Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Yume no Ukihashi Special

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Yume no Ukihashi Special

Console: Sony Playstation 2
TV Standard: NTSC-J
Country: Japan
Developer(s): Ruby Party
Publisher(s): Koei Co., Ltd.
Release Date: 2009-01-29
Players: 1
Co-op: No
ESRB: T - Teen
Type: Adventure, Role-Playing

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi (Floating Bridge of Dreams) is a crossover game of the first three Heian period centric Haruka entries. The Premium Box edition includes autographs from the voice actors and an original epilogue CD. The Treasure Box edition has the same merchandise with another original drama CD, a databook containing character data, and keychains made in the new characters' image.

PLOT:
Sometime during the games' stories, the presiding god of the dream world is infuriated when an unprecedented vengeful spirit infestation threatens his realm. He abducts the souls of the dreaming three White Dragon Priestesses and their Eight Guardians whose negligence he deems to be the main cause of the invasion to demand their eternal servitude to him. They are rescued by the god's younger brother who offers his mansion as hospice. With his help, they seek to restore order to the dream world and rescue their captured comrades for a safe return to their rightful eras.

GAMEPLAY:
At the start of each game, the player must pick one protagonist to use. Whoever they pick decides their possible romance routes. Players can read broad introductions for each protagonist's era or quickly skip to selecting a guardian. Regardless of the player's protagonist and selected individual, their starting team of characters will always be the same. Variations of the beginning sequence occur based on their team composition.

Movement is performed in the same manner as the fourth title. Vengeful spirits are visible on the map while the player's party moves towards their location. Priestesses can momentarily repel them if the player blows into the console's microphone. Each time the player performs the deed, it drains a section of her Spiritual Power (circular blue icon on the map GUI). When it becomes critically drained, the player will be unable to negate battles until it is restored.

Combat mainly borrows from the third game's system except for the removal of the protagonist's turn and fully body battle portraits. The player can order the actions for three possible guardians before the attack sequence commences. Attack order is decided by each participant's Agility parameter rather than always letting the main party strike first. Will Power has been simplified as a concrete numerical value for every magic spell and ability. Magic still requires the protagonist and party members to share a required number of intimacy stars with the protagonist in order to activate. "Cheer" restores a single character's lost Will Power.

PLAYSTATION 2 VERSION:
Previously released on the Nintendo DS to celebrate the mother company, Koei's 30th anniversary, Yume no ukihashi is now upgraded and re-released for the television screen on your PlayStation2. Watch the scenarios between the three generations of Hachiyous, marvel at how the same seiyuus could bring out the difference in the characters and see how the 24 retainers chat with and tease each other in this cross generation party.

The PS2 re-release (Special) offers the following alterations: New romance routes are available depending on the protagonist selected. These boxes are added after the protagonist completes the main story objective for each division of the world map. Once their events are completed, choose to return alone during the final departure sequence to receive their endings. Three illustrations can be earned for these new routes.

The PlayStation2 version comes with more fully voiced scenes, from the small ones such as assisting you to cross the dream bridge and exchanges with each other occasionally. Get to know more about the two divine guards as they get more plot scenarios.

It's Premium Box edition has printed versions of the new images compiled into a book and postcards. These goods are included in the Treasure Box edition which also has a printout of the game cover's image signed by Tohko Mizuno and a character illustrated karuta deck (referenced in Masaomi and Yuzuru's group ending). The Neoromance 3 Titles Gamecity campaign added a school calendar and a chance to win various prizes.