The plot starts (but doesn't stay) simple: to avoid failing in school, Yumina needs to become the next Student Council President, so that she can change the school rules. For this, she must win the Election War. It's all told through a typical Visual Novel style, with humorous but long, overwritten dialogues. Thankfully they can be skipped if you only care for the battles.

Indeed, the Election War is quite literal. You'll have to win “debates” that are in fact turn-based battles, with rivals shouting arguments – such as “Standardised testing is pointless!” – each time they attack. You control four characters, their available skills defined by their position: the front “debater” usually attacks directly, while the three others act as support, using skills as “counter-arguments” to the actions of your front character and his foes.

In a very interesting mechanic, the mana pool is shared between friends and foes. It's locked at 100, but divided into four colours. Using red abilities, for example, reduces the percentage of red mana in the pool and increases other colours. Managing mana through skills, formation changes and special items is the key to battles, as characters can't use their skills if there isn't enough of their corresponding mana.

The game has various routes, leading to vastly different endings and final battles. Each time you finish the game, you're offered the chance to play again in a New Game+ mode, keeping your stats and items, but also increasing the difficulty. Beat all three routes and you'll unlock the fourth route – a final challenge leading to the “True Ending”.

Yumina is not for everyone. Few will stand the anime-style art, insane plot, complex systems and the presence of awkward hentai scenes. But those who try it (there's a demo) will discover a challenging game, packed with content and unlike any other RPG.