Originally a PC visual novel released in 2000 and reserved for Japanese audiences, Tsukihime is coming to the West for the first time ever in a two-part remake – the first half of which will be available for purchase next week, June 27th. The standard digital offering will be available on release day, and the physical limited edition, complete with art book, can be pre-ordered now. This first half will cover the “nearer side of the moon”, or two of the six routes that make up the full story of Tsukihime. The second half, “the far side,” will include three other routes present in the original and one brand new route, but a release date for that has yet to be revealed.
Officially titled “Tsukihime: Piece of the Blue Glass Moon,” the remake reimagines the now-outdated original for modern times and to fit with console conventions. The original explicit sexual content has been removed, but according to players of the Japanese edition. the violence and gore remain (and may have been expanded), giving it an adult rating in all regions. The game’s official Twitter account stated that the PS4 version of the artbook was also partially censored for its Western release, but thankfully the Switch artbook remains intact. As for other changes, it’s worth noting that the characters have been redesigned to fit the new timeline and setting of the remake. Meanwhile, some of the additions include full voice acting, a stunning opening song by the talented singer ReoNa, several new characters, and much more that we will become aware of when the game hits western shores.
For the uninitiated, Tsukihime follows an unassuming teenager named Shiki Tohno who is both cursed and blessed with an unparalleled power: the mystical eyes of death perception. Able to see “the end” in both living beings and inanimate objects, the supernatural eyes give Shiki the ability to terminate the existence of all that surrounds him by following their life lines and striking at their points of origin. Unwilling to let power define him, he tries to live a normal life even as his town is ravaged by cases of grizzly murders and the killer is still on the loose. But a chance encounter with a strange girl with blonde hair forces him to face the fate he has always shied away from and to solve the mysteries surrounding the murders and the divine gaze sealed behind his glasses. Along the way, Shiki can romance a selection of heroines by choosing a specific girl route, and each route will allow players to learn more about Shiki, the girls, and the issues at the heart of it. This first half will tell the stories of Arcueid Brunestud, the unusual girl mentioned above, and Ciel, Shiki’s caring upperclassman at school.
The original Tsukihime was a cult classic for its gentle atmosphere, complex characters, tender romances, and themes of trauma and redemption. He contrasted these things with the violence of a murder mystery to paint a picture of the absurdity and beauty of life and death. Until now, Tsukihime, like his main character, has kept his potential hidden so that only a few can see it. But in just a few days, the rest of the world will finally be able to see one of the best visual novels Japan has ever created – more confident than ever before and as beautiful as a full moon hanging above a calm night sky.
