XViD codec in addition to using the codec for compressing videos, they had violated the GPL by not releasing the source code, and on December 22 2005, Aquaplus confirmed on their website [ [http://leaf.aquaplus.co.jp/xvid.html Aquaplus website] - in Japanese] that their source code would be available for ¥600 (about five US dollars) via CD-R. The data file are not included in this release, only the source code for the codec and game engine are included (as required by GPL)

References

* [http://leaf.aquaplus.co.jp/xvid.html Aquaplus officially announces source code will be available via mail]
* [http://ja.wikinews.org/wiki/Leaf%E3%80%81%E4%B8%80%E9%83%A8%E4%BD%9C%E5%93%81%E3%81%AE%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E5%85%AC%E9%96%8B%E3%81%B8 Leaf agrees to release source code] ja icon

External links

* [http://www.aquaplus.co.jp/th2/ Official ToHeart2 Site]
* [http://leaf.aquaplus.co.jp/product/th2x/ Official ToHeart2 XRATED Site]
* [http://www.toheart2.net/ Official ToHeart2 TV Animation Site]
* [http://www.aquaplus.co.jp/ Aquaplus Website]
* [http://shop.frontierworks.jp/digital/web_radio/detail_058.html Radio ToHeart2 homepage]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/avenger32/ ToHeart2 translation project]
* [http://wotn.atspace.org/ A site with a guide/FAQ (albeit incomplete) for the game]
* [http://www.taiyakiyasan.org/fdb/?ToHeart2 ToHeart2 game information] (Japanese)