Game Review] This time President Kuroi is tough!　961Pro Investigation Report - An old P played the early stages of "THE iDOLM@STER STARLIT SEASON"!

Namco Bandai Entertainment's game "THE iDOLM@STER: STARLIT SEASON" is now on sale. It is the latest title in the "THE iDOLM@STER" series in which you become a producer and train idols to become top idols.

The game is compatible with PS4 and Steam. When I heard that the first home version of "THE iDOLM@STER" was coming out, I bought an Xbox 360, and when I heard that a smartphone version of the "THE iDOLM@STER" location-based area game ("THE iDOLM@STER Mobile i") was coming out, I bought a smartphone (iPhone 4S) instead of a feature phone, Since we have a history of updating hardware to match the "iM@S", the new game will be on the "PS5"!　I feel a bit relieved that they didn't say "PS5"... I feel like I missed the right time to replace it. My computer is non-powered, so I'll be playing the PlayStation 4 version this time. Please note that there are spoilers in the first part of the game, from March to July.

The main selling point of "THE iDOLM@STER STARLIT SEASON" is that in addition to the original members of the "THE iDOLM@STER" series, "765PRO," the game also includes Nana Abe, Ranko Kanzaki, Mika Jougasaki, Anzu Futaba, Kirari Moroboshi from "THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS" and "THE iDOLM@STER Million! Live! and Sakuya Shirase, Kaho Komiya, Rinyo Morino, Amana Osaki, and Taika Osaki from "THE iDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS" (excluding idols added as DLC). Previous home versions of "Cinderella Girls" and "Million Live! idols in the previous home versions of the game.

but!

Shiny Colors' idols are appearing for the first time!　Shiny Colors" is a browser game, so you can play the live scenes that have been in your imagination until now in the high quality environment of a home video game console!　Kaho, taller!　Sakuya, even bigger!　Kirari is heavenly!

In this game, the 28 members selected from each office plus one other member will work together as "Project Luminous," a cross-boundary unit under the direction of 765 Productions President Takagi. The goal is to perform at the "Starlit Dome" at the end of the year!　A dome, a dome!　My dreams are endless, but right now I am happy just to be in the office with idols from various offices talking and laughing with each other.

In the past, every time we released a new work, the idols would say "Nice to meet you," and I felt sadness that I had crossed the world line, thinking that they had no memories of fighting together ....... But in this work, the producer (me) has been in Hollywood for a while. In this work, the producer (me) is a 765 Productions producer who has been in Hollywood for a while for training, and I feel that I have been producing for the idols of 765 Productions for a "long time" and that a trusting relationship has been established. Basically, it's the setting and worldview of the home version of "THE iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL" and later, with a sprinkling of the essence of the "THE iDOLM@STER" anime. It is only a "feeling". When I have trouble training new idols, I'm glad that the idols from 765 Productions are a little ahead of me, giving me advice and leading my practice.

The idols of 765Pro have led the history of "THE iDOLM@STER. And the younger members of 765 Pro who joined in "Million Live! and the junior members of 765 Pro who joined us in "Million Live! The office of "Cinderella Girls" was called 346 Production in the anime. The office of "Shiny Colors" is 283 Production (President Tomei also appears in this work). There are many other offices in "THE iDOLM@STER," such as 315 Productions and 876 Productions, but there is one more office that should not be forgotten in this work. That is 961 Pro, the biggest rival of 765 Pro and a huge production company led by president Takao Kuroi (CV: Takehito Koyasu). In this article, I will mainly talk about 961 Pro!　Because I love 961 Productions so much.

The story of "Starlit Season" begins with a scene in which the original idol of the film, Shinpaku Okumora, who is one of the 28 plus one, suddenly looks up at a street vision. The street vision is reminiscent of the biggest scramble crossing in Tokyo. In the ending of the movie "THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE Beyond the Brilliance! I remember the vivid cut of Rin Shibuya looking up at the idols shining on this street vision (or something similar) at the ending of the movie "THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE Beyond the Shine! This is the intersection where the story of the idols begins!

The large screen shows news footage of the debut of a new idol unit from 961Pro today. The three members are Reion, Shika, and Aya. Reon is a top idol who first appeared in the PS3 game "One for All. She is the "Overrank" and is a ruthless boss. Shika first appeared in "THE iDOLM@STER STELLA STAGE. Her softness of manner and her core strength to say "no" to President Kuroi's sometimes aggressive policies were appealing. The idols who have been the soloists of 961 Productions in their respective productions have formed a trio unit!

And the mysterious newcomer, Aya, stands at the center of these outstandard idols. I have a strong feeling that a new legend is about to begin today!

Let's take a moment to review 961Pro. Those familiar with the history of iM@S will remember the legendary trio unit "Project Fairy" as 961PRO's idols.

Their first appearance was in PSP's "THE iDOLM@STER SP," where they stood in front of 765 Pro as rival idols with solid characters and stories for the first time in the series. I'll pretend I've forgotten about the members because it's a bit complicated, but I think it was kind of a no-brainer.

In the Xbox 360/PS3 "THE iDOLM@STER 2," 961Pro produced a male idol named Jupiter. Now Jupiter is a member of 315 Pro in "THE iDOLM@STER SideM" and holds a billboard.

And then there are Reine and Shika, the strongest rivals who should be respected. Although 961PRO has attracted attention only for its capital power and its sometimes dirty, powerful production policies, it is President Kuroi's eye as a producer that supports these efforts. President Kuroi has always been an enemy of 765 Productions and President Takagi, and the story leading up to this can be found in the comic "Asayake wa Koganeiro THE IDOLM@STER" (Morning Sunrise is Golden).

And the strongest trio unit sent out by 961Pro is "Diamant!　Shinbaku looked up with a complicated expression at Aya standing dignified in the center of the glorious debut announcement on the street monitor.

Well, the producer, who had returned from overseas and started interacting with the idols selected for Project Luminous, was oblivious to such circumstances. He happened to see Koaku and Anyoru at a cake shop where he went to ask for a limited-edition cake, and he also saw Koaku performing a pantomime like a pro on the street! I am very happy to see her. Project Luminous needs this girl!

The mysterious girl did not even accept my business card, but I persisted and got her name, which led to an unexpected connection. Okukora Shinbaku was the daughter of a great actress, Mayumi Okukora, who was an old acquaintance of President Takagi.

President Takagi used his connections to make appointments with Shinpaku and Mayumi Okukora. I wonder if President Takagi has ever helped a producer so competently before (laughs). Moreover, apparently, Shinbaku was once trying to debut from 961 Productions.

That President Kuroi approved (?). A gem in the rough. It seems my intuition was right.

Mayumi Okuzora, who met with Shinpaku, set a condition for Shinpaku's redebut: she had to find and solve a "certain mental problem" that Shinpaku had. With a deadline until summer to see if we could accomplish that task, Project Luminous now has its 29th member.

We then moved into an office dedicated to Luminous, which President Takagi had prepared for us, and began our days of aiming for the Starlit Dome with a fresh start. Meanwhile, in the president's office of 961 Productions on the upper floors of the building, Ayaya was meeting with President Kuroi. She wanted to know why she had been chosen as a member of Diamant, given her lack of accomplishments.

President Kuroi told her that it was Reine and Shika who chose her, not him, and that the reason was her passion for her idols. Of course, his tone was harsh and sarcastic.

Hmm, Huh?　Up until now, President Kuroi has generally been outstanding from discovery to training, but I have the impression that things didn't go well, with dirty tactics leading idols and paths to part ways, or idols who move freely becoming friends with 765PRO.

But isn't this time around, Takao (President Kuroi) has succeeded in managing their motivation? The best talents are about to make their debut in excellent condition. ...... I wonder if we can win this one?

The Project Luminous idols were gathered from different offices, but they grew through lessons and live performances. In April, they held a hanami (cherry blossom viewing) party to promote exchange. The cherry blossoms had already fallen, but at the suggestion of Kaori and Mirai, we decorated the office with handmade flower decorations and held a get-together.

There was a trouble that we could not produce a new song in time! Cinderella" as Luminous, Anzu and her classmates taught us how to dance. In a class (or office) with so many different personalities, Mika's attentive and dependable attitude is unparalleled. The newest 283 Pro members had a TV program project to film their activities, and to relax, they all went to a summer festival together .......

In addition to the daily lessons, their leisure time activities kept them dizzyingly busy, but it was when a little heart-to-heart interaction brought the idols closer together, and the producer and idols closer to each other, that the level of their stalled performances improved.

What exactly is Shinbaku's heart problem?

It seems to involve the exceptional talent she inherited from her mother, Mayumi, to observe other people's facial expressions and expressions and show them as her own. There are many clues, but the producer is not sure.

When the producer was stuck, it was the idols of 765 Pro, his longtime comrades-in-arms, who helped him out. While consulting with Haruka, Chihaya, Ritsuko and Takane, and Iori about Shinpaku, the producer gets closer to the mind and past of the idol, Shinpaku Okuzora. On July 26, Shinpaku's birthday, the members of Luminous held a birthday party.

Whether this warm and fuzzy time will continue or become just a memory of one summer is up to the producer.

In the meantime, the days go on.

In order to reach the ultimate goal of Luminous, the Starlit Dome, we must continue to prove our abilities as a unit by overcoming our original monthly tasks. However, to our surprise, 961 Pro has entered the big July live "Summer Dolphin" with special treatment like a seed. It seems that with President Kuroi's political power, it didn't matter.

And apparently, Diamant's Aya also has mixed feelings about her relationship with Xinhaku, with whom she was supposed to debut together. Nonetheless, she puts in the effort and stands on her debut stage with the best and strongest of her seniors.

Diamant's debut song. It was a song of determination to surpass 765 Productions and all idols.

After all, this is a song that can't be beaten, can it?

The idols of Luminous could not hide their shock at the quality of Diamant's performance, which was now far ahead of them. But their frustration and sadness seemed to have caused some ripples in Shinbaku's heart as well.

The deadline for the promise to Mayumi Okumora is one month away. The members of Project Luminous head off to a summer camp. What they saw there...well, is this a section where distribution is forbidden?　No spoilers?

Hmmm, I see!

I would like to enjoy the rest of the story in secret, and I hope you will enjoy it too.

One thing I can say is that Takao Kuroi, 961Pro, and Diamant are formidable this time around.

(Text by Kiri Nakazato)

Game Information

THE IDOLM@STER STARLIT SEASON

Genre: Idol project producing game

Release date: October 14, 2021 (Thursday)

Price:

　Normal Edition: 9,020 yen (including tax) (same price as download version)

　Limited First Edition for PS4: 15,180 yen (tax included)

　Deluxe Edition for PS4 download only: 13,750 yen (including tax)