Puppy Love Story: Casio Loopy’s Visual Novel by Final Fantasy Scriptwriter Kenji Terada Receives First English Localisation

The 1990s saw a flourishing of unique and experimental video game hardware, with Japan often leading the charge in innovation.

Among the most curious devices from this era is the Casio Loopy—a home console launched in 1995 and aimed specifically at young female gamers.

Developed by Casio, the Loopy set itself apart with its built-in thermal printer for creating stickers, an unusual feature that helped define its niche appeal.

Despite its inventive hardware, the system failed to achieve significant commercial impact and remained exclusive to the Japanese market, joining a roster of similar, lesser-known consoles like the PC-FX, Bandai Pippin, and FM Towns Marty. Now, nearly three decades after its release, the Casio Loopy and one of its most intriguing games have found new life among international audiences.

"Puppy Love Story" (also known as "Wanwan Aijou Monogatari")—a visual novel initially launched in 1995—has received its first English-language localisation through the efforts of dedicated fans.

This milestone allows non-Japanese speakers unprecedented access to experience the title, either via emulation platforms or by using the Floopy Drive flash cart on original Casio Loopy hardware. What sets Puppy Love Story apart in the Casio Loopy’s modest library is its connection to celebrated video game writer Kenji Terada.

Terada, a veteran scenario writer, is renowned for his work on the original trilogy of Final Fantasy games, where he played a key role in crafting the series’ foundational narratives.

His career spans both animation and interactive entertainment, with additional writing credits on games such as Dark Wizard, Eternal Eyes, and Batman: Dark Tomorrow.

For Puppy Love Story, Terada authored the game's scenario, bringing his well-honed storytelling prowess to a project designed for a younger audience. Puppy Love Story stands out as a short yet charming visual novel, with a total playtime of approximately two hours.

The gameplay consists primarily of simple puzzles and brief mini-games, matching the Loopy’s demographic focus.

As a product of both its time and its dedicated developer, the game exemplifies the unique creativity that flourished in Japanese gaming culture during the 1990s. With the recent English-language fan translation, players and historians now have a new window into Casio Loopy’s distinctive place in video game history, as well as further insight into the early work of Kenji Terada.

Whether experienced through emulated environments or on period-original hardware with the Floopy Drive, Puppy Love Story’s translation marks a significant step in preserving and sharing the legacy of rare Japanese consoles and the creative figures behind them.

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