Shiravune announced another episode of Criminal Border series by Purple Software, called ” Criminal Border: 3rd Offence” (aka “Liminal Border: 3rd Offence“) with main heroine being Meryl Hathaway. The game is the third episode installment of a four-part series and will be available in English, Simplified Chinese as well as Traditional Chinese. It will be released this year and is already wishlist-able on all major game stores:
| Steam | Johren | Denpasoft |
| MangaGamer | JAST | Kagura Games (no link yet) |
Note: In order to get a better idea of the story, you have to read the first two installments before this none. You can get them on most stores and Steam.
Criminal Border is an episodic visual novel created by Purple Software, with 4 chapters in total.
The first chapter called Criminal Border: 1st Offence features Yorozuya Hina as the main heroine, while Criminal Border: 2nd Offence focuses on Teshigawara Kotoko and third on Meryl Hathaway. Criminal Border: Life Sentence features Akinashi Rin as the main heroine and was released on May 31st, 2024, alongside with the “Criminal Border – complete box” which contains every episode in one box.
This game was directed by Koume Ren, who is already well-known for the 9-Nine series, How to Raise a Wolf Girl, and The Seventh Sign: Mr. Sister (all translated by Sekai Project). Ishikawa Yasushi, known for many Purple Software games, such as Hapymaher (available at MangaGamer) and its fandisc, Amatsutsumi (available at Sekai Project) and Aoi Tori (translated at NekoNyan) served as the producer.
The scenario was written by Kazuki Fumi, mainly known for Nanairo Reincarnation (available at Sekai Project), Kimagure Temptation (also available at Sekai Project), and Angelic☆Chaos RE-BOOT! ( soon available at NekoNyan), while the character design was done by Same Manma — which is also his debut in the visual novel industry.
Despite running into plenty of trouble along the way, Itsuki was able to escape his predicament with Kotoko Teshigawara’s help.
The gang’s business is close to getting off the ground, and a plan to destroy the Umon-kai is steadily taking shape inside Itsuki’s mind.
However, that plan is still far from guaranteed to work, and should the Umon-kai get serious, everything he has worked so hard to build will surely crumble in the face of overwhelming violence.
There’s one more way to make certain—
Itsuki searches desperately for a counter to the threat he faces.
Eventually, despite knowing the risk, he approaches “Meryl Hathaway,” a young girl often seen accompanying Kotoko, and tries to make contact with the overseas syndicate she belongs to.
From amidst the trickery and scheming of both organizations, a glimmer of hope emerges.
Will Itsuki be able to seize that light?
A geek, and our protagonist.
Itsuki’s hobby is making fan movies, so he had uploaded several MAD videos to streaming sites, but his poor taste and inability, combined with a lack of desire to improve means that no one bothers to watch them.
Taking inspiration from FPS montages, Itsuki makes a video that cycles frantically through famous anime scenes, and coincidentally creates “digital drug video,” which has the ability to excites viewers and arouses their sexual desire.
Showing this video to Rin leads to him plunging into society’s underworld.
Meryl Hathaway (Voice: Nene Arisu)
The mysterious girl accompanying Kotoko who is tasked with a surveillance mission.
She transfers into the school Itsuki and the others attend. While her slight body and expressionless face leave a faint impression, she exhibits formidable skills in emergencies.
She also likes sweet food and merely takes orders from an organization separate to the Umon-kai on whose behalf she acts.
Rin Akinashi (Voice: Cyclamen Kaori)
Itsuki’s long-term acquaintance and fellow classmate.
She is a paragon of perfection with good looks, exemplary behavior, and excellent grades, she is popular with boys and girls alike at school. However, this is merely a mask, hiding the cunning schemer she really is.
Despite a wealthy upbringing, she has an extreme attachment to money, earning a fortune working with Hina to operate a large-scale business of her own. She maintains a behind-the-scenes role in the business and does not change that stance, even when the gang acquires their club.
Rin is meticulous in covering her own tracks, and she never contacts anyone other than Itsuki and Hina. She always takes care to ensure she has an escape route ready to go at any tim
Hina Yorozuya (Voice: Suzu Sazanami)
Itsuki’s classmate.
Hina has her share of unsavory friends, but she herself is friendly and likable. She places her full trust in Itsuki, and the two of them have overcome dangerous situations together.
While she and Itsuki are not lovers, they do share some kind of a connection. Currently a party to Rin’s business, she also aids Itsuki and the gang in their venture. With her sharp observational abilities and excellent communication skills, Hina is entrusted with the in-person running of the club.
Kotoko Teshigawara (Voice: Ion Momoyama)
A student in the grade above our protagonist at the same school.
Though her father is the boss of a crime syndicate, Kotoko still has a sense of what is just and right.
Although shaken upon learning that the Umon-kai is not on the side of justice, Kotoko joins forces with Itsuki as she follows what she believes to be the right path.
While she and Itsuki are close, like Hina, she is not romantically involved with him.
Kotoko tends to prioritize appearances and often wears a kimono. She takes the roles of figurehead, deterrent, and negotiator in Itsuki’s business.
Tatsuya Yorozuya (Voice: Ii Kinniku)
Hina’s older brother and a student at the delinquent-filled “Badman Academy,” he is also the leader of DREAD.
Thanks to Itsuki negotiating on his behalf, the debt Tatsuya’s parents owed to the Umon-kai was written off, leaving him free to cooperate fully. He and his associates in DREAD help with the running of Itsuki and the gang’s club.
He sees Itsuki as his friend, and Itsuki trusts him in return.
Trailer
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