メモリーズオフ (Memories Off)
KID (Kindle Imagine Develop), is the company behind Memories Off, a well known date-simulation game franchise. Since the first release of Memories Off for PC in 1999, it has resulted in 4 sequels (1 for PC and the rest for PS2), with the newest one, Memories Off #5 for PS2 coming in Ocotober 2005. Also, there are numerous side-stories and re-releases for PS2 in the last 2 years. For more infomation, you can always refer to the link below.
Link:
Memories Off Official Page (Japanese)
A quick guide to all 5 games:
Memories Off
The first game that started it off. The main character is a senior high school student, and there are 6 girls available. The back story has the main character having a tragic past, and you have to overcome that in pursuit of one of the girls...
Memories Off 2nd
The sequel to the first game, with brand new characters. It is a sequel in a sense as the setting is the same high school, and there is one male character, Shin, from the first game returns as a side character (he was still a side character in the first game...). This time, your character already has a relationship going with one of the six girls available, and it is up to you to decide whether you want to continue with the girl, or dump her for one of the remaining five. (The worst you can do is to go after the girl's older sister... he he)
想い出にかわる君 ~Memories Off~
The third game in the series, which is slightly different from the previous two versions. This time the setting is in a small cafe in the smae "world", and the time frame is 1 year after the end of Memories Off 2nd. Again, there are 6 girls you can go after. This time, the main character works in that cafe, and was dumped by a girl before when the girl left without saying a word. It gets complcated when that girl shows up again out of the blue. What should you do then...?
It is still a sequel, as Shin, the recurring character from the previous games returns, as well as two of the girls from the first game, as well as one more girl from the second game ("the older sister"...).
Memories Off ~それから~
The fourth game in the series, which returns back to the roots of the franchise. The setting is back to the old high school, and this time, your main character has a girlfriend already, but it seems that things does not go well between you two, and the girl decide to break it up. So, what will you do then..? (The worst thing you can do is to go with your own little sister... yes that's right.)
Shin is back again, for the last time, as well as the sisters from Memories Off 2nd, as well as one of the girls from 想い出にかわる君 ~Memories Off~.
Memories Off #5 とぎれたフィルム
The fifth game in the series, which use the side setting of the third game this time. As a student in the same university as the main character from the third game, the main character no longer has the passion to continue his hobby: film making, because one of your character's friend died a year ago, who happens to be in the same hobby. Now with 5 new girls entering your life (one of them is the sister of your dead friend, another who happens to have some connection at the time of your friend's death), what would you do then...?
As before, Shin is back, yet again. (Only him for this time though...)
Now to the anime themselves:
Memories Off (2001 - 2002)
3 episodes OVA
Based on the first game (same name, for PC), each episode follows a "what if..?" plot, essentially featuring one girl for our main character each episode.
Playing the game will be the better option, since it is a fan service anyway.
Dino's Rating: 3
Will Girls Like It: No Way
Memories Off 2nd (2001 - 2002)
3 episodes OVA
Based on the second game (same name, for PC), this time it follows the "main" storyline, but throws in a love triangle for the our main character... slightly better than the Memories Off, but can be better.
Playing the game is still the better option, since it is a fan service anyway, and I have not finish it yet...
Dino's Rating: 4
Will Girls Like It: No Way
Memories Off 3.5 (2004)
4 episodes OVA
Based on the 3rd and 4th game, which are slightly related in the story, the first 2 episodes uses the setting from the 3rd game (想い出にかわる君 ~Memories Off~, for PS2), while the last 2 episodes uses the 4th game (Memories Off ~それから~, for PS2). I actually like the last 2 epsiodes better... and they are by far the best in the whole series.
Dino's Rating: 6
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
Memories Off 5 (2006)
1 episode OVA
Based on the fifth game, the story centers on the relationship between Kawai Haruto and Sendo Mahiro, as Haruto tries to finish the film he made with Mahiro... not bad for a 30-minute OVA, as long as you know the background story.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Maybe