First Impressions: Sakura Wars: So Long My Love - Hello My Dear!

Sega's Sakura Wars (aka. Sakura Taisen) series has been a around since 1996. Those not acquainted with the Japanese gaming scene, however, would be unfamiliar with this long running, and respected franchise. Anime fans in the West have been treated to translated versions of the various OVAs and serial spinoff shows that the games have generated; however, Sakura Wars had yet to grace our hemisphere in playable form until March of 2010. The series' absence in the West should not come as too much of a surprise. The titles combine the conventions of the turn-based strategy RPG with that of the popular Japanese genre of the Dating Sim, which has never really permeated English speaking lands. Simply to say I had at least one game from Sega's unique franchise in my collection, I went as far as to purchase a copy of the limited edition of Sakura Taisen 2 (pictured to the right) for the Saturn back in 2002. With no knowledge of the Japanese language, and with the series' emphasis on narrative and verbal interactions, I was left with little more than an attractive shelf piece. The good people at NIS America, however, decided to take a gamble and translate Sakura Taisen's fifth entry, and make it available in the West for both the PS2 and, with help from developer Idea Factory, the Wii. I have been waiting a very long time to play Sakura Wars: So Long My Love (SWSLML), and I am happy to say that my First Impressions of this quirky, solid role playing game are extremely positive.

The fifth game in the Sakura Wars franchise is the perfect opportunity for the series to make its leap to the West. Whereas earlier entries took place across Japan, or in Paris France, So Long My Love transports players to the streets of New York City. The unique, imaginary steampunk vision of the 1920's that the has been a hallmark of these titles remains in full force, and fans of this increasingly popular style will be pleased with the robot and vehicle designs found within. The characters that the player must interact with are a hilarious hodgepodge of American stereotypes that run the gamut from a brazen, red haired cowgirl who moonlights as a masked vigilante, a hard-nosed African American lawyer who obsesses over proper application of the law, and a buxom, flirtatious Marilyn Monroe look-alike. Such broadly generalized characters have been a constant staple of the Sakura games, and lean more toward charming and funny than ever breaching offensive territory.

The concept of the Sakura Wars world is bizarre and requires an introduction. Players take the role of a newcomer to a group of special defense soldiers who pilot chunky but powerful robots against threats to their respective cities. When not engaged in battle, the members of these special forces also perform as actresses in a theatre that serves as the staging ground for the operations. The theory is that through their performances, the characters enhance the morale of their city, and further develop their own skills and friendships. Players take the role of what is often the only male member of this team. Cultivating relationships with the members of the fairer sex becomes an important component of the game.

(The heroes of Sakura Wars are accomplished performers by day, and fearsome robot pilots by night)

Gameplay in SWSLML occurs in episodic format. The player character spends the beginning of each chapter interacting with the various characters. Activities range from going out on the town on dates, or running errands, to solving problems that occur in the running of the theatre. As these vignettes occur, players read through the sometimes voice acted dialogue, and make decisions on responses to questions and situations that emerge. Your choices to these prompts has an impact on your relationship with the team member accompanying you. It should be noted that these story moments are accompanied with beautiful anime images of the characters that are subtly animated in pleasant ways. It is refreshing to see a Japanese RPG that eschews the stale flat image that has become so commonplace by adding simple gestures, blinking, and mouth movement to otherwise boring images. The characters with whom the player forms the strongest bonds then receive added bonuses to their team-up attacks in battle. This is not unlike the way "Social Links" work in Atlus's popular Persona series; however, whereas the relationships in those titles merely form a component of character development, friendships in SWSLML are the sole means of increasing one's power. There is no leveling up in this game. Your reaction to social situations governs your prowess in combat. As it is impossible to please everyone with your answers, there will naturally be some members with whom you perform better than others. The branching nature of the in-game dialogue then provides for ample replay opportunities.

(Cute social vignettes comprise approximately half of the gameplay, and provide the basis for character building.)

Once the narrative adventure portion of each chapter ends, it is time for battle. Fans of Sega's critically acclaimed 2008 strategy title Valkyria Chronicles will immediately recognize the roots of that title's innovative combat system. Sakura Taisen V is by the same developer, and was originally released for the PS2 in Japan in 2005. Instead of constraining movement to a grid, players are given free range to move their units across the field. Each turn is dictated by a "Mobility" gauge that must be budgeted for the purposes of movement, attack and defense. Players simply move their robots as if playing a 3D adventure game as far as their mobility will allow. This more active approach is extremely engaging, and takes away some of the boring, hands-off feeling that many gamers cannot get past with other strategy role playing titles. The camera angles used in combat take a more close-up view of the action than other similar games. Players no longer observe as a god, overhead, but sit eye-level with the field. This is the perfect vantage point from which to view SWSLML's exciting, flamboyant special attacks.

(Combat occurs at a dynamic eye-level, where details and action are put on better display.)

The innovative combat continues when enemies take to the skies. The robots in SWSLML, dubbed STARS, are capable of transforming into jet fighters. Air combat has proven to be my favorite part of the game so far. These battles add a y-axis to the mix and require players to mind troop placement vertically as well as laterally. Fans of the Macross family of anime should be delighted to watch the transformed fighters of Sakura Wars dive around their foes and unleash volleys of missiles with streaming contrails.

(Air combat adds an exciting twist with some truly impressive, massive foes.)

Although I have only skimmed the surface of America's first entry in the long running Sakura Wars franchise, it is difficult for me not to gush about So Long My Love. With its charm and polish, it is hard to believe this game is actually five years old. The game's innovative take on strategy combat further surprises, and demonstrates many traits that are only now becoming popular within the genre. I can hardly recommend SWSLML to everyone. It is most definitely a niche title that will appeal only to the most dedicated fans of Japanese style role playing. Those who demand instant action will obviously be bored with the title's emphasis on text-based interactions. Those who are able to gain equal enjoyment from these quirky conversations as they are from battle, however, will surely find endless hours of entertainment here. It is with a satisfied smile that I can say "Hello my dear!" to So Long My Love. The opportunity to play one of Sega's Sakura Wars games, in a language I understand, is one that I have awaited for quite some time, and perhaps the most ringing endorsement I can provide is that, with all the hype I built up around this game, I am not disappointed in the slightest.

 Relevant Links:
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Premium Edition
Sakura Wars TV: Complete Collection