Sakura Wars Reviews
Sakura Wars is a solid game that delivers in a lot of areas, story and dialogue choices to give your players control of their fate, and falls a little short in others, especially action/mech. There is far more positive than negative and I think the re-tooling and reboot of the series might gain more fans than lose them.
The fact that it's a franchise revival is highly notable, which also provides an overall positive vibe. But as the renowned Sakura Wars franchise title, it didn't deliver all the hype and expectations to the fans who have been waiting patiently. This may be a concern even if we respect the fact that none of the original developers worked on the game and the only sentimental aspect is the music that was used in the reboot.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Sakura Wars is a welcome, pleasant comeback, but a somewhat failed modernization.
Sega found a great way to bring Sakura Wars back into the world, and it deserves to stay. If you like anime, this one deserves to be on your radar.
Sakura Wars is a great entry point to a fascinating series. If you wish Persona had a bit more action, you'll find exactly what you're looking for here. While the "sexy misunderstandings" are cringe worthy, the characters are fun to interact with and the giant robots are a joy to pilot.
Sakura Wars isn't for everyone, but fans of quirky Japanese imports or those simply looking for something a bit outside their comfort zone ought to give it a shot. The game's action is run-of-the-mill, but its heartfelt character-driven story and polished anime-infused presentation largely make up for that. Sakura Wars may not win every battle, but it stands tall in the end.
Sakura Wars' unique LIPS system, thoroughly charming cast of characters, and great writing more than make up for its less than stellar combat.
A unique combination of genres, Sakura Wars is ultimately a compelling adventure that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
Sakura Wars is a great little gem. It's the perfect title to get into the franchise and see why it's regarded so highly in Japan. Sakura Wars has some incredible writing and character development, it's hard not to fall in love with everyone you meet in the world. It's just a shame the combat isn't on the same level and at times take the steam away from the fantastic narrative.
Sakura Wars represents an ambitious new start for the franchise, one that might not be to everyone's tastes.
After years of hibernation, Sakura Wars finally returns to the scene and doesn't shy away from some fundamental changes. We still spend most of our time getting to know the new members of the new Flower Division, deepening our relationship with them, or even getting up close and personal with them. At the heart of Sakura Wars remains the compelling story of the Flower Division's rebuilding and return to its former glory. The plot consistently succeeds in the balancing act between funny anime humor and serious tones - a fact that is underlined by the successful staging and visuals. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks in terms of game mechanics, because the adventure as well as fight passages have to struggle with their monotony at regular intervals. Keyword fight: these say goodbye to their tactical roots and open the door for an action-oriented Musou approach. These battles know how to entertain over long distances, but are again and again slowed down by rough control and lack of variety. And yet: Sakura Wars knew how to lure me to the controller again and again with its charm and offers anime enthusiasts a sensitive story, which will captivate for a good 30 hours, if you can overlook some technical shortcomings.
Review in German | Read full review
If you like the idea of an alternate 1940s with steampunk mecha, demons, and a harem of cute anime girls, then you’ll probably find a lot to like in Sakura Wars, despite its flaws.
It might look too shallow (and it probably is) in a first glimpse, but the representation of the characters is certainly charming. It's like giving life to a shonen TV show.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Combat is repetitive and romance options are unsettling.
Sakura Wars has its drawbacks, and it is not only a weak combat system with forced battles in the championship, but also some templating, the length of some elements and spoilers-announcements between episodes. But all this is offset by deeply developed characters, beautiful animation and good humor. It is one of the best games of the genre in the last few years and the best that could happen to the series.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Sakura Wars is an enjoyable revival of the iconic series, presenting a fascinating blend of genres. Unfortunately, it far too often falls victim to tired tropes and writing which treats its excellent female cast as little more than objects. Still, if you're a sucker for engaging stories, wacky combat and a strange, unusual world I recommend giving Sakura Wars a try.
The long dormant series returns with a brand-new cast and modern advancements to the Sakura Wars series formula that make for a promising reboot, despite some noteworthy missteps.
Sakura Wars is a blend of adventure, visual novel, dating sim and action game.
From the perviest moments of fan service through to the most heart-wrenching moments of insecurity that each of the characters displays, Sakura Wars is by turns hilarious and touching, and covers a real emotional gamut.
As far as soft reboots go, Sakura Wars exceeded at semplifying too much its gameplay and streamlined the experience, cutting any RPG system and leaving just the dialogues to take the highlight.
Review in Italian | Read full review