Akai Ito
Developer(s)Success Corporation
Publisher(s)Success Corporation
Hamster
Designer(s)Hal
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • JP: October 21, 2004
  • JP: October 27, 2005 (SuperLite 2000 Series)
PlayStation Network
  • JP: October 16, 2013
HD Remastered
  • WW: May 24, 2023
Genre(s)Visual novel, adventure, horror, yuri[1]
Mode(s)Single-player

Akai Ito (アカイイト, lit. "Red Thread") is a Japanese horror adventure game by Success Corporation, released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on October 21, 2004. A reduced price "popular edition," included in developer and publisher SUCCESS' SuperLite 2000 Series, was released on October 27, 2005. The title refers to the mythical red string of fate.

On September 14, 2022, a Remastered "HD" version of the game was announced for the Nintendo Switch and PC, alongside its younger "sister-game" Aoi Shiro, at the Tokyo Game Show (東京ゲームショウ, Tōkyō Gēmu Shō), with a release date planned for 2023. This new version, which released on May 24, 2023, received an official English language option for the very first time, and was given a release outside Japan.[2]

Story

To arrange the inheritance because of the loss of her mother, orphaned high school student Kei Hatō heads for her late father's house in Hemizuka. In the train on the way there, Kei has a mysterious dream of a huge tree and a woman who seems to be lost in sadness. In Hemizuka, Kei learns the secret concealed in her own blood through various meeting with an Oni Slayer, a friend of her late mother, a young girl accompanied by a white fox, and even the mysterious girl from her dreams. Throughout the story Kei is antagonized by the twin oni Nozomi and Mikage. Akai Ito's story varies greatly based upon the player's decisions, which not only affect the flow of the story but also the ending the player receives (several of which suggest romantic feelings among the female characters).

Character

Akai Ito's main characters, as depicted in the novel adaptation

The main character of the story, Kei is a rather careless person, which is quite ironic considering her favorite phrase is "always be prepared".

The mysterious girl from Kei's dreams.

The Oni Slayer Kei meets at the train station, her sword is the very bane of the oni.

A girl half Kei's age, accompanied by a white fox. Kei meets her in her father's now abandoned house.

A friend of Kei's deceased mother. She goes by the nickname "West".

Twin oni and the antagonists of the story.

  • Kei (ケイ) (CV: Kazutaka Ishii)

A mysterious male, later known as Kei's brother called Hakuka.

  • Mayumi Hatō (羽藤真弓) (CV: Nana Furuhara)
  • Yōko Nara (奈良陽子) (CV: Mamiko Noto)
  • Rin Tōgo (東郷凛) (CV: Miyuki Sawashiro)

Staff

  • Character design / Original picture : HAL
  • Script : Tomoyuki Fumotogawa
  • Music : MANYO (Little Wing)
  • Background : J.C.Staff

Music

Adaptations

Manga

Akai Ito has also received several manga adaptations: a one-shot by Muttri Moony published in the July 2004 issue of Yuri Shimai, by the name "Swear"; and a short manga published in the May and June 2007 issues of Monthly Comic Rush. A special anthology was created for a limited edition version Akai Ito, the anthology featured various stories from different artists.

Web Novel

A free web novel of Akai Ito was released on Success' official Akai Ito website,[3] it follows one of the storylines accessible when playing the video game.

Drama CD

One drama CD has been released. It was first released as a Limited Edition version in October 2005 and later a regular version was released on December 26, 2006.[4]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Morishima, Akiko (April 2007). "YurixYuri Kenbunroku". Comic Yuri Hime (in Japanese) (8). ASIN B000PAAJN8.
  2. ↑ Romano, Sal (September 14, 2022). "Akai Ito & Aoi Shiro HD Remaster announced for Switch, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ Akai Ito web novel Archived 2009-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, Akai Ito's web novel.
  4. ↑ "アカイイトドラマCD「京洛降魔」（通常版）" (in Japanese). Success. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
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