English Title: Zero no Tsukaima: Koakuma to Harukaze no Concerto
Japanese Title: ゼロの使い魔 小悪魔と春風の協奏曲
Publisher: Marvelous Interactive
Developer: Russell
Genre: Visual Novel
Released: Feb. 15, 2007
Product Codes: SLPS-25708 / JAN 4988110022517


Yeah, I'll admit it -- Zero no Tsukaima is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. It's standard harem series fare, sure, but it hits the right spots for me. This one is the first of three PS2 titles based on the franchise, and is your standard VN fare with some minor little twists to change things up.

There's a rudimentary battle system that lets you fight alongside (or against!) the many lovely ladies Saito runs into. There's also the so-called "Tsun-Dere System" that visibly tracks how Louise feels about Saito. Stay honest and rebuke the other ladies' advances, and she'll be happy and let you know it; make her feel like you'll hook up with anyone of the opposite gender, and she'll beat you into submission. Of course, if you keep things balanced then you can have your cake and eat it too -- after all, this is a fantasy, right?

This limited edition includes a pair of drama CDs, "The Master's Tsundere Disc" and "The Master and the Familiar's Secret Diary Disc".