Tsukihime: What is It and Why Should You Care?

Hey everyone it’s Deven and I’m coming at you with a new Nasu verse post. And this one is about Tsukihime.

I bet you all are wondering ‘What’s Tsukihime, Deven?’ Also it never had an anime…..

I’m willing to tell you even though there was no anime.

Note: There was actually a Tsukihime anime that adapted the Arcueid route but it was so bad the fandom wiped it from their memories. Combine that with the Brainwasher Hisui meme and you got this pic.

Tsukihime is the first offical visual novel of the company that later became Type-Moon.

Here’s a quote from the Type-Moon wiki

Tsukihime chronicles the story and life of a teenage boy named Shiki Tohno. As a young boy, Shiki suffered a life-threatening injury. As a result of this injury, Shiki became able to see “death lines” on objects and people; if Shiki traces these lines with a sharp object, the person or object that they belong to will die or be destroyed. Soon after discovering this power, he is given a special pair of glasses by a mysterious woman. While wearing these glasses, Shiki cannot see the lines, and can thus live life as normal. Later, Shiki discovers that he can also see “points” on objects and people; these act as more immediate and powerful versions of the “lines.” Eventually, it is revealed that Shiki is not merely killing a person or destroying an object when he cuts its lines or pokes out its points, but is instead removing the meaning of his victim’s existence.

The game plot begins during Shiki’s high school days. After years away from the Tohno household, which he was banished from after his injury, he moves back home following the death of the head of the Tohno family, Shiki’s father. Shiki’s sister, Akiha, assumes the responsibility of being the new head, and decides to let Shiki come back. As the story progresses, Shiki gradually discovers his mysterious past, and becomes implicated into strange adventures.

Sounds good right?

Now the Visual Novel does have some flaws in it. Granted they are only apparent in this current modern era of video games and visual novels. Namely the art has not aged well.

As you can see, the art hasn’t aged well. Then again I’m comparing it against the newer remake cover but still the idea holds up.

You can even see the same thing in Fate/Stay Night. Takeuchi, Head Artist for Tsukihime as well as Fate/Stay Night, grew leaps in his talent between the two games.

Look at Arcueid in this casual shot and look at Saber.

The lines are much smoother and more relaxed with Saber. Then again we can justify this by the fact that Fate/Stay Night released January 2004 while Tsukihime released in December 2000. Takeuchi grew as an artist in those 4 years.

Now I bet you wondering if I’ve got your interest, ‘Deven if it’s Nasu verse why haven’t heard of it?’

The answer is simple. Fate is the major thing in Type-Moon and Tsukihime is often pushed off to the side in favor of it.

Simply put Tsukihime has a few things:

1. its Visual Novel, Tsukihime
2. its sequel, Kagetsu Tohya
3. its game, Melty Blood and its various expansions

On other hand, Fate has had these:

1. the original novel, Fate/Stay Night
2. its sequel, Fate/Hollow Ataxaria
3. its prequel, Fate/Zero
4. its video games, Fate/Extra, Fate/Extra CCC(the sequel to Fate/Extra), Fate/Unlimited Codes, Fate/Grand Order and Fate/tiger colosseum
5. and its alternate universe novels and mangas such as Fate/Kaleid, Fate/Strange Fake, Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Blue and Silver, Fate/Apocrypha

As you can see Fate is definitely more loved(or at least makes more money…) than Tsukihime.

My theory on this is mostly because Tsukihime isn’t really of the modern era of visual novels and video games in general. The story is top notch. Ask anyone who has read it and they will tell you that. However like I said, the art has not aged well.

However that’s all going to change with the Tsukihime remake! With going into the modern era of video games with a higher quality of art as well as some good music, there will be a lot of new fans to Tsukihime.

I’m hoping for fans of the Nasu-verse to remember that Arcueid is one of the Four Faces of Type-Moon which is my personal term for Saber(Arturia Pendragon), Arcueid, Shiki Ryougi, and Aoko Aozaki.

She deserve a bit more respect because of that. Then again Aoko doesn’t have much love in the Western Nasu verse fans because her Visual Novel, Mahōtsukai no Yoru, has not translated. However just listen to this.

Note: Click on the picture.

If that isn’t worth getting this novel translated, I don’t know what is.

So in conclusion, there’s the news on Tsukihime. Personally I’m excited for the Remake even though knowing Type-Moon it will take a long time plus the amount of time for it to be translated.

So until the next post,
Later Days

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