Sakura Wars Reviews
Sakura Wars has always been about the characters, interacting via L.I.P.S., and experiencing some insane, over-the-top anime antics. In that respect, the new Sakura Wars recaptures the spirit of the earlier entries and is a perfect bit of RPG comfort food to brighten your soul.
Those who already enjoy the series or this style of action-RPG meets dating simulator will still have a fun experience and find a good game to play here. Despite the faults with pacing or mechanics I may have discovered along the way, it won’t be enough to scare away this existing audience.
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
Sakura Wars as a franchise holds huge potential but is let down by slow pacing and annoying tropes amongst other small annoyances.
The plot and battle system might be simplistic, but it does its job in giving the game a driving force. This is an overall engrossing experience and the closest thing to playing an anime.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
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 blend of adventure, visual novel, dating sim and action game.
Sakura Wars is a flawed action game but incredibly satisfying visual novel. It warmed my heart and compelled me to keep playing despite its shortcomings as an action game.
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.
This just isn't the grand revival of the Sakura Wars franchise I was hoping for, and I'm sure that most other longtime fans will feel the same. As for newbies, there's some enjoyment here, but it just doesn't measure up to other major releases on the market right now.
It won’t make many new die-hard fans of the property, but for those willing to give it a chance, there’s enough to give them hope that good things might be in the series’ future.
When it wants, the Sakura Wars reboot can deliver excellent combat and a story that's both compelling and emotionally sound. Unfortunately, the game spends way too much time wallowing in cheap sophomoric humor to truly make the most of its strengths.
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.
Made with care and potentially interesting even for those who do not know the mechanics that distinguish it, Sakura Wars has a charm all its own, without undeniable limits. The important thing, if you want to get closer, is to understand the thematic and gameplay that give substance to the whole experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sakura Wars represents an ambitious new start for the franchise, one that might not be to everyone's tastes.
It's not going to be a memorable tale, but this Sakura Wars is an enjoyable adventure while it lasts.
Sakura Wars' unique world, fun character interactions, and high-stakes melodrama help it overcome mediocre action sequences.
Sakura Wars is a good mixture of Dating Sim, Visual Novel and few RPG elements. Because of the LIPS system you have to make many decisions in a short time. Even if it is sometimes not obvious what the outcome is, the fun sequences compensate for it. Through the many romances, you can play the game well and often. The role playing area has several problems and is just too small to convince JRPG fans. But if you are looking for a good visual novel with a touch of Musou action, you will definitely find it with Sakura War.
Review in German | Read full review
Sakura Wars is an easy title to recommend to anyone looking for a layered game world populated by a cast of memorable characters. However, those who prefer a more immediately rewarding adventure will likely get exhausted by its story-heavy setup.
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