Mai-HiME the RPG: Episode 8

The eighth episode is finally here, and with it I’ve made some changes to the game. The default font for the game has been changed to the more attractive Palatino Linotype, the ‘Even Better Weather’ script from Creation Asylum has been added, and I’ve tinkered with the battle system to remove the Fight/Escape menu (pointless since escape is permanently disabled in this game) and replace the EXP/Gold screen with a simple ‘Victory is Yours’ message (EXP and Gold are also irrelevant in the game).

The Child summoning system is also undergoing an overhaul; the current system allows a HiME to dismiss the other party members and fight alongside her Child instead. There are a few issues with this system at the moment, which I will list below.

· To limit the number of turns a Child can remain, it is summoned with a Poison-like status that slowly drains its HP; ideally, I’d like to replace this a stamina bar or make it an SP cost per turn like dragon transformations in Breath of Fire 4.

· Items can be used on or by the Child; I’d prefer it if they could not use or be targeted by items.

· After battle, the party has to be manually reverted to normal, which is possible but tedious, and would be more problematic in a real RPG.

I’ve yet to encounter any scripts that could help with these issues, but if anyone happens to know of some, please let me know.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s stop talking about what I can’t achieve and move on to what I have actually done. Also, before I forget, thanks to everyone who’s left feedback and positive comments on the game so far.

Akane and Kazuya visit the Fuuka anniversary celebrations.

Mikoto is there too.

Miyu, on the other hand, must wait outside the church.

Akane has high hopes about her future prospects.

Mai agrees to help move some desks.

Tate starts teasing Mai.

Unsurprisingly, she doesn’t take well to it.

Mai falls through a hole in the floor, and the others soon follow.

Akane reveals that she too is a HiME.

Akane and Harry fight an Orphan; for obvious reasons, the HiME and Child cannot be to scale.

A mysterious cave- where better to ask someone out?

For a sick boy, Takumi can run fast…Tate is supposed to be keeping up with him but this scene still needs tweaking.

Mai fights the Orphan.

Once again, Tate and Takumi are kept in the dark about Mai’s powers.

The Orphan may have been defeated, but Akane is not out of danger yet.

Veterans of the anime will know that Akane cannot win this battle…after five turns, poor Harry goes up in green flames. I named Miyu’s killer attack R-Blade in homage to KOS-MOS of Xenosaga.

With the loss of Harry, Kazuya turns into green sparkles.

Nagi explains what just happened.

Mai and the others get out of the caves just in time to watch a fireworks display.

Next episode: sand, sea, swimsuits…and the challenge of making a beach episode interesting.