English Title: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4
Japanese Title: 遙かなる時空の中で4
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei (Ruby Party)
Genre: Otome Adventure
Released: June 19, 2008
Product Codes: SLPM-66952 / JAN 4988615028380


One of the many titles in Koei's otome-game -- essentially, light romance novels for teenage girls in video game form -- series. Along with Angelique, which basically created the entire otome-game genre back in 1994, these two series are probably Koei's biggest franchises that never found their way west. Though considering the (perceived) limited market for such things, this is hardly a surprise.

Essentially, this is Tokimeki Memorial with the gender roles reversed, set in a fantasy world. The protagonist is a princess looking for an ideal prince -- though that's hardly her only defining trait, as she also needs to reunify her broken, war-torn country, and she's also quite a handy warrior with a bow. There's also some light RPG elements mixed in, and you even get to boss the guys around in battle. While it's definitely still an escapist fantasy (not that there's anything wrong with that), there's enough substance here that it doesn't *completely* come across as shameless pandering to a demographic.