X-Change is a classic genderswap visual novel. It’s a beloved eroge filled with all sorts of lewd fun that players can either embrace or avoid. The complete three-game collection was remastered and released by JAST and J-List as Peter, Your Friend (and Mine) in Japan explained some months ago. Players can now watch as Takuya (Takuko?) sees how the other half live in HD, with uncensored scenes.
Takuya Sees Things From a Different Perspective
All three entries in the X-Change series follow the same basic premise: Takuya Aihara is turned into a girl. He, now she, must deal with this change while trying to maintain his relationship with Asuka Katakiri. Takuya has known her for ages, but unlike his dream self, he’s not exactly brave or bold. Still, he does see some changes when he goes from pants to skirts. For instance, everyone, both man and woman, wants to get into his/her panties. This can be fun or troublesome depending on what the player wants to see happen.
X-Change 1
From the start, players can choose to play this game either in the original 1997 version or the remastered version. The newer version has upgraded visuals, new CGs, and new endings.
Takuya Aihara is a second-year student at Miyanomori Academy. He is physically weak and short, but neither impacts his role in the chemistry club. He works under Asami Satou, the president of the chemistry club. On one fateful day, Asami tasks him with taking stock and organizing old chemicals. Takuya does this properly, but an accident sees him doused with an unknown liquid substance. It’s clear and odorless, so both assume it to be so expired that it’s become water.
This theory proves to be incorrect, as Takuya returns home and disrobes to discover that he has become a busty girl. Some thorough self-inspection confirms that he has joined the fairer sex. If he enjoys his initial exploration too much, his step-sister will join in and show him the ropes. His late trip to school the following day to get help from Asami will provide more trouble, too. How he navigates his new situation, and whether or not he returns to normal, is up to the player.
X-Change 2
The second chapter in the series starts out the same as the first: Takuya has a dream about Asuka Katagiri. Unlike the first dream, Asuka dumps him because he’s still a girl. Fortunately, it was just a dream. Takuya is a man again, and he recalls the previous year when he was a girl and had numerous sexual encounters. This suggests that the “canon” ending was Takuya becoming a man again and getting together with Asuka. Asami came through at the end.
All said, Takuya felt that his time as a girl made him stronger. However, his happy end won’t last long as the newest chemistry club member, Chisato Kawahara, is determined to “surpass” Asami. As such, she baits Takuya into testing her “Quick Revolution” machine that’s meant to make him taller. The machine had a critical error, and Takuya is once again a girl. A new member of the chemistry club named Koji suspected such a thing might happen, and so deleted Asami’s information from the student register to prevent him from becoming a man again. His troubles begin anew.
X-Change 3
Several years have passed since X-Change 1, and three years since X-Change 2. To keep with tradition, the third chapter begins with a dream. Kid Takuya and Kid Asuka talk about their goals, and Asuka insists that Takuya will just become a woman. He awakes to a world that’s not much better: his stepmother and stepsister both berate him for being late, and Asuka needles him further as she drives them to Kita no Miyako University. To make matters worse, Koji is still in love with Takuya’s girl form, though Takuya still works with him. Yet again, the “canon” ending to the previous game sees Takuya become a man and resume his relationship with Asuka.
Takuya’s previous gender-swapping incidents have inspired him to become a geneticist. His field has brought both Asami and Chisato back into his life, for better or worse. Koji begs Asami and Professor Rumi to make another genderswap serum to be with girl Takuya (Takuko?). The race is on to find a cure before the serum becomes permanent, and Asuka reconsiders her dating options.
Akazaki Yasuma Illustrates Some Very Cute Girls
The talented artist Akazaki Yasuma provided the illustrations and character designs for this and other eroge series. The girls here wear tight clothing that nicely highlights their assets. For those who prefer a more realistic cup size for their girls, X-Change might be right up your alley. The girls aren’t on Team Justice, but they’re also not competing with the overly-qualified Ms. Mary. But they have more than enough to satisfy.
Scenes play out with mostly static images. Events where Asuka wakes Takuya take up the whole screen, but normal cutscenes have cutouts standing in front of a background where the characters occasionally change expressions or poses. There are also windows that show just the character’s head, giving off that classic visual novel vibe. This is standard for visual novels, of course. However, the ero scenes will win you over. It becomes evident when Takuya’s partner rings his/her bell, if you know what I mean. Even still images with Yasuma’s art convey everything a player needs to enjoy a scene.
Great Voices Accompany Upbeat Music
The voice cast was absolutely great. The female voice actor taking over for Takuya really captured the tone of a guy who suddenly, mysteriously, has a sizeable bust. Asami’s uncaring attitude was equally captured well. Likewise, Asuka’s tsundere tone carried through, as did Natsumi’s dominant disposition.
I didn’t quite care for the music or BGM this time. A normal scene where two characters are just talking sounds like they’re at an amusement park, as does the menu theme. Taste may be subjective, this sort of music might be perfect for someone, but I felt the music didn’t always match the tone of the scene.
Choices & Decisions
Like any good visual novel, players can decide how the story unfolds. The first decision in the first game determines whether or not Takuya continues his “self-discovery,” and the consequences therein. Maybe a player wants to see Natsumi top Takuya for a bit. Other such instances can’t be avoided, like during Takuya’s bus ride to school. It seems like no matter what choices are made, Takuya is going to get manhandled by a stranger. Despite all that, there are multiple endings to experience. Some will see Takuya return to manhood, while others see Takuya continue to wear panties and skirts.
Conclusion
X-Change is one of those classic eroge that stands the test of time. It’s like stepping back into a more innocent and pure time of lewd fun. Genderswap fans, or just fans of cute girls having fun, will certainly enjoy these games. The plot is pretty thin, it’s just “Takuya’s a girl (again!), let’s do it!” However, that’s all it needs to be. Not every visual novel needs to be as lore-packed as Tokyo NECRO. The series is so good that it spawned a spinoff titled Yin-Yang! X-Change Alternative.
The X-Change series can be purchased from the J-List Store. The first and third volumes can be purchased separately, while the first and third are bundled together both physically and digitally. The X-Change Complete Collection is a limited edition that comes with a set of discs, a poster, and a digital download code.
What do you think of X-Change? Do you like genderswap girls? How would you handle being repeatedly turned into a girl? Let us know in the comments below.
