Despite his family’s wealth and prestige, Souchi’s childhood was one of hardship and misery, marred by the travesty of his parent’s failing marriage. In this time of crisis, his only memories of happiness were those spent with a charismatic girl named Chii: a childhood friend who left a lasting impression on his heart and soul. After ten years of separation, Souchi is finally reunited with Chii, suddenly informed she has been his arranged wife since adolescence. Yet what should be a joyous reunion becomes a state of confusion, for it seems the unique girl from his past, was not truly one of a kind after all.

 
Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro (ふたりでひとつの恋心) is a drama eroge published by inactive Giant Panda in 2006. It has no sequel, side story, or noteworthy doujinshi.

 

 
From a cursory glance, Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro might appear as nothing more than another mundane entry in the surging tide of twincest themed titles. As any critic against the subgenre will voice, the vast majority of eroge twincest are typically carbon copies of an unimaginative plot that proceeds as follows: Identical siblings with the foundations of an incestuous relationship seeded (or already established) before the story begins, encounter a protagonist who instigates (or merely joins) an orgy of immoral activities after forming mutual relationships with them. In of itself this is not wholly unfavorable, but the sheer commonality of such nonchalant storytelling lends a negative assumption that twincest is nothing more than a glorified excuse for sex… and of course the assumption often proves true. However Futari de Hitotsu no Kogokoro is a title that greatly differs from others of its kind: it has a story that explores the cause and effect of a simultaneous relationship with twins.

 

 
Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro begins with the childhood of an adolescent boy named Souchi, caught within the traumatic collapse of his parent’s marriage. As the hardships of their inevitable divorce become evermore confrontational, Souchi begins sneaking away from the illustrious estate of his bickering parents to find peaceful solitude. It is on one such flight that he wanders into the thicket of a neighboring forest, discovering the existence of a beautiful lake hidden within, and encountering a lithe naked young girl named Chii in its waters. Following an awkward first meeting, the two form a steadfast relationship through the passing summer, with Chii becoming Souchi’s only source of emotional stability. In time the young boy’s escapes grow in frequency and duration, enjoying the friendship of someone he comes to trust and adore. Sadly this ideal friendship would not last, for while Souchi ignored the deteriorating bond between his mother and father, its demise proceeded unabated, finally resulting in a series of circumstances that ended his camaraderie with Chii as suddenly as it began.

 

 
Ten years have passed since Souchi’s parents concluded the legal terms of their divorce. Placed under the sole custody of his father, and raised distant miles away from his former home, Souchi has rebuilt his shattered life through new experiences and friendships, finding comforting stability where previously there was none. However the curse of dark fortune stubbornly lingered, striking with the unexpected death of his father. Unable to financially secure or legally assert self-autonomy in the wake of such sudden tragedy, Souchi finds himself compelled into the custody of a mother he has not seen for ages. Hoping to reestablish amicable acquaintance, his expectations are suddenly dashed when she reveals the details of an arranged marriage long planned before his return: one Souchi’s late father had opposed. Surprised and offended by the news that his destiny is to be controlled by someone he scarcely remembers; Souchi prepares to announce he will take no part in his mother’s selfish schemes, but suddenly changes his attitude when he discovers the identity of his prearranged wife: Chii… or at least he believes so once he determines which is her.

 

 
There is little question that drama – not sex – was the main focus Giant Panda intended for Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro. The title offers three possible story arcs: Chii, Ren, and Riko. As one might expect, the canon “Chii” narrative is the longest and most detailed, divided into four separate chapters that individually signify a major development in the relationship between Souchi and the twins. Sex is not a reward for making correct choices (which does not occur until the middle of the second chapter), but rather an integrated part of the story, as there are cascading repercussions throughout the plotline for its occurrence. It is also important to note that Chihiro and Chihaya have zero incestuous inclinations towards each other (in fact they realistically bicker over their differences as sisters would), and although it is obviously apparent that “sharing” can occur, as official product placements blatantly show, it is incredibly tame to other twin centric titles: more of a menage a trois than actual twincest. In light of these factors, character development maintains strong intensity, as everything within Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro relies on the believability and magnetism of the cast. The dynamic script is equally as entertaining, for along with melodramatic dialog there are occasional moments of humor which remain entirely realistic and mood fitting; but not so much to make the title a comedic setting. It is first and foremost a drama above all else.

 

 
While the visual quality of Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro does not redefine established standards, it clearly meets the expectations of most eroge veterans. Large paper dolls are certainly the most attention getting feature, a factor reinforced by characters enjoying a sizable number of variant body poses and facial expressions. Equally impressive is that Chihiro and Chihaya do not share the same collection of avatars: a common “trick” that most twin titles employ to save budget costs. Backgrounds possess a simplistic layout in their design, but incorporate numerous decorative details that lend sincerity for the environment they portray: especially city backdrops. Outside of the erotic scenes, event illustrations are somewhat few and apart, only appearing when a major turning point in the story occurs. However the highly adequate presentation style, in combination with the synergy of compelling characters, prevents this from being detrimental during game play. In the audio department, the eroge excels most with its voice acting, as every character except the player character is voiced (including those that are faceless and unseen). Each member of the cast is perfectly matched with an actor or actress that bests represents the character design in question, even going as so far as to providing subtle accents and inflections that perceptive listeners should enjoy. Music is somewhat of a mix bag: there’s no question that some tracks are quite catchy, however an equal number are boringly mundane. Fortunately it appears the director was quite aware of this, and quickly shifts away from these songs when their use has passed.

 

 
As previously mentioned, sex takes a backseat role to the narrative in Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro, serving as a reactive counterpart to the story and dialog. While those seeking a massive abundance of ettchi will not be impressed, a total of eighteen scenes grace the title, sixteen of which are devoted to the twins. Yet because everything is entirely framed in favor of courting the identical sisters, pursing Ren or Riko will only result in a single love scene for each during their entire route: a particularly strong negative for those who might find them more appealing. Everything is consensual and of the classical romantic variety, thus entirely avoiding all malicious content. Perhaps most noteworthy is that eleven scenes provide the player an opportunity to determine how the girl is clothed while having sex: fully dressed, just underwear, or total nudity. This relatively minor gimmick adds an interesting angle, as it sometimes makes the situation seem more realistic and offers limited replay value.

 

 
Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro is undoubtedly the finest example of twin specific storytelling in the current eroge market. On the other hand, the title is so narrowly focused on the story of Chihaya and Chihiro, there is comparatively little attention given to Ren and Riko. They are winnable alternative choices, but nowhere near receive the lavishing of plot twists, deep exploration, and playing duration. Thus essentially, you are purchasing this game for a single story arc, as the remaining two are mediocre at best. Nonetheless, never has the premise of twincest been more efficiently presented as something other than lustful attraction and immoral sex: Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro proves the redeeming of loving twins beyond carnal self-gratification.

 

 
— Central Characters —

 

	Suwa Souchi   Following the tragic death of his father, Souchi is returned to the custody of an emotionally distant mother, regardless of his personal opinions on the matter. Less than an hour after arriving on her estate, he learns she had arranged a marriage of financial convince for him in the years he was away. Initially affronted by such audacity, Souchi puts aside his immediate rejection of the situation when he discovers the identity of his potential bride to be.
	Chii   Chii is the childhood sweetheart who made a lasting impact on Souchi: an energetic and compassionate girl who became his sole source of happiness during a terrible crisis of his life. Unwilling separated from her, Souchi always dreamt of being reunited with Chii, and with that once impossible chance now provided, he seeks to unravel the mystery of which Nonomiya twin is her.
	Nonomiya Chihiro   Eldest of the wealthy Nonomiya twins, Chihiro is best described as eternally happy and scatterbrained. She tends to be clumsy at things she puts too much effort into, and constantly relies on her sister to complete important tasks as of consequence. Chihiro sees the arranged marriage as something of a game and nothing truly serious, but oddly finds herself attracted to Souchi nonetheless, much to her identical twin’s displeasure.
	Nonomiya Chihaya   Youngest of the wealthy Nonomiya twins, Chihaya is a level headed and deathly serious individual. Her tendency to rarely acknowledge the existence of others imparts a seductive air of mystery and inaccessibility, luring many to learn more about her. Chihaya is completely against the arranged marriage, and stubbornly undermines any attempt to limit her freewill: even if such defiance is against her personal feelings.
	Togawa Riko   Riko has seen Souchi as an older brother ever since he and his father moved into the apartment above her family’s catering store several years ago. She is a gentle and innocent girl who reminds Souchi of all the things he adored in Chii, but has a personality all her own that he treasures as unique.
	Fujimori Ren   Ren is a close acquaintance of Souchi who studied medical science and pharmaceutical research in prestigious foreign academies. His senior by a mere handful of years, Ren was both a role model and dear friend, keeping Souchi out of trouble when his father could not. With the demise of his father, Ren is one of the last pillars of emotional stability that Souchi has left.
	Taki Yuusuke   Souchi’s best friend and closest confidant, Yuuseke is a charming and popular individual, persistently pestered by female classmates seeking to win his heart. While flattered by such attention, he consistently turns down dating requests, having yet to actually meet a girl who captures his heart.
	Suwa Satoko   Satoko is an intelligent and powerful business woman, often remarked as the most successful entrepreneur of the illustrious Suwa lineage. However she has experienced nothing but failures in her personal life, losing her husband and son simultaneously in one fell swoop. Satoko now struggles with the prospect of healing the broken bond with her son, and the chance to further her family’s fortunes.

 

 
— Scored Summary —

 
Scenario: 37 out of 50. The title is a drama that features twins, not a twincest which features drama. Events rapidly pickup within the second and third chapters, providing a torrent of romantic betray and deception. While there are three possible endings, only one is meant to be played, making the others painfully simplistic and obviously tacked on as a side thought.

 
Visual: 16 out of 20. Attractive character designs, abundant paper dolls, and colorful backgrounds take the forefront. The textbox menu is fairly nondescript, but does not detract from the overall appearance. Unfortunately the character artist appears to have a problem with portraying depth in his illustrations, and this weakness crops up with certain images.

 
Audio: 15 out of 20. Everyone except the player character is voiced, and the entire performance is unquestionably well done. The major handicap is that the soundtrack is divided between great songs and not-so-great songs. Although the less than stellar tracks are not all that terrible (practically average in comparison to other eroge), it would have been nice if all the music was outstanding.

 
Erotica: 5 out of 10. Keeping in line with presenting a realistic romantic relationship, erotic scenes are delayed until the course of chapter two – or in the case of Ren and Riko, the final story arc. All sixteen events in the Chii route occur through the course of that story, so long as the correct choices are made. Most scenes consist of a disappointing two or three illustrations, but this critical factor is mitigated thanks to the player being offered variant versions of each image.

 
Mechanics: 0 point neutrality. The typical “choose your response” menu system that most eroge share.

 
Final Score: 73 out of 100. If you are looking for a something that features nothing but hardcore twincest, then Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro will be a tremendous disappoint, for there are other titles which lavish the identical incestuous offerings. However those who are looking for a memorable story which spotlights the trails and tribulations of realistically earning the love of twins will absolutely find nothing better. It is unequivocally the best twin drama story in the market. Recommended for purchase, but a mandatory must for anyone who deems themselves a true follower of twincest.

1. le nuage Says:
   January 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

   Seems really interesting.
   The design reminds me the game “Lamune”.



2. anime_otaku Says:
   January 11th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

   man that one seems great thanks for that great blog keep it up i’m definitevly gonan buy this one



3. Nargrakhan Says:
   March 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 am

   @lu nuage and anime_otaku: It’s recently come to my attention that Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro is completely out of print, and many of the unsold copies were returned to distributors for title exchange. Therefore finding new copies is nearly impossible. I’m also told that import specialists with access to used condition titles (i.e. Himeya Shop or Palet Mail Service), have difficulty in fulfilling orders. A sad fate for a wonderful title. I hope you’re able to locate Futari de Hitotsu no Koigokoro for purchase: this twincest eroge is truly worth it!