Being a visual novel, Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi has characteristically minimal gameplay; it does however incorporate elements similar to a simulation game. Each girl is equipped with four stats: fitness, technique, tactics and combination. Periodically between scenes, the player is given the chance to coach a specific girl; the offer can, however, be declined. One-on-one coaching increases a specific character's stats while, usually at the end of certain scenes, the player trains the entire team at once. Scenes are composed of sequential story and character interactions which flow consecutively until the player is presented with actions or responses to choose from. As choices are intricately linked to alternating routes of plot, the direction of the story is changed, leading to erotic scenes between characters and ultimately one of various endings. In order for the player to watch all the possible endings in this regard, he or she will have to effectively replay through the game several times, all the while making different selections.
Plot
Ou Motoura is a Japanese, former national men's volleyball player and celebrity, single, independent, and employed at the fictional Aota Academy as a coach for the boys' volleyball team. When a member is expelled for fighting, the group dissolves, leaving Motoura to transfer to the girls' team instead. The exchange a sullen, unwanted one, with his reputation as a sportsman on the line, Motoura swallows his pride and takes up their training. It is only afterward, however, that he begins to develop feelings for them.
Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi was adapted into a four-episode, direct-to-video animated series by Pink Pineapple, parent of Pinpai, from October 27, 2000 to January 25, 2002. NuTech Digital acquired the licenses for the first pair of episodes around May 2001, publishing them under the name Angels in the Court as separate VHS and DVD releases until when they were bundled into a DVD box set from November 2001 onward. Notably, the English dubs featured the voices of Brooke Haven and Shayla LaVeaux. Additionally, Banzaï, a French redistributor, published an iteration of the series under the name Vestiaire Olympique. The concluding two episodes, titled Kaette Kita Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi were released to DVD on October 26, 2001 and January 25, 2002, but were never localized outside Japan. The original two episodes of Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi did not contain an opening animation and thus, no opening theme. The ending credits were however, accompanied by the song Koi no Super Ace, performed by Mari Adachi and Mie Sonozaki. The second pair of episodes were opened with Kimihe no Victory, performed by Kahoru Sasajima and Kimiko Koyama, and closed with the song Watashi ha Ball, performed by Mari Adachi and Anda Zakimie. The anime received generally positive reviews. Industry aggregator Mania.com gave the box set a B, calling the visuals "solidly done" with "good animation, pretty girls, and some seriously funny scenes."
Novels
Besides its adaption into an animated series, Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi was published into a two volume novel series by now-defunct KSS Books, written by Muto Yasuyuki and based on his screenplay for the anime. Retitled Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi: Ano Hitomi Niaitakute, the books were published on August 30, 2001 and July 20, 2002 respectively.
