Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (series)

The Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (遙かなる時空の中で; Literally: "Within a Distant Time") series is a romantic adventure video game series made by Ruby Party for the female audience. Variations of the Japanese romanization found in official sources include "Harukanaru Tokinonakade", "Haruka naru tokino nakade" or "Harukanaru Toki no Nakade". Abbreviated as Haruka (遙か), it is the second entry in the Neoromance series. Characters are designed and illustrated by Tohko Mizuno.

Made to deliberately contrast the setting found in Angelique, the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de series is an Eastern themed fantasy story. Each entry borrows elements from various periods of Japanese history or mythology; to be true to actual history, several titles are additionally reliant on ancient Indian or Chinese theologies and stories. The first Harukanaru Toki no Naka de followed the burst of popularity for Heian period based media, becoming an instant hit with female consumers. The first two games featured characters who were roughly based on historical facts or stories. Characters began to be based on actual historical or mythological figures since Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3.

Various Ruby Party developers will reply that the series began as an attempt to satisfy pleas received from fan surveys. A majority of the responses asked for a title with role-playing game elements and a new cast of characters. As such, each Harukanaru Toki no Naka de installment changes their cast to offer a different setting, story and tone than the previous title. Random battles and a loose leveling system is included as a part of the game's narrative, granting players an easy-to-play RPG experience. While the dictated simulation aspects were kept in the first two installments, later entries allow the player to freely roam each area before they choose to proceed with the game's main story. The adventure-like game flow has remained a prominent aspect to separate itself from other Neoromance entries.

Ayako Tsukaguchi, a Ruby Party developer, noted that the development team wanted to create individual narratives for the characters to contrast Angelique (which have the protagonists mainly interact with one another to create romantic ties or friendships). Choosing to focus on a single character would change the entire story structure to focus on them, omitting or altering events that would normally occur. Stories remain romantic, but the staff wanted to add "a feeling of loss and tragedy" for each character. The main protagonist follows the proactive concept of consoling and encouraging a character, helping them solve their individual problems for their endings. These protagonists may not always speak with an audible voice, but their selective text responses are quite vocal compared to other Neoromance titles.

Setting
Though characters and the era may change, there are some crucial elements that remain within each entry. Each game takes place in a parallel world, mainly focusing on a land that behaves like Japan. Two dragon gods have constructed this world, keeping equilibrium by gently watching over its inhabitants. One dragon is known as the White Dragon, the embodiment of yang and ruler of the five elements. Its opposite, or its yin counterpart, is the Black Dragon who is gifted with the power to grant respite to the world. When both dragons combine their strengths, they are known as Yinglong, a guardian of the world's capital. Those within the dragons' blessings are granted a life of unmistakable serenity.

Dragon gods choose to watch the world from afar, unwilling and incapable of dwelling too deeply into human affairs. If humanity disturbs the peaceful balance, the five elements will be led astray and hazardous irregularities will appear within the world. These distortions may corrupt various residing deities and spirits, transforming them into vengeful spirits (怨霊, onryou). People may also cast curses on one another and defile their spirits. These defilements may cause pestilence, famine and despair. Leaving them unattended for long periods of time may kill those afflicted.

To restore order, each dragon god will endow their powers to a young girl. These dragons only choose those who they find worthy of their trust and may test their inheritor's willpower. Should they not find a girl within their world, the dragon god may be capable of traveling through time to find her. Once she is located, they don her their priestess and form an instinctive bond with them. If the girl wishes and prays strongly, the gods will answer her. Because of her powers, each dragon priestess is seen as a honorable living treasure in the parallel world.

The main protagonists in the series each act as their era's White Dragon Priestess. She possesses the power to purify and seal vengeful spirits and defilements. Additionally, she has the innate ability to control the five elements by personally exploring the parallel world. Since the White Dragon Priestess is a magnet for attracting malevolent spirits, the White Dragon has his four servants act as her aides. Eight men are entrusted with the powers of these four deities, personifying both the Heavenly and Earthly aspects for each god. They are named after the eight symbols and are called the Eight Guardians. Once they build a trusting bond with one another, the priestess and guardians can unleash their true powers to defeat their adversaries.

Timeline
Like the series's name suggests, each installment is set in a different time era.


 * Ancient Japan (mythological setting; year unspecified)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4


 * Heian Period (794~1192) - Kamakura Period (1185~1333)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (10th century)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 (11th century)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 (12th century)


 * Bakumatsu (1853~1869)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5


 * Heavenly Realm (fictional setting; dream world)
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi

Games

 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Banjoyugi
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Hachiyoushou
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Irotebako
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 Izayoiki
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 Unmei no Labyrinth
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Maihitoyo
 * Pocket Scenario Series: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Maihitoyo
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi Special
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 with Izayoiki Aizouban
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 Unmei no Labyrinth Aizouban
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 Aizouban
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5 Kazahanaki
 * Hyakuman-nin no Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - social game based on the first game

Related Media
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de has several live events, publications, and drama CDs for the franchise. A fan book serialization called Haruka Tsushin was made for the series.

A comic incarnation of the first game was created by the series's character designer and was published in Lala, concluding in seventeen volumes and illustrated art books of the comic are being compiled and published. Short stories for the other installments are included in select comic volumes in Japan. The story surrounding the first game has been completely translated into English by Viz Media as a part of their Shojo Beat lineup. Currently the fifth installment is running a comic serialization in LaLa.

Three theatrical productions have been made so far for the franchise. Each story features original characters and events not otherwise seen in their original source material. A few of the performers even return to lend their voices for characters or image songs within the games. So far, these theatrical productions center on the first two games:
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Maihitoyo~ - actors returned again for an extra stage event to thank fans for their support
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Oboro Soushi~
 * Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2

A parody DVD was made for the series. Characters found throughout the games interact with one another in "what-if?" scenarios.