Sakura Taisen 3

"Dreamcast True Last Hurrah Will Never Make It Here"

THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER FREE

WHAT IT IS

Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) is a unique game, originating back to the Saturn age in 90s. It gives a unique blend between dating simulation ala Konami's Tokimeki Memorial and mech strategy ala Squaresoft's Front Mission. The formula is simple, you are the knight in shining armor who needs to manage and nurture your all-girls mech-driving members (Each with its own distinct special power, personality, interest, etc.). So as persistent as you go kicking the enemy's metal behind, you'll also do the same in terms of treating/wooing/helping the girls. Treat them well, and it'll pay off during the battles. Of course unlike in real world all the girls are cute/pretty/charming/great in the way all anime/mech otaku's will love.

This game is the 3rd installement, where you are posted to the newly established 'Pari Kagekidan' in Paris (I think its Japanese for Paris' Assault Group). Your job is basically the same as you do before in Japan. I think they gives you a month to get the girls together and keeping Paris safe.

GAMEPLAY : 9.5

The overal plot is pretty much the same. In fact, I find it to be too similar. If you play the first two, you'll get the idea of what you're going to have for a plot. If you can find the formula in the first and the second series, guess what? You'll notice it right away in this one too. BUT WHO CARES?! It's a well designed formula and it work amazingly well!

DATING SIMULATION

The coolest thing about dating simulation is, it creates TONS of branches and multiendings depends on which girls you are into. This make the games 100 folds much much much more replayable and interesting.

All the girls are very well done. Don't let their simple somewhat bland appearances fool you. These girls got MORE personalities then most of those chicks in any major video games! They'll make you laugh, cry, angry... and to die for. I think this is one of the biggest appeal of the Sakura Taisen series.

However the chores doesn't change a lot. In this mode, you still go wondering around, meet a girl, figure out the situation by talking to her and respond properly. However you'll face more situations in which you need to pick the right answers/response.

The overall dating sim is still interesting, intrigue, funny and nerve wrecking as usual. Also it has one more new cool interface which I won't tell... but it really add to the fun factor a LOT.

MECH BATTLE

Now this part is really great! We got a brand new battle system in 3D that TOTALLY ROCKS!!!! DAMN why can't anybody else design an interface this good? I assure you once you play this, you won't want to go back to the usual turn base ala Front Mission/Super Robot Wars... Has to be tried to be believed.

Also you'll get more variety on the environment, more variety on the missions and more menacing looking enemies.
Not to mention the super moves...

GRAPHICS : 10

Amazing. The animation part is VERY VERY fluid, the models of the KouBu are too good to be true and best of all, the battle ground. I won't say where, but think of any popular architecture masterpiece in Paris, chance are you'll be driving your mechs there.

Also what's gone is the small window view. In the first 2 series, during animation/dating sim, you see the girls in a much smaller window. NOW WE GOT EVERYTHING FULL SCREEN! OH YEAH !!!

MUSIC : 9

It's not in Japanese style anymore. They change it into a more Western type. It's still great. I didn't quite like the opening theme as the first original one until I listen to them again and again. All the other pieces are either great or listenable.

BOX ART : 8

I know most people don't care. BUT I DO. I think the box art is good, but can be better. I wish they can put more than just Erika for the cover... it works in Japan but not for everywhere else especially among import buyers.

EXTRAS: 10

If you're among the lucky one, you can get the limited edition. There's 2 type, type A gives you a music box which will play the theme song and type B will gives you a VMU. What's so great about the VMU? Well it is related to the game. You might not find it interesting at first, but you'll appreciate it more as you play the game.

PLUS, there's a lot of goodies/minigames to unfold in the game. The minigames are not just an add on, they actually playable and FUN.

Also, there's a lot of downloadable 'drama' that you can download from the game's website. Basically it'll give you access to bunches of side stories. Swweeeeett!!

Lastly, there's a lot of small 'touches' here and there in the game that'll be easily overlook by market-driven ignorant game companies. This is truly a game made by people who plays game.

COMMENTS

This game is not for everyone, especially those that's either dislike/offended or just plain stupid ignorant with anime.

This game is a for you if you:

1. Loves anime
2. Loves anime babes
3. Loves dating simulation
4. Loves mechs
5. Know/interested with Japanese culture
6. Know Japanese (And the slangs... )
7. Has an open mind

If you satisfies all those criteria, folks, I can't describe or force you enough to play this game. I am not good at words, but.... DAMN.

One interesting issue here is of course about the cultural stereotype and bias. I was pretty worried how would the designers going to create 'Paris'. I mean, those guys are Japanese. They KNOW inside out for Japanese cultures, but French?! Luckily most of the treatments are acceptable, the designers clearly done their research pretty good. They put a lot of 'cultural shocks' that Oogami-kun (The hero) experiences during the game. Which is very very cool.

Nonetheless, I wish they had had injected more 'Western' personality to the girls... They're just... too.. Japanese.
Also the Paris people are just too nice in a Japanese way. Oh well, I guess they tailor 'em to the Japanese gamers' liking. Those lucky bast@rds!

Btw you don't really need to know all your Japanese to be able to enjoy the game. Of course the more you know, the more you'll enjoy the game. There's a lot of inside jokes, hilarious conversations that you can only understand if you really care to read all the bunch of texts. If you don't understand Japanese at all..., you're still fine. I suggest you to get an FAQs and be prepare for a lot of button jamming for skipping gazillions amoung of texts.

All in all, this is the most satisfying import game I have ever played since Metal Gear Solid. Bravo Sega. Bravo Red. Bravo Overworks. I'm looking forward for the next installaments wherever it'll be.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/22/01, Updated 05/22/01