After an eight-year run, the “90s arcade romantic comedy” manga “Hi-Score Girl” is coming to a close this September.
Announced in this year’s ninth issue of Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine, September 25 marks the day of the series’ end. Prior to this in June, it had been announced that the series would reach its end this winter with its 10th volume by the series’ ninth compiled book volume.
“Hi-Score Girl” is a creation of Rensuke Oshikiri and made its debut in September 2010. Other than this series, Oshikiri has also worked on the “Pupipō!” series which features the tale of a young girl who is able to see things others can’t and ends up being bullied because of this. With the “Hi-Score Girl” series, as noted, it is serialized in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine.
In the course of its run, the series has become known for featuring a unique art style, and thoroughly presenting accurate depictions of the multitude of gaming software, hardware, and even culture. The story of the series sets during 1991, the heyday of the 2D fighting game boom. Starring in this tale is 6th grader Yaguchi Haruo. Having no friends given his not-so-friendly attitude and with his skills in video games the only thing going for him, the young boy spends most of his days at an arcade in the seedy part of town.
One day while at playing at his local arcade one day, he is surprised to encounter a fellow classmate named Oona Akira. Everything about her is the exact opposite of him, smart, pretty, and rich to boot, he finds himself in shock when she ends effortlessly beating him at “Street Fighter II.” After being beaten by her 30 times in a row and finding he can’t beat her at any game, Haruo finds a pattern soon forming. No matter the arcade, he is followed by Akira and beaten at every game. Strangely enough, this marks the beginning of their budding friendship.
This year, the manga series had inspired an anime adaptation which was produced by J.C. staff and released on July 13.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork