Introduction
Sakura Wars for the PS4, also known as Shin Sakura Wars, is the newest entry in the long-running series. It is part of the mainline and takes place after the events of the previous games. Those being Sakura Wars to Sakura Wars V: Episode 0. The series has been known for its turn-based strategic gameplay and visual novel elements with a focus on romance. This soft-reboot made the switch to Musou with a few Souls-like elements.
For the sake of avoiding confusion, Sakura Wars for PS4 will be called Sakura Wars (2019) in this review, with its year of release. It has also to be stated that no bugs occured during the 30-40 hours long playthrough going for Platinum.
Art
The Character Designs have been done by Tite Kubo, notably known as Author of the popular manga "Bleach" in the last few decades.
Areas both within Battle Missions and outside of them in the Overworld are decently crafted, though there is room for more variety. Especially with the mechanical or steampunk design of the former. UI and Loading Screens are another plus for the game. They are stylized.
Sound & Music
Not much to complain about. Both is of high quality. The Original Soundtrack isn't as outstanding as other titles in the industry but it is enjoyable to listen to out. Only one track stood out for me which is .
Mini-Games
There aren't any except for Koi-Koi Wars. Opponents get unlocked via story progression or by beating other opponents and unlocked more via Mon, the activity's currency.
Koi-Koi Wars is basically Hanafuda.
Story & Writing
In the game, the players takes on the role of the protagonist Seijiro Kamiyama. A Naval Academy graduate and disbarred warship captain. His new line of work sees him working as the Flower Division Captain of the Imperial Theater Revue. Who is familiar with the earlier mainline titles, recognizes the formula and parallels. The story is set in an alternative Tokyo in the 1940s, whereas the first game took place in 1923. During battles against demons, Mugens are used. They are Mechs which require Spirit Power from the pilot to be operated.
On his first day of work, he meets a childhood friends of his and member of the Flower Division, Sakura Amamiya and befriends more NPCs as the story progresses. Throughout the early chapters of which there are 7 in total for the game, the player gets introduced to other Flower Division members and gets introduced to a few other Revues. They can be seen on the backcover of the game and are, by name, Hatsuho, Claris, Azami and Anastasia. They make up the group of playable characters including the protagonist.
The game has one cameo from the first title: Sumire Kanzaki.
Without diving into spoilers, the story is okay. The writers could have done much more with the setting and nothing is really memorable except for some of the Character interactions. It is one of the major flaws. Critic will be expanded in the spoilers below.
Gameplay
The player controls the protagonist Seijiro when traversing the overworld and doing various main, secondary and tertiary events or both him and the five Flower Division members during Battles.
Optional ones get unlocked via completing an event with another male character and friend of the protagonist, Reiji, in Chapter 3. To differentiate these two types, the mandatory ones are called Story Battles and the optional ones Battle (Bot) Missions. Completing Story Battles unlocks the corresponding Battle Missions which only differ in having a different team composition and skipping cutscenes and dialogue automatically. In total, there are 9 Story Battles throughout the 8 Story Chapters and 45 Battle Missions.
In the Overworld, the player mainly uses the Left Stick to move and choose responses to characters as well as the X button for interacting with characters and objects.
Responses are defined as LIPS. There is two types of them. The main bulk consists of the usual LIPS, having three possible answers available as well as letting the timer on choosing one of them run out for a fourth. Then there is analogue LIPS which have the player use the Left Stick move the wanted amount of assertiveness and loudness on a scale from Min to Max. It usually starts in the Middle. Different answers can lead in a change of Trust, the game's social currency so-to-say. Both an increase and a decrease are indicated by sound effects soon after. Immediately or a few lines after. There are also hidden Trust points with no auditive indication.
During Battles, they player has more available input. Here is a quick run-down:
LS = Move
RS = Camera Movement
X/Cross = Jump/Double-Jump
Circle = Fast Attack
Triangle = Heavy Attack
Square = Special Attack
L1 = Switch Character
R1 = Dodge/Dash
R2 = Run
R3 = Lock-On (Version 1.0.1 only)
The player combats various types of robots and robotic demons during Battles with, if memory serves right, around 7-8 common enemies. A little variety is brought in with the bosses which are the highlights and are well-designed. Common enemies can be juggled.
Each playable character has a very short list of Attack Combos (Circle & Triangle). Both Grounded and Aerial. However, their playstyles have some degree of distinction. Claris and Anastasia are ranged combatants while the other characters are melee-focused. All of them can deal with ground and aerial enemies.
Most of them have a launch attack combo which Circle Circle Triangle with the Heavy Attack launching the enemies into the air.
Damage Dealt, Enemies Destroyed as well as Time Spent, Reinforcements are taken into considerations for the final rank after each Battle. The ranks range from E to S with the latter obviously being the best and fairly easy to reach. During my playthrough, the game only gave an A with all others being a S. Mind you, the first playthrough was back in 2020 and this one was the first replay. Anyway, there is a fifth criteria which I forgot. Reinforcements take place when a character's HP reaches 0.
HP can be replenished via destroying the black-purple Crystal Boxes and picking the green Spirit Cubes up. It only requires the characters to be in proximity as the cubes fly to them. Speaking of HP, Seijiro & Co. have their individual value as well as a different one in both Attack and Defense.
There are other Spirit Cubes in light blue which fill in the Special Attack meter. Each character's Special Attack is distinctive and one like Sakura's or Azami's can clear a room.
To sum it up, each playable character comes with their own slightly distinctive gameplay and strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, there isn't much depth.
Collectibles & Rewards
Koi-Koi Wars is mostly isolated from the other content of the game. Mon is only used in it.
In the main game, the player mainly collects Bromides which are images from characters and what I presume scenes from past mainline titles. Members of the previous Tokyo Revue as well as those from the Paris and New York ones.
Bromides are rewarded by completing Battle Mission Challenges which is usually just completing a batch of those missions or reaching A-Rank. They can also be picked up in the Overworld inbetween Battles. They show a glimmering light and that the player can Investigate the spot.
Earning enough Trust Points unlocks additional story content like dates with the Flower Division members.
All in all, a very lackluster reward system.
Patch 1.0.1
It has been fleetingly mentioned. The game received only one major update. It brought with it a number of fixes and Quality of Life features. Being able to save at any time the Options menu can be accessed, a dialogue log, balance changes in both the main game and Koi-Koi Wars.
Critic
Before spoiling some content, it has to be mentioned that a very glaring issue is that one of the female protagonists is 13 years old. The other Flower Division Members range from 17 (Sakura, Hatsuho, Claris) to 19 (Anastasia) with Seijiro Kamiyama being 20 years old. It gives the impression of someone on the dev team having had a specific fetish. With being able to go on a Date with her as well as her questionable outfits.
► Game's Major Two Issues
Story
The story is sub-par. It has an interesting setting and the characters are somewhat likeable, but it falls flat with how it wants to portray itself as epic but becomes kinda laughable slop in the end. The number of missions is too low, way too few male characters are introduced, despite the the protagonist and an ally by the name of Reiji being shown as competent. Too much focus on female characters even if they aren't girlbossy per se.
Modern Tropes
Too many modern elements. From Anime tropes and gags to giving the player to have Seijiro act as a big pervert, it gets tiresome fast. The setting has potential to have a more serious story and lean towards what, for example, Valkyria Chronicles from the same publisher, SEGA, offers. Death, loss, fear. It just isn't mature enough.
Verdict:
.
From the shallow gameplay to questionable design choices, lackluster gameplay progression and the inclusion of too many modern Japanese media tropes, it can't be recommended. It had potential which got squashed. Reflected in its low sales numbers.
► What they should had done
- Stick to Turn-Based Strategy. What the series is known for. Make sure it has enough depth and pauses with easier content in between battles to avoid the player getting burnt out, treating the gameplay as grind or seeing it as a slog.
- Mature story which deals with war-related topics. Death, loss, being a war orphan, among more. More serious cultural elements to learn about Japan in the first half of the 20th century.
Expanded story with more antagonists, more NPCs and backstories as well as other story elements. Diving deeper into the Amamiya family line as well as Hatsuho's and Claris' bloodlines. Their affinity to Spirit Power.
World Games are grander and the character growth is more natural and has better pacing. More Revues with a balanced and reasonable distribution of male and female members.
- Replacement/Redesign of Characters. Most notably Azami, followed by Oboro, Itsuki, Hitomi and a few more. More Japanese characters with a mix of blue, green, brown and other eye colours, different hues of natural and unnatural hair colours as well as European features. Less copy & paste NPCs. Give Seijiro blue-eyes and blonde hair.
- More focus on friendship compared to romance.
- Removal of most Anime tropes. Few gags are okay. Most are obnoxious. One of the minor antagonists, Oboro, comes to mind.
- Story Branching which ties into who lives, who dies, who can be romanced and so forth. For both playable and non-playable characters. Put restrictions in place to warrant replays. See and if necessary copy what Fire Emblem does. There are good reasons why it is the best-selling Turn-Based Strategy/Tactics series.
- Dialogue Changes. For the protagonists from the archtypes of Competent, Perverted, Clueless, Clown to different traits. A direct and honest man which likes to have his fists speak, someone rather nerdy and more interested in books where he can learn tactics to a careful and at times timid ranged combatant. That the protagonist comes from a military background is fine.
- Better Rewards. Mugens with different attributes and abilities. New content. Increased Character Stats. Music Menu Unlocks. Anything but just sticking to Bromides.
