Following in the footsteps of titles such as River King and Harvest Moon, the debut of Chulip should bring plenty of Natsume charm and originality to the Playstation 2 when it releases next week.
The game's story puts players in the role of a boy who has just moved to a rural town with his father. The town, however, is famous for an ancient legend, which states whoever kisses underneath the old tree on the nearby hill will be destined to be together happily ever after.
When the main character learns of this tale, he instantly becomes motivated to try his luck with the legend after falling for a girl who lives in a nearby … pipe (I swear I didn't make that up). It will then be up to players to guide the character on his quest to do whatever it takes to kiss that girl underneath the ancient tree and spend his life with her.
Chulip wouldn't be much of a game if this were an easy task and luckily, a variety of puzzles will potentially get in the way of true love. First, being the town's latest newbie, players will have to build up a reputation for themselves. The townspeople are becoming tired of their repetitive small-town lives and are beginning to give up hope on their dreams and aspirations.
By moving their hearts, the town will again come back to life and move players inch by inch to their goal. Eventually the girl will notice your good deeds and your dream may become a reality. Players will have to determine when it's time to kiss the girl, though - go in for a lip lock prematurely and you'll face total rejection.
The Natsume charm works its way into Chulip, most evident in the game's quirky Japanese backdrop with humorous overtones in both the characters and environments. The title, which many have billed as "the kissing simulator," was originally teased at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo and has gone under the radar until recently with a scheduled Feb. 14 release date.
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