True Tears

True Tears
Cover art of the regular edition of the original visual novel.
トゥルーティアーズ (Turū Tiāzu)
Genre	Drama, Romance
Game
Developer	La'cryma
Publisher	La'cryma (PC) Sweets (PS2)
Genre	Visual novel
Platform	PC, PlayStation 2
Released	March 31, 2006 (PC) August 7, 2008 (PS2)
Manga
Written by	La'cryma
Illustrated by	Asaki
Published by	Flex Comix
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Comi Digi (former) Comi Digi +
Original run	December 10, 2005 – August 21, 2006
Volumes	1
Live-action film
Directed by	Kazuya Hatazawa
Released	December 22, 2006
TV anime
True Tears

True Tears (トゥルーティアーズ, Turū Tiāzu^?) is a Japanese visual novel developed by La'cryma, a collaboration between Broccoli, Circus, GameCrab and Rei Izumi, and was originally released on March 31, 2006 for the PC as a DVD in Japan rated for everyone, followed by a Hong Kong and Taiwanese release on March 31, 2007. A PlayStation 2 version was first announced to be released on March 13, 2008, but was later delayed for an August 7, 2008 release. The gameplay in True Tears follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the five female main characters.

True Tears has made several transitions to other media. A manga adaptation illustrated by Japanese artist Asaki was first serialized in the Japanese magazine Comi Digi (later Comi Digi +) between December 10, 2005 and August 21, 2006. A thirteen-episode anime was created by P.A.Works and aired in Japan between January 6, 2008 and March 30, 2008, but has little in common with the visual novel other than the name. Two Internet radio shows, two drama CDs, and a live action drama adaptation have also been produced.

The gameplay in True Tears requires little player interaction as much time is spent on reading the text that appears on the lower portion of the screen, representing either dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist. Before the beginning of every week in the game's storyline, the player is given the option to plan a schedule, and is allowed to pick and view any three days of the given week. Different events occur depending on the days that the player chooses. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point" where he or she is given the chance to choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time. Depending on which choice the player makes, the "tear points" of the heroine associated with the events of the day would either increase, decrease, or remains the same. "Tear points" act as a system notifying the player how well he or she is treating a certain character. If a character's tear points exceed the maximum amount of eight, her ending is rendered inaccessible during that specific playthrough. There are multiple plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience. To view all of the plot lines, the player will need to replay the game multiple times and make different schedules and choices during decision points to progress the plot in an alternate direction.