Line #163 VideoGame/HarukanaruTokiNoNakaDe


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harukanaru_toki_no_naka_de.jpg]]
2
3	''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de'' (loosely "Within the Expanse of a Distant Time") is a series of [[RomanceGame otome games]] developed by Ruby Party and published by Creator/{{Koei\|Tecmo}}. It is a part of the [=NeoRomance=] label, which also includes ''VideoGame/{{Angelique\|KoeiTecmo}}'' and ''VideoGame/LaCordaDOro''.
4
5	The basic premise involves a female OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent -- often accompanied by a couple of friends -- drawn into a parallel world that bears a strong resemblance to [[JidaiGeki historical Japan during the Heian (and later -- Bakumatsu) Period]], where a lot of traditional Japanese/Eastern myths and beliefs have a material form, co-existing peacefully with some of the more generic [[ElementalPowers element-based spells]]. (It was hardly, if at all, ''identified'' as Japan until later games: most characters tend to only refer to the setting as "another world".) There, the girl assumes the position of the {{Miko}}, or priestess, of the Dragon-God, a deity believed to be capable of saving people from current disasters. On her quest to complete the mission, she is accompanied by [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys eight attractive young men]] called the Hachiyou (lit. "Eight Leaves"), who gain their powers from TheFourGods.
6
7	While the plot of the original game (and to a greater extent its manga/anime adaptations) has been [[strike:accused of plagiarizing]] [[FollowTheLeader noted as having a lot of similarities]] to ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'' (or, sometimes, ''Manga/InuYasha''), the franchise definitely stands on its own, and the later entries actually managed to improve the premise enough that it no longer feels "borrowed". Each of the five main games features a new set of characters and a new conflict, so the series doesn't get too repetitive while still keeping (loosely) the same general theme.
8
9	!!This series consists of the following games, sorted by the main stories:
10
11	!!!First story (Miko - Akane Motomiya):
12
13	The "original" storyline featuring the Miko and her two friends from school having to save Heian-Kyou from the ambitions of the powerful Oni Clan who want to rule the city on their own.
14
15	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de'' (2000-04-06 - [=PS=], 2002-08-23 - GBA)
16	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Banjou Yuugi'' (2003-06-26 - PS)
17	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Hachiyou Shou'' (2005-04-01 - [=PS2=]) [[note]]Essentially an UpdatedRerelease of the original game tied with the TV series adaptation.[[/note]]
18	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Iroetebako'' (2005-04-01 - [=PSP=])
19	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Maihitoyo'' (2006-09-21 - [=PS2=]) [[note]]Adapted from the theatrical movie.[[/note]]
20	* ''Pocket Scenario Series: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Maihitoyo'' (2006-11-30 - Nintendo DS)
21
22	!!!Second story (Miko - Karin Takakura):
23
24	Skipping a hundred years (on the parallel world timeline) from the first game, the second one employs the new Miko from "our" world to sort out a conflict between the emperor and the retired emperor which brought chaos to Kyou once again.
25
26	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2'' (2001-09-28 - PC, 2002-02-28 - [=PS2=], 2005-06-30 - [=PSP=])
27
28	!!!Third story (Miko - Nozomi Kasuga):
29
30	Skipping a hundred years again, this time the three summoned characters arrive into the parallel world right in the middle of what is clearly an equivalent of the Genpei War, and have to side with the Genji in order to bring an end to the battles.
31
32	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3'' (2004-12-22 - [=PS2=])
33	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 - Izayoiki'' (2005-09-22 - [=PS2=])
34	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 - Unmei no Labyrinth'' (2006-03-23 - [=PS2=])
35	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 with Izayoiki Aizouban'' (2009-03-19 - [=PSP=])
36	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 - Unmei no Labyrinth - Aizouban'' (2009-10-22 - [=PSP=])
37
38	!!!Fourth story (Miko - Chihiro Ashihara):
39
40	This entry abandons the historical theme in favour of the mythological origins of Japan, thus technically acting as a prequel to the series. The conflict is now between two countries in another world, the Miko being an amnesiac princess of one of them who didn't know about her past before getting involved with the story.
41
42	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4'' (2008-06-19 - [=PS2/Wii=], 2010-12-22 - PSP)
43
44	!!!Fifth story (Miko - Yuki Hasumi):
45
46	The entry that returns to its roots in historical themes yet managed to get TaintedByThePreview due to skipping over to the Bakumatsu Period (therefore marking itself as a rival to Otomate's ''VisualNovel/{{Hakuouki}}'' franchise) and replacing the main voice cast. Unusually for the series, it doesn't have the heroes permanently TrappedInAnotherWorld, but allows for travelling between the modern and historical settings.
47
48	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5'' (2011-02-24 - PSP)
49
50	!!! Sixth story (Miko - Azusa Takatsuka)
51
52	The heroine this time has been whisked away to the Taisho era.
53	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6'' (2015-03-12 - PSP, PS Vita)
54
55
56	!!! Seventh story (Miko - Amano Nanao)
57	The latest entry of the franchise. This one heads to the Sengoku period, with the heroine transported to an alternate Earth in the middle of a feud between the Four Deities of Heaven and Earth--and she learns that this was her birth world.
58	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 7'' (2020-06-18 - UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch)
59
60
61	!!!"Hybrid" games:
62
63	Apart from the main series' canon, there are also games based around a WhatIf[=-type=] story that puts the cast of the first three main games together into a DreamLand setting.
64
65	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Yume no Ukihashi'' (2008-08-21, Nintendo DS)
66	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Yume no Ukihashi Special'' (2009-01-29, [=PS2=])
67
68	!!Adaptations:
69
70	The original game spawned a 17-volume {{manga}} authored by the series' character designer Creator/TohkoMizuno; originally published by Hakusensha in ''[=LaLa=]'' magazine, it ran from July 1999 [[note]]Japanese Wikipedia currently says February 2000[[/note]] to January 2010 (shifting to ''[=LaLa DX=]'' in February 2007). There are also extra chapters dedicated to the second and the third game, and an entire extra volume concerning the fourth one. The manga is licensed in North America by VIZ Media under the title ''Haruka -- Beyond the Stream of Time''.
71
72	The popularity of the franchise led to creation of several anime adaptations:
73	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Ajisai Yumegatari'' (OVA, 2 episodes, 2002-2003) [[note]]Basically a side story to the original game.[[/note]]
74	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2: Shiroki Ryuu no Miko'' (OVA, 3 episodes, 2003-2005) [[note]]Adaptation of the second game.[[/note]]
75	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou'' (TV, 26 episodes, 2004-2005; aired on TV Tokyo. There are also two OVA episodes released under the title in 2005.) [[note]]Partially adapted from the manga ''and'' the original game.[[/note]]
76	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo'' (theatrical movie, 2006) [[note]]An original story starring the cast of the first game: ''Hachiyou Shou'' and includes a new character.[[/note]]
77	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki'' (TV special, 2007; aired on KIDS STATION) [[note]]Partial adaptation of the third game.[[/note]]
78	* ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Owari Naki Unmei'' (TV special, 2010; aired on [=AT-X=]) [[note]]"Sequel" to ''Kurenai no Tsuki'' adapting the rest of the game's story, including the endings.[[/note]]
79
80	In addition, two live-action stage plays based on the franchise were made in 2008 and 2009, ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo'' and ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Oborozoushi''. The former, as the title suggests, is an adaptation of the theatrical movie; the latter is a completely original story [[note]]heavily focused on Yasuaki[[/note]], still starring the cast of the first game.
81	----
82	!! ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de'' franchise contains examples of the following tropes:
83
84	!!! "Core" tropes (related to the concept in general):
85	* TheAnimeOfTheGame: See the list above. Of course, there's also a manga in the mix, but it in itself is supposed to be an AdaptationExpansion of the original game.
86	* BittersweetEnding: The ''Maihitoyo'' movie. Suefumi's relationship with Akane was doomed from the start [[note]]since he was eventually revealed to have been DeadAllAlong[[/note]], but consider that the alternative outcome for him was apparently to be exorcised by Yasuaki...
87	* CallingYourAttacks: The Hachiyou. This includes {{Combination Attack}}s.
88	* CastFullOfPrettyBoys: Like with other otome games, this is the ''point'' of the series.
89	* CuttingOffTheBranches: Inverted. The "default" pairing is the Hachiyou in the position of the Seiryuu of Heaven [[note]]which is true for the manga[[/note]]. However, chronology-wise, the only game where the choice arguably matters is ''Haruka 4'', due to its "prequel" nature. Furthermore, the remake of the first game added an ending for a character whose "branch" was already cut by the sequel.
90	* DragonsAreDivine: The White Dragon, a god representing purity and virtue that likes to live in rivers while in the form of a [[LegendaryCarp giant fish]], and directly serves Shangdi, the Jade Emperor. Their more malevolent ([[DarkIsNotEvil but not completely evil]]) counterpart, the Black Dragon, represents endings and death, and both are required to be in harmony for Serenity to reign in their combined form of [[YinYangBomb Yinlong]]. Both are so powerful that they have two pairs of Light and Dark Kirins respectively that are second only to them in terms of power.
91	* ElementalPowers: The Hachiyou. Twofold, actually, since the power assortment comes from both the Five Elements (pair) and the Eight Trigrams (individual).
92	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: We swear, it's not TimeTravel, just AnotherDimension that ''happens'' to look like ancient Kyoto! This concept works ''very'' well for justifying any historical discrepancies (including allowing the creators to use as much of the era setting detail as they want while safely skipping over anything that would look too gross in an otome game). Though even the "fantasy" part is derived from very real eastern mythology and religions.
93	* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Though they adapt quickly enough. It helps to have history classes, after all.
94	* FoeRomanceSubtext: Akane clearly falls for Akuram after seeing his face, which causes her a bit of trouble throughout the story.
95	* TheFourGods: The power source for the Hachiyou. Although they were more or less important to the first storyline, later plots put them completely out of the focus. On the other hand, ''Haruka 5'' went so far as to give them [[{{Bishonen}} pretty-looking human forms]]...
96	* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: Blackened teeth, whited out faces, and eyebrows drawn on in the middle of the forehead were requisites for beauty in the historical Heian period. Of course, as noted above, the series has its parallel world setting to justify the discrepancies... but there still, are a few characters who comply with the historical standard. They're too bizarre-looking to be anything but PlayedForLaughs. Then there's a number of characters in ''Haruka 3'' and ''Haruka 5'' who are based on actual historical figures, [[{{Bishonen}} with predictable results]]...
97	* {{Miko}}: Well, they're called that, at least; although Akane does wear a typical miko outfit in anime at some points.
98	* MultipleEndings: The games, obviously, but also ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV and ''Owari Naki Unmei'', via DVD [[BonusMaterial omake]].
99	* PowerCrystal: The Dragon Gems (gyoku) that Hachiyou have on their body are used for attacks and provide a PsychicLink with the Miko (whose gem is implied to be ''inside'' her). After ''Haruka 3'' the Gems do not necessarily appear on the bodies of the Hachiyou, but still play an important role in the games.
100	* ThirdOptionAdaptation: None of the anime adaptations have a clear-cut ending, despite the existence of the de-facto "default" pairings. Subverted with ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV and ''Owari Naki Unmei'', where, instead of just sticking with an "open" ending, you are allowed to make your own choice.
101	* TrappedInAnotherWorld: The series' premise, easily confused for TimeTravel if not for the fact that the characters occasionally do discuss the actual matter between each other.
102
103	!!! ElementalPowers elaborated:
104	* CastingAShadow: The Oni Clan; this includes Ridvan from ''Haruka 3'', who is a Hachiyou.
105	* DishingOutDirt: The Suzaku of Earth Hachiyou.
106	* MakingASplash: The Genbu of Heaven Hachiyou.
107	* PlayingWithFire: The Suzaku of Heaven Hachiyou.
108	* RazorWind[=/=]SwordBeam: The Seiryuu of Heaven Hachiyou.
109	* ShockAndAwe: The Seiryuu of Earth Hachiyou. In ''Haruka 4'' the character even has the nickname "''Kuroikazuchi''" (black lightning).
110
111	!!! Other tropes:
112	* AlternateCharacterReading: ''Toki'' ("time") in the title is rendered with two kanji (''ji-kuu'') that mean "time-space".
113	* AnachronicOrder: The first three games are a Heian trilogy, describing the period from its apex to its collapse in the Genpei War. The franchise took to jumping around in time after that, with ''Haruka 4'' set in ancient times (and thus before the Heian trilogy). ''Haruka 5'' is set in the fantasy 1860s, ''Haruka 6'' in the faux 1920s, and so on.
114	* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: The "Kotengu Classic" segments in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV.
115	* {{Backstory}}.
116	* BarbieDollAnatomy: The opening of ''Kurenai no Tsuki''.
117	* BattleAura: The Hachiyou, sometimes.
118	* BishieSparkle: Seems to be the purpose of the existence of ''Hachiyou Shou'' [=OVAs=].
119	* BodyguardCrush: '''All''' Hachiyou are subject to this trope, but it goes double for Seiryuu of Heaven characters. A defining trope for Minamoto no Yorihisa and Kazahaya (''Haruka 4'').
120	* BrownNote: The eight-stringed kin in the manga and ''Hachiyou Shou''.
121	* TheChainsOfCommanding: The {{Sadistic Choice}}s that come with being a ruler are a frequent theme of ''Haruka 4''.
122	* ChangedMyJumper: Kind of; apparently, a short skirt is ''required'' to attract guys. Sigh...
123	* CherryBlossoms: ''Hachiyou Shou'' is '''obsessed''' with these.
124	* ColonCancer: Several of the titles in the series fall into this territory.
125	* CombinedEnergyAttack: In ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV's GrandFinale; also in ''Maihitoyo'' movie.
126	* CrossdressingVoices: Played straight with Sefuru (Creator/YuuAsakawa), but averted with Shimon (Creator/KoukiMiyata).
127	* CrossPoppingVeins.
128	* DelayedReaction: Karin in ''Shiroki Ryuu no Miko'', when told about her new status. Also Akane and Shimon in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OVA.
129	* DisguisedInDrag: ''Hachiyou Shou'' episode 18. Poor Eisen...
130	* DoubleMeaningTitle: ''Hachiyou Shou'' episode 23, "Kawatare". A bit of a GeniusBonus for non-Japanese audience, as it is rendered in hiragana, and knowing the origins of the word is required to understand it. See the Trivia page for details.
131	* TheEndIsNigh: One of the ways ''Haruka 2'' [[ShownTheirWork shows its work]] is that its backstory involves widespread fear of the coming of ''Mappou'', the Latter Age of Dharma. According to this Buddhist teaching, once ''Mappou'' sets in, people will no longer be able to gain enlightenment through Buddhist law, bringing chaos and disorder to the world.
132	* {{Epigraph}}: The ''tanka'' poetry at the end of ''Hachiyou Shou'' episodes serves this purpose.
133	* {{Expy}}: Much of the cast of the second game suspiciously resembles the cast of the first one.
134	* FaceFault: Tenma in ''Hachiyou Shou'' episode 5.
135	* TheFaceless: Abe no Seimei, in both the manga and the ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV.
136	* {{Fanservice}}: ''Tiny'' bits of it here and there (involving the guys, of course).
137	* FieryRedhead: Most of the Suzaku of Heaven Hachiyou, almost [[PlayingWithFire literally]].
138	* {{Flashback}}: ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV has ''tons'' of these, though many at least serve for CharacterDevelopment.
139	* GlamourFailure: The onryou in the Yasuaki intro episode/chapter.
140	* GlowingEyesOfDoom: '''Yasuaki''', of all people, gets these in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV.
141	* GottaCatchThemAll: The Hachiyou, and later the Four Seals, in the manga and TV series.
142	* HandBehindHead.
143	* HeroSecretService: Discussed in ''Hachiyou Shou''... though the second arc proves otherwise.
144	* HiddenEyes: Several instances.
145	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Abe no Seimei, plus about half the cast of ''Haruka 3'' and ''Haruka 5'', even if they're technically "parallel world" versions.
146	* HostageForMacguffin: ''Hachiyou Shou'' episode 20.
147	* HotSpringsEpisode: The "chibi" special for ''Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3''.
148	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Yasuaki, having hurt Ran when breaking her curse on Akane - "I could not let the Miko die".
149	* IHaveThisFriend: Inori resorts to this in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV to get Akane's opinion on the situation with Seri.
150	* ImHavingSoulPains: Akane in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV on two occasions; Yasuaki at some points in TV and manga, for different reasons.
151	* ImageSong: Tons. Even [[Creator/AkiraIshida Yasuaki]] got one.
152	* LuminescentBlush: Akane, though she is easily out-blushed by some of the guys.
153	* MagicalGesture: A few attacks involve these.
154	* MagicSkirt: The mikos.
155	* MayDecemberRomance: Some of the Hachiyou are quite a bit older than the Mikos.
156	* ModestyTowel: In the ''Haruka 3'' Hot Springs Super Deformed Special. They ''swim'' in these freely.
157	* NarniaTime[=/=]YearInsideHourOutside: More prominently seen in ''Haruka 3'', where one character ends up spending extra time in Kyou compared to other two due to getting lost during the transition.
158	* NotWhatItLooksLike: One incident in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV, involving Akane and Yorihisa.
159	* OddlyVisibleEyebrows: Pretty much anyone who has bangs.
160	* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: In ''Haruka 3'' Minamoto no Yoritomo uses [[spoiler:Kagetoki's mother]] as leverage against him, forcing him to act as a [[TheMole mole]]/[[ProfessionalKiller assassin]]. How 'bout that ObfuscatingStupidity?
161	* OfficialCouple: Apparently, Miko x Seiryuu of Heaven, regardless of the game (not counting side games).
162	* OneSideOfTheStory: The source of much humor in ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV "Kokoro no Yukue".
163	* OnTheNext: ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV previews.
164	* OpeningNarration: ''Hachiyou Shou'' episodes 1-5, done by Fuji-hime.
165	* PersonalityBloodTypes: Discussed in the manga.
166	* PersonalityPowers: The Hachiyou, to an extent.
167	* PowerGlows: Applies to pretty much anyone who has any powers.
168	* PsychicLink: The Miko and her Hachiyou.
169	* PuppyDogEyes: Kotengu in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV, on at least one occasion.
170	* QuiveringEyes: Several instances in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV, notably the one involving Yasuaki.
171	* ReflectiveEyes: Near the end of the ''Maihitoyo'' movie.
172	* TheScream: Tenma in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV.
173	* {{Seppuku}}: Referenced in relation to Yorihisa; thankfully never commited.
174	* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Happens over and over in ''Haruka 3''. [[spoiler:Main example - altering the course of events to save the Hachiyou from a [[DeathTrap horrible fiery death]].]]
175	* ShipSinking: The manga ending established the OfficialCouple.
176	* ShipTease: Endlessly.
177	* ShownTheirWork: Despite the notes on FantasyCounterpartCulture on the main page, the series makes ''heavy'' use of actual historical and mythological material, to the point where one starts wondering if the "parallel world" thing only exists just so that some of the details could be changed or excluded without ruining the overall picture.
178	* SingleLineOfDescent: The Star Clan.
179	* SlashFic: This franchise is basically a SlashFic Writer's Paradise...
180	* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The Oni often become victims of this. Then there's "Honest Sato" from ''Haruka 5''...
181	* SprintScrubbing: Akane in ''Maihitoyo'' movie.
182	* TheStinger: ''Maihitoyo'' movie.
183	* StockFootage: Some amount of it is present in the ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV series.
184	* SuperDeformed: Many instances in ''Hachiyou Shou''.
185	* TakingTheBullet: Yoritada for Karin in ''Shiroki Ryuu no Miko'', Yorihisa for Tenma in ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV, [[spoiler:Masaomi for Nozomi]] in ''Owarinaki Unmei''.
186	* TheTeaser: ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV episodes.
187	* ThemeTwinNaming: The two deers that followed Nue around are named Momiji and Kaede (both mean "maple"). [[Manga/BlueSeed Wait...]] [[ShoutOut hmm...]]
188	* TitleOnlyOpening: ''Hachiyou Shou'' TV episode 26.
189	* TokenNonHuman: Yasuaki, Yasutsugu, Hakuryuu; if the Oni Clan counts, Ridvan.
190	* TonightSomeoneDies: ''Oborozoushi'''s tagline is "Yasuaki dies!?" (though note the punctuation). Fans just went "LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt".
191	* TrueCompanions: The Hachiyou; this even gets explored a bit in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV.
192	* ATwinkleInTheSky: Kotengu, in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV.
193	* VillainTeleportation: The Oni.
194	* VisibleSigh: In some anime adaptations, usually reserved for comedic scenes.
195	* VisibleSilence: Several instances in ''Hachiyou Shou'' [=OAVs=].
196	* WeirdMoon: Specifically, ''red'' moon.
197	* XRaySparks: Kotengu in one ''Hachiyou Shou'' OAV.
198	* {{Yonkoma}}: Several manga omake.
199	%%* {{Youkai}}: Many of them.
200	* YourUniverseOrMine: See the premise. The game allows for both choices, although the real-world endings are apparently the "true" ones.

Context VideoGame / HarukanaruTokiNoNakaDe