Lunar Threads

The English patch for Sakura Taisen for Saturn has finally been released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kygR1ka ... rLgOUuoA0k

Awesome. I watched the anime a few years ago, I will have to check this out now too.

Shinto-Cetra wrote:Awesome. I watched the anime a few years ago, I will have to check this out now too.

I just one click bought the blu-ray of the Anime on Amazon. It should be here tomorrow. I've never seen it so I'll give it a shot.

I played up till the first save point (which is too far in for my tastes), honestly I don't think it's worth the hype. I thought it was more of an SRPG, but it feels like a dating VN, where many of the dialogue options seem to be prompts where choices earn/lose affection with various heroines. The only VNs I've finished don't have this symptom, eg Ace Attorney series (not a dating sim at all) and the original YU-NO (still *partially* a dating sim but protagonist doesn't have said prompts, plus there is much more going on than romance there.) Ok the Utena VN on Saturn (which I have also finished) does have this problem, but I would only recommend this to people who have seen the anime first, which is one of my faves,  plus there is a best ending where the protagonist is on good terms with all characters .

Shinto-Cetra wrote:I played up till the first save point (which is too far in for my tastes), honestly I don't think it's worth the hype. I thought it was more of an SRPG, but it feels like a dating VN, where many of the dialogue options seem to be prompts where choices earn/lose affection with various heroines. The only VNs I've finished don't have this symptom, eg Ace Attorney series (not a dating sim at all) and the original YU-NO (still *partially* a dating sim but protagonist doesn't have said prompts, plus there is much more going on than romance there.) Ok the Utena VN on Saturn (which I have also finished) does have this problem, but I would only recommend this to people who have seen the anime first, which is one of my faves,  plus there is a best ending where the protagonist is on good terms with all characters .

I played quite a bit further in until work and other things have pulled me away from playing for a while. I like the characters, music and art, though the combat portions are a bit too simplistic. I guess it depends what you like but as the years have gone by I've had a greater interest in quirkier more off the beaten path RPGish games.

I imported Sakura Taisen on the Saturn back around Y2K. It's a fairly dynamic visual novel for the time period considering it's primary competition upon release was undoubtedly Tokimeki Memorial, and even more so today considering many VNs are select-a-choice type narrative trees. The series has always played off of the dynamics of the MC's relationships with the other girls during the VN sequences, and there's a heavy focus on it. It for sure can be a bit off-putting for those that are expecting a more dynamic battle system.

I bought the English release of the fifth game on the Wii when it came out and didn't really dive into it that far.

Somewhat randomly related to Sakura Taisen, I went to Tokyo recently and stopped by the SEGA Joypolis in Odaiba. Near the exit they have a portion of the wall Michael Jackson signed when he visited in 1996. In the background of the picture that was taken of him signing the wall is a huge kiosk for Sakura Taisen. It had just released not long before Jackson's visit and being it was developed by SEGA was once a real hot property.