I suspect the target audience for this game is younger gamers. But if the game is for younger players, the Sakura Wars designers should hope players don't mind sitting through boring and ridiculous scenes only having to answer questions with an A, B or C response before eventually getting to some gameplay.
And the premise of the story? Even too silly for fanstastic sci-fi like this. Anime doesn't have to be this bad. I wasted my money on this title.
1 of 2 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
5/ 5
Gameplay
5/ 5
Graphics
4/ 5
Sound
5/ 5
Lasting Appeal
5/ 5
Anonymous
fromLeesburg, VA
This game is perfect for:casual gamers
Now We See Why These Games Are So Fun!
PostedApril 20, 2012
I've been an anime fan for about 25 years, having started in on it back in Jr. High School. The selling slogan for this game was spot on. Ever wanted to be the main character in an Anime series? Well...here's your chance! With all the trappings of the better anime series, from a somewhat lost and clueless hero, to having to take such a wide away of personalities, earn their trust and help them work together. With light hearted comedy, a little fan service and a lot of great character depth Sakura Wars V (Sakura Taisen V) is the perfect game to get that feel!
The combat is fairly intuitive once you've gone through the introductory combat (and saved Lady Liberty!), allowing you to become more involved in the deep story that flows behind the combat. Intrigue, friendship and love await, but are you brave enough to overcome not only the doubt and distrust of your teammates, but your own self doubt? Take the lead role of Shinjiro Taiga, and find out for yourself!
Replay is awesome. Every game you find new side quests you missed and try different combinations of answers to see if you can get the girl that you want Taiga to have. Every "episode" even concludes with Taiga writing a letter to his mom back in Japan, summarizing the episode's message. And the insanity of some of the characters adds to the fun. Someone usually has something funny or smart to say, and if you have my sense of humor, you'll hurl a retort right back at them!
Support Sakura Wars (this game got me to order the series based on the original game. If you get hooked on the game, check out the tv series!) and maybe I through IV will find their way to Western Shores.
Overall rating
5/ 5
Gameplay
4/ 5
Graphics
5/ 5
Sound
5/ 5
Lasting Appeal
3/ 5
Yune
This game is perfect for:hardcore gamers
Love n some RPG
PostedJuly 8, 2011
i loved every minute of this game. It was the best game ever. Although the battle gave me some helI,I love the adventuring and the building friendships, the strategy needed for this game is immense and should be played only by strategists.if your not a strategist, try another game. But since I'm a strategist I loved it. The best ps2 game I've played. I'm Yune Goddess getting all up in your views -snap-.
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
5/ 5
Graphics
4/ 5
Sound
5/ 5
Ditchdigger
Play an Anime!
PostedMay 4, 2010
The Sakura Wars series is as close to being able to play an Anime as you can get, especially outside of Japan! The game is divided into episodes, each of which focuses on a specific character or story arc just like an Anime series. There are even eyecatches (which allow you to save your game, monitor relationships between characters, etc) and next episode previews. Don't let the strategic RPG combat fool you: The focus of the game is to play your role in the storyline. The course of the story changes constantly depending on your words and actions. There are dialog choices to be made at least every few minutes, some simply making a difference in the information you receive or the way other characters perceive you but others making a lasting difference in the storyline. You quickly come to know and love all the characters, and how well you understand their personalities will ultimately determine how competent you are at bolstering their confidence, convincing them to follow your orders and helping them find their place in the world. As the bad guys progress their evil plans and the action starts to heat up the choices you make may literally mean the difference between life and death. That having been said, the combat isn't bad. It's flavored after the kind of fighting you find in Anime: fast-paced, stylish, and over-the-top. Once you know what you're doing you will be able to advance your units, cover each other's flanks and take down tough enemies at almost the speed of an action game. Meanwhile, the combat will be interspersed with fully animated special attack sequences, dialogue between squad members, and turns of events in the battle that change up the pace and throw in a new twist. If you're expecting a realistic squad-based combat simulation, you're in the wrong place. However, if you love watching Anime and always wondered what it would be like to be the main character guy then welcome to heaven!
