Snow

Snow (スノー) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Studio Mebius for the PC first released on January 31, 2003. It was later ported to the Dreamcast in September 2003, and the PlayStation 2 in February 2004 with adult content removed for both ports. While the original PC version has no voice, in September 2004 a new full voice version for PC, Snow: Full Voice Version, was released followed by another "renewal" PC version, Snow P.E in September 2006; P.E standing for Plus Edition, which backports added parts from the console versions. A port for the PSP titled Snow-Portable- was released by the company Prototype in August 2007.

The game features more than six-hundred different stills with simple animations and effects, a multiple-choice-based conversation system, beautiful Japanese settings and a long storyline. A manga called Snow: Pure White was published by Kadokawa Shoten, one volume has been issued. DNA Media Comics have published two comic anthologies for Snow. Light novels and drama CDs based on the visual novel have also been produced.

Plot
The story of Snow starts when the main protagonist Kanata Izumo visits a small village called Ryujinmura (龍神村) to help his cousin Tsugumi manage a local hotel with hot springs. In the village there is an old legend: In ancient times, the village is protected by the dragon goddess. However, one day the dragon goddesses fell in love with a human, which is strictly forbidden, and this incident finally caused the village to be always covered by snow after that. The game then tells the daily life of the protagonist in the village, and finally links the story to the legend of dragon goddess.

Characters
All of the voice actors given are from console versions (DC, PS2 and PSP).


 * Kanata Izumo (出雲 彼方)
 * Soichiro Hoshi (drama CD only)
 * The main protagonist of Snow, visiting Ryujinmura as a part-time worker of the local hotel owned by his cousin Tsugumi.


 * Sumino Yukizuki (雪月 澄乃)
 * Ayako Kawasumi
 * A childhood friend of Kanata, who loves anman (a kind of mantou) and claims it as "source of life".


 * Asahi Hiyorigawa (日和川 旭)
 * Yukari Tamura
 * A young girl suddenly appeared before Kanata, saying that she will "repulse the evil" from Kanata.


 * Shigure Kitazato (北里 しぐれ)
 * Haruna Ikezawa
 * A mysterious girl Kanata encountered in the hill near the village. She is extremely silent and seems to have fear of talking with others.


 * Ōka Wakō (若生 桜花)
 * Tomoko Kaneda
 * A little girl Kanata found around the Jinja in the village, who was waiting for her parents. She always plays with her cat called Shamon (シャモン).


 * Meiko Tachibana (橘 芽依子)
 * Naoko Watanabe
 * Friend of Sumino and daughter of Seishirō. She sometimes behaves weirdly and often makes fun of Kanata.


 * Tsugumi Saeki (佐伯 つぐみ)
 * Yuuko Mizutani
 * Cousin of Kanata and the owner of a local hotel.


 * Sayori Yukiduki (雪月 小夜里)
 * Emi Shinohara
 * Mother of Sumino and the owner of a local grocery store.


 * Seishirō Tachibana (橘 誠史郎)
 * Yasunori Matsumoto
 * Physician of the village and father of Meiko. He keeps a love relationship with Tsugumi.


 * Mysterious girl (謎の少女)
 * Ryōko Ono (PSP)
 * A character who firstly appeared in P.E., she looks as same as Shigure and holds lots of secrets. Ōka is her closely friend.

Release
Snow is the fourth visual novel to be developed by Studio Mebius, after previous title such as X -Ekkusu-, Akumu, and Zetsubou. The game was first released on January 31, 2003 as a DVD and a CD, 18 prohibited. Snow was made available to play as an all ages version on Dreamcast by NEC Interchannel on September 25, 2003, and NEC Interchannel also provided a PlayStation 2 version on February 26, 2004. A full voice version for the game was released on September 24, 2004. Snow - Plus Edition was released on September 29, 2004, it is abbreviated as P.E. The P.E edition backports added parts from the console versions. The game was ported to PlayStation Portable on August 16, 2006, the PSP version was produced by Prototype.

Staff

 * Character design: Pyon Asuka
 * Scenario: Michi(zu)ki JET, Machakichi, Klein
 * Music: Famishin, Fam, I've, T&N Music Factory


 * Opening theme: "Snow"
 * Lyricist: Studio Mebius
 * Composer: Kazuya Takase
 * Vocals: Yumi Matsuzawa (松澤由美)
 * Ending theme: "Futari no Ashiato" (ふたりの足跡)
 * Lyricist: Studio Mebius
 * Composer: Kazuya Takase
 * Vocals: Yumi Matsuzawa
 * Ending theme 2: "Yuki no Kanata" (雪のかなた)
 * Lyricist: Studio Mebius
 * Composer: T&N Music Factory
 * Arranger: Kazuya Takase
 * Vocals: Yumi Matsuzawa
 * Insert song: "Sora no Yurikago (空の揺りかご)
 * Lyricist: Studio Mebius
 * Composer: Studio Mebius
 * Vocals: Ayako Kawasumi

Printed media
In December 2003, a manga called Snow: Pure White was published by Kadokawa Shoten, and serialized in the Kadokawa Comics Ace magazine. The manga was illustrated by Azuma Yuki. Two volumes of a comic anthology were published by DNA Media Comics on May 26, 2003. A light novel series for Snow have been published by Paradigm, written by Mitamura Hangetsu and illustrated by Asuka Pyon. The first volume was published in June 2003, called Snow Hakanayuki. In July 2003, the second volume was published, called Snow Chīsaki Inori. The third volume was published in September 2003, called Snow Inishie no Yūyake. The fourth volume called Snow Kioku no Toge was published in November 2003. In January 2004, the fifth and final volume called Snow ~ Sora no Yurikago ~ was published.

Audio CDs
Before the game's release, on December 28, 2002, Studio Mebius published an image album containing one disc. The original soundtrack for Snow was released by Studio Mebius on April 25, 2003 containing two CDs. Another music CD was released on August 15, 2003, called Snow Extra CD. Movic has published three drama CDs, the first drama CD was released on August 22, 2003, the second drama CD was released on October 24, 2003, and the third drama CD was released three days later on August 25, 2003.

Reception
Snow was the second most widely sold game of 2003 on Getchu.com, a major redistributor of visual novel and domestic anime products. In the October 2007 issue of Dengeki G's Magazine, poll results for the 50 best bishōjo games were released. Snow ranked No. 26 out of 249 titles, with 11 votes.