High Score Girl is a work billed as an arcade love comedy set in a game center in the 90s. It will evoke nostalgia for gamers who lived through the 90s, and even those who didn't will feel as if they were in that era. This is a must-see work for gamers, and after much going through, it has finally been decided that it will be made into an anime!! So, I would like to tell you about the highlights and appeal of this work!!
A lot has happened in High Score Girl
Source: High Score Girl ©Oshikiri Rensuke/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
For now, let's just be happy that it's been made into an anime.
Charm 1: A story woven around the 90s fighting game boom
The story of High Score Girl begins with a certain feud between Yaguchi Haruo, a boy who loves games and has no other redeeming qualities, and Ohno Akira, a rich and talented young lady who is hardly suitable for the entertainment district of an arcade, but who has natural gaming skills.
What is the beginning of the feud between Yaguchi Haruo and Ohno Akira?
Source: High Score Girl ©Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Although Ohno is rich, good-looking, and has excellent grades, he managed to achieve the amazing feat of 28 consecutive wins using Zangief, who is said to be the weakest character in the original Street Fighter 2, and endangered his pride and sense of self-worth. In order to break Ohno's pride and make him feel humiliated, the boy Haruo uses the "Waiting Guile" and "Throwing Snake" to have a real fight. This is the fate of the two. This setting is already interesting!
Charm 2: Attractive and likable characters
The story of High Score Girl mainly progresses around three characters, and all three are likable and charming characters.
A simple character introduction: Yaguchi Haruo
The main character, Yaguchi Haruo, is a boy with a gaming brain who is completely focused on games. At first, he sees Ohno, who has natural gaming techniques, as an enemy, and they are at odds with each other, but he comes to see Ohno, who has the same passion for games as him, as a comrade. When it comes to games, he shows his true nature, but in fighting games, where it is common sense to take the initiative to do things that others dislike, he has a kind personality and is considerate of others when it comes to games.
A model fighting gamer who won't hesitate to resort to illegal moves if his pride is at stake
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I have no redeeming qualities other than gaming, so there's no way I should be allowed to lose to a beautiful, academically excellent, and wealthy young lady. With this in mind, young Haruo decided to win, protect his pride, and shame his opponent, so he used the unfair tactics of the original Street Fighter 2, "Waiting Guile" and "Throwing Trap," to secure victory.
He's not easily shaken
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Perhaps because he is an elementary school student who spends his time in red-light districts where people's true nature is revealed, he has the mental strength to remain unfazed even when he gets a zero on a test, when his teacher tells him to identify himself when playing at an arcade, or when he is left behind on a school trip.
Those who understand will understand the charm
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A hardcore gamer with a gaming brain who spends his days and nights hanging out in the entertainment district of an arcade probably won't be well-received by those around him. However, there are characters like Miyao and Koharu who notice his human charm.
Growing as a person through games
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Haruo is originally a tough boy mentally, but despite the harsh elite education he receives, he continues to do his best and grows mentally so that he can be proud of himself and be on an equal footing with Ohno, who doesn't lose his gaming skills.
A simple character introduction for "Ohno Akira"
The heroine, Ohno Akira, is a beautiful young lady with excellent academics, but she is just as passionate about games as Haruo and has genius skills in gaming techniques. However, due to her family's policies, she has received a strict elite education and is not allowed to play home games or even play with friends, so she often sneaks out of the mansion to go to the arcade. She is quiet and has a hard time expressing her emotions.
Her eyes light up when games are involved
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
When games are discussed, she has a sharp ear and responds by eavesdropping on Haruo's talk about the PC Engine, and goes to deliver some prints to Haruo's house while he is sick, and her eyes light up when she hears about Haruo's games. Cute.
I'm really bad with horror
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Ohno has genius gaming techniques, but he's not good with horror. He's naturally not good with horror games like Splatterhouse, and when he gets scared, he doesn't say anything out loud, but instead uses violent expressions. If he played Sweet Home, he'd probably turn it off within a few minutes of starting. Cute.
Silent character
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
A character who barely speaks in the story, she generally doesn't show her emotions. When she's angry she says "Hunga" and when she's satisfied she says "Humph" - in fact, it's easy to understand even though it seems confusing. Cute.
The kindness of sympathizing with an unpopular character and making him your main character
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
In the original Street Fighter 2, Zangief was the weakest character and was ignored, but he empathized with him and has used him as his main character ever since. In Final Fight, he uses Haggar, who is often avoided compared to the easy-to-use Cody and Guy. Normally, you can't win, so you'd say, "No way, I'll change the character, just make some adjustments."
A simple character introduction: Hidaka Koharu
The other heroine, Hidaka Koharu, is a classmate who appears from the middle school arc. At first, she has no hobbies, but she becomes interested in Haruo, who is completely absorbed in games. As she is led around by Haruo, she gradually becomes attracted to him, and she starts playing games to get Haruo to notice her, and Koharu herself starts to like games. She is a brave and devoted girl in love, and her love will probably not be reciprocated. But that's what makes you want to root for her! !
Koharu plays games for the first time at a candy store arcade
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
The two get stuck in a snowstorm and decide to wait it out at a candy store arcade. That's when Koharu plays games for the first time, and that's when she starts to be attracted to Haruo.
Koharu is happy that Koharu is wearing the handmade gloves she gave her as a Christmas present
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
The two were supposed to attend the class Christmas party, but Haruo was drawn to the Neo Geo machine in front of Koharu's house, so they didn't attend and instead exchanged Christmas presents by themselves. She is happy that Koharu is wearing the handmade gloves. Cute. However, the gloves quickly become worn out from playing games too much.
Koharu tries to give chocolate on Valentine's Day
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Koharu wants to give chocolate to Haruo on Valentine's Day, but Haruo is absent due to illness that day. She goes to Haruo's house to give him the chocolate in person. However, Haruo, who is obsessed with games, realizes that he has no interest in Valentine's Day and is only thinking about games, not about himself. It's heartbreaking.
Koharu is ecstatic after being mistaken for a couple
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Haruo, who came to the arcade in his school uniform, was almost found by a teacher who had come to play a game, so he left the situation in Koharu's hands and escaped. At that time, Koharu, who was mistaken for a couple, had this expression. Cute.
The two of them get left behind during the school trip
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
The two of them head to Kyoto and stop by an arcade on the way. Koharu was in the mood for a date, but she didn't get to find out about Haruo's relationship with Ohno.
Koharu's talent as a gamer blossoms
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX, High Score Girl Production Committee
While Haruo had failed his entrance exam and had stayed away from the arcade due to the guilt, Koharu had honed her skills at the arcade and become so strong that Haruo was left without a hand, foot, or soul.
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Her driving force was to get Haruo interested in her. Brave.
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
She goes a little too far and makes Haruo cry. Cute.
Charm 3: A 90s world view that makes gamers' hearts flutter
This work is based on the fighting game boom that started with the announcement of Street Fighter 2 in the 90s, but it's not just Street Fighter 2 that appears, but various other games as well. Gamers who lived through the '90s will be filled with nostalgia, and even those who have only seen the games and characters featured in NAMCOXCAPCOM will be thrilled by the retro world of that time.
You can learn about the history of games
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Starting with the fighting game movement that began in the 90s, you will naturally gain knowledge about the hardware and software released at that time. Since it is depicted from the perspective of a maniac gamer, you may acquire core knowledge and be excited about the relevance to games currently on sale.
Charm 4: Characters' feelings are depicted in a humorous way
Since High Score Girl is a romantic comedy, the characters' feelings are depicted. At that time, many copyrighted characters appear in the mind. The copyrighted characters move around comically to express psychological states such as anxiety and conflict. A romantic comedy where Major Guile in the mind pushes you forward is truly one of a kind.
Major Guile pushes Haruo
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Major Guile, Haruo's character from the original Street Fighter II, often appears in Haruo's head to push him forward or give him advice, and is like a partner to Haruo.
Major Guile wants to go home
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The crimes committed by the original Street Fighter II's Waiting Guile are heavier than you can imagine, and Major Guile gets weaker with each new installment of the series.
Characters that guide Haruo
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Haruo went to look for Ohno, who had run away from home because he couldn't stand the harsh education, but he couldn't find him and was about to give up. At that moment, everyone guided Haruo!
Red Cyclone, crying after being framed and killed by soldiers
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Zangief, who has no action to take against Guile, who is waiting in the first Street Fighter 2, is simply framed and killed. Wanting to get revenge on Zangief, who had been defeated by not only a waiting guile but also the forbidden throwing technique, Ohno challenged Haruo to a real fight.
Zangief calms Ohno
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
When they were in elementary school, Ohno and Haruo were at odds with each other. However, Zangief calms Ohno by telling him that he's not such a bad guy.
Phobos congratulates Koharu
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Phobos congratulates Koharu, who is filled with regret after losing a serious match with Haruo, as if to encourage her. One of the most famous scenes in High Score Girl.
Charm 5: Misprints in "Game Master," the bible for gamers in the 90s
At a time when there was no internet, the latest information on games circulating among gamers was not very detailed, and only included introductions to the games and basic strategies. However, the strategies in "Game Master" were written by active gamers, so they were very detailed and were the bible for gamers at the time. It is no longer in print, and the staff has moved to Arcadia.
Misprints in "Game Master" are now legendary
However, since the handwritten manuscripts of active gamers were transcribed by editors who knew nothing about games, it is famous for producing typos so outrageous that they shook the foundations of strategies. The famous misprints in "Game Master" are used abundantly in "High Score Girl" and are used as material.
Zangyura's Super Lariat Up
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Correct: Zangief's Super Lariat
A typo in the Game Master Legend. Zangief turned into a vampire in "Zangyura"... that's not the case.
Indian to the right
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Positive・Handle to the right
The Indian suddenly appears, did Dhalsim teleport or something?
Check it out!
Source: High Score Girl © Rensuke Oshikiri/SQUARE ENIX・High Score Girl Production Committee
Correct - Check it out!
The words Ryu spoke in the final episode of the manga serialized in Gamest, will it be a typo until the very end...?
If you look into it further, you will find the facts of typos, so if you are interested, check it out with your own eyes!
Summary of the appeal of High Score Girl
I have summarized the appeal of High Score Girl, but the work contains some nerdy content, so I cannot possibly talk about all of its appeal. Some people may not understand most of the content of High Score Girl even after reading it. For such people, I think one way to enjoy it is to research each part and enjoy it while breaking it down. The typos in Game Master are just the tip of the iceberg. It's a stylistic beauty, but if you're interested, please check it out with your own eyes!!
