Girlfriend of Steel 2
|
|
Shinseiki Evangelion Koutetsu no Gaarufurendo (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン鋼鉄のガールフレンド the Iron Maiden 2nd) is a GAINAX-produced adventure game, and manga based on that game, set in the alternate universe seen in Episode 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The player controls Shinji Ikari, the hero of the original Evangelion series, as he navigates his home, school and social life in now peaceful "New Tokyo".
Each character from the original Evangelion makes an appearance but some of their circumstances and personalities have radically changed. Misato is now a popular homeroom teacher, Ritsuko is the school nurse, Asuka is Shinji's childhood friend and neighbor, Kaworu is an enigmatic playboy type who has known Shinji for years, and Rei is a hyperactive transfer student.
The game
The game functions as a choose-your-own-adventure "additional episode" featuring official art, backgrounds and music in the style of the original series and full-voice from the original series cast. The game also has love simulation elements and includes 3 "dateable" characters (Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley, and Kaworu Nagisa). Reward CG for each character can be uncovered and collected in a CG gallery accessible from the game's main menu.
In spite of its "Alternate Universe" billing, elements of the original Evangelion make appearances: plugsuits, mentions of Gendo's research in creating an artificial human being, Ritsuko's past feelings for Gendo, visual and verbal references to Angels and Evas...
The game is available in Japanese for PC and Playstation 2.
Girlfriend of Steel 2 is an indirect sequel to the PC/Playstation/Saturn game Girlfriend of Steel (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン鋼鉄のガールフレンド). While no plot-elements are connected, the gameplay engine is exactly the same.
The manga
A spin-off manga drawn by Fumio Hayashi, following roughly the same storyline as the game is currently serialized in the shoujo monthly ASUKA and is available in volumes from the same publisher.
Other resources
Official Website: http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/koutetsu2/index.html