Line #241 VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou


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6	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/koihime_vn_poster.png]]
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8	When OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Kazuto Hongo chases after a thief, who steals and breaks an ancient mirror at his school campus, he's transported back to ancient China. Are we good so far? Now, take the ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' story and GenderFlip nearly all male characters from the original epic into {{action girl}}s of varying degrees of affection for Kazuto, and you get the perfect harem VisualNovel called ''Koihime†Musou'', developed by [=BaseSon=]. All principal heroines in the game are {{exp\|y}}ies of the (male) generals from the original epic and the former's names are derived from the latter's by reading the original Chinese characters in their names as kanji. Additionally, all of them have a true, "private" name usually reserved for close friends, and several sport a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_style_name courtesy name]]. European {{eroge}} publisher [=MangaGamer=] acquired the localization rights and released an English version on February 28, 2011.
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10	A remake of the visual novel ''Shin Koihime†Musou'' was released with more characters added in from ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' and following suit by {{genderflip}}ping them. Not only does it pay more attention to the original epic but it also allows players to choose which faction to ally with, rather than the preset one in the original game.
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12	The series has since developped into several entries and spin-offs listed below.
13
14	!!Here is a chronological list of all the games in the series.
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16	[[index]]
17
18	!!!'''Main Entries'''
19	* ''[[VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou2007 Koihime†Musou]]'' (2007 in Japan, 2011 worldwide): A mostly original story based on the ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'', featuring the major generals of the period. Albeit presenting itself as an adaptation of the Three Kingdoms, it quickly takes its own route to become more of a standard UnwantedHarem story with few references to the original epic. OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Kazuto Hongou ends up in the Three Kingdom period after attempting to stop a thief, and circumstances led him to become the leader of the temptative Shoku Kingdom, alongside the famed warriors Kan'u and Chouuhi, taking the identity of Ryuubi in all but name. Because of its status as an original story, it has several instances of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness and bordering on PornWithoutPlot.
20	* ''[[VisualNovel/ShinKoihimeMusou Shin Koihime†Musou]]'' (2008): A broad retelling of the first game and more closer to the original epic. In this version, the prologue in the present time and the thieving is removed altogether to have Kazuto simply being transported to another world in his sleep. This time, the player is given the choice to join one of the titular three Kingdoms of Shoku, Gi, and Go. Several new characters fill in their ranks, most notably Ryuubi as the leader of the Shoku Kingdom, and Sonsaku as the leader of the Go Kingdom who replaces her sister. Almost none of the first ''Koihime'' plot remains, aside from a couple of side characters who appear in an additional story unlocked after clearing the three routes.
21	* ''[[VisualNovel/ShinKoihimeMusouMoeshouden Shin Koihime†Musou ~Moeshouden~]]'' (2010): The third and final installment of the original series, which the battle sequences found in prior games for the purpose of focusing entirely on the UnwantedHarem aspect.
22	* ''[[VisualNovel/ShinKoihimeMusouKakumei Shin Koihime†Musou -Kakumei-]]'' (2017-2019): Three remakes of ''Shin Koihime†Musou'', each centering on one of the titular kingdoms while adding characters from ''Eiyuutan'' and more historical battles.
23	** ''VisualNovel/SoutenNoHaou'' (2017): Centered on Gi and Sousou's ambition to unite China by force.
24	** ''VisualNovel/SonGoNoKetsumyaku'' (2018): Centered on Go and the Son family of warriors in their struggle to preserve their legacy among the warring kingdoms.
25	** ''VisualNovel/RyuukiNoTaimou'' (2019): Centered on Shoku and Ryuubi's attempts to unite China with peace and diplomacy.
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27	!!!'''Eiyuutan Series'''
28	* ''[[VisualNovel/ShinKoihimeEiyuutan123 Shin†Koihime Eiyuutan 1-2-3]]'' (2015-2016): A collection of short and humorous stories set in various timelines in the aftermath of ''Shin Koihime†Musou'', with updated art and new artists. It also features another bunch of new characters from the original epic for the three Kingdoms and the Imperial Kan Court.
29	* ''[[VisualNovel/ShinKoihimeEiyuutan45Gaiden Shin†Koihime Eiyuutan 4-5-Gaiden]]'' (2022-2023): A second collection of short stories for Go, Gi, and the Imperial Kan Court.
30	** ''4'' notably features a short prequel involving a young Sonken Bundai in her bid to create a new kingdom from scratch, alongside the younger incarnations of the three oldest generals of Go.
31	** ''Gaiden - Hakugetsu no Tomoshibi'' makes a new spin on the usual formula: Kazuto ends up in the care of the Kan Imperial Court, instead of the three kingdoms. As China prepare to fall into full-blown civil war, Chancellor of State Toutaku wants him to use his knowledge of the future to prevent such a fate, against all of the other warlords keen on taking down the Imperial Court.
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33	!!!'''Spin-offs'''
34	* ''VideoGame/OtomeTaisenSangokushiEngi'' (2011): A fighting game for arcade machines and PC. It was adapted for [=PlayStations=] 3 and 4 on January, 2016 under the new title ''Koihime Enbu''. Degica games has released this adaptation for overseas [=PCs=] via Steam, alongside a third version, ''[=RyoRaiRai=]'', in 2018.
35	* ''[[VideoGame/WebKoihimeMusouBattleMaidens Web Koihime†Musou: Battle Maidens]]'' (2012): A web-based strategy game, free to play with {{microtransactions}}. It's been jokingly said that it is like ''{{VideoGame/Evony}}'', except that it actually has girls. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Plans to release the game overseas crashed abruptly when Beanfun, the distributor, had its Europe and US branches closed by Gamania, its parent company]].
36	* ''[[VideoGame/SengokuKoihime Sengoku†Koihime]]'' (2013): A SpiritualSuccessor set during the [[JidaiGeki Sengoku period]]. It stars Kazuto's nephew many years after the original, except [[GenreSavvy his uncle specifically trained him to prepare for his arrival in the Sengoku period]], leading to a much stronger, much smarter protagonist.
37	* ''VideoGame/SuzukuriDungeonKarinInTheMountain'' (2019): A SimulationGame and [[ADungeonIsYou dungeon management game]] which features characters of the ''Koihime'' series in an entirely different genre and setting.
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39
40	!!!'''Anime adaptations'''
41	* ''Anime/KoihimeMusou'' (2008-2010): The AnimatedAdaptation of the same name, set in its own continuity and doesn't adapt the VisualNovel, adding instead several original characters from the original epic whose versions differ greatly from the later installments. Most notably, the adaptation remove Kazuto altogether in favor of having Ryuubi as its main character. Later seasons were released as ''Shin†Koihime Musou'' and ''Otome Tairan'' respectively.
42	[[/index]]
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44	'''For individual character tropes, see the [[Characters/KoihimeMusouVisualNovel full character list]]'''.
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46	----
47	!!Tropes in relation to multiple characters or the franchise:
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49	* AccentAdaptation: BloodKnight Chouryou in the Japanese version had a Kansai dialect. The [=MangaGamer=] translator went on the record saying "[he] didn't really bother with making her speech 'accented' this time around, instead focusing more on the personality she conveyed through it."
50	* ActionGirl: Pretty much any girl that wields a weapon, even some that don't, such as Chinkyuu punishing a stranger for getting too close to Ryofu.
51	* AgeLift: Some of the cast of characters are a different age than their original counterparts.
52	* TheAlcoholic: Gengan's portrayed as one in ''Otome Tairan''; the locals claim she's seldom seen sober.
53	** Chouryou may be the other; anyone who can gulp down wine like there's no tomorrow probably has to be one.
54	* AlternateUniverse: According to Chousen in the first game, Kazuto didn't travel back in time, but rather entered an alternate world, whereas his home is an "original" alternate history from which that alternative history sprang. Moreover, Chousen mentions the existence of more than one alternate reality, each with different possible scenarios happening, including the scenario of the original ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''. Potentially, this implies that every storyline in the entire franchise (i.e. the {{Visual Novel}}s, the {{Animated Adaptation}}s, the [=OVAs=], manga and the {{Omake}}s) are all canon.
55	** He also mentioned a real "true world" (real life) where all the concepts serve as a base for all the "alternate worlds" and that someone in the "true world" might be watching Kazuto, he also mention the creation of other "alternate worlds" based on that world. It's the player, and the new worlds are either the new game pluses or the sequel. In short, every time someone comes up with a fictional idea, they create another universe, an "alternate history", following the script of that person's thoughts. And every time someone thinks up another idea from someone else's story, another alternate history branches off from the first alternate history.
56	* AmazonBrigade: The Five Tiger Generals, but by ''Shin Koihime'', all factions have their little own brigade, even if they're not named.
57	* AnachronismStew: Female military and political leaders, modern underwear, maid cafes. This isn't a particularly realistic depiction of ancient China.
58	* AnimalMotifs: Some of the Shoku generals use prominent animals from eastern mythology like dragons, tigers, and phoenixes.
59	* AnimalStereotypes: Bachou's a horse, Chouhi is compared to either a tiger or a pig, and Chouun to a butterfly.
60	* AntiFrustrationFeature: Losing a battle gives you the option to redeploy your troops. This gives you reinforcements to your original troop count.
61	* BabiesEverAfter:
62	** The ending of the Go (Wu) faction in the ''Shin Koihime'' game, where all the girls (except Sonshoukou, who's too young, and Sonsaku and Shuuyu, who're dead) become mothers to a daughter each, with Kazuto as the common father.
63	** Also, Kan'u and Ryuubi in the Shu ending of the PSP game.
64	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Chousen of all people explains in the late game to the game protagonists that the universe they are in is an alternate universe created by the "true" universe i.e. OUR universe. He even gives a callout of the game's basic premise, calling out the game devs' thought process of "what if we make a story where all the generals from ROTK were gender bent into girls?" and the kicker? Chousen even acknowledges that the events happening around Kazuto are being observed even as he's explaining all of this by another entity...YOU, THE PLAYER.
65	* CastHerd: A huge number of characters and most belong to a particular faction.
66	* CatGirl: Moukaku and the Nanman girls making up her royal household run around in barbarian-style cat outfits. They also end every sentence with "[[VerbalTic nya]]".
67	%%* CherryBlossoms: Where Ryuubi, Kan'u and Chouhi make their pact, a la the novel.
68	* ChessMotifs: The factions respective strategists are often shown playing Xiangqi, the Chinese version of chess. One's skill at Xiangqi is used to demonstrate intelligence and level of strategic ability.
69	* ChickMagnet: Kazuto managed to somehow attract almost every girl.
70	* ColorCodedArmies: Shoku tends to be jade and white, with [[ColorMotif gold and other colors]] mixed in depending on the individual personality of the character. Gi is mostly purple and black, although they recruit a lot of vagabonds and mercenaries who wear different clothing. Go is varying shades of red and pink.
71	* CommandRoster: Each of the factions has a few characters that fill a specific set of roles within their respective governments.
72	** [[TheCaptain Leaders]]: Self-explanatory, these are Kazuto (or Ryuubi), Sousou, and Sonken (or Sonsaku)
73	** [[TheBrigadier General of the Armies]]: Neither as strong as the Champion nor as cunning as the Strategist, they tend to handle the day-to-day running of the military and counterbalance both by providing decisive action as well as reining in the more violent tendencies of the warrior generals. Shoku has Kan'u, Gi has Kakouen and Go has Shuuyu.
74	** Strategists: Although each faction has many tacticians, one of them will generally be responsible for grand strategy and the big picture. They will typically give advice on how to handle upcoming battles. Shokatsuryou (later Houtou) serves this role for Shoku, Jun'iku for Gi, and Shuuyu (later Ryomou) for Go.
75	** Champions: Always outspoken and do not seem to be unit leaders so much as members of their units. They prefer to lead by example rather than by actually leading and, more often than not, are better pointed in the direction of the enemy and turned loose. In ''Shin Koihime'' they will generally have powerful offensive supers but few formations. This could really describe a lot of characters, but the most prominent are Chouhi in Shoku, Kakouton in Gi, and Kannei in Go.
76	* EyepatchOfPower: Kakoton gets one ([[EyeScream and a snack]]) after getting shot in the eye by an archer.
77	* GeniusBruiser: Several of the characters have shades of this such as Kan'u, Chouun and Kouchuu. All of them are pretty formidable fighters but Kan'u is essentially her kingdom's Minister of War and runs their military apparatus, Chouun unofficially handles Military Intelligence and covert warfare while Kouchuu is a brilliant civil administrator who pretty much runs the day to day affairs of the provinces under their control freeing Koumei to work on infrastructure improvements and "big picture" projects. In the anime Ryoumou in particular has trained as both a Son Family elite bodyguard and as an apprentice strategist, marrying both BrainsAndBrawn in one character.
78	* HistoricalGenderFlip: There are downsides, like Chousen and Himiko being turned into HardGay; however, the true aversions are Kada Genka, Saji, Ukitsu and Sonshoukou.
79	%%* ICallItVera: Kanu's Seiryuengetsutou (Green Dragon Crescent Blade), Ryofu's Houtenkageki (Heaven Piercer) and Chouhi's Viper Spear among others.
80	* IdolSinger: Choukaku, Chouhou, and Chouryou from ''Shin Koihime'' (AKA the leaders of the Yellow Turban Rebellion), complete with makeshift microphones, though we don't actually get to hear them singing during their "live performances" in the game.
81	* ImAHumanitarian: In one of [[spoiler: Enshou's]] side-stories in the original visual novel, she gets caught by commoners [[spoiler: after the collapse of her country]] and is nearly cooked and fed to Kazuto. [[spoiler: She is only saved by Koumei.]] This is a reference to the ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'', which the visual novel is based off of. Specifically, Liu Bei is fed [[spoiler: the wife of a commoner]]. More than that, Kazuto explicitly references this, probably having remembered it from the novels. However, the commoners would never [[spoiler: feed their wives to him.]] Which is where [[spoiler: Enshou]] comes in...
82	* TheLawOfConservationOfDetail: You have to be colorblind not to be able to tell who is or will be important.
83	* LuckyCharmsTitle: Actually, the game's title is "Koihime'''†'''Musou"
84	%%* LuminescentBlush: Prevelent with all the girls, though Kan'u makes the best use of this trope.
85	* MassivelyMultiplayerCrossover: The franchise appeared alongside three other {{Eroge}} series in ''Twinkle Queen'', a FightingGame that was released for the Platform/NintendoWii in August 2010
86	* {{Meido}}: Meido cafes in Ancient China = win.
87	* {{Metafiction}}: According to Chousen, the world of ''Koihime Musou'' exists because someone wrote the story of ''Koihime Musou'' by looking at the ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' and wondering what it would be like if Sousou and her generals were all lovers and Sonken and Shuuyu were actually enemies. The bit about the genderflipping goes unstated, but the implication is there.
88	** Indeed, this happens for ''every story anyone's ever thought up''. Entire universes spring into existence from the True History (real life) whenever someone creates a story--and stories based on that stories create more alternative histories that branch out from the first alternative history.
89	* MetallicMotifs: Enshou and her retainers are shown wearing gold or gold-plated armor, to signify both her delusions and the great wealth of her territory.
90	* MusclesAreMeaningless: Very few characters are drawn with a muscular physique but some of the more diminutive characters are among the physically strongest such as Chouhi or Kyocho. The exceptions are Himiko and Chousen although for [[HardGay other reasons]].
91	* NavelDeepNeckline: Apparently a trademark fashion of the Wu faction, although sometimes it's just CleavageWindow and/or NavelWindow.
92	%% * {{Ninja}}: Go Kingdom has these
93	* NotSoDifferentRemark: Kakouton quick to point out Kougai's refusal to ally with Shoku who caused her imprisonment, only to have [[TheDitz Soujin]] of all people reminding her of her own aggressiveness.
94	--> '''Kakouton:''' Do you mean that she was punished for her own impulsiveness?
95	--> '''Soujin:''' She's kind of like Shun-nee.
96	--> '''Kakouton:''' Ugh...
97	%% * OjouRinglets: Enshou and Sousou.
98	* OneSteveLimit: ''Shin Koihime'' game introduces IdolSinger Chouryou, not to be confused with the BloodKnight Chouryou
99	* OnlyOneName: Simultaneously played straight and subverted: all characters have their family names mashed together with their given ones, but each has at least two ''more'' given ones
100	** This is out of a TranslationConvention for all [=RoTK=] adaptations in Japan; where the full name of the character is considered as a ''family name'' for all facts and purposes, and the "given name" would be assigned to the courtesy name.
101	%%* {{Seinen}}
102	* SelfCensoredRelease: The first game originated as a Windows eroge, which had the sex scenes removed starting with the [=PS2=] port.
103	%%* SheIsTheKing: Moukaku
104	* SymbolMotifClothing: Gi armor incorporates a lot of FashionableAsymmetry while Go characters tend to favor dresses and clothing with a lot of flowy bits.
105	* TacticalRockPaperScissors: Battles in the visual novels: archers beat spearmen, spearmen beat cavalry, cavalry beat archers.
106	* TooLongDidntDub: Because all translations insist on using the direct Japanese equivalents of the characters' actual Chinese names, most of the international audience don't even know it's based on ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'', and those who do have an incredibly hard time following along trying to keep track of who everyone's supposed to be.
107	%%* {{Tsundere}}: There's at least one in every faction in the visual novel, but Bachou, Sousou and Sonken stand out the most.
108	%%* UnderBoobs: Ukin in her battle outfit in the visual novel, and in some angles of the anime. Naturally, Chouryou, since she wears a {{sarashi}}.
109	* UpdatedRerelease: The [=PS2=] version of the first game has endings for Chouun, Bachou and Kouchuu
110	%%* UpperClassTwit: Enshou and Enjutsu.
111	* VerbalTic:
112	** Chouhi's "Nano da!" and Ukin's "-nano", although she ends some sentences with just "-no"
113	** The Nanban Barbarians' "Nyaa!"
114	%%* WaifFu: Almost all girls in response to going up against mooks, most notably Chouhi, Kyocho and Ten'i.
115	* WeHaveReserves: The vast majority of Enshou's 'strategies' are to charge forward and incur massive casualties. To be fair, this isn't really because she's cruel or villainous, she's just an idiot who ''thinks'' she's an incredible commander.
116	* WeaponBasedCharacterization: Rather than the standard tropes, the Shu faction tends to favor polearms, the Wu faction largely use swords and the Wei faction bucks this trend by each having their own weapon. Anyone using an oversized regular weapon or toy is probably a comic relief character.
117	* WorldOfActionGirls: Because the characters are {{Historical Gender Flip}}s of the figures in a Chinese novel about war, the warlords and soldiers are all women.

Context VisualNovel / KoihimeMusou