Before the Fate series made Type-Moon a household name in the anime community, there was Tsukihime, a prequel of sorts to Fate/stay night. Released in 2000, Tsukihime was a doujin (fan-made) game created by two college students. Made primarily for fun and sold in small quantities at the Comiket, the legendary convention that served as a central hub for the early Japanese anime fan community and to some extent still does.
A remake was released in 2021 and recently ported to Nintendo Switch with the name: Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon. So anyone interested in Tsukihime now has a choice between two versions of the game.
The remake of Tsukihime might be the best-looking visual novel I have read. With HD artwork, cinematic presentation, voice acting, and a remade soundtrack, it’s a very high-production experience. The original 2000 version, on the other hand, is a doujin game created by just two people, with sparse illustrations accompanying the text. But for those interested in the Japanese otaku scene of 25 years ago and the history of Type-Moon, it’s a fascinating read.
The remake is significantly longer and greatly expands on character development and world-building. However, it only covers the first half of the original game. Specifically the routes for Arcueid and Ciel. So while it’s richer in detail, it’s still an incomplete experience. The routes for Akiha, Hisui, and Kohaku will have to wait for a second remake, which could take years to release.
The original was also an eroge, meaning it contained explicit sexual content that was typical of many visual novels of its time. The remake removes these scenes, aiming for a broader, more mainstream audience. Depending on your preferences, this could influence which version you gravitate toward.
There is no official English release of the original doujin version, but a high quality fan translation is available, just use Google to find a copy. The remake, however, does have an official English translation, making it slightly more accessible. It’s even out for consoles, with the Switch version being a convenient choice.
