Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 3rd Story – Sakurai Ruka

Title: ときめきメモリアルガールズサイドザードストーリー
Company: Konami
Release Date: June 24, 2010
Platform: DS
Official Site: http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/Girls_Side/3rd_Story/

Walkthrough: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ds/980509-tokimeki-memorial-girls-side-3rd-story/faqs/61387 / http://www.aleema.com/tokimemo3/

Since the PSP port will be released on March 15th, I’ve decided to have a “refresher course” lol of TMGS. The first time I’ve tried to play this, I couldn’t decide if I’ll go after Ruka or Niina. But of course, I ended up going after the main guy just like what I did on previous TMGS.

The setting is back to Habataki High School after 7 years (from TMGS1). You play as a high school girl and you have 3 years to capture the heart of the guy you want to end up with. Some characters from the 1st game are still around and are given a minor role here.

I’ll just give a brief overview of the changes and other things that I noticed in this one before ranting writing about Ruka’s route (≡^∇^≡). Most of you might have already played this by this time so I wouldn’t go into deep explanations and whatnot ^^;;.

Art/Design
They’ve really set the bar high this time. Not only in terms of the characters but also the settings and game menu. Since this is set in the same school and town just like the 1st game, they managed to keep the places looked the same yet the improvement is evident.

I usually liked 2-4 characters because the others are not appealing (even if their route seemed sweet and all). However, I like all the main guys in TMGS 3. They looked more lively.

Fashion
Of course, the fashion levels up too! o(^▽^)o Each guy doesn’t just have one fixed style that he likes. You have to dress according to what style that he likes and based on what’s written on the fashion page of Goro and Himeko. That way, Karen will complement you and she’ll say if you’re progressing on your fashion level. The higher level that you have, the more fashion styles and combinations you can make, the more the guy likes! xD

Also, if you managed to get to level 5, Karen will give you a present which will still be available on your next playthrough. I’ve only managed to get the 1st present which is a red dress. When you wear this, it will turn your style to Ultra (like Ultra Natural, Ultra Cute etc). Each present will boost something so it’s important to also take note of your clothes! ﾍ(ﾟ∀ﾟ*)ﾉ

Mini games
I have to say that I hate minigames. I suck big time 。(´д｀lll) . Thank goodness they didn’t change the only minigame that I can do. It’s during the Sports Day and you’ll have to do the Three-Legged game. The other games are Rolling the Ball in which I don’t have the slightest idea on how to do this, I fail most of the time. The last being the Ball Fight where you need to have the most number of balls inside the basket.

There’s still the Pillow Fight where you have to throw pillows on your opponent’s side. The side who has the least number of pillows by the time the teacher comes wins the game. And just like the Ball Fight, my partner and I usually win through luck lol.

Clubs
In the previous game, I usually choose the Band Club. But then, someone on the TMGS LJ Comm told me that being on the Handicrafts club will keep both of your stats and test rankings safe. I tried it here in TMGS 3 and the results? It only up Art and Style (and Social I think? Not really sure though), not really the result that I want.

Another thing that I noticed, there used to be some sort of club summer camp every year where you cook to your clubmates. I was wondering why my summer was sooo empty I could have 2 dates a month (with a weekend for sleeping, shopping or calling the guy).

Part-time Job
This time you don’t have to work at a cafe to up all your stats. Instead, you get to work to Anneri, the flower shop that’s still there from the 1st TMGS. But it didn’t increase all my stat. u.u

Valentine’s Day
This is one of the stressing mini-games in TMGS. But they changed it and it looked real when you get to design your own homemade cake…well this is still stressing to me (ﾉω･､). I always managed to design a ‘Cute’ cake when I’m aiming for ‘Natural’. Good thing the ‘dolphin’ do the work and Ruka still liked what I did. XDD

Characters
Just a short intro for the other characters I met in the game…

Hanatsubaki Karen and Ugaijin Miyo
At long last, gal friends who wouldn’t ditch you just because you are dating the guy they liked. These two will really help you and would even go as far as they could for you and the guy you like.

From the Hanatsubaki family, Karen is really popular at school. And somehow I can sense some shoujo-ai vibes from her (＠￣Д￣＠；). Well, when she’s with Bambi (the nickname she gave to the heroine), she is all girly but it somehow changes in front of others (i.e fans). That may be just only me thinking too much ^^;;. Oh and she’s your fashion guide in this game. She’ll tell you your fashion levels and give you gifts if you achieved level 5.

Miyo is really cute. She’s like a kid (she’ll hates you if you said that out loud). Since the heroine doesn’t have a younger bro or a neighbor shota to stalk the guys, Miyo is here to do the job! (^ε^)♪ Give her a call and she’ll tell you whatever you like to know, from their basic info to tokimeki level.

Oosako-sensei
Ugh Oosako-sensei. He’s your homeroom teacher and he surely teaches you various things such as smooching, poking..oh wait! That’s for the skinship lessons you get from him on May 1st of your 1st year. Really, I feel like a big pedobear and have flashbacks when you have that shota (no, not Amachi xD;;) from TMGS 2 orz.

I actually have very low motivation on getting his ending on Premium. But if he can be a little manly, that’s another story. xD

Himurocchi
Your homeroom teacher from TMGS1 is still here! ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆ He gained weight (or was it muscles behind that suit? loool) but still strict as ever. Why can’t I get you again??? ・°・(ノД｀)・°・ I wonder if he still gets love letters from students o(^▽^)o.

Amanohashi
The creeper jiji from TMGS1 a.k.a Habagaku’s principal. He still creeped me out whenever he shows up. Being the principal, you occasionally see him and he’s still there during school ceremonies and parties.

Akagi
I’m not really sure but I saw Akagi on one of Ruka’s ADV’s. I was barely paying attention then so I’m not really sure why he’s there or what. Akagi is one of the secret characters from TMGS 2. Does that mean 3 and 2 have overlapping years? :O

Endings
There is a fewer main guy here than from the previous games. But they increased the amount of endings, from 3 to 6. There’s still the normal ending where the guy confesses to you, the best friend confession, and the best friend ending. However, they’ve added the 3P endings 1 and 2, and normal confession 2. I don’t know about the other endings though since I only get Ruka’s normal ending 1. ^^;;

And now my thoughts for Ruka’s route о(ж＞▽＜)ｙ ☆

I immediately liked Ruka for he is the main guy and I’m usually attracted to the main guys of Tokimeki annnnnd it’s Sugitaaaaaan! ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆ *ehem*

He is the first guy you meet in the game. His brother, Kouichi and him are the heroine’s childhood friend before she moved to another town. Compared to the previous main guy, Ruka isn’t perfect. He gets red marks on tests, a troublemaker but still popular among the girls. He is sweet and a little flirty too (〃∇〃)

Just like what I usually did to other guys, I began dating him as early as April 1st year. Ruka opened up quite fast ( 🙂 Jan 1st yr, 😀 early 2nd yr)his tokimeki panel isn’t a problem to me. The stats that I need to achieve for his ending were my problem. Thankfully, after he went tokimeki, he’s the one asking for dates…every.other.week ∑(ﾟДﾟ). But at least it wouldn’t be my problem anymore to plan for dates. I only do that if I’m aiming for a CG.

Speaking of CG, one of my favorite year is 3rd year because of the play during the cultural festival and the events after the Christmas party. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to win the Rose Queen so I’m just looking forward for the play. When the play was about to start, Kou talked to me to the backstage to my dismay. I was REAL sure that I would do the Romeo and Juliet play WITH Ruka and not a Romeo and Juliet with Ruka AND Kou ヾ(▼ﾍ▼；). Nooooo my Ruka CG~~ щ(ºДºщ)

Well, earlier that year I noticed that Kou started asking me for dates and even blushing around. Since all my stats are above 120, Kou goes 😀 (-з-). Kou is likeable but when he appeared at play I became rather hostile afterwards.

After the play, all my motivation went downhill orz. Then, Christmas season rolls in and now I was expecting to see a 3P event rather than the supposed to be a moment with Ruka. I was bracing myself for another missed CG. Luckily for me, I was still able to see the Christmas event with Ruka (*^ー^)ノ. I was still ignoring Kou though.

And his ending is…a secret. I won’t comment about it because I’m afraid I might just retell whatever happened and spoil it. (｀∀´)

That’s it. I’m done with the DS ver. Currently waiting for the PSP port~~ ☆☆☆

EDIT: Added the guide link :))