2006-12-10 Just enjoyable.

I bought this because I buy random manga knowing nothing whatsoever about them. I couldn't even see inside because it was shrink-wrapped, so it was all a nice surprise. I read Gakuen Heaven and enjoyed it no end, later discovering that it was based on a computer game. Who knew?

Apparently the pairing in the book was established by a poll put to Japanese fans of the game where they were asked which caracter from the game they wished the main character to end up with (Apparently this factor in the original game was decided by how you played, and what choices you made. Why don't we have games like this over here?).

Even if you didn't know the characters from the cover, you could tell from about page four who would end up with who, because the handsome male love interest seems to take every opportunity to pose, normally in impressive windswept positions (great art btw).

The story is in many ways non-existant. First half of the plot is pretty much a (very nicely done) plot device in order to introduce all of your favourite characters from the game for the fans. Well, I assume that's the reason. I can't say I minded it at all as a non fan, all the characters are interesting and distinct. Which when you're being introduced to ten new characters in rapid sucession is doing well.

The second half of the plot is somewhat odd, but seems very much in keeping with the plot of the original game (which I have since read about), in which unkown forces conspire against and manipulate the main character for reasons unexplained. Along the way it forces our two main characters together and after a few moments of the essential angst everything falls into place (The front didn't really leave much room for a sad ending now did it?) and then we have a nice sex scene.

Oh yes, this isn't one for prudes. It's on the slightly more graphic side of Yaoi. But hey, that's kinda why the genre is here.