computer retro is a regular look back at the early days of Japanese PC gaming, covering everything from 80’s specialty computers to the happy days of Windows XP.
These days, you can expect every Sega game to come to PC, from the latest Yakuza to the retro classic Sonic Origins. It’s a happy time to be able to pay to dress up Hatsune Miku and her friends as pets. Sing songs from the arcade classic racing game Power Drift It’s never been easier.
I must say that none of Sega’s games are Sakura Wars.
2019 Soft Reboot The series still stands out for not having a PC version in any language. Even Steam doesn’t exist in Japan. This is especially strange because 20 years ago, Japanese PC gamers were busy installing his excellent XP-compatible port of the original Sega Saturn Sakura Wars onto a blazing Pentium 3 machine (note – at least 64MB of RAM).
The game is a (relatively) high-res port of the 90s blockbuster, but fits like a glove on the PC. Sakura Wars is a bit strange given its Saturn origins, but it was designed entirely around cursor input (the console had an official mouse), so playing it on PC feels like a game back home. It feels like This was important at the time. PC controllers were still scarce, and many console ports were ill-fitting or technically confusing. Sakura Wars avoids both pitfalls, making it always easy and natural to click anywhere from the pool to the battlefield.
But what exactly is Sakura Wars? It’s easy to focus on one area and jump to conclusions. In some places it looks like an adventure game, in others it becomes totally tactical. If you have soft music playing in the background and someone is blushing, you might swear. It was a love simulation. But none of these explanations are actually true. Sakura Wars is like a chameleon, ready to do whatever it takes to make its colorful cast shine the brightest. Switch between animated physical comedy sequences, dramatic battles with evil forces, and heart-to-heart interactions in the best possible way.
As far as Sakura Wars is concerned, if we’re all having a good time, that means the whole “being a game” thing is done right.
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Our playable focal point in this experience is Ichiro Ogami, who has just been transferred from the Navy to the Japanese capital. He is ready to lead a group of brave peacekeepers against anything that might threaten the land. The only problem is that he’s not made aware that his squadmate isn’t a grizzled veteran, but a capable young woman posing as a theater troupe member.hello again He isn’t told that he has to be a theater ticket holder to hang out with. It’s an ego-exploding experience that quickly sets the mood. Okami is part of an accomplished group, and everyone, including us playing together at home, has to do their best and work together to make it work.
How quickly that happens depends on how well you handle the adventure-style sections of the game. The twist here is that in Sakura Wars, your opponent really pretends to be standing there waiting for your reply. And yes, they might get annoyed if you can’t make easy decisions quickly. Then, in another conversation, if you refuse to take sides in the other person’s argument and remain silent, they may be impressed.
The exact amount of time given to make a decision will vary greatly depending on the problem scenario. In some cases, you may have time to think carefully. Sometimes you have to follow your intuition and expect the best. The secret to Sakura Wars’ success here is that there is no real “best” choice in a situation like this. Screenplays often corner you, prompting you to choose a reaction that will probably please one person and neutralize the other, or possibly offend you. But no matter what happens, you can’t irrevocably ruin a friendship or fall into a “bad” story route. In other words, you don’t have to resist the pressure to play perfectly or make fun of Okami from time to time. Its.It’s a great system and honestly I think almost any game that gives you choices would be better off if you had to make a decision right now.
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How much the rest of the cast likes Okami not only influences numerous cutscenes throughout the game, but also improves combat stats. Simply put, the cast hits things (a little) harder if they like him.
These turn-based isometric scraps of charming staggering steam mechs may seem disappointingly shallow at first. Equipment, skills, and other little things to worry about. Overall, it just takes a little bit of common sense (like “I don’t let anyone walk out”) to win intentionally. easy fight. There is actually a good reason for this. Infrequent combat segments shouldn’t be war sims for serious people who like to click. These are just another way to convey how fun it is to watch a group of color-matched friends beat an all-too-dramatic bad guy to the point of saying, “Wow, I’ll catch you next time!” things disappear.
It can be frustrating when a group of thematically evil people repeatedly escape at the last minute to reappear later, but the game has the decency to not let this or anything else drag on too long. An average, slow playthrough he tends to comfortably finish in less than 20 hours, so even someone as impatient as I am can’t help but wonder every time I see a thrilling TV-style teaser for the next chapter. It makes you want to play a little longer than you should. I plan to go.
Sakura Wars may have had as much impact on the English-speaking world of gaming as a grain of snow on an active volcano, but in Japan the series is hugely popular, with numerous sequels, dedicated cafes, Ten years Stage shows and official costumes by the original cast of the game. It wasn’t just a beloved game, it was a “SEGA” experience as important and essential as any Sonic or Phantasy Star Online game before it. Steam is now filled with retro revivals, illustrated adventures, untranslated classics, and rare games of all kinds. So what more does Sakura Wars (a game with a PC port ready) need to do to prove it 20 years later? can i use it?
Heck, if Sega needs a reminder, you can borrow the Japanese version of a game I’ve had sitting on my bookshelf for years.
