Conception (video game)

 is a role-playing video game produced by Spike. The game was released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable in Japan on April 26, 2012. A remaster of the game titled Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars was released on January 31, 2019 in Japan for the PlayStation 4, and was released worldwide on November 5, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and Steam.
A second game in the series, "", was released for the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS across 2013 and 2014 in Japanese and English, and later released on Steam in 2016.
Gameplay.
The player's goal is to charm girls from National Star God Academy, raise their affection for Itsuki, then produce and take the Star Children to explore dungeons and battle Impurities.
However, it is not an eroge, as the "Star Children" are produced by pouring energy from Itsuki and one of the twelve Star Maidens into a particular device. The child's class and statistics are determined by which character parents the child; for example, certain combinations could result in creating a warrior, or a child who specializes in magic. To produce more plentiful and powerful Star Children, Itsuki must increase his intimacy with the twelve maidens. The other aspects of the gameplay is typical to dating simulation games.
The game operates on a turn-based battle system.
Plot.
Story.
On his high school graduation day, Itsuki's cousin, Mahiru, tells him that she's pregnant. Just then, a gate of light emerges and transports the two into the world of Granvania. In this land, "Impurities" have been causing a disturbance to the Stars, ultimately plunging Granvania into chaos and disorder. And Itsuki, now revealed to be the "visitor" who is fated to meet with the Star Maidens, is seen as Granvania's last hope and was thus given the task to produce "Star Children" and combat the "impurities". And unless the task is complete, Itsuki may never be able to return home.
Reception.
Famitsu rated the game with a score of 35/40.
Legacy.
A second game, titled , was released on August 22, 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, and August 15, 2016 on Steam.
Remaster.
On September 17, 2018, Famitsu teased an article that would reveal a new "Conception" project. The next day on September 18, 2018, a remaster of the first "Conception" video game titled "Conception Plus: Ore no Kodomo o Undekure!" was announced to be shown at Tokyo Game Show 2018 for the PlayStation 4. It was developed by Spike Chunsoft and was released on January 31, 2019.
On July 4, 2019, it was announced that the game would receive an English release on November 5, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and Steam, under the title "Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars".
The PS4 versions were criticized for having varying levels of censorship. A feature called Touch Communication was removed internationally, while the western versions received additional censorship. The PC versions were completely unchanged.
Anime.
On May 4, 2018, an anime television series produced by Gonzo was announced, and premiered from October 10 to December 26, 2018 on Sun TV, BS11, and Tokyo MX.
The series is directed by Keitaro Motonaga, with Yūko Kakihara writing the screenplay, Masato Kōda composing the music, and Yosuke Okuda adapting Shinichiro Otsuka's character designs for animation.
The opening theme is "Star light, Star bright" by Nano, and the ending theme is "Desires" by Manami Numakura. Crunchyroll simulcast the series while Funimation has licensed the anime for an English dub.