Heat for All Seasons

By Michael Thomas     July 13, 2003
Release Date: April 30, 2002



The Review!
A 3-part OVA based off the adult bishoujo dating-sim, Kiss Yori.

::Audio::
When watching the show, I listened to the original Japanese seiyuu (voice actors). The talking, ambient sounds, and background music made excellent use of the two, built-in, TV speakers. I was very disappointed with the English dub, as the portrayal of the characters during the adult scenes really distorts who they are.

::Video::
The video is good, but there were times when the colors appeared to fade or washout. Now, yes, I do know that the dream sequences the main character Masato are supposed to look this way; however, there were other scenes where this occurred as well.

::Packaging::
Packaging for the DVD is eye-catching. It represents the show very well. On the front cover is a mural of all the six heroines of the show in various summer wear. The back of the slipcover has a good description of the show. There is an insert as well that lists chapter stops.

::Menus::
Menu's load quickly, but lack anything to catch your eye. No music is played in the background, and the interface is very toned down.

::Extras::
There are no extras, except for trailers of other Kitty shows.

::Content:: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)

A Heat for All Seasons is a 3-part OVA based off of the adult bishoujo dating-sim Kiss Yori. The OVA story centers on Masato's summer job at the beach resort Marine Palace, and his longing to get into a meaningful relationship with the girl of his dreams.. Little does he know that the girl of his dreams is Chihiro, a girl who he has had a crush on since high school. Masato has recently moved away from his old neighborhood, and is trying to get accustomed to his new life. Masato is your typical "guy next door" in a bishoujo show. The game itself has multiple paths you can choose from, and various girls as well. The OVA choose to go with one of the more popular characters from the game, Chihiro.

Now, since Masato is surrounded by girls in bikinis (he is at a summer resort), there are often times when you see his imagination getting a bit etchi. These daydreams and fantasies usually focus on him having very tender and sexual moments with people who he has recently seen or met (such as Miku or Chieri) and are romantically done. They really add depth to Masato's character. They also act as a bit of comedy relief as well... in more ways then one.

Each episode focuses on a different girl; however, the main focus of all three episodes is on the relationship between Masato and Chihiro. In the first episode our hero and heroine meet and join up. But, in the next episode, their relationship becomes strained to the point of breaking up. Chihiro and Masato start to part ways. When the final episode starts playing, you wonder if both will ever decide to give it one, last try. I really enjoyed how the story plays out over all three episodes.

The character designs are solid, and give you plenty to remember. I really enjoyed Miku's design the best. Although her character is shown to look and act innocently, she does understand things more clearly then her appearance would let on. The story is well paced, and plays well the idea of going out with the girl of your dreams. The adult scenes are also well done and consensual.

On the negative side, there is a point where Oka's hair color abruptly turns from the dark green to brown (when the boys decide to spy on Chieri in the shower). I also must emphasize how disappointed I am with the English dub. Kitty completely destroys who the characters are during the adult scenes with the dub. They say comments that are totally out of character, and act in a manner that goes against what the rest of the plot is playing out.

Overall, A Heat for All Seasons is a good OVA. Solid character designs and a good retelling of the high school sweetheart story, bring back memories of watching such 80s cult-classics as "Pretty in Pink" and "Sweet 16". Since "A Heat for All Seasons" is based off of a game, it feels a bit rushed, and I am sure if I had played the game, I would understand a bit more about each of the characters. Overall, "A Heat for All Seasons" is worth adding to your adult bishoujo collection.

Review Equipment
Panasonic CT-27D11E 27" TV; Sony Play Station 2 DVD Player; Gold-Plated Monster component cable