We comment on the first impressions that have given if the first hours of gameplay of Sakura Wars, the new installment of the saga of the popular Sega series.
After 10 years from the launch of the first and, to date, the last game in the series to reach the west, Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love, we are practically less than two weeks away from the launch of the new installment of this franchise. emblematic of Sega, which to date had remained in limbo except for sporadic appearances of its characters in other games, as was the case with the two games in the Project X Zone series.
First announced in mid-April 2018, it wasn't until the end of March of the following year that the title was officially confirmed and featured the first details of its plot and main character cast, assuming a return to the front-line saga in Japan. since the last installment, which appeared in that country in 2005. Subsequently, through digital events broadcast on video platforms, new relevant details of the development were revealed, managing to arouse the interest of both Japanese and Western players.
Background
The series originates from the launch for Sega Saturn of the first game in the series, which stood out for being a classic tactical role-playing title alongside novel visual parts and dating game mechanics, especially through the interaction of the protagonist. with each of the females in the game. The plot was developed in an alternative Tokyo temporarily framed during the Taishô era with touches of elements typical of steampunk. The protagonist would be Ichiro Ogami, who is transferred to the Imperial Combat Division, a secret combat unit made up mostly of women, whose base of operations is located in the Great Imperial Theater of Tokyo, where they show plays and musical numbers as cover while They fight the demonic threats that create chaos in the city.
The game, which was launched in 1996, would be a success that would mark the beginning of a mass phenomenon in the Japanese country, especially notable after the release of its sequel two years later, in 1998, which would exceed half a million copies sold at the end of the same year. Apart from the basic merchandising and animated adaptations, theatrical performances were offered quite successfully among the public and the Taishô Romandô Shop & Sakura Café was also created offering thematic elements of the series for its clients, although unfortunately its functions ceased in 2008.
The jump to Dreamcast would lead the series to have several changes that would include the use of 3D graphics, although only for the combat parts and mini-games, the implementation of mechanics that use the visual memory unit of the console and a renewed combat system with the ARMS system, which left behind the classic style of boxes from previous deliveries, based on the energy reserves of the kobu, which would be emptied with the movement made. It is worth mentioning that this system would be implemented in another title, which would give rise to a new franchise for Sega, which would see the light years later: Valkyria Chronicles. The action would focus on this installment in the city of Paris with a new combat unit and characters that also try to protect the city from the siege of various demons that have made an appearance in the city.
The series cycle would see its zenith with the fourth installment that would mark the end point to it, at least for then. Initially the idea was to take Ogami's adventures to New York, something that would later be implemented for the next game, but the discontinuation of the manufacture of new Dreamcast units, made the studio decide that this latest installment would serve as a tribute to the series and its fans, uniting the units of Tokyo and Paris in a last adventure that would maintain the playable characteristics of its previous installment. As an interesting fact, the game could recognize the data of the previous versions that appeared on the console and remember the player's choices in such a way that it marked the females chosen as romance in the units of Tokyo and Paris to take it to this installment.
Finally, there is the fifth installment of the series, here called Sakura Wars: So Long My Love, in which the protagonism passes into the hands of Shinjiro Taiga, Ogami's nephew, who is transferred to the New York Combat Unit, having to do facing a new threat while earning the trust of each one of the women in the unit. The biggest novelty in the game would be the graphic section that would offer fully 3D locations to visit controlling Shinjiro, although developing conversations with 2D illustrations as usual in the series. This would be the first installment that would see the light outside Japanese borders, reaching both American and European lands, but in a different way. The game had originally been programmed based on the Sony PlayStation 2, this being the only version marketed in Japan. However, the growing success of the Nintendo Wii meant that the version was considered to be the main version for the West and the only one that was distributed on European soil. In the United States, on the other hand, if the Sony console version came to be distributed with an edition that would include two double-layer discs, each with separate English and Japanese dubbing of the same game. Since then and until today the series has had very little presence in the video game scene, practically falling into oblivion except for stellar appearances of its characters in certain retail titles or in collaboration events for smartphone games in Japanese territory.
A new beginning
The plot of the game is located 12 years after the events of So Long, My Love, with the units of Tokyo, Paris and New York disappeared after a great battle that put the Japanese capital in check and of which none of its components managed to return alive. Currently, year 29 of the Taishô era (more specifically in the year 1940), Seijuro Kamiyama, protagonist of the game, is transferred as the new captain of the Imperial Combat Unit at the request of Sumire Kanzaki, who after his retirement has taken the role Commander of the same with the purpose of restoring it and recovering its former splendor, assigning it as the main task to achieve it to win the World Combat Company.
The Floral Division is currently made up of Sakura Amamiya, Seijuro's childhood friend skilled with the sword and whose objective is to follow in the footsteps of Sakura Shinguji, Hatsuho Shinonome, a skillful priestess with the mace and somewhat vulgar behavior, Clarissa "Claris "Snowflake, a girl who is passionate about reading and possesses a special power that terrifies her, Azami Mochizuki, a girl who trains daily on missions while hoping to become a ninja teacher, and, finally, Anastasia Palma, an actress of renowned success .
The development of the game is carried out through main objectives, which will be marked on the screen with green icons, with which you will advance in the plot, while there will also be sub-events in which you can deepen your knowledge of the characters. and his level of affection for Kamiyama. Note that most of the game is developed through sequences made with the game engine, including conversations with characters, relegating the use of 2D illustrations to a lower level of presence compared to previous games. The LiPS system continues to make an appearance in the game and whose implementation is maintained, offering both a series of answers to decide from, including choosing none, which is the most appropriate for the situation, and others in which to decide the level at which you want to respond or perform an action.
As for exploration, the Grand Imperial Theater is the most outstanding point in this regard, offering several rooms between its two basic levels where there will be events or simply research to learn about Kamiyama's thoughts or learn more about the world of game, as with the file area. As you progress through the game you will be able to unlock new locations in the Ginza area, where the game action takes place, which will offer new interactions with characters or to overcome some of the main objectives, although they are essentially much smaller areas in comparison.
The teletron will be a fundamental tool that will allow access to various options. The first of these is to see a complete map of the Grand Theater and its different levels, in addition to the locations of each main objective and sub-event available, including those in outdoor areas. Another option allows access to the list of events already displayed for each of the characters in the game as well as the animated sequences of the game, with the option of being able to play the latter again. Following is the list of stickers obtained, which are photographs (bromide in the original) of each of the members of the floral division and also of the divisions of previous deliveries that can be found scattered in various areas, in the store of Komachi or as a reward in some sub-events. Lastly, the Koi-Koi Wars minigame, which allows you to face the different characters of the game in a Hanafuda card game, will be accessed, even if you only advance in the game.
Regarding combat, in this new title the classic tactical style system is changed for an action variant with certain reminiscences to the Koei Tecmo titles of the musou genre, with the help of a companion and that can be alternated in times of need pressing the L1 button. With the circle and triangle buttons the respective normal and strong attacks are executed, being able to chain them to achieve different results in the attacks. Defeating enemies will gain energy for the character's special technique bar that will glow brightly when used, executing a small animated sequence, resulting in an attack with devastating consequences for enemies. It will also be possible to use dodge movements, pressing R1, which with the appropriate and precise timing will activate a slowdown moment with which to attack enemies intensely, to the point of being able to execute an attack that will slice them with a single blow.
There are three combat variants in the game. The first of these are the assault missions that will occur at certain points in the game occasionally where, after receiving a message on the teletron, the enemies that have appeared will have to be fought on the streets of Tokyo, having to defeat them with the help from the girl who summoned Kamiyama. The second of them are the end of phase combats, in which the premise will be to advance through dimensional dungeons created by a powerful demon and in which apart from facing the waves of enemies that will be presented throughout them, also They will include moments when you can test the skills of the Kobu, the mechs that the characters use, through platforming parts and even the use of the propeller to overcome areas such as high walls or advance through walls. Finally there are the matches of the World Cup of Companies, in which the objective is to face the rivals in rounds of three rounds in which to get the most number of points defeating the enemies that will be presented on the ground, having a time limited for each round.
Unchanged essence
The feeling left by these first bars of the game is that we are facing a title that maintains the essence of the previous games in many aspects, being notable in its execution in the exploration parts such as the different events of the game and the return of mechanics such as the LIPS system. For its part, the story gains interest with each chapter both for the development of the characters and the difficulties they must face and for the different villains who make an appearance in the game, especially highlighting Yaksha for very obvious reasons.
As for combat, it should be said that it is entertaining to advance through the different dungeons shattering the hordes of enemies that appear alternating between Kamiyama and the accompanying female in addition to the confrontations of the World Combat Company, this type being the one that requires a a certain touch of strategy to overcome them.
Sakura Wars will be released on April 28 for PlayStation 4.
