Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 (遙かなる時空の中で 2) is the second installment in the Haruka series. To contrast the images and themes in the first title, this game emphasizes the autumn and winter seasons. It's the last title in the series to use a simulation reliant system with set time constraints.

Although set in a different time era as the first title, creators wanted to enforce the concept of characters sharing prominent traits with one another, as if they were intertwined on the "same threads of fate". While other Harukanaru Toki no Naka de titles keep the idea intact, this game is the one which follows it to a literal sense. Series character designer Tohko Mizuno admits she was asked to draw different people with the same faces as the first cast. She considers a majority of the characters in this game to be "elder siblings" for the previous set of characters.

The darker narrative for this title became a series' trait, leading to the older Cero rating for the series.

Plot
The story takes place in an alternate world resembling 11th century Japan, detailing a fantasy end for the Heian period. Kyou's luster from the previous entry has faded, the world now nearing its own end. Peace has been ebbing and the people are in despair. They spend their days praying for a miraculous afterlife, desiring a merciful release from their grief. Both the Emperor (帝, mikado) and the Retired Emperor (院, in) are at odds with one another, each side bickering for political dominance over the other. With the split in government powers, the common man's strife has been further neglected.

Before the capital collapses, the White Dragon locates its priestess to restore order. Magically teleporting her to the alternate world, the protagonist suddenly is entrusted with her duties. Alone and clueless of her surroundings, hardly anyone believes that she is a priestess since one already exists in their world. Even so, she seeks to bring the divided sides together and endures with the hope of someday returning to her home.

Main Story
During the prologue sequence, the player can change the name of the protagonist to their liking (pressing Start twice inputs the character's default name). They can then decide on their character's birthday for her elemental property and her starting affinity for other characters. She can then select an emotion or trait to determine which of her Eight Guardians she will meet first. Upon landing in the alternate world, she can then indirectly choose a political side to be initially exposed to (either the Emperor or the Retired Emperor). The player is free to decide whoever or whichever side they desire, the script changing to reflect their choices.

The main narrative is divided into a total of five chapters with a narrative told over the period of three months. Each game starts with a prologue to introduce the story's setting. One chapter is considered an intermission and is a fixed event, while the last chapter is dedicated to the story's finale. Four lengthy chapters are dedicated to telling the narrative and are told whilst using the following basic structure.


 * 1) Introduction - an introduction to the main objectives found in the chapter. A time limit is set which the player can choose to fulfill or ignore to progress the story. Choosing either path changes the main script. Locations that are dedicated to these story goals are marked with glowing yellow stars on the over world map.
 * 2) Secondary story event - mandatory event which uses a day to view. Serves as a reminder for the chapter's current objective.
 * 3) Abstinence - placed in between the story events. The protagonist is required to take a mandatory break from her activities for one day. If desired, she can invite a single character to her side and talk with them during the day.

In between these events, the protagonist may wander to the capital. Movement is done by simply selecting and confirming a location's name in the over world screen. Each day is separated into four phases: early morning, noon, evening, and dusk. The time spent for one phase is equivalent to the protagonist visiting one spot in the capital. Dusk automatically signals the end of all activities, meaning the player has a limit of three actions per day.

When the protagonist decides to leave, she can be escorted by one or two of her Eight Guardians. Her guardians will not always be present, however, or may not be able to lead her to select parts of the land due to the aforementioned political conflict. The table below lists these limitations:


 * * Unless the player fulfills a certain plot point, these limitations will be set in stone for the entire game. Locations that are not marked with a color are neutral and therefore not affected.

If the player doesn't want to explore, they can voluntarily choose to retire for the day. The day may then automatically skip to the night sequence. Choosing the sleep option begins another day.

Mini Games
The main goal of visiting different parts of the capital is to strengthen the Five Elements gathered within the protagonist. Elements are components that can be used for combat (see below). Each location is designed under a particular element within the cycle, encouraging the player to explore the capital thoroughly.

Should the player enter a place that doesn't have an icon above it, they will likely trigger a mini game. They are:


 * 1) Flaring Urn - each character in the main party lights an urn to earn a prize. A fire icon at the bottom of the screen notes the flame's power. If the flame is properly timed to land on item icon, the player will receive it and can try again.
 * 2) Shell Matching - matching game played by nobles. Each character has to find pairs within rows of clam shells. If they find a dark sun charm, they can reshuffle their shells. A light sun charm can reveal the items hidden within each shell for three seconds. Each character's turn lasts as long as they find pairs, ending if they find duds or mismatch the shells.
 * 3) Rabbit Racing - plays like a Whac-A-Mole machine. Four uniquely colored rabbits are the targets. They appear on the screen from their dens, arranged in a cross formation. The player can feed an emerging rabbit by tapping the matching button on the directional pad (left row) or by using ,,undefined or (right row). Snakes and insects are the red herrings and shouldn't be fed, unless the player wants the rabbits to speed up their appearance. If a rabbit is properly fed, it will hop once to the right side of the screen. Items can be gained based on the distance a rabbit travels.
 * 4) Nobles' Kemari - plays like Pong. Nobles carry the items and the player has to bounce back the kemari ball to "defeat" them. The player moves their kicking paddle by sliding it left or right at the bottom of the screen. A blue flame icon can power up the kemari ball if it pass through it. The nobles will drop heart icons towards the player. If these are accidentally collected, her affinity with the guardians escorting her will drop a little.

Prizes include healing items, objects favored by each guardian, or a boost in the particular element featured at the location. They can be obtained only by succeeding in these mini games. A perfect score triggers a small affinity boost with accompanying guardians.

The weaknesses and strengths of the Five Elements is in effect for these games. Characters with an innate element that matches the location's elemental property will offer positive bonuses. Opposing elemental traits between the location and characters will make the games harder.

Combat System
When a location is marked with a circular violet icon, it means it is currently being threatened by a vengeful spirit. Combat begins once the protagonist and her guardians visit the afflicted area. Battles are turn-based, beginning with the main party's actions before the spirit counterattacks.

Health bars appear to chart the condition of the enemy and the main party. The bar at the top of the screen is for the enemy while the bars at the bottom are for the main party. Numerical values beside these bars also keep track of a target's health. The optimum rating for the main party is 100 health while 0 health puts a character out of commission. Red numbers note that a target is nearing their limit. If the protagonist is knocked out, the battle will automatically end in defeat.

The player only controls the protagonist's actions as her guardians' attacks are automatic. At first, she perform the following tasks:


 * Flee (逃走) - choose to escape. May lower affinity with nearby partners.
 * Attack (攻撃) - basic strike. Random chance of performing a critical hit.
 * Fuda (札) - uses paper talismans the player has collected from mini games. Allows the priestess to heal the party or null status ailments.
 * Magic (術) - both the priestess and the guardians can choose to hit their foe with a damaging spell. Requires a certain level of will power and Five Elements to use.
 * Cheer (応援) - the priestess shouts words of encouragement to either one or both of her guardians. A favorable quote raises their will power, otherwise it may cause a drop. Will power, which is located above a character's health bar, is needed for magic.

Once the intermission chapter takes place, the player gains the option to Seal (封印). Normally, a vengeful spirit can regenerate within the same area after its defeat. Sealing it guarantees that an area is purified from its influence thus stopping further reemergence.

In order to perform a sealing, the main party must first weaken the spirit's health. Once it is weakened enough, the player can then seal it using the necessary Five Elements. If the sealing is successful, the player earns a talisman endowed with the spirit's power. Characters can equip these talismans to strengthen their attack, defense, or spiritual capabilities.

The weaknesses and strengths of the Five Elements is in effect during combat. For example, a Metal character will severely wound Wood opponents, but they will struggle against Fire opponents.

Character Routes
Normally, the Eight Guardians serve as escorts and only their basic background is explained to the player. However, the protagonist can choose to become close to them. Choosing to do so is the key to unlocking multiple endings. Romance, however, is completely optional and can be changed at the player's discretion. Multiple guardians can be romanced at once, but the rate at which they will become attached to the protagonist depends on her birthday and the frequency of their outings together.

Each guardian has two ratings of affection for the protagonist, the "Trust" (信じる; displayed as green stars) and "Thinking" (思う; represented by red stars) stats. Opportunities to increase either bond are peppered throughout the game, whether it be in combat or during the main story. When a favorable response is achieved, raising star icons will appear on the screen to note the increase. Stars can also be lowered if a guardian's reaction is negative. A guardian with a high Trust or Thinking bond are more likely to personally visit the protagonist and offer their company for the day. Agreeing to their request increases the Thinking stat.

If their bonds are high enough, the protagonist may experience a romance event with a guardian. They will invite her to a destination and she can learn more about him. During these events the protagonist has to respond back to him. A positive reaction increases their affection rating; a successful end to the event is needed to continue their romance. Failing at any point will cut off their bonds as well as the respective ending with the character.

Additionally, four guardians will have four individual Heart Pieces (心のかけら, kokoro no kakera), or scattered memories they have lost once the protagonist enters the world. Heart Pieces can be collected by visiting a guardian's favorite spot while they are escorting her. They need to be gathered throughout the story if the player wants to see their romance events. The guardians with the missing Heart Pieces is determined by the first guardian she meets. For instance, if she chooses to introduce herself to a guardian within the Retired Emperor's influence, then only the Heaven guardians will be affected. Unique romance events will then occur for the Earth guardians.

Each guardian has two story paths available to them, one with Heart Pieces and one without. If the player succeeds all of their romance events, the protagonist can then choose two different endings with a guardian. Several playthroughs are needed each character illustration and endings in the gallery section.

There are three sub character endings who do not follow the Trust and Thinking system. The protagonist's bond with them can be increased based on their actions during the main story, their bonds with the protagonist being "invisible". Again, an event surrounding this character can occur if the player successfully raises their trust in them. Sub characters only have one ending, but they each have unique illustrations and scenarios dedicated to them.

A total of twenty different endings are available for players to unlock.

New Game
Self explanatory. A single playthrough unlocks the option of skipping the beginning sequence. The story will instead start with the name selection option.

Continue
Load from a previous save. The player is given a total of twenty different save slots.

Bonus
Includes a gallery, music selection, and extra side stories. Side stories are unlocked once the player finishes the game once. Endings that have been obtained can also be heard/read again.

Settings
Lets the player adjust the speed in which text is displayed on screen and the volume for sound effects, music, and voices. An option to mute certain character voices is also included. If these settings are changed before starting a new game, they will automatically be in effect.

White Dragon Priestess and Eight Guardians

 * Karin Takakura
 * Yoritada Minamoto
 * Katsuzane Taira
 * Isato
 * Akifumi
 * Yukitaka Fujiwara
 * Hisui
 * Motomi Minamoto
 * Yasutsugu Abe

Star Clan

 * Misono Fujiwara
 * Yukari Fujiwara

Characters with ties to Retired Emperor

 * Chitose Taira
 * Kazuhito
 * Tokitomo Minamoto

Demon Clan

 * Akram
 * Shirin

Differences between ports

 * The PC version has four extra side stories available, three of which require a monetary fee in order to see. A total of four new images can be seen during these bonus events. They are not available in the PS2 or PSP versions.
 * PSP version adds its own set of events for each character. Every event in the game can be collected and viewed within the Bonus section.
 * The PSP version has overhauled the presentation of the game to be faster and more convenient. It includes the following changes:
 * Audio clips are now properly lip-synced to a character's lip flaps. Portraits no longer have the fading transition for each new expression. The message bank now includes the option to replay audio clips.
 * Saving and loading options are available during scenes in the PSP port. The game processes the saving and loading functions at a quicker rate than the originals.
 * Players can now skip audio clips and the ending credits.
 * Music no longer lags in between scene changes.

Spin-Offs

 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Premium Box Complete - PS2 version repackaged with five other Haruka titles
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~ Yume no Ukihashi - crossover title for the first three games of the series

Related Media
Designer brand Rubipa de July~ created charms, rings, and other jewelery symbolizing characters appearing in this game. Gamecity offers an incense set dedicated to particular scents that favored by characters. The incense set doubles as a tribute to the Heian Period's history of aesthetics, said to include aromas as a pivotal element of beauty. For a limited time, miniature character stickers and post cards were on sale.

A three volume OVA was made surrounding the beginning chapters for Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2. Yumeta Company produced the animation and the animated character designs were made by Akemi Hayashi. The animation is called Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 ~Shiroiki Ryu no Miko~.

Koei created a desktop accessory package for this game called Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 ~Koi Emaki~. It includes various options to customize a user's desktop and Windows system, including sound clips, a screen saver, and various wallpaper images. Video footage showing a behind the scenes tour, voice actor commentary, and promotional trailers are included with the kit. Consumers also obtain a Haruka themed CD case with their purchase.

Several publications and CDs were published for the game. Free samples of the fan made four panel comics can be read online at Gamecity. While an official comic serialization wasn't made for the game, a comic short story for the game was illustrated by Tohko Mizuno and published in LaLa. It can be read in the sixth volume for the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de comic, which features Hisui and Tomomasa on the front cover.

A digital novel, which features different scenarios and images from the original game, was created by Ruby Party. The main story contains a total of 24 scenarios and fans can read them on computers or mobile devices after paying an online monetary fee. Two CDs were published as supplementary events for the novel, each featuring new dramas. The first CD has the subtitle Zansho no Shiori while the second CD's subtitle is Yuukage no Shiori.

Z Dan created a theatrical stage adaptation of the game. Like other theatrical productions for the series, the narrative features original characters and story points that are different than the game. A digest of the first day's performance can be seen on Youtube.