Learning Japanese With: Starry Sky ~in Spring~ Portable

The first of the four Starry Sky games starring the characters from the drama CD’s of the same name.

Starry Sky takes place at Seigatsu Gakuen, a school which specializes in horoscopes, astronomy and other related topics. The main characters are all based on horoscopes.

Starry Sky Spring features Suzuya Tohzuki (Cancer), Kanata Nanami (Pisces) and Yoh Tomoe (Capricorn). It follows main character Tsukiko Yahisa, who’s the first girl to enroll in the school, and her first semester there, which she spends with her childhood friends Suzuya and Kanata along with Yoh, a transfer student who came from France.

From VNDB

Tidbit Info
I was supposed to have started this game in February but since Tsukiko, the MC, has monologues and dialogue, I got afraid and just decided to keep doing N4, with two astronomy vocabulary/kanji because the game uses such terms, and started it in March to finish in April (which later got changed to May for our game group, but what’s done is done).

My Studies Progress
I quickly discovered during Amnesia, and this game furthered that opinion, that I didn’t particularly enjoy kanji search.
First: it’s hard to find them even with audio, because it can be written in such a numerous ways (since I don’t hear double consonants that well);
Second: Without audio, it’s through radicals or if I know the kanji separate but not together.

The first is harder to find, to be honest, since the second I have an idea what it is from both kanji. So I came up with my foolproof plan to not get tired or exhausted while trying to play: I simply don’t search. Do I miss stuff? Sure, but I also understand from context, or I simply don’t care that much that I’m not understanding every single line. I started N3 at the same time I started the game, and my opinion is when I get there, I get. I also learn much more from the characters talking between themselves, repeating the words, than if I just stop to search or go to study.

So that’s my tidbit advice: if it’s boring or tiring to look up words, just don’t. You’ll learn them in due time. I sometimes look up one word or another, specially katakana, if I feel they’re repeating them a lot or important. I’m glad I decided to go down this route, because otherwise I don’t think I’d have successfully continued the game or finished a single route.

I got tired of studying (depression kickied my sorry ass) and my N3 studies slowed to a crawl, and I decided to just go for it and finish the game.

This game is voiced, but the heroine isn’t, so I largely overlooked her dialogue (I read the hiragana and the kanji I know and skipped what I didn’t know, or hadn’t seen yet in the game).

The game covers from 9 of March in game to 29 May. March isn’t a Spring month, but whatever it’s not very important!

If you followed my #starryskyspring on Twitter while I played, you saw how I wanted them to be in a polyamorous relationship, making a lovely four part sandwich! Whenever Kanata and Yoh started fighting/arguing I just wanted them to fuck already, that’s how much they smoldered! （＞ｙ＜） /inner fujoshi showing through

I was very amused by the dynamics of the group. Kanata and Yoh being childish/the children, while Suzuya was the mother and Tsukiko the father everyone wanted to get attention from. It comes as no surprise that the four of them are crybabies, even if they front as mature or tough, and it made them all just so precious ;v;

The first ending I got was the forever alone, then I decided to go for Yoh, Kanata and Suzuya in that order. I decided on Yoh first because I really liked the after credits scene on the forever alone ending! （⌒▽⌒）

I was using the PC version guide, and I couldn’t get his Best Ending, which turns out was because Portable has more options and an extra ending for each guy. So I had to Google to find this guide for the portable version, and then it went smooth sailing! (≧∇≦)/

One thing I really enjoyed: I did it in order from Normal, Good and Best ending, and discovered the in a second play through of the routes (doesn’t matter the order) you’ll see an extra POV and scenes by the guy you’re chasing! It felt very organic, and really good, and it deepened my understanding of them ❤

Little note: Kanata’s story really moved me, and made me all choked up!

Now to the for the difficulty of the game based on where I am on my studies evaluation!

Difficulty: 3/5 (because I did the astronomy terms studies beforehand, otherwise it’d be a 4/5)

Recommended to: Beginners, some 100-200 basic kanji will make your life easier for the narration parts.

Happy gaming everyone and keep learning! “ψ(｀∇´)ψ

Have you heard about this game before? Have you played it? If so, I’d love to know what you think of it!