North Wind (video game)

The story of North Wind takes place in a small town surrounded by the mountains.[2] Every winter there, a special event called the "Love Letter Festival" is held.[2] The idea, is that if you write a letter to the person that you have feelings for, and post it at the local shrine on the 26th of December, which is the day after Christmas, then you will get to meet that person.[2] Makoto Akizuki, the main protagonist and player character, has been living in Tokyo for the last three years, and is now visiting that town.[2]

Makoto Akizuki (秋月誠) is the protagonist of the game.[2] He lived in Tokyo for three years before moving to the small town where his relatives live.[2] Makoto is the only character to not be voiced in the game.[1] He is accompanied by a junior at his school, Hakana Fuyutsuta (冬蔦儚, voiced by: Ayana Sumoto), who is also the main heroine of the game.[3] She is very gentle and kind, but has a weak constitution.[3] Another heroine in the game includes Yukika Yanagi (柳雪華, voiced by: Fūri Samoto), a mysterious girl who has lost her memory, but due to her bright, cheerful personality, she befriends Makoto quickly.[4] Makoto also has a childhood friend called Kanon Ayakawa (綾川佳暖, voiced by: Michiru), she grew up with Makoto like a brother and sister since they were both little.[5] Kanon has a very honest personality, and works part-time in a cafe.[5]

An additional heroine called Ozaki Suzumi (尾崎鈴美, voiced by: Suzune Kusunoki) was added in the PlayStation 2 port of the game.[6] Other characters include Misumi Komaki (小牧水澄, voiced by: Yuki), another childhood friend of Makoto, and is one year older than him.[7] She is an older sister figure for him.[7] The last heroine is Miki Kimizuka (君塚深姫, voiced by: Kanon Torii), a kind and polite shrine maiden.[8]

A short-lived manga adaptation of North Wind was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh magazine between September 2004 to October 2004 issues.[14] Chinji Yaoroosu illustrated the manga.[14] The manga was actually serialized in the same month of the game's first initial release. A 127-page fan book titled North Wind Fan Book was published by Ichijinsha on February 22, 2005.[15] It contains a visual gallery, interviews with production staff, a large number of unpublished images, and also includes comments from the voice cast. The North Wind first press limited edition comes bundled with an art book entitled North Wind Extra Art Book, which contains various illustrations, and a preview at the manga.[16]

An OP single consisting of one disc entitled North Wind — Last Letter / have eyes only for you… was published on September 3, 2004.[17] The CD contains the two main opening songs, as well as their instrumentals.[17] North Wind's first opening song is "Last Letter (Snowdrop Ver.)" by Kiriko, which is five minutes and nine seconds long.[17] The game's second opening song is "Have eyes only for you..." also by Kiriko, and is five minutes long. The CD does not include the ending song "Last Letter -Eternal Wind-" by Kanon Torii, who voiced Miki Kimizuka in the game, respectively.[17] The disc's length in entirety is twenty minutes and sixteen minutes long.[17]

Another music CD entitled North Wind Complete Tracks was published on January 28, 2005, consisting of two discs.[18] The first disc comprises twenty two tracks, which are BGM in the game. The first disc's length in entirety is seventy one minutes and forty nine seconds long.[18] The second disc comprises ten tracks, and contains insert songs, opening songs and an ending song.[18] It also includes their full versions, short versions, and off vocal versions.[18] The second disc's length in entirety is forty seven minutes and twenty eight seconds long.[18]