Most reviews you’ll read of "Kana, Little Sister" will probably start out the same as this one. Get this game. Play this game. Cry your eyes out at one of the most heartbreaking stories you’ll ever experience, in one of the most beautiful games ever created. It’s one thing to read about someone dying, but in Kana, Little Sister, you’re her brother… and your every choice affects her chances of survival.

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Kana has some severe health problems, and is confined to the hospital most of the time. She doesn’t have any friends except a nurse who is too busy to spend enough time with her. You’re about the only influence she has… and that makes things very, very personal. The gifts you give her, the conversations you have, the choices you make shape and mold her personality as she ages… will she be intelligent, gentle, and wise beyond her years? Will she grow up with as close to a normal life as she can? It’s your call.

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It’s hard to describe what an incredibly profound effect this game has. You come to love Kana, to feel pain at her pain. You are her "bro" and she is your sister. Or is she? "Bro" can’t help but notice that she’s growing up very attractive, and she’s not really experienced enough to take his teasing as just that… and after a while, it isn’t. While the leanings towards incest is a bit of a distraction, rest easy, gentle gamer, she’s adopted, feel no guilt. Though actually, there are very few compromising experiences with Kana in the game… only right at the end. Which, since the game spans her life from childhood to college-age, we’re all thankful for.

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It is a bishoujo game, though, and what would a bishoujo game be without copious wanton sex scenes? One that doesn’t sell of course… and Kana is one of the best selling games of this genre (though that’s certainly for the story, not the comparatively tame hentai scenes) So, throughout the game, to keep you lusty players happy, is Yumi.

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Yumi is, well, yummy. When they were very small children, she and Bro had a crush on one another… but the cruelty of children is legendary, and a love note read aloud before ones peers is like breaking a deer’s leg in front of a pack of wolves… they just can’t help themselves. But eventually, with the help of copious amounts of alcohol and the god of whatta-coincidence, Yumi gets her man. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is a generous amount of naughty mixed in with the nice, and plenty of totally no-incest mosaic-free artwork to enhance your gaming experience. Sorry, I’m not including any images here that would get us blocked by corporate firewalls… but there are plenty of screenshots at JList (not even remotely safe for work. Kana’s way down on the page. you’ll have to scroll) and G-Collections (also not even remotey safe for work. Includes character bios and theme song mp3–very pretty).

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There are 6 possible endings to this game. Some will leave you feeling quietly sad. Some may touch you forever (I last played this 3 months ago and I still get choked up whenever I remember one phrase in her diary in one of the endings: "Today I saw the ocean. I’m not afraid anymore"). In one, you go completely insane. And in one, and only one… she lives.

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I don’t have any hints for you on this… you’ll want to play the game through multiple times and make every possible choice, so you can get the complete story. But if you’ve just suffered one of the saddest endings and want to experience the happy one to make up for it, you can find walkthrough guides at gamefaqs.

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Like any bishoujo or hentai game, it’s hard to find Kana, Little Sister in the USA. You can purchase it through JList for $49.95 (windows 95 and up, uncensored, english text, japanese voice). (Same price at G-Collections) It also comes as an option with several of their multi-game packs… you can get it and DOR and one other game for $95, or it and DOR and two other games for $135. Or if you have enough patience and either wouldn’t buy it anyway, or want to try it before you fork out your money, you can probably download it using Shareaza or something, you bad pirate person you. Obviously, I’d suggest buying it. First, because then you get a real legal copy with the manual, second, because it encourages the manufacturer to bring more of these games over to the US and translate them to english. But however you get it, get it, and play it… you’ll be glad you did.