, also known as Underbar Summer, is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Hooksoft which was released on July 15, 2005, playable on Windows as a CD; a PlayStation 2 consumer console port called _Summer## followed on August 24, 2006, by GN Software. An updated version of the original game, called , which is compatible up to Windows Vista as a DVD, was released on December 21, 2007.
The gameplay in _Summer follows a plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the six female main characters. The story revolves around Takumi Kaizu, who after years of making good friends, many of whom are female, is asked by his best male friend Osamu Funada if he likes anyone. With his last summer in high school quickly approaching, Takumi decides to find someone to like by the end of summer vacation. _Summer has had overall well received sales, premiering as the most sold bishōjo game in Japan during the first half of July in 2005, and would go on to chart twice more.
_Summer has made several transitions into other media, such as a mini four-panel web comic, an manga one-shot published in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace magazine, and four character light novels written by Jōji Kamio. An illustrated story titled _Summer## Official Illust Story was serialized in MediaWorks' Dengeki G's Magazine. A two-episode original video animation was produced; the two DVDs were released on October 27, 2006, and January 26, 2007. Several drama CDs were released based on the game, including one released as a prologue to the OVA.
Gameplay
_Summer is a romance visual novel in which the player assumes the role of Takumi Kaizu. The gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the duration of the game is spent on simply reading the text that appears on the screen; this text represents either dialogue between the various characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point" and must choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time.
During these times, gameplay pauses until a choice is made that furthers the plot in a specific direction, depending on which choice the player makes. There are six main plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience, one for each of the heroines in the story. In order to view the six plot lines to their entirety, the player will have to replay the game multiple times and choose different choices during the decision points in order to further the plot in an alternate direction.
Throughout gameplay, there are scenes depicting Kyōtarō and a given heroine having sex. However, in the PlayStation 2 port, these scenes are removed. The visual novel also features real-time choices (RTC), this is when the player given a choice within a time period, and varying on the amount of time the player takes to make the choice, it will effect the ensuing dialogue.
Plot
Story and setting
_Summer'''s story takes place in a small seaside town during the summer, where Takumi Kaizu is a normal high school student enjoying his final year in school with the rest of his friends. Over the years, he has made good memories with these friends of his, most of whom are girls, though apparently still have no overt feelings of attraction towards any of them. There are six main potential love interests presented to Takumi in _Summer; they are Konami Hatano, Shino Ebizuka, Sana Kaizu, Chiwa Amano, Wakana Shimazu, and Hinako Nanao.
Konami is the kind and timid childhood friend of Takumi, and the main heroine. She will come to Takumi's house in the morning and prepare breakfast for him. As a contrast to Konami's gentle personality, her female friend Shino is rough and hot-tempered, but protective of Konami. Takumi has a younger stepsister called Sana, an energetic, fun-loving girl, if not a little lazy for being unable to wake up in the morning without Takumi. Sana has a best friend called Chiwa, a mysterious and very strange girl, who is known to be unpredictable. An upperclassman called Wakana has an immense crush on Takumi, despite her popularity with boys due to her beauty and elegant personality. The homeroom teacher of Takumi, named Hinako, will often be seen trying to find free food because of her money wasting.