Muv-Luv

Overview

Muv-Luv is a visual novel developed and published in 2003 by Age that has since become a large franchise spawning several sequels, spin-offs and adaptations into other media. The title was originally released for the PC as an eroge but an "all-ages" edition was created in 2006, which removed all the adult content, and was later ported to the Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita by 5pb. A direct sequel named Muv-Luv Alternative was also released in 2006 for the PC and other platforms.

English Release

Age's copyright holder, Ixtl, and Degica, publisher of the RPG Maker series in the West, launched a Kickstarter on September 24, 2015 to fund the localization of both Muv-Luv and its sequel, Muv-Luv Alternative. The Kickstarter began with a goal of 250,000 dollars but managed to raise over a million by the end of its 40 day campaign, funding all of the campaign's stretch goals while also becoming the most successful crowd funded visual novel project in Kickstarter's history.

After the campaign, Muv-Luv was released for the PC on Steam as an "all-ages" title on July 14, 2016 with the original uncensored content being made available through a "Director's Cut" patch released on November 25th for an additional purchase. The game's English script used the fan translation previously created by Amaterasu Translations as a base for the official localization, although the script was extensively edited and re-translated. Degica's release also contained several improvements over the original PC trilogy including HD assets from the console releases and an updated game engine.

In the December of 2017, Degica announced that they had fulfilled their role in the Kickstater and were transferring the rights to the English versions of Muv-Luv back to Ixtl. This transition lead to the Muv-Luv titles being taken off of Steam for a number of months before they were relaunched on February 28, 2018 with Sekai Project serving as their publisher. Eventually the English publishing rights were again transferred back to Ixtl under their their new brand name, aNCHOR Inc., starting on February 17, 2020. The PlayStation Vita ports of Muv-Luv were also released by pQube in North America and Europe in June of 2018.

Story

Mu-Luv is separated into two chapters: Muv-Luv Extra and Muv-Luv Unlimited. The game begins with Extra with Unlimited being unlocked after the player completes the two main routes in Extra.

Muv-Luv Extra

Muv-Luv Extra takes place in modern-day Japan where the player navigates the game through the eyes of Takeru Shirogane, a third-year student in Hakuryou High School. Lazy, carefree, loves video games. One day he wakes up with the daughter of a powerful family, Meiya Mitsurugi, sleeping in his bed claiming to be engaged to Takeru. This situation enrages Takeru's childhood friend, Sumika Kagami, and a series of comedic adventures ensues as the two girls compete with each other while Shirogane tries to decide who he truly cares about.

Muv-Luv Unlimited

Muv-Luv Unlimited begins with the player waking up in an alternate timeline where extraterrestrials called BETA invaded the earth in the 70s. Instead of being executed as a suspected spy, Shirogane is given a second chance by this world's version of his previous instructor, Yuuko Kouzuki, and placed in 207th Training Unit with the alternate-world version of his previous classmates.

Heroines

• Kei Ayamine
• Sumika Kagami
• Meiya Mitsurugi
• Chizuru Sakaki
• Miki Tamase
• Mikoto Yoroi

Releases