It’s time for our monthly reckoning of eroge currently in the works! This month’s issue focuses on the darker side of things (with a couple of exceptions) so those not interested in the more depraved side of erogaming need not inquire within. For those with a taste for the decidedly suspicious, irrashai! Grab a seat and a pair of reading glasses, there’s a lot coming up this fall to look forward to. 18+ ONLY, NWS.

What follows is a chronological rundown of some of the games we’ve been keeping tabs on as their releases approach in the next few months. Entries are listed in date / maker name / game title format. Note that this list is subjective and incomplete, and none of this post or its link contents are safe for children or viewing in work environments. Please browse responsibly!

September 2007

14 – Black Package Try’s Koukai ~Makan no Kokuin~

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

The sequel to Black Package Try’s Seikoujo, only with Jet Yowatari instead of Amano Ameno on art duty. A treat for fans of anal nuns but otherwise I don’t see much redeeming here.

14 – Anim’sTokumu Sentai Sirenger

Interest: ★☆☆☆☆

I find Hotaka Tamagorou‘s art to be pretty uninteresting, and the sentai genre doesn’t do much for me either.

28 – Black Rainbow’s Saiminjutsu 2

Interest: ★★★★★

Yoshino Keiko is one of the hardest working designers in the business, and this is looking to be some of her best work yet. Can’t go wrong with hypnotism!

28 – Frill’s Chikan Senyou Sharyou

Interest: ★★★★☆

This is Rensen Amane‘s first game, but if the CG here is anything to go by he’s a designer with a very promising career indeed. I don’t much care for the “train groper” genre but this is a must for the gorgeous character art alone.

28 – Black Lilith’s Majogari no Kishi

Interest: ★★★☆☆

Midou Tsukasa has only done one other game and the designs for this one are looking a bit wonky, but there’s definite potential here. For the price point Black Lilith hasn’t produced a bad game in years, so I’ll be on this one too.

28 – Liquid’s Mashou no Nie 2

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

I picked up the Kantaka-designed Harem Party last year, and while the art was good the voice for one of the characters killed the game for me. That has nothing to do with anything, though I guess the experience might have turned me off to other games with his designs.

28 – Strikes’ Yakan Shinryou

Interest: ★☆☆☆☆

Takahashi Record is a rookie designer whose art looks good, but the generally poor reputation of the Strikes brand (as well as this being another copycat nurse genre game) makes me stay away from this one.

28 – Pin Point’s Bakunyuu Chikan Train

Interest: ★★★★★

Gegera does eroge! Despite the dumb chikan theme, who wouldn’t pay $20 for his art in game form? …on second thought, don’t answer that.

28 – Crepe’s Kaizoku Ouki Alfiana

Interest: ★★★★☆

The second game out on the 28th with designs from Yoshino Keiko (I swear, that woman is a machine). I’m not sure about the pirate theme and I’ve heard discouraging things about the quality of Crepe games overall, but the pretty CG has me won over for better or for worse.

October 2007

05 – Trust’s Magical Arms Angel Nana

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

I’m a big fan of Aoi Nagisa‘s art, but the 2:1 ratio of hinyuu to kyonyuu here (in addition to the magical girl theme, about which I’m rather ambivalent) makes me think I’ll give this one a miss.

12 – Waffle’s Shirudaku Settai ~Okawari Ippaime~

Interest: ★★★★☆

Following the original Shirudaku Settai released earlier this year Tadano Akira is at it again in this standalone expansion, this time accompanied in design work by rookie artist Ichio. As a continuation of the original game the story will certainly be terrible, but the CG is looking to be quality.

19 – Carmine’s Utsusemi ni Fureru Mono

Interest: ★★★☆☆

I’ve never picked up an Assemblage brand game nor a game designed by Sakurajima Saromako, but this may be the first… waiting on further visual evidence and character introductions, but the tentacle demon + succubus / female conspirator theme is generally solid.

26 – Nomad’s Inraku no Miko

Interest: ★★★☆☆

Kinmedai Pinku is another incredibly hard-working female designer, and while I’m not a follower of her work in particular depending on how the themes in this game play out it might be worth picking up (miko vs. demons ++). On my watch list.

26 – Touchable’s Shinshoku 2

Interest: ★★★★★

The first Touchable game I picked up was the original Shinshoku, and while Mahou Shoujo Mana was a bit of a disappointment this sequel promises a return to the quality of its predecessor. Here’s hoping for another entry in the time-honored tradition of Sumisumi-designed tentacle games!

26 – Westvision’s Taiiku Soukou Monogatari

Interest: ★★★☆☆

I’m not much of a loli fan, but I do tend to like Westvision games. Okki Kingyo‘s art is fine, but not a swaying factor in the purchase decision for me… still holding off on this one for awhile.

26 – Light’s Dies irae

Interest: ★★★★☆

Some of the most moe character designs I’ve seen in a while (by my own arbitrary definition); the promise of incredible badassness coupled with blazing hot G Yuusuke designs brings this very close to a must-buy. Seriously, he’s awesome.

26 – Clockup’s Ryoujoku Gakuenchou

Interest: ★★★★★

Ero-ero yo~! Clockup’s Sentinel team returns in this tale of illicit school relations, bringing designers Teshio and Hamashima Shigeo to bear in what might be the brand’s hottest release since Kuroai. The plot will likely be atrocious, but I think it’s been established that I don’t buy games for plot… =_=;;

26 – Guilty’s Helter Skelter

Interest: ★☆☆☆☆

A story of models and fashion designers being taken advantage of, designed by Orimiya Mai. While this is her first release with the brand and the art isn’t bad, the story has a similar vibe to most of their other catalog; that is to say, rather unpleasant through and through.

26 – Morning’s Bukkake! Senpai wa Milk Mamire

Interest: ★★★★☆

The first ever release from Kogarashi Monjirou (homepage) and the first Morning release I’ve had any interest in, this game caught my eye when I stumbled across it on Getchu a couple of days ago. From the sample CG it’s looking very promising indeed…

November 2007

30 – Overdose’s Asenure Shoujo Misaki

Interest: ★★★★☆

The first game to be designed by eromangaka Nikusho (homepage), with a focus on heroines with a variety of fetish weaknesses. I don’t happen to share any of them in particular, but the concept in general I can firmly stand behind.

30 – Hadashi Shoujo’s Shiawase na Ohime-sama

Interest: ★★★★☆

With designs from Keijiei (homepage), Asahi (homepage), and Kei (homepage), this is a title worth picking up for the art alone. It’s billed as a light trading ADV, which I’m a bit cautious about as a genre proposition, but I’m more than willing to give it a chance given the brand’s solid reputation.

30 – Illusion’s Jinkou Shoujo 3

Interest: ★★★★★

I’ve been waiting for this one since the second installment of the Jinkou Shoujo line almost three years ago, and while I doubt it will live up to the enormous potential I’ve constructed for it in my head this is still one of the games I’m anticipating the most this year. I just hope my aging PC has the specs to make it look marginally decent…

30 – TinkerBell’s Harame

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

I’m not particularly captivated by the game concept (revenge pregnancy?) or by Mizoro Tadashi‘s art; will almost definitely be giving this one a miss.

December 2007

14 – CODEPINK’s Sweet Home

Interest: ★★★★☆

Kiriyama Taichi‘s games don’t come out that often, but when they do you know you’re getting enormous volumes of decent art and a light, fun story. As a fan of Maid in Heaven SuperS and Sex Friend before it I’m looking forward to this one – and the pillow that comes with the preorder doesn’t hurt either. :3

21 – Bishop’s Mekyoushi 2

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

Second verse, same as the first; while I love Kagami‘s designs they’re not particularly well reflected in Bishop’s lineup (the coloring is too high-contrast?), and I find that Bishop games tend to work better as eroanime. Will likely give this one a miss.

?? – Ail team SOIF’s Meshi Jokyoushi (?)

Interest: ★★★★☆

The tagline for Ail’s newest title is “teacher, please become my slave.” While this genre is definitely played out I’m curious what will come of it from the team that brought us Ma wo Jutai Seshi (art by Saburou); the Galge.com preview makes it seem rather more traditional than some of the fare Ail has produced in the past, but it’s definitely a title to watch.

Winter 2007

?? – Pink Hatena’s Himekami 1/2

Interest: ★★★★☆

Go Masahiro and Shirou Nagii together present a compelling case for this game, though I’m curious to see how their very different design styles will mesh when characters done by both are present in the same image. While not much is known about the game itself yet (other than fighting miko and demons), that’s plenty to whet my appetite at this point.

?? – M no Violet’s Hell Guide

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

Despite only showing us character descriptions at this point, this game is looking to be dark and unhappy indeed. I’m not expecting it to get more attractive as further details are revealed, but I’m holding off on a final judgment until they tell us who the designer is and show some sample CG.

?? – Alice Soft’s Choukou Sennin Haruka

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

I never really got into Escalayer, and as its de facto sequel I can’t muster much enthusiasm for Haruka either. The system looks like it will be interesting , but I’ll probably hold off until their next genuine RPG (or Rance title of any genre) before I pick up another Alice Soft game. Onigiri-kun‘s art doesn’t sway me one way or the other…

January 2008

25 – Liquid’s Saimin Ryoujoku Gakuen

Interest: ★★★☆☆

Liquid’s official page only mentions the game, but there were some details in the November edition of Tech Gian that may make this one to look out for. Art is from Hikage Eiji, whose work I approve of, and “hypnotism” in the game’s title is another good sign (…).

Unknown

?? – Studio Jaren is cooking up something

Interest: ★★★☆☆

Despite lack of any firm information I’m listing this here in the hopes that their mysterious new project will turn out to be Soushinjutsu 3, and that Juubaori Mashumaro will reprise his role as character designer from the second game in the series. More hypnotism!

?? – Psychs’ Reijou Gakuen 2

Interest: ★★☆☆☆

More school bondage from Psychs and artist Fujii Ichiyou. I like his work, but it doesn’t do enough for me in this context to get me excited about the game. The official page for the prequel title can be found here.

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Apologies once again for the mammoth post; it ends up being most convenient to do this on a monthly basis after all. Treat it like a magazine that you can come back and browse at your leisure if it’s too overwhelming to take in at one sitting, is the only advice I can give… I’m rather liking this format and think I’ll try to continue it in future months, though as always any comments or suggestions are welcome.