ACT Shota [ExcessM] 廻るハゴコロ / Mawaru Hagokoro (RJ325142)

[IlliumEinsbun]

So what I get so far from the game is that the main character is acting on some sort of vendetta against Karura ( sorry if I spelled it wrong ) going against some clan of women with extraordinary capabilities trying to help villages and innocent people along the way. Excessm is going for much darker tone for the story here, ( if anyone has ever heard or watched Darker than Black it's like that show kinda ). You know it's serious when the main character does not even think of his adversaries as other people but as monsters and further more he actually kills not defeats, kills his opponents. I know he is an assassin but he kills even the soldiers just following orders not just the boss, I hope Excessm makes some sort of self doubting arc in the story where the main character realizes that the girls are people too. Not justifying their actions, but not everyone deserves the death penalty.

For those of you who thought Excessm games were too easy and wanted more of a challenge you got your wish with this game. Limited resources, time, and weapons make the game formidable right out of the gate but what really tips the scales is fact that if you accidentally rip the cloths off an enemy you either have to: counter, use a vanishing juitsu instant kill, or use the club or sword to clip hit the naked chick. The sword by hitting a non-naked opponent enough times for flash to happen similar to parade buster and the club by holding the mouse charging and attacking the area next the opponent to the point where the tip of the hit-box still hits. If you do non of those things and try to attack a naked opponent you will stun yourself leaving you open to an attack. Their are powders in the store that allow you to still hit a naked person but they are limited and I'm betting later in the game as the dungeons get bigger you will run out far before you reach a boss. The random appearance of enemies might also get you since certain weapons deal more damage to an enemy than others of that type and if you keep hitting them and rip their cloths off they can turn the tides in their favor especially if rip off the cloths of multiple adversaries. Bosses are going to be a problem in this game for sure if you do not kill them fast enough. If the boss gets her cloths ripped off it will be agonizing to deal damage unless you counter, or use the juitsu. Plus if the weapon type the boss has is the opposite of yours she deals extra damage. Basically if you get to the bosses the game becomes a dps contest but since you have limited ways of hitting the boss once the cloths are ripped and the bosses obviosly have a lot of health, hit hard, and have not so easy to read attack patterns for you to counter. You gotta make sure that once you get in a boss room that you are prepared and can kill em faster than their cloths can rip or have enough resources for when it happens. I highly recommend learning how to counter, that is the best method to consistently deal damage to a naked opponent without wasting juitsu or resources. I hope this game does not become like Onimusha on nightmare difficulty where all you can do is counter to kill, the game will become a little too frustrating.

 

[shinryu]

For those of you who thought Excessm games were too easy and wanted more of a challenge you got your wish with this game. Limited resources, time, and weapons make the game formidable right out of the gate but what really tips the scales is fact that if you accidentally rip the cloths off an enemy you either have to: counter, use a vanishing juitsu instant kill, or use the club or sword to clip hit the naked chick. The sword by hitting a non-naked opponent enough times for flash to happen similar to parade buster and the club by holding the mouse charging and attacking the area next the opponent to the point where the tip of the hit-box still hits. If you do non of those things and try to attack a naked opponent you will stun yourself leaving you open to an attack. Their are powders in the store that allow you to still hit a naked person but they are limited and I'm betting later in the game as the dungeons get bigger you will run out far before you reach a boss. The random appearance of enemies might also get you since certain weapons deal more damage to an enemy than others of that type and if you keep hitting them and rip their cloths off they can turn the tides in their favor especially if rip off the cloths of multiple adversaries. Bosses are going to be a problem in this game for sure if you do not kill them fast enough. If the boss gets her cloths ripped off it will be agonizing to deal damage unless you counter, or use the juitsu. Plus if the weapon type the boss has is the opposite of yours she deals extra damage. Basically if you get to the bosses the game becomes a dps contest but since you have limited ways of hitting the boss once the cloths are ripped and the bosses obviosly have a lot of health, hit hard, and have not so easy to read attack patterns for you to counter. You gotta make sure that once you get in a boss room that you are prepared and can kill em faster than their cloths can rip or have enough resources for when it happens. I highly recommend learning how to counter, that is the best method to consistently deal damage to a naked opponent without wasting juitsu or resources. I hope this game does not become like Onimusha on nightmare difficulty where all you can do is counter to kill, the game will become a little too frustrating.

there are difficulty settings if you feel the game is too hard and to be honest it is much harder to rip clothes off this time around plus there are plans for a sabotage to either give them stronger clothes in exchange for higher defense or lower defense for weaker clothes

 

[IlliumEinsbun]

there are difficulty settings if you feel the game is too hard and to be honest it is much harder to rip clothes off this time around plus there are plans for a sabotage to either give them stronger clothes in exchange for higher defense or lower defense for weaker clothes

I only play Excessm games on hard since that is my comfort zone but I might make this game an exception to the rule. Hagokoro has to be played differently than Parade Buster which I have played religiously and still will. You don't level up in terms of stats so much as weapon skills and abilities and the aforementioned enemies can add up if you do not beat them fast enough. I like the challenge but I need more time to learn the game before I am confident enough to go on hard mode.

 

[shinryu]

I only play Excessm games on hard since that is my comfort zone but I might make this game an exception to the rule. Hagokoro has to be played differently than Parade Buster which I have played religiously and still will. You don't level up in terms of stats so much as weapon skills and abilities and the aforementioned enemies can add up if you do not beat them fast enough. I like the challenge but I need more time to learn the game before I am confident enough to go on hard mode.

fair enough

 

[Triplebrc]

I know he is an assassin but he kills even the soldiers just following orders not just the boss, I hope Excessm makes some sort of self doubting arc in the story where the main character realizes that the girls are people too. Not justifying their actions, but not everyone deserves the death penalty.

Some of the worst things in recorded history have been done by people just following orders. In this game, every soldier is a killer, a rapist, ready to enslave the MC, and if the losing scenes so far are anything to go by, all of them greatly enjoy doing it so the just following orders excuse does not really fly here if you ask me. We do not really get too much information about what the leaders or organisation the mc is fighting against is doing in the background, but I imagine its messed up too. Killing also makes a lot more sense, as just beating them up should not stop them from returning and ganging up on him. In Parade Buster, there was only the pink haired Knight returning for revenge, though technically it should have been all of the bosses since none of them were physically harmed too much. Doubt or redemption arcs should be limited to people going way too far, but if killing the murdering and raping grunts is enough for that, then just about any game would require something like that, super old games like Super Mario World included

 

[Strange]

I only play Excessm games on hard

Maybe you shouldn't... The trial is way too easy, like any and all others ExcessM games, sadly enough. I can't say I have fat fingers but I'm no expert FPS/shooting gamer, far from it.

On my first run, I went straight for Bibi, died once (because my stamina became zero at some point for some reason?). No items used.
2nd run, I did 3 "!" then went for the kill. I was downed a single time, never went under 50-60% HP. I was liberal with items and it was childishly easy.
I hope this game foesn't stay THAT easy because this is uninteresting gameplay-wise... Again.

Some of the worst things in recorded history

There's no depiction of death, though? You can even play around with the very much alive bodies of the girlies after your victory.
What's more, you face something akin to a fanatic cult, giving that "love" thing that makes soldier barely human anymore... I would have issues slitting the throat of a woman I witness kicking an helpless boy on the ground, but certainly not punching her out cold and turning her over to the cops. If you think about the time period the events unfold in (in what that uchronia seems to be based on), it would be a much kinder act to kill the offender painlessly.

The strategy part would be interesting, if only they ramp up the difficulty a GOOD few notches. This would be a pity to ignore all the sub-missions (pun not intended) because the main dish would be too easy if you went through them.
The Armor-break makes things a tad harder, though very artificially, but is overwhelmed by cheap items... Not to mention the OP jutsu.

I'm really not convinced, game-wise. All the rest is pretty cool, showing fair progress compared to earlier titles; in particular, the CustomText is a positively awesome feature. I'm also very, very happy that the MC is

Spoiler: spoiler

a fully-grown, adult man. Who was double-hexed, apparatently.

 

[Triplebrc]

There's no depiction of death, though? You can even play around with the very much alive bodies of the girlies after your victory.
What's more, you face something akin to a fanatic cult, giving that "love" thing that makes soldier barely human anymore... I would have issues slitting the throat of a woman I witness kicking an helpless boy on the ground, but certainly not punching her out cold and turning her over to the cops. If you think about the time period the events unfold in (in what that uchronia seems to be based on), it would be a much kinder act to kill the offender painlessly.

Pretty sure it was stated by Excessm that death will be a factor in this game, also there were animations of the mc being killed or critically wounded by having a sword shoved into his body. What I have personally seen is enemies you defeated having the old hollow eyes that, in japanese games and anime, usually get applied to someone being close to death, mentally destroyed beyond repair, or hypnotized, so this narrows it down for this game. I doubt there are cops in this setting, even if there are you are deep in enemy territory, and you are an assassin so its not exactlly your calling to turn people in, its literally in the job description that you have to kill people. I do not feel bad about killing npcs, as it is the most common activity in pretty much any genre, does not matter too much to me whether its men, women, kids or animals.

I'm really not convinced, game-wise. All the rest is pretty cool, showing fair progress compared to earlier titles; in particular, the CustomText is a positively awesome feature. I'm also very, very happy that the MC is

Spoiler: spoiler

a fully-grown, adult man. Who was double-hexed, apparatently.

The shota mc being of old age is the same as tiny lolis often being supposed to be a thousand years old, a convenient excuse to ease up on the fact that its a depiction of children being on the receiving end of some rather adult treatments. The mc does not even have memories of his former life if I remember correctly, so I highly doubt it will have any significance other than "this kid is technically an adult", you can't see it on his appearance or his behavior, so you might as well ignore it.
I am with you on not being convinced game-wise, I highly doubt it will be all that fun to play or deliver a well balanced and satisfying challenge, but then again thats not what I play eroge for to begin with, so it is far from my main priority unless it becomes unbearably annoying or tedious to play.

 

[Strange]

I doubt there are cops in this setting

So do I My line was not meant for in-game.
There's no issue being a bloodthirsty serial killer in a game, sure. If it's about ExcessM, MCs always are in a self-defense situation, or part of a struggle where MC can hardly be perceived as anything but righteous.
We can also infer that the 'maimed MC' pics will be part of the backstory, as is strongly hinted in the trial.

a convenient excuse to ease up on the fact

Definitely. I appreciate we finally get such excuse coming from the devs, is all. Probably unnecessary, but still a considerate detail.

The best point in the new design, would be the possibility for a bunch of side quests and side stories, which will actually have some relevance in the big picture. Sidequests in Parade Buster or Yumesame could feel very disconnected.

 

[IlliumEinsbun]

It is not that I mind that he kills the soldiers ( trust me I have played nearly all of the Fire Emblem games plus Succubus Senki ) but he does not even think of them as human beings anymore furthermore in the story they act like they got some of their power from him. What is he to call himself if they aren't human? Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions here but judging by the way the village boy reacted to the MC he does not exactly fit in with normal people either and what if he meets a cultist that is not so evil? I want him to kill every last one of the evil abusers but I don't want one of those characters that does the right things but ends up losing a sense of who they are and what they ultimately want since they do not fit the normal standards. Why do you think I compared this to Darker than Black?

 

[Giratena]

I have to say, after playing this game, it might be my favorite Excess M game yet. The game doesn't seem baby easy like their last games, and not only is the h-content weaved into the gameplay, there actually seems to be some sort of engaging story as well. So far everything seems quite promising for the reasons people have already stated.

Speaking of which, I've been trying to translate the demo on my own, and am making some progress. The original demo didn't come with the original Japanese text, just the machine translated text (which wasn't really of much help). But, I actually got to talk to Excess M themselves about the matter, and they actually gave me the original Japanese files to translate properly!

So far I've nearly translated the demo. Here's a couple of screenshots if anyone is interested. It's not quite done yet, but once it is I'll probably try and post it for anyone who wants to try it out.

Though while translating the game, it seems the woman who have powers have "love", or something? And the MC has a "blessing", but it's also a curse because it makes him weak to the female touch? Why such weird wording?
Hopefully these things will clear up when the full game comes out.

 

[IlliumEinsbun]

I was curious so I play on hard all the way through instead of partly, and at first I thought you might be right about it being easy, but then after the unlock and clicking Bibi and guards my worst fears were confirmed. In the mock battle no items were allowed, no juitsu either just me and my skills. Let me tell ya I countered used the sword flash invincibility and I still lost the first time! Second time around after making sure all but 1 guard was left and that Bibi still had cloths intact I thought I had won, but then I ripped the guards cloths when she had only a sliver of health getting stun grabbed to death. Third time I actually won but broke Bibi's cloths meaning I had to use the club hitbox cheat to win. With limited Items and juitsu usage battles like that later on are not going to be easy, plus I believe harder criteria such as rescues and multiple boss battles in one go are definitely on the table. Sticking to normal when the game comes out so I know when the it tries to screw me. Try doing that battle once you beat the game on hard and unlock the scenes from clicking the corner. Go to mock battle and then to Bibi and guards, tell me how it goes.

 

[shinryu]

I have to say, after playing this game, it might be my favorite Excess M game yet. The game doesn't seem baby easy like their last games, and not only is the h-content weaved into the gameplay, there actually seems to be some sort of engaging story as well. So far everything seems quite promising for the reasons people have already stated.

Speaking of which, I've been trying to translate the demo on my own, and am making some progress. The original demo didn't come with the original Japanese text, just the machine translated text (which wasn't really of much help). But, I actually got to talk to Excess M themselves about the matter, and they actually gave me the original Japanese files to translate properly!

So far I've nearly translated the demo. Here's a couple of screenshots if anyone is interested. It's not quite done yet, but once it is I'll probably try and post it for anyone who wants to try it out.

Though while translating the game, it seems the woman who have powers have "love", or something? And the MC has a "blessing", but it's also a curse because it makes him weak to the female touch? Why such weird wording?
Hopefully these things will clear up when the full game comes out.

i think the idea is that the women see the mc's curse as a blessing

 

[Giratena]

i think the idea is that the women see the mc's curse as a blessing

That would make sense, but the Japanese text implies the MC "received" a blessing though, which is different from being a blessing.
Essentially, the MC was age regressed by an old foe, and also received a "blessing".

For example, in a script taken from the game:
"[Tennin]はAgeRegressionに加え激しい「祝福」も受けたと聞いています。"
"I heard that in addition to age regression, [Tennin] also received a powerful "blessing"."

 

[Strange]

I've been trying to translate the demo [..] they actually gave me the original Japanese files to translate properly!

Awesome! Look no further if you need proofreader(s) once you're near completion. We might want to create a translation thread then.

My dabbler's 20 円 about your questions:

Spoiler

「寵愛」, right? I understood it as a "mark of affection". I made it 「Gift of Love」, but maybe "the 「Gift」" or "the 「Love」" would be better (mostly to save space).

「祝福」を受けた男は,女に触れるだけでも身悶えする場合もあるってね
This 「Blessing」 sounds like it's a crippling weakness towards women, especially sexually. It's unclear to me whether it's actually pain, or over-sensitiveness under the belt.
edit: and it also reacts to regular women, like the little guy's sister. Not just women 'touched' by the big bad boss.

I infer the Last Boss is some kind of goddess-like woman, and that these names are relevant in a religious standpoint - a buddhist-ish one, perhaps.

 

[TheUnsaid]

I have to say, after playing this game, it might be my favorite Excess M game yet. The game doesn't seem baby easy like their last games, and not only is the h-content weaved into the gameplay, there actually seems to be some sort of engaging story as well. So far everything seems quite promising for the reasons people have already stated.

Speaking of which, I've been trying to translate the demo on my own, and am making some progress. The original demo didn't come with the original Japanese text, just the machine translated text (which wasn't really of much help). But, I actually got to talk to Excess M themselves about the matter, and they actually gave me the original Japanese files to translate properly!

So far I've nearly translated the demo. Here's a couple of screenshots if anyone is interested. It's not quite done yet, but once it is I'll probably try and post it for anyone who wants to try it out.

Though while translating the game, it seems the woman who have powers have "love", or something? And the MC has a "blessing", but it's also a curse because it makes him weak to the female touch? Why such weird wording?
Hopefully these things will clear up when the full game comes out.

In Screenshot 7 you translated it as Garura. Are you sure that's not Karula?

 

[Giratena]

Awesome! Look no further if you need proofreader(s) once you're near completion. We might want to create a translation thread then.

My dabbler's 20 円 about your questions:

Spoiler

「寵愛」, right? I understood it as a "mark of affection". I made it 「Gift of Love」, but maybe "the 「Gift」" or "the 「Love」" would be better (mostly to save space).

「祝福」を受けた男は,女に触れるだけでも身悶えする場合もあるってね
This 「Blessing」 sounds like it's a crippling weakness towards women, especially sexually. It's unclear to me whether it's actually pain, or over-sensitiveness under the belt.
edit: and it also reacts to regular women, like the little guy's sister. Not just women 'touched' by the big bad boss.

I infer the Last Boss is some kind of goddess-like woman, and that these names are relevant in a religious standpoint - a buddhist-ish one, perhaps.

Those are really good points. I think translating it as a "mark of affection" thing is definitely the way to go, which makes a lot of sense!
I also appreciate the help for proofreading! Are you on the Succubus Senki Translation server? That's where I post about the goings on for translation stuff. We also help out those that are interested in translating too. Here's a invite link if you're interested! ->

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And yeah, so far it seems the "blessing" makes him weak to the female form in general. So far it seems to be all woman, not just those with the power of love, but for all we know the little guy (Yatsuke)'s sister could in fact be a enemy later on, which could make for an interesting twist.

In Screenshot 7 you translated it as Garura. Are you sure that's not Karula?

That's also a good point to bring up. I was unsure if カルラ was referring reference to the buddhist bird, Garuda, or if it is an actual name, in which case would be Karula like you say.
Now that I think about it, maybe it would be safer to translate it as Karula until I get more story information.

 

[TheUnsaid]

That's also a good point to bring up. I was unsure if カルラ was referring reference to the buddhist bird, Garuda, or if it is an actual name, in which case would be Karula like you say.
Now that I think about it, maybe it would be safer to translate it as Karula until I get more story information.

Forgot to mention, but thank you for taking on this project. It's really awesome that you're even attempting to do it.

 

[Giratena]

Forgot to mention, but thank you for taking on this project. It's really awesome that you're even attempting to do it.

Thanks! It's nice to be appreciated
I'm still working on it, but once it's done I'll put it out for people to try

Btw, Excess M responded to my questions about "寵愛" (Love) and "祝福" (Blessing).
According to Excess M, the term of being "blessed" means to have been sexual drained by a woman who has been "loved", which leads to disadvantages like hyper sensitivity to the female form.

So, I think with this in mind, I'm going to translate them as:
"寵愛" -> Empowerment
"祝福" -> Enlightenment

I think that makes the most sense while keeping the original mystery of the original Japanese script.

 

[Giratena]

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Okay, here's my full manual translation of the Hagokoro demo. I hope you all enjoy it, and that it makes things from the machine translation much clearer.
Please let me know what you think ^^;

 

[Dan Druff]

This

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discusses the first enemy that was created for the game but not included in the demo because the naughty attacks were not created at the time. The naughty attacks are cowgirl and paizuri. She also suffocates the player between her legs.