Fourteen faces — and the writer gave every one of them a story, because none of them should be left out.
When the artist drew the characters for Dōkyūsei, the director Masato Hiruta saw something he couldn't waste. The faces were too good to leave anyone aside, so he made a choice: fourteen heroines, fourteen independent stories, no one dismissed. Then he gave the player a choice too — walk through the town, meet who you want, when you want. That was new in 1992. Most games led you forward; this one let you wander. Jun Maeda, who later made crying games at Key, called it a pioneer. Hideo Kojima said it paved the way for Policenauts. It's easy to see why. When you respect the player's time and let them choose, they don't just play — they remember.
— inspired by Masato Hiruta
About this game
Released in 1996 for Sega Saturn, Dōkyūsei if is the console port of the 1992 PC-98 dating sim that defined the genre. Walk through town, meet fourteen heroines in any order you choose, and pursue independent story routes. Director Masato Hiruta gave every character a full scenario because the artwork was too beautiful to leave anyone aside — and gave players unprecedented freedom to wander and decide for themselves.
The Story Behind
Dōkyūsei was originally released in 1992 by ELF Corporation for the PC-98 and became the forerunner of the modern dating sim genre. The Sega Saturn version, subtitled 'if,' was released on August 9, 1996, developed by ELF and Flight-Plan, and published by NEC Interchannel. The game offered unprecedented player freedom in a non-linear town exploration structure, influencing later visual novels and earning praise from creators like Jun Maeda and Hideo Kojima.
Tricks & Tales
Director Masato Hiruta, one of ELF Corporation's founders, reduced the number of heroines to fourteen after seeing the beautiful character designs by artist Takei Masaki, writing independent scenarios for each so none would be wasted. The original PC-98 version sold well enough to spawn sequels Dōkyūsei 2 and Kakyūsei, and Jun Maeda credited it as a pioneer in the nakige ('crying game') genre.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Sega Saturn enforces a strict regional lockout in hardware. A Japanese NTSC-J console will not boot PAL or NTSC-U discs, and vice versa. To play import software you need one of three solutions: a mod chip soldered to the board, a cartridge that plugs into the expansion slot and overrides the region check (such as an Action Replay or dedicated region-free cart), or a replacement region-free BIOS chip. Note that region unlocking alone does not change the video refresh rate — a PAL console playing an NTSC-J disc will still run at 50 Hz unless a separate frequency mod is also applied.
Maintenance Tips
The Sega Saturn reads GD-style discs but uses a standard CD-ROM drive, so lens care is the same as any optical drive: keep discs clean, handle them by the edges, and store them in cases. The more well-known maintenance issue is the internal CR2032 battery that backs the SRAM save memory and the real-time clock. This battery was typically rated for one to two years of standby use; on any console manufactured in the 1990s, it has long since expired. The first symptom is the system asking for the date and time at every boot. If that prompt appears, replace the battery promptly — save data corruption or total loss follows shortly. The battery can be swapped while the console is powered on (hot-swap) to avoid losing existing saves.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Dōkyūsei if copies regularly.
Will my save data be safe on a Sega Saturn disc?
Yes. The Sega Saturn uses CD-ROM media and saves game progress to the console's internal memory or a separate memory cartridge — no battery inside the disc to worry about. Your save data depends on the Saturn's backup battery (a CR2032 coin cell inside the console), not the disc itself. If the console's battery dies, saves are lost, but the game disc remains perfectly playable.
Can I play the Japanese Dōkyūsei if on a non-Japanese Sega Saturn?
Not without modification. The Sega Saturn has region locking, so a Japanese NTSC-J disc like Dōkyūsei if only works on a Japanese Saturn console. You can bypass this with a region-free mod or an Action Replay cartridge, but out of the box, the disc will not run on a North American or European Saturn.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Dōkyūsei if
A short checklist for buying a used Sega Saturn disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Saturn disc. The Saturn is region-locked, so a Japanese disc needs a Japanese console or a region workaround.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saturn saves rely on a console battery
The Saturn keeps internal saves on a CR2032 battery in the console (not the disc). A dead console battery loses internal saves and resets the clock.
This is about your console, not the disc — but worth knowing so saves aren't lost.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See the unit we have →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Dōkyūsei if sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑