Love, Election and Chocolate
Love, Election and Chocolate, abbreviated as Koichoco, is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Sprite, which was released in Japan on October 29, 2010 for Windows PCs and later ported to the PlayStation Portable on September 27, 2012. The gameplay in Love, Election and Chocolate follows a branching plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters by the player character. There have been two manga adaptations serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine and Dengeki Daioh. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by AIC Build and directed by Tōru Kitahata aired between July and September 2012, with an additional episode released on the series' final Blu-ray Disc and DVD volume in March 2013.
Gameplay
Love, Election and Chocolate is a romance visual novel in which the player assumes the role of Yuki Ojima. Its gameplay requires little player interaction as much of the game's duration is spent on reading the text that appears on the screen, which represents the story's narrative and dialogue. Love, Election and Chocolate follows a branching plot line with multiple endings, and depending on the decisions that the player makes during the game, the plot will progress in a specific direction.There are five main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, one for each of the heroines in the story. Every so often, the player will come to a point where he or she is given the chance to choose from multiple options. Text progression pauses at these points until a choice is made. To view all plot lines in their entirety, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and choose different choices to further the plot to an alternate direction. In the adult versions of the game, there are scenes with sexual CGs depicting Yuki and a given heroine having sex.
Plot
Love, Election and Chocolate follows the protagonist Yūki Ōjima, who attends Takafuji Private Academy, a large school with over 6,000 students. Yūki is a member of the Food Research Club, abbreviated as FRC or "Shokken", along with seven others, including his childhood friend Chisato Sumiyoshi. The members leisurely spend their time in the club not doing much activities. When the election of the next student council president comes up, the front runner Satsuki Shinonome proposes that clubs that have no merit should be sorted out and abolished. The Food Research Club seeks advice from the current student council president Yakumo Mōri, who suggests Yūki run in the election as an opposing candidate. Yūki learns about the issues facing the school and decides to run in the election.Characters
Main characters
;Yūki Ōjima;Chisato Sumiyoshi
;Isara Aomi
;Michiru Morishita
;Mifuyu Kiba
;Satsuki Shinonome
Supporting characters
;Nozomi Edagawa;Oboro Yumeshima
;Ai Sarue
;Kii Monzennaka
;Hazuki Shinonome
;Hidaka Shiohama
;Mieru Ariake
;Reiji Saga
;Moheiji Tatsumi
;Yakumo Mōri
;Kana Ōgibashi
;Yuina Ōsawa
Guest characters
Guest characters from Ima Sugu Oniichan ni Imouto da tte Iitai!;Ayumu Mitani
;Matsuri Nanase
;Mao Shigemori
;Kimika Haida
Development and release
In November 2009, Sprite was established as a sister brand of the visual novel developing brand Selen. Love, Election and Chocolate is Sprite's debut title. The game's producer was Akira Sakamoto. The scenario was written by Kō Katagi, while art direction and character design was done by Yū Akinashi. The background music was produced by members of Elements Garden, who also produced the theme music with I've Sound. Love, Election and Chocolate was released on October 29, 2010 as a limited edition version, playable on a Windows PC. A regular edition was released on November 19, 2010. Sprite released a special edition version of the game on December 29, 2011 to commemorate the anime adaptation, which included an art book and a single from I've Sound. A version playable on the PlayStation Portable titled Love, Election and Chocolate Portable was released on September 27, 2012 by Kadokawa Games.Adaptations
Printed media
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Tōko Kanno and titled Love, Election and Chocolate, was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine between the February 2011 and April 2014 issues. Six tankōbon volumes were released between July 27, 2011 and May 27, 2014. A second manga, illustrated by Waki Ikawa and titled Love, Election and Chocolate SLC, was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh between the May 2011 and January 2014 issues. Six volumes for SLC were released between September 27, 2011 and January 27, 2014. Two volumes of a manga anthology titled Love, Elections & Chocolate Comic Anthology were released by Ichijinsha between April and July 2011.A light novel adaptation titled Love, Election and Chocolate a novel, written by Yasuaki Mikami and illustrated by AIC and Naoto Ayano, was published on August 21, 2012 by Shogakukan.
Internet radio shows
An Internet radio show to promote the game titled Koi-Choco Radio! Yumeshima Oboro no Shokken Ran Yo! broadcast 18 episodes between December 10, 2010 and August 5, 2011. The show was produced by Lantis and was hosted by Megumi Ogata who voices Oboro Yumeshima in Love, Election and Chocolate. The show was revived with the title Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate Radio: Ogata Megumi no Shokken Ran Yo!! to promote the anime and had a pre-broadcast on April 13, 2012. The show began regular weekly broadcasting on April 27, 2012 and is produced by the Japanese Internet radio station Hibiki; Ogata is retained as the show's host.Anime
A 12-episode anime television series, directed by Tōru Kitahata and produced by AIC Build and Aniplex, aired between July 6 and September 28, 2012 on TBS and BS-TBS. The screenplay was written by Katsuhiko Takayama, and chief animator Hiroaki Gōda based the character design used in the anime on's Yū Akinashi original designs. The anime's music is produced by Elements Garden. The anime was released in seven Blu-ray Disc and DVD compilation volumes between September 26, 2012 and March 27, 2013. The final BD and DVD volume contained an original video animation episode. Sentai Filmworks has licensed the anime for home video release, and Anime Network streamed the series on their website. The English-language Blu-ray and DVD were released on February 25, 2014.| No. | Title | Original airdate |
Music
Love, Election and Chocolate has eight pieces of theme music: one opening theme, one insert song, and six ending themes. The opening theme is "Initiative" by Mami Kawada of I've Sound. The insert song is "Piece of My Heart" by Nami Maisaki of I've Sound. Each heroine has her own ending theme, starting with Chisato's theme "A Little Love Song" by Eriko Nakamura. Isara's theme is "Mitsuba no Clover" by Mai Kadowaki. Michiru's theme is "Kimi no Iro Oshiete" by Asami Imai. Mifuyu's theme is "Kizutsukerareru yori Kizutsukeru Hō ga Itai yo, Nante..." by Kaori Mizuhashi. Satsuki's theme is "Aozora StartingLine" by Yū Asakawa. The main ending theme is "Jewelry Time" by Ceui. An album containing the ending themes titled Chocolate Songs was released on April 27, 2011 by Lantis. The game's original soundtrack was released on May 27, 2011 by Sprite. The opening theme for the PSP version is "Step Ahead" by Annabel.The anime's opening theme is "Signal Graph" by Annabel, and the ending theme is "Kaze no Naka no Primrose" by Ceui. The single for "Signal Graph" was released on July 25, 2012, and the single for "Kaze no Naka no Primrose" was released on August 8, 2012. The insert song "Hello Mellow" by Annabel is used in episode one.
Reception
From June to October 2010, Love, Election and Chocolate ranked three times in the top ten in national PC game pre-orders in Japan. The rankings were at No. 9 from June to August, No. 6 from August to September, and No. 3 from September to October. The game ranked four times in the top 50 in terms of national sales of PC games in Japan. The rankings were at No. 1 for October 2010, No. 19 for November 2010, No. 33 for December 2010, and No. 48 for January 2011. The Windows version released to commemorate the anime adaptation ranked at No. 33 in terms of sales in December 2011. The game was the fifth best-selling title on Getchu.com, a major redistributor of visual novel and domestic anime products, for the year of 2010.In Getchu.com's 2010 game ranking, Love, Election and Chocolate placed 4th in Graphics, 8th in Scenario, 8th in Music, 11th in Movie, and 6th overall. Satsuki Shinonome was voted the 14th best character from games released that year. The PSP version of Love, Election and Chocolate sold 16,743 copies in the week it was released, making it the seventh best selling non-PC game in Japan that week.