Like Life is an adultJapanesevisual novel developed by Hooksoft which was released on May 28, 2004 playable on Windows as a CD; a PlayStation 2 consumer console port called Like Life An Hour followed on April 28, 2005 by GN Software. An updated version of the original game released on September 28, 2007 called Like Life Renewal Edition, compatible up to Windows Vista, is playable on Windows as a DVD. A PlayStation Portable version of the game titled Like Life Every Hour was released on October 1, 2009. The gameplay in Like Life follows a plot line which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters. The story revolves around Kazuma Kōsaka who is living a normal life in his aunt's home while he attends high school. One day, objects all over town start turning into girls, and his mobile phone is no exception; after the transformation, Kazuma names her Himeko Kōsaka. Four light novels based on Like Life were released between August 2004 and April 2005 written by Jōji Kamio. An adult fandisc for Hyoko, one of the supporting characters, was released at Comiket 67 on December 29, 2004 called Like Life Hyokoban, playable on Windows as a CD. There have been four drama CDs released: two bundled with the limited edition of the PS2 game, one with the original release of Life Like Hyokoban, and the last was based on the PS2 game version and was released in Japanese store in January 2005.
Gameplay
The gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the duration of the game is spent on simply reading the text that will appear 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" where he or she is given the chance to 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 five 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 five 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.
Plot
Story
Like Life's story revolves around Kazuma Kōsaka who had to move into his aunt's house due to his parents always being too busy. He lives next door to his childhood friend Yumi Miyasato, and the two of them walk together to Shimousanomiya Academy which they both attend. One day at school, many strange transfer students arrive at school: all over town, objects start turning into girls, though they still retain some form of what they used to be on their person. Kazuma's mobile phone is no exception and turns into a girl he names Himeko Kōsaka. The concept of giving moe traits to inanimate objects is known as moe anthropomorphism.
Like Life was first introduced to the public in Japan on May 28, 2004 as a CD-ROM playable on Windows. A version for the PlayStation 2, retaining its adult rating, called Like Like an hour, was developed by GN Software and released in Japan on April 28, 2005 in limited and regular editions. The regular edition PS2 game featured a different cover than the limited edition. The limited edition PS2 release came bundled with two drama CDs entitled Like Life radio hour and Like Life Typical Hot Spring Traveler's Journal, and a music CD containing twenty-one tracks used in the game. The PS2 version was re-released at a cheaper price on August 24, 2006, and its rating dropped to ages seventeen and up. A portable version, playable on FOMAcellular phones, was produced by NTT DoCoMo on August 17, 2007. Various patches were released as free downloads to update the original game ranging between version 1.1 to version 1.4. An updated version of the original game called Like Life Renewal Edition was released on September 28, 2007 compatible up to Windows Vista playable as a DVD; Life Like Renewal Edition retailed for 6,800 yen. A version playable on the PlayStation Portable called Like Life Every Hour was released by GN Software on October 1, 2009 with a CERO rating of C.
Related media
Light novels
There have been four character light novels based on the game written by Japanese author Jōji Kamio, with illustrations by Hirokō Buda and Araiguma, published by Softgarage. The novels contain adult material not suitable for children. The first novel covers Himeko, the second covers Yumi, and the last two are general novels entitled . The first novel was released on August 20, 2004, and the final novel was released on April 15, 2005.
Fandisc
A fandisc sequel of sorts based on the Like Life visual novel entitled Like Life Amusement Disc "Hyokoban" was released by Hooksoft at Comiket 67 on December 29, 2004 playable as a CD on Windows. A popularity contest was held earlier in 2004 to decide who should be the focus of the fandisc, and Hyoko, one of the supporting characters, was ranked first. The original version was available at Comiket and came bundled with a drama CD. The game was first sold outside of Comiket on January 6, 2005.
Music and audio CDs
Like Life's opening theme is "GirlsLife" sung by Miyuki Hashimoto, the ending theme is "Reach Out" sung by Nana, and there the insert song "Sky and Rain and Rainbows and", also sung by Miyuki Hashimoto. The game's original soundtrack was released by Lantis on July 22, 2004 and contained twenty-four tracks. A drama CD entitled Drama CD Like Like an hour: Winter and a Festival and an Untied Ribbon was released on December 29, 2005 and contained seven tracks.
Reception
Like Life was the second-most widely sold game in May 2004 in Japan on Getchu.com, a major redistributor of visual novel and domestic anime products. In Getchu.com's sales ranking, it only fell behind Circus' Da Capo Plus Communication, which ranked first, but did beat Clannad in sales that month, which ranked No. 3. The game made another appearance in the charts and ranked No. 18 in the following month. For the first half of year 2004 on Getchu.com, Life Life ranked seventh in sales, and for the entirety of 2004 on Getchu.com, it ranked No. 14.
