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 Sakura Wars is a "dramatic adventure" game for the Sega Saturn, developed from a concept by author Oji Hiroi by Red Entertainment and published by Sega themselves. One of the flagship titles for the system in Japan, it would go on to spawn a massive multimedia franchise, spanning six mainline games, several spinoffs, and a number of anime and manga adaptations, as well as stage shows. The game takes place in a fictionalized steampunk version of Japan's Taisho era, specifically 1923 and follows the exploits of the Imperial Assault Troop (Known as the Combat Revue in official translations), a secret military unit dedicated to fighting demonic threats to Tokyo while masquerading as a theater troupe. Recently graduated Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami is brought on to lead the Flower Division, a group of women with spiritual power who pilot steam-powered armor in defense of the capital. Dramatic adventure? Yes, that's the official term Sega used to refer to this game's genre. In reality, Sakura Wars is an eclectic mix of visual novel/adventure storytelling, dating sim relationships, and turn-based strategy combat. I think it works pretty well. Despite multiple attempts to localize the series, the games eluded the English-speaking world for years, with only So Long My Love getting a western release 5 years after it was released. In 2019, however, not only was it announced that the soft reboot would be brought over in English, but a complete fan translation of the Saturn original was dropped just outta nowhere! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H5BL8NzLBo This is the version that I'll be playing. Now, before we join the Imperial Assault Troop, let's meet the ladies we'll be fighting alongside. I'll probably be going for whichever one goes over more with the audience, so find one you like!  Sakura Shinguji (CV. Chisa Yokoyama) The main heroine who joined the Assault Troop around the same time as Ogami. She grew up in the sticks and is still getting used to life in the big city, but her heart sure is in the right place. Pros: Is a samurai, a genuine Sega icon Cons: Kinda clumsy, risks incurring the wrath of Segata Sanshiro if dated  Sumire Kanzaki (CV. Michie Tomizawa) The self-professed star of the Flower Division, Sumire is the heir to Kanzaki Heavy Industries, the company that manufatures the Koubu, the powered armor the Assault Troop fights in. She won't hesitate to let you know she's better than you. Pros: She's a good actress, ohohohohos Cons: Got a big ol' stick up her butt, her shoulders are probably cold  Maria Tachibana (CV. Urara Takano) The most experienced member of the Flower Division, Maria is a half-Russian veteran of the Russian Revolution. She's the original leader of the division and an ace sharpshooter, though her battle experience has left her a bit cold and distant. Pros: A bonafide professional, calm and collected Cons: Kinda hard to read, guns are bad  Iris Châteaubriand (CV. Kumiko Nishihara) The youngest member of the Flower Division, Iris comes from an aristocratic French family. She's not equipped with a weapon, but has strong psychic abilities, which she uses to support the rest of the team. Pros: Keeps us all in top shape, probably makes good fries Cons: She speaks French sometimes so I have to copy and paste accents and stuff, is very much ten years old so maybe let's not, huh?  Li Kohran (CV. Yuriko Fuchizaki) A mechanical genius from China, Kohran works as the stage manager of the Flower Division and maintains the unit's Koubu. She's also an inventor, though her inventions have a habit of blowing up on her. Pros: Glasses and braids, speaks a cool Kansai-ben Cons: She'll use us as a guinea pig, explosions are also not very good  Kanna Kirishima (CV. Mayumi Tanaka) The muscle of the group, Kanna is a karate master who puts her combat prowess to use in her Koubu. She's a tomboy and almost always hungry, and is often at odds with Sumire. Pros: Big and buff, is literally 6'6"/197cm Cons: Hefty restaurant checks, for some reason she makes me want to be a pirate Updates Episode 1 - The Capital's Floral Assault Troop! 1-1 - Meeting the Imperial Assault Troop 1-2 - Between an O and a U 1-3 - The Bear Necessities 1-4 - The Secret of the Troupe 1-5 - The Battle of the Flower Viewing Festival Episode 2 - The Enemy Is....The Hive of Darkness! 2-1 - The Eccentric Genius https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?action=showpost&postid=5093724912-2 - The Koi is Mine[/url] Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 14:54 on Oct 29, 2020 |
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Jun 6, 2020 01:02
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1-1 - Meeting the Imperial Assault Troop Watch Video: Disc 1 OP Uncompressed version courtesy PlayscopeTimeline The main theme of Sakura Wars, "Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan" is performed by Chisa Yokoyama and the Teikoku Kagekidan. In Japan, it became an iconic song in the anime fandom, becoming a mainstay at karaoke bars and live shows. A version of this theme appears in five of the six mainline Sakura Wars games, with only the fifth game, So Long My Love missing it. Additionally, this is how basically every FMV in this game is presented, compressed into a little box. Gotta save space on those Cee Dee Roms somehow. The animated cutscenes are produced by the Sega-owned studio Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie, later known as TMS Entertainment, who are also known for producing the Lupin III and Detective Conan franchises, Akira, and contributing animation to a multitude of western cartoons in the 90s.   Nothing much to say about the main menu, so let's just start the show.   Watch Video: The Incident in Ueno Park The curtain rises on the Imperial Capital of Tokyo, specifically the Ginza district.   Huh? You say you saw something? Yeah, what you're seeing is the hustle and bustle of a city on the rise.  What?  It's just some birds.   We're at Ueno Park, the cherry blossoms are falling, it's beautiful, what more could you want?  Well that's a hamper on our nice day out.    Well, good thing she had a sword. But enough of that.    As a special assignment, I appoint you captain of the following outfit. "The Imperial Assault Troop, Anti-Demon Corps, Flower Division." You are on a secret assignment to defend our Imperial capital. Proceed to Ueno Park to meet up with your squad. Imperial Army Lieutenant General, Yoneda Ikki Yeah, I can read, Count.  This here's Ogami, he's gonna be our us for the game. He just graduated from the Navy academy and he's already got a pretty cushy gig as a captain.  Good. That's what I like to hear. My position as a politician doesn't allow me to talk about a military secret like the Assault Troop here and now. For more information you have to ask the officer in command, Lieutenant General Yoneda. Now, go to Ueno Park. Don't make me regret recommending you for this position! Yes, sir! I'll be on my way immediately! The safety of the capital lies in your hands. Good luck! Yes, sir!  Hopefully there's not as many monsters today.  Now then...where is this meet-up point...? Maybe I should look around a bit more.  I heard a young girl got rid of the monster with a sword. ...I was told someone from the Imperial Assault Troop would meet me here. I wonder how long he'll keep me waiting? She's coming this way...! Watch video: Meet Sakura There's a fair bit of voice acting in this game, which is impressive for 96. When we meet our main characters, I'll give little samples of their voice acting, and maybe some other prominent scenes. Also, might as well tell you a bit more about the voice actors. Sakura here is voiced by Chisa Yokoyama, whose more prominent roles aside from Sakura include Sasami in the Tenchi Muyo franchise, Lucrezia Noin in Gundam Wing, and Biscuit Krueger in the 2011 Hunter x Hunter anime. Y-Yes. I'm Ogami. Ahem, excuse me, but you are...? My name is Sakura Shinguji. I received orders from Lieutenant General Yoneda to pick you up. ...From Lieutenant General Yoneda? (I was told someone would meet me...But who would have thought it would be a girl!)Ogami, it's 1923, that kind of thinking is antiquated. You, uh....are you a memeber of the Imperial Assault Troop?!  Nice to meet you. Ah...I'm Imperial Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami. But...to tell the truth, I'm surprised that a girl like you is a squad member. Is that a problem for you?Yeah, Ogami. Is it? N-No. That's not what I meant... (It's a top-secret unit after all...Maybe it's not so strange that there are female members.) Imperial Theater? Like a theater of war, I guess? Didn't expect to be hitting the battlefield so quickly. What? A theater?! Oh, would you look at that. It's the Live Interactive Picture System! You can just call it LIPS for short. It's a mechanic this game has to bring a bit more engagement to the typical ADV gameplay. In the first couple games, much of what it amounts to is that dialogue choices have a time limit. The border around the box will fill in red as we run out of time, and if we do, we just...don't say anything. Which is always an option. Now, we could be rude to poor Sakura, but hey, if we're gonna fight alongside her, let's have her tell us a bit about herself. First tell me more about you. And we hear a little chime which means we got a little point up with Sakura. We'll be able to gain or lose trust with each of the girls in typical VN fasion. Of course, only one will win our heart. My name is Sakura Shinguji. I just arrived from Sendai and newly joined the troop. I still feel like I'm causing everybody nothing but trouble. But I'd give my life in order to protect the capital. I see, that's the right attitude! Happy to hear that. No wonder you're a member of the secret squad. ...So the Imperial Assault Troop has something like a secret weapon, right?I think a lot of things about it are secret, boy. Using a "Koubu" is really hard. But we newbies should stick together and do our best. (Koubu? Ah, that's what the secret weapon is called. I wonder what it is.) Y-Yes! Thank you very much! Deeper into Ginza, we find...   No one would guess that in reality this theater is a secret military headquarters... Since it's your first time, let's enter through the main lobby. Ooh, this is a pretty snazzy place. At any rate...It's really quiet here. That's because today there is only a night performance. (Night performance? ...Is that supposed to be a night-time drill?)That's the only performance I'd think would be in a theater. But we're opening soon. There'll be loads of guests here in a minute. Watch video: Meet Iris Hey, it's Iris! I like that the fan translation has her call Ogami "mon frère" as a translation for "onii-chan" which feels more natural and less...weird. However, it means I gotta copypaste that accent every time. Iris is voiced by Kumiko Nishihara, who's been an active voice actress since 1984. Some of her other roles include Silvia Noventa in Gundam Wing, Perona in One Piece, and Renne in Trails in the Sky. Also hey rude. Waaah!? (Who's that child...?!?)[sakura-glare] Iris! Haven't I told you already that you shouldn't talk like that to grown-ups? This is Ensign Ichiro Ogami, newly transferred to the Imperial Assault Troop. Ah...I'm...Imperial Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami. Imperial Assault Troop, Flower Division, Iris. And this is Jean-Paul, the bear. He's my best friend. I hope you two get along.I'm pretty good with animals, don't you worry.  Ogami, understandably, has reservations about a 10 year old being a soldier, but this is anime.  Sakura... What is it? He has the "Sprit Power" too...does that mean he's going to fight in a "Koubu" as well?Nah, I'm just the new ticket taker. [sakura-glare] That's right.  Oh, don't worry, Iris. Let's go back to your room and I'll read you stories from that Mother Goose book. OK. Please excuse me for now. Sakura has gone as well...drat. I guess I'll have to find Lieutenant General Yoneda on my own...And now we're alone.  And here you can see the layout of the theater. This little map screen is where we'll be spending a lot of our time, but before that, something's caught Ogami's attention.  ...Who was that? I think it came from the dining hall... Yeah, the theater has I guess a restaurant attached.   Watch video: Meet Sumire Sumire is voiced by Michie Tomizawa, who's also known for such roles as Roberta from Black Lagoon, Mihoshi in the fourth Tenchi Muyo OVA series, Rachel from Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive... Oh, and she's goddamn Sailor Mars. That too. ...Are you talking to me? Do you see anyone else? Wipe that stupid look off your face and get over here! Ye-yes, ma'am...Boy, you got it bad. Pick up that fork I dropped over there and go get me a new one. If there's anything I've learned working retail, it's that sometimes you just gotta give people what they want, it's not worth fighting over.  Yes, right away! ...Here, there you go. Thank you. Oh, by the way, What do youo think about how that Maria just came out of nowhere and replaced me, top star Kanzaki Sumire, as the leader of the troop? That old geezer Yoneda...he couldn't spot a star if you hit him over the head with it.Uhhhhhhhhh. (Phew..) ...I'm Imperial Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami. I was transferred to the Imperial Assault Troop effective today. I'd like to report to Lieutenant General Yoneda...  Oh, and be so nice not to mention what I just said to Yoneda, OK? (*kiss*)Excuse me, miss! This is improper work conduct! Waah! Wh-What are you doing all of a sudden!?! There, there, no need to turn all red. Just a little revenge...er, reward, is what I mean. Ahem...Where might I find Lieutenant General Yoneda? Mr. Yoneda is in the manager's room. But remember, don't mention our little talk. Do you understand Ensign Ogawa? If that is all, please be on your way. Y-Yes, ma'am... That was exceptionally odd. Well, onto Yoneda's office.  Lieutenant General Ikki Yoneda, the great strategist from the Russo-Japanese war. I wonder what kind of man he is. Watch video: Meet Maria Maria is the last major character we'll be meeting today, and she's voiced by Urara Takano. Maria is actually the most prominent role she's played, though she also portrays Francis Drake in the Fate franchise and played Monkey D. Luffy in the original OVA pilot for One Piece, as well as a number of live-action dubbing roles. Ah...excuse me. I'm Imperial Nacy Ensign Ichiro Ogami. I would like to see Lieutenant General Yoneda... So you're Ichiro Ogami, newly transferred to the Troop. Nice to meet you. My name is Maria Tachibana. Miss Maria Tachibana... So here's another bit of LIPS. We can just...lookit girls. We can examine different parts of her body and Ogami will comment. Her hair: (I guess you can call this color platinum blonde.)Her uniform: (What a speckless display of uniform and posture.)Her eyes: (What brilliant green eyes...) Ogami no.  (Nice...)Bad. And then we can just end this by talking to her mouth. Lieutenant General Yoneda is in the manager's office. I have training, so I must leave you. But what type of practice was she talking about? Well then...I'll finally meet Lieutenant General Yoneda.And we'll meet with the Lieutenant General next time. A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that the concept for what would become Sakura Wars dates back to 1990, when Oji Hiroi saw a stage production of Shanghai Rhapsody and was impressed by the spectacle of the acting troupe he saw? Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 16:10 on Jun 9, 2020 |
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Jun 6, 2020 01:03
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Thought there was a different thing there but there wasn't.
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Jun 6, 2020 02:39
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Well, I've been a fan of So Long My Love for years and with the new one coming out, I decided to play the original during quarantine and decided immediately I wanted to LP it. The SLML LP starting up just kinda cemented my intentions. By the way, been playing the new one, it's good.
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Jun 6, 2020 15:30
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There were also a couple of Korean localizations.
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Jun 6, 2020 20:55
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Getsuya posted:Great to see this getting LPed! I was one of the main translators on the project and will happily speak to any translation tidbits or oddities that pop up. That was gonna be one of my end of update fun facts! They actually made two versions of it. Also uh Shei-kun posted:Hwhat I may be actively putting together ideas for such a thing.
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Jun 7, 2020 00:58
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Also, I need to post the commercial for Sakura Wars 2 as soon as possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sstcW9I7T50
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Jun 7, 2020 02:55
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Sakura is a good girl who has a Saturn.
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Jun 7, 2020 06:36
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The Saturn version from what I've played is generally pretty good with not being creepy about Iris. I mean, she's still there to bring a certain appeal, but nothing untoward will be happening to her in this LP.
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Jun 7, 2020 18:02
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 The thread has entered its final form.
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Jun 8, 2020 04:45
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Speaking of the OVAs, I may end up covering the first set of OVAs as bonus updates. They're just origin stories for how each girl joined the Revue.
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Jun 8, 2020 19:24
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1-2 - Between an O and a U Ey boss, it's me! Hey, come on in! ...Excuse me! Reporting for duty! Look at this man, drunk off his rear end on a Wednesday morning.  Remember, dis is the Great Imperial Theater, hic. Cut da military talk! (What the...Who is the drunkard? Don't tell me this is...) How 'bout a drink? This guy's a general, right? ...Are...are you really Lieutenant General Yoneda? What the...! What do you mean, "really?" Can't you recognize people without a badge of rank? Hic! I'm Army Lieutenant General Ikki Yoneda! Idiot! I...I'm sorry. Good! Glad we cleared that up. So, let me give you ya' first assignment. Change into this and go to the reception! You'll raise eyebrows in that military uniform. Remember, this is a secret unit.I still don't fully understand the point of a secret military unit needing to operate under a front like a theater and not in a secret base, but hey I'm not the President of the secret military. I see...So we operate in disguise! Par for the course for a secret unit! Yes sir! Ichiro Ogami reporting for duty! Yes sir! Sakura!  IRIS.  Sakura and..Iris, was it? What are you doing here?The game kinda doesn't convey it that well, but as you can probably tell by the portrait, Ogami did in fact change clothes.  Hey, weren't you the one saying we should 'check things out' in the first place? Yes, and you said it was a great idea!Ah, I see now.  (These two...looks like they were eavesdropping.) I don't nearly have the time to worry about that right now, girls. Anyways...Could you two tell me where the reception is? It's my first assignment here. I'd like to go there immediately. No! He's going with me! Let's go, Mon Frère! GIRLS NO TIME LET'S GO  Hey, stop fighting, you two. How about we all go together, hm? ...Alright. I'm sorry, Iris. I guess I was a bit childish, too.This gets us points with the both of them. It's OK. Let's all go together. I like that! Ogami no.  All the way back to the lobby.   I see. Thank you for showing me the way. Mon Frère, the clipper is inside the desk! Come on, Sakura, let's go! You're right, Iris. Ogami, we have to practice, so...please excuse us. H-Hey you two, wait a second... Clippers? Am I doing people's nails?! Clipper...? What am I supposed to do with those? What?! You don't know how to use a clipper? Hahaha, that's funny. You hold it in your hand and go snippety snip like this, and it'll cut holes.That explains everything.  Hey, Iris. If we're not off to practice soon... Oh, right. Bye-bye! ...but I really wanted to know what I'm supposed to use the clipper for. Excuse me, young man. How long do you expect us to wait? Punch our tickets!Wha  Today Sumire is starring in "The Eve of Lady Camellia". I can't wait! What do you mean? I'm not responsible for tickets. But...that's the ticket puncher's uniform you're wearing. And don't you have a clipper as well? Whaaa..!? Does that mean my secret mission is just...punching tickets!? You gotta be kidding me!YONEDA! I was just joking last time!  Y-yes. Uh...where do I punch the hole? Huh? Are you new here? Jeez...don't dilly-dally. Y-yes! Just a moment, please. (...Wasn't my assignment to be captain of a secret squad?)  No, Ogami. Keep up the cover for some reason.  (No way! The Imperial Assault Troop is a secret unit. I can't just blow their cover like this!) ...At the moment I'm punching tickets here, but in reality...Just kidding, I really am just a ticket puncher.Ogami please you are spending an uncomfortable amount of time talking to the drat customers.  Everything alright with you? Oh! Look at the time. The Flower Division's show is about to start! (Did she just say Flower Division...? How does a civilian know the name of this secret unit...?)Yeah, a running thing with this series seems to be a confusion on just how secret the unit actually is. People seem to know enough about them to be able to connect the dots, but....they don't? Ahem... Ah, sorry. Where is that clipper...? Ah! Here it is! There you go. Um...Do you happen to like Sumire Kanzaki? Really don't know enough about her to say, but you seem to like her, so I'm not gonna ruin your day. Yeah, I haven't talked to her all that much, but she sure is my type. Whaaa...! You've talked to Sumire?! Man, I'm so jealous...Oh, right...Ahem...would you mind giving this letter to her? Please tell her it is from her most passionate fan. Y-yes, sir...understood.   Hey! Ticket puncher guy, here's my ticket! Y-yes! Ahem...Where do I punch a children's ticket? This guy's new here! He doesn't even know how to punch tickets! Every fiber of my being is telling me to do it but I can't, because if you just do what they want, they'll go away and leave you alone. Here you go, boy. Here's your ticket back. Keep up the "good" work.gently caress you too. (Wh-what's the matter with that obnoxious child?!) ...No matter how I look at it, this is weird. How is ticket punching connected to my secret mission!? ...OK! I'm gonna have a talk with the squad. Maybe then I'll get some sort of explanation. If I'm still not convinced, I'll have to ask Lieutenant General Yoneda!  Hello? Excuuuuse me!  You arrived today, didn't you? Nice to meet you. I heard about you. I'm Tsubaki Takamura. I'm always working at the gift shop here. Miss Tsubaki, is it? I've got photos of all the group members here, so please stop by to visit anytime!We can get cool pics of all the sweeties and honeys here at Tsubaki's. Hmm...She works here at the gift shop. Seems full of energy. ...OK. Where to next? Now we have free rein of the theater. This is gonna be the majority of our time in the game, goin' to places and havin' scenes.  But before we can go anywhere...   Guess whooo~? It's Chisa Yokoyama! That voice...is that you, Sakura? Hehe...you got me. Even you have a mischievous side then, huh? Hehe...sorry about that. But...it makes me so happy that you remembered my voice. Huh?... Uh...s-sorry. I guess that was a strange thing to say. W-Well, I should get going... Ah-Sakura, hold on! There's something I wanted to ask you. What is it? Wheeeere are you going? Where are you headed, Sakura? The performance is due to begin soon, so I'm looking for Sumire. I'm willing to bet she's somewhere on the second floor...well, I'll be going. ...Shoot, I forgot to ask her about the Imperial Assault Troop. ...Oh well, I'd better go too.Ah drat.  Let's head backstage, see what's happening.  why are you on the floor  Yeah, thanks for before, Iris. By the way...there's something I wanted to ask you. Yesss? Gimme the scoop on the troop, Betty Boop. I was wondering if you could tell me about the Imperial Assault Troop... Sure, okay. Why is the troop headquartered in a theater? We're in a theater because that's where the "troop" performs. Isn't that obvious? You're pretty strange, Mon Frère. ...? (I don't get it. There's nothing obvious about it!) We're not gonna look over Iris too much, but let's see her bear. Mon Frère, do you remember my bear's name? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Jean-Paul. I remember. It's Jean-Paul, isn't it? Yaaay! Mon Frère, you really remembered! Of course. He's your very best friend. Thank you, Mon Frère...I'm so happy you remembered.Let's just...find out where the others are. Do you know where everyone else is? Sumire is upstairs. Sakura went to go get her. Maria said she was going to the stage. I think Mr. Yoneda is in his room? I see. Thanks. Well, the stage is right here, so let's see what Maria is up to.  I could ask the same of you. What business do you have here?We get another lookyloo, but we had one before and we won't learn anything new, so let's just continue the conversation. ...Did you need something from me? I don't think Ogami's gonna really understand what's going on with the Troop no matter how much we tell him, so we might as well get a sense of who these girls are. Maria, would you tell me a little about yourself? As captain of the Imperial Assault Troop, I'd like to know how a woman such as yourself came to be here. ...I don't believe there's any need for me to answer that. In any case, I hardly acknowledge you to be the captain as it is.Harsh but fair. E-excuse me?! Ensign, you're interfering with my duties. Please refrain from speaking with me.Geez fine. The play is about to begin, so this area is off-limits. Please keep your distance, Ensign. Oh well. Guess I'll head somewhere else. Heading upstairs...  And over to the salon. It's not the hair type! It's an old kinda room where people would, like, sit.   ...It's Ogami. Oh, pardon me. I know-I'll call you "Ensign" from now on, just to simplify things.Whatever works, I guess. We get a chance to look over Sumire and all we find out is she has hair and boobs. Not a whole lot goin' on with these right now as we introduce the girls. Drinking tea before a performance is the perfect way to dissolve tension. By the way, Ensign...what was it you needed? I feel like I'm forgetting something. I hope it's not too forward of me to say, but I'd love to know more about you... Wait I didn't mean it like that. As I mentioned before, I am the daughter of the Kanzaki family, which controls the Kanzaki Group. Originally, the only stage I stood upon was the stage of high society. But then Kanzaki Inc. became linked with this theater due to their efforts, and so I came to live here. Kanzaki Heavy Industries? Why would a theater collaborate with an industrial manufacturing company?The secret military unit, you dingus!!!  Ah, w-well now... Sumireee! ...Oh, you're here too, Ogami? Sakura... How good of you to come for me. I must drop by my room for a moment, then I'll be right there. By the way...may I pose a question to you, Ensign? Eh, to me? Yes. Between myself and Sakura, what sort of woman do you prefer? Won't you tell me, Ensign? UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH What sort of woman I prefer...well.. Sumire, don't be like that. You're putting him in an awkward position. I would hardly think there is any room for debate on the matter...I will let it slide for now, I suppose. Well, I must be off. I should go too. See you lare, Ogami. Yeah, sure. Ogami...I'm kind of relieved, but also a bit disappointed...what a complicated feeling this is.Girl, it's been like two hours since we met, pump the brakes. ...Well, I should get going. Sakura... I'm not making any progress here. Maybe I should go to the director's office and talk to General Yoneda.Yeah, we probably oughta just talk to the bos--SUMIRE'S LETTER.  Ah gee.  *Knock knock* Yes? Who's there? Um...it's Ogami. Do you have a minute? I'm right in the middle of changing. Could you wait just one moment, please? Gulp...she's changing?   Hand on God, it makes you wait a whole 10 seconds and it's kind of a good joke to pull on the player.  Such impeccable patience is nothing less than I'd expect from a military officer. It was nothing, hahaha... By the way...did you have some need of me? While I was taking tickets earlier, I was entrusted this letter by someone calling himself a devoted fan. I figured I should pass it along to you. Here you are. Goodness! You went to such trouble for my sake? You have my deepest thanks, Ensign. Still, why would a member of a secret troop like this receive fan mail? Why, beauty such as mine can hardly be hidden away from the rest of the world. Wherever I go, I have fans. It's not especially surprising. I-I see... I've still some matters of my own to attend to, so I will take my leave. Thank you ever so, Ensign. ...I guess that patron ought to be satisfied now. The more I wander around this place, the more it seems like an ordinary theater... Let's see what Yoneda has to say about all this.    Nice to meet you. You're Ogami, right? I'm Kasumi Fujii, the theater's office manager. I'm sorry to impose, but would you mind coming with me to the secretary's office to fill out some new-hire forms? K-Kinda busy... I'm a little busy at the momoent...could it wait until later? I'm afraid it's regulation, but it shouldn't take too long. I hope you understand. I-I understand.You gotta do the onboarding, Ogami. I know it's boring, but you get paid to watch videos.  Then I'll guide you there. This way, please.    I do the theater's office work. I'm looking forward to working with you! The pleasure's all mine. No problem. Let's see...will this do? Yes, that's fine. Thanks very much. Director Yoneda is in his office, right next door. Thank you. All right, time to head for the director's office. Ah, hello?...Yes, yes, hello. He's on the phone... Yes, he's here...just a littke while ago. Well, I'm going to wait a bit longer, see how things shake out...But you know, Hanakoji...the matter of this secret corps is a tough pill to swallow. We force girls onto the battlefield, while all we go is sit back and watch. Frankly...it's humiliating. And yet, right now they are the only ones who can operate the Koubu. That's why I'm making it a point to protect these girls, while giving them as much freedom as possible. If only we could make use of that young one...Oho, looks as though he's come by to complain. Well, goodbye for now... Sounds like he finished the call. Please excuse me! Ogami, reporting in! How's your work going? Have you gotten the hang of punching tickets all right? Who was on the phone? Commander, who were you speaking to just now? Count Hanakouji, as it happens. The man who recommended you for this position. He wanted to make sure you weren't shirking any of your new duties. I see. Actually, I have a question for you regarding that, Commander. I'm supposed to be captain of this Imperial Assault Troop, right? What are my duties? Actually, before you answer that...This IS the Imperial Assault Troop, right? It looks like a regular theater! Hm? Ogami, I think you're misunderstanding something here...Take a good long look at the plaque above my head.  Oh no Imperial...Assault TROUPE...?! Whaaat?! Like a troupe of actors? This isn't a misprint or something, is it?We've been done in by a kanji pun! So the kanji on the plaque read "Teikoku Kagekidan." Both of them. But until now, Ogami was reading the name with kanji meaning, well, a battle troop. But aha, actually it is a theater troupe! The name of the Teikoku Kagekidan is based on the Takarazuka Kagekidan, more commonly known as the Takarazuka Revue. It's also a theater troupe of all women! The fan translation uses Imperial Assault Troop/Troupe to retain this joke, but current official translations use Imperial Combat Revue, not having to worry about this one pun that matters for the first half hour of the game, tying more of a direct reference to the Takarazuka Revue, and also personally, I think Combat Revue is a bit catchier. For the most part, I'll be using Troupe for parity with the fan translation text, but I may use Revue on habit, and it's interchangeable. Sorry m'boy, this is the real deal. I could have sword the documents said I'd been assigned to a secret assault force. Did I read it wrong? Well, the performances we put on here sure are an assault on the senses. Bah ha ha ha! And as for secret...Well, you didn't know a government-run theater like this existed before, did you? Gaaaah! I can't believe this!Bamboozled! The wool over our eyes! Ha ha ha! Take some time, let it all sink in. The top-secret squad is just a bunch of actors? This is all way too bizarre. Am I dreaming? Oh, Sakura... You look so pale...I think you should take a break. Do you remember the way to your room. If you like...I could accompany you. Yeah, that'd be nice. That would be great. I'm so confused right now I barely know what I'm doing. Are you sure you're going to be all right? Maybe you'll feel better if you rest up a little. Let's get you back to your room. Thanks for the help. Sorry to make you worry about me. Huh...? Oh, it'd nothing, really. I-if you'll excuse me, I have a performance to prepare for... I didn't really get to ask Sakura about the Troo--Troupe, so... If you have some time, would you like to come in? There's something I'd like to discuss with you. ...I'm very sorry. The performance is due to start any minute now. I really would like to spend some more time with you, but duty calls. Oh, I see. That's fine, I understand. Break a leg out there. And thanks again for coming this far with me. You''re welcome! I'd better get going. ....Yeah, I guess I should rest up a little. Ogami... Huh? Oh, Sakura. Did you need something? I...Well...Cheer up, Ogami! That gloomy expression you're wearing doesn't suit you at all. When I think back to the way you were when we first met back at Ueno Park, that's the way I...Again, that was like...this morning. Sorry, I've said too much. I should get going. No, I'm the one who should apologize. It's just...You have your roles to play here, parts only you can perform. But what about me? I don't feel like I'm doing anything to safeguard the capital.  Man, entry level jobs were a lot easier in the 20s. The 1920s, not the 20s we're in now. It didn't even matter what my assignment was. I'd be satisfied with any post if it meant protecting the capital. I thought I was taking control of a crack assault force, so when I found an exclusively female theater troupe, well.. Does my being here help protect our nation's peace at all? And that brings us to our first intermission, where we get a chance to drop a save.  We can also check on the status of how the girls like us. Right now they're all pretty neutral. As the game goes on, we'll also be able to see which girl we have the most affinity with. Next time, we gotta figure out what we're doing here. A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that in the conceptual phases, the project that would become this game was just called Sakura (桜)? When proper development began, the name Sakura Wars (サクラ大戦) was chosen due to difficulties trademarking the generic word Sakura, which is also why Sakura is spelled out in katakana in the final name. Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 02:38 on Jun 12, 2020 |
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Jun 12, 2020 01:21
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Sumire will get her character foil a bit later in the game, don't you worry.
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Jun 12, 2020 02:28
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To be fair, it's partly my man's fault for not reading the fuckin' letter closely.
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Jun 12, 2020 02:39
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I just beat the reboot and man, I'm glad I don't have a capture device because it keeps me from LPing that immediately after this and that's just too much Sakura Wars all at once
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Jun 13, 2020 03:18
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It makes it feel more like a term of endearment and less yeah.
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Jun 13, 2020 04:48
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It's only a slight bit unfortunate for Kohran though.
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Jun 13, 2020 22:00
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1-3 - The Bear Necessities Night's fallen on the theater.  (I'm tired, but I can't seem to fall asleep...Maybe it's because I'm not used to the bed...It's almost 12:00...)I guess Ogami just kinda had a depression nap all day and woke up at like midnight. Mood. There's a knock at the door. (Wha...? Who in the world could it be at this late hour?) Ogami...? It's me, Sakura... Sakura? Just a second. I'll open the door. (What's she doing here at this hour?) It was a huge success. By the way...what is it, this late at night? Well, Ogami...Manager Yoneda instructed me to...to have you handle nighttime rounds in the theater. Nighttime...rounds? Yes. I know it's terribly short notice, but I hope you understand... Not like we're gonna be able to sleep. Sure! You can count on me! I was having trouble getting to sleep anyway. Exercise will help with that. Really...? T-Thank you for being so considerate! Well then, shall we go? Huh?! You're coming with me? Of course! After all, you don't know your way around the theater yet. So I'll accompany you! Thanks. I'll be counting on you. And I you. Now let's get moving! Nighttime rounds will be a good portion of our free time in the theater. We'll usually be on a sort of timer, each room counting down until we gotta go to sleep. Luckily for you, I'm using a guide so I can see just about everything. There's also time here for us to just look around a bit, too.  Let's head to the library first.  Sakura, sir...What are you up to at this hour? We're on the night watch. What are you doing up, Maria? I came to return a book I borrowed.Maria, it's not like an actual library with due dates. Maria it's midnight, surely this could have waited until morning. Ohh, what did you borrow? It's Crime and Punishment... Maria I know you're Russian but like you can read a Japanese book. Might I recommend I Am A Cat? Crime and Punishment, huh...If I'm not mistaken, that's Dostoevsky, right? Wow, Ogami! I'm impressed! Well, I'll be on my way. Sakura, sir, I'm leaving the watch in your hands. Good night. Let's continue our rounds, Ogami. We'll head over to the main stage area and do a little roundabout.  Ogami, you lost her already?  Come here and take a look outside, Ogami... I think the lights of the city are amazing...It's pretty cool. Also remember, this is the early Taisho period where urbanization is still early in Japan. Once you get out of the major cities, it's basically back to samurai times. What makes you say that? Well, they're not meant to be decorative or artistic, but each one shines so beautifully. And together they show us this breathtaking view. I want to shine on the stage, just like one of those lights... ... I want to be a warm and strong light...the kind that shines the way for the people in the streets. Well now, let's continue our rounds. Heading down, let's take a peek at the gift shop.  Doesn't look like anything is out of place. Let's keep moving.  Iris, it's way past your bedtime. What's the matter, Iris? What are you doing up? Mon Frère...Sakura... What's wrong, Iris? Come here and tell us what's going on. Um...I can't find Jean-Paul...I think maybe I left him somewhere...*sniffle*...My poor Jean-Paul...*sniffle*...He's all alone... Iris... Don't worry, Iris. Tomorrow when it's light you should be able to find him right away. But it's late now, so you need to get to bed. *sniffle*...OK...I'll go to bed... It would help if we knew where Iris spent the afternoon...Ogami. Let's get going, shall we? Well, the last place I saw Iris was backstage.  Not particularly.  Ah! Ogami! Over there, it's Iris' Jean-Paul! Oh good...let's go give it to her. Let's go check the stage real quick, see if there's anyone up to stuff.  (Here I thought the 'Imperial Assault Troupe' would be a combat unit...I guess this is someone's idea of a joke.) Is something wrong, Ogami? No...It's nothing. Doesn't look like there's anything out of place here. Let's keep moving. Isn't there supposed to be an actual night watchman?  And now I'm the security guard. Man, wasn't I supposed to be protecting the whole capital...? ...Let's go, Ogami. We've lollygagged enough. Let's get Iris her bear back.  Iris has quite a lot of stuffed animals in her room. Knock knock. Iris...It's Sakura. Please open up. Here you go, Iris. We found Jean-Paul. It seems you left him in the music room. Ah! Jean-Paul! You shouldn't leave your beloved friends behind. Mon Frère...Sakura...Thank you so much! Well, it's late, so...Good night. ...Good. Now Iris will be able to sleep peacefully. Yes. I'm really glad we found it. Well, shall we continue our rounds? Ah, look at the time... It's getting quite late, Ogami. Shall we end our rounds here? So this is telling us our free time is almost over. We can choose to end it here, or do a bit more. Let's keep doing rounds. There are other places I want to check. OK. We'll do rounds for a little bit longer. But the lights will go off soon. I think we can only check 3 more rooms... I'll keep that in mind. Let's go. Well, we can check on the other two girls...   Yeah, it's midnight, to be expected.  We'll end the night checking out the salon.  So this is where you all go to relax. Right. I'd love to stop and drink some tea here, but...We're on duty at the moment...let's keep going. Oh dear, look at the time... Oh, OK. Well then, shall we return to our rooms? Sure, good night. Yeah, OK. Thanks for all of your help today. ...Good night. It's no probem at all, Ogami. Just try to cheet up, OK? ...Mmm hmm. Well, good night. ...I guess I'll head to my room. It's the dead of night...I'd better get some sleep. Good morning.  I think they said we have the day off. That means I get a break from ticket-clipping duty. Well then...What should I do? Let's head to the desk just to get a better sense of the place. I've got lots of free time, so I'll check out the Reception Desk.  OK, I'll try talking to her... Morning! Are you taking it easy today? I wish I could, but I have rehearsal onstage right now. I plan to rehearse the whole dance with Sakura one more time. ...That sounds fun. I'm jealous. ...Honestly, I don't enjoy rehearsals. But it wouldn't do for a star such as myself to make a mistake during a performance. Well, I'm needed onstage soon...Please excuse me. ...Rehearsal, huh? Lucky you. I've got nothing to do and I'm bored stiff!You could always go out into the city, it's not like the entire game takes place in this building.   Hey, Iris. Hey, Mon Frère? Let's all go to the flower-viewing festival soon. That sounds nice. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Ueno Park yesterday. Yeah...But I'm more interested in spending time with you. Is that so? ...Thank you.Ogami you need to start establishing boundaries. That's what they call "toys over flowers," right? I think you mean, "boys over flowers."DON'T ENCOURAGE HER. Eheheh...Oh, OK. ...Well, I'm gonna go now! Bye bye, Mon Frère! Let's go downstairs.   I live here now, Maria. I can be places. H-Hey, Maria... ...Tell me, sir. Are you unhappy with your job here? You know, I slept on it, and...I dunno, I think working in a theater could be cool. Disappointed, maybe. But not unhappy now. ...Frankly, it perplexed me at first, but now I'm happy with it. Is that so? But you were transferred here as captain of a covert squad, were you not? Or have you forgotten that already? Of course not! I was sent here to be Captain of the Imperial Assault Troop! I'll do any job asked of me. Even clipping tickets.Ogami, the U. But I haven't forgotten my duty to protect the capital! Oh...? I am relieved to hear that. Well then, I must go to rehearsal. Please excuse me. Sir, everyone in the Flower Division will be rehearsing onstage. Please stop by and watch us. ...I've got some free time. I think I'll head to the stage and watch everyone rehearse. Next time, we'll see just what goes into a production of the Troupe. A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that this game took three years to make, double the initial estimate? Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 19:14 on Jun 20, 2020 |
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Jun 20, 2020 14:06
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I don't think it was a particularly troubled production, just a scope past what they expected.
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Jun 20, 2020 19:15
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Just apropos of nothing, I wanted to drop a link to my Twitter, where I post updates about each update, wherever they may end up being.
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Jun 24, 2020 13:55
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Do not be surprised if this week's update is a bit delayed as we all try to get our poo poo together. I intend to keep posting this LP on SA for as long as I am able, but I am currently looking into finding an alternative contingency host. I will not abandon this LP, I've been having too much fun even with what little's been done.
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Jun 24, 2020 19:47
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1-4 - The Secret of the Troupe  Sakura! Your footwork is all wrong!Oh dear, what's going on now?  Wow, they're hard at work...Each brilliant performance is the result of everyday rehearsals like this one. Uwah! H-Huh?! Watch Video: Rehearsal With The Flower Division   Hey Sumire, you good?  Well, there's your problem.     Didn't anyone teach you that it's impolite to step on someone's kimono? Please forgive me. Honestly...This is why I can't stand country girls. So vulgar,    Okay girls, calm down, it's just a play.  Why you brat! Sakura! If words won't get through, perhaps my hand will!   Ogami, you're the captain, do some leadership!  Hey, you two! Stop fighting! E-Ensign?! O-Ogami! Look out! DESTROYED. O-Ogami!!! I'm so sorry! Ensign...what are you doing here? Stopping you two from fighting. I don't know much about theater, and I didn't intent to interrupt your rehearsal. However, teamwork is important in a troupe, right? ...So stop fighting.  Mon Frère... ... I understand. I'm sorry, Ogami. ...Good! Well then, I'll be going now... Ah! Ogami! Welp time to go, wait what?   Hm?  Sakura...? May I tell you something? I mean, why wouldn't? Sure. What is it? the Captain of the Flower Division must be more than a mere soldier; that we mustn't continue to fight battles in which human lives are sacrificed for the sake of victory; and that the person who serves as Captain must truly love the Flower Division, this theater, and working here... That's why he made you ticket clipper. ...Is that so?  Please cherish this theater and our troupe...And please lead us into battle as our Captain!Wait battle but isn't this a Battle...? Against who? W-Well... Oh no, an alarm is going off at an inconvenient time! Huh?! What's that alarm? Ogami, we must move out! Move out?! What do you mean? The Flower Division of the Imperial Assault Troop is moving out! Let's go! Watch Video: Assault Troupe, Suit Up!  Wheee.   That's a quick change.   Wow, these are some spiffy uniforms.  Well done! Manager Yoneda...and the whole troupe...What is this?! I'm extremely confused! I'm sorry for deceiving you. But I wanted to ensure that you were qualified to be captain of a covert squad.We've been done in once again by a test of worthiness! W-What is this place?! The core of the Imperial Assault Troupe...The underground Command Room. Manager Yoneda, you mean the covert squad is real?! Of course! The theater troupe is merely a facade.For what purpose. I don't get what benefit it has. So, I'll introduce you again. They are members of the Flower Division. They'll be your subordinates.  As new members of the Imperial Assault Troupe, let's do our best!  Girls it's not the time.   Now we'll see whether or not you have the skills to be captain.Someone's got their head on, at least.  ...I understand. Let's all do our best! Commander, who is our enemy? I'm sure you've heard rumors of them. They're a mysterious organization that terrorizes the capital with mechanical soldiers called "Hex Mechs." They are known as...the "Hive of Darkness." Hive of Darkness? Sakura beat up a Hex Mech in Ueno Park the day she came to Tokyo!Oh, that was what that was. Iris! That was supposed to be a secret! What? You mean it was Sakura who defeated that monster?! Correct. However, a human can only do so much against a Hex Mech. That's where we come in. We have a powerful weapon at our disposal. Let me show you the underground hangar. The Imperial Assault Troupe's secret weapon! The "Koubu" Spirit Armor! Never heard of 'em. Yes. Think of it as mechanical armor that can only be used by those with powerful spiritual energy. By which I mean the members of the Flower Division...and you. ...Now then, the white Koubu is yours. Go ahead and get inside it. The enemy's been spotted in the same part as last time, Ueno Park. Use our bullet train to get there! Yes, sir! I don't have a Koubu yet, so I'll be staying behind...Do your best, Mon Frère!Iris will not be joining us in battle for quite a while, actually.   Ogami, give the order to move out! We must protect Ueno Park from the Hive of Darkness! Let's go! Flower Division, move out! Target area is Ueno Park! Roger! Koubu activated! Imperial Assault Troupe is moving out!They all got points up for that.  Watch Video:Engaging for Battle  I hope you like shots of machinery!      I'm getting dizzy! Someone get me off this thing!  We get another intermission before the battle.  At the Status screen before battles, we can see how the girls' moods affect their stats. Better mood, better boosts. Next time, our first battle! A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know the Assault Troupe uniforms are based on tuxedos?
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Jul 4, 2020 14:58
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1-5 - The Battle of the Flower Viewing Festival OH NO  They're ruining everything!  And who are these clowns?  The capital is ours! Let us build a mountain of corpses as a warning to all that would oppose us. What say you, Lord Satan? Heh heh heh...Of course your name is Satan. Why the heck wouldn't it be?     You..! ...   Interesting...Everyone, let me handle this. Ooh, this should be good. The other three disappear, leaving us with the Christian Devil But Not.   Come at me anytime! Ensign Ogami, those are members of the Hive of Darkness. Everybody pay attention. I'm going to explain how to operate your Koubu.So I did do the tutorial here, but I'll just explain it quicker as we go.  So welcome to Sakura Wars' battle system. It's a pretty basic tactical RPG. Every character gets a turn where they can perform up to two actions, actions being split into three main categories. The first category is moving, which should be obvious.  Movement ranges depend on the character and can be increased or decreased based on their mood.  The second category of actions is attacks, with normal attacks and special attacks.     Normal attacks are just normal attacks.  Sakura and Ogami are both sword users and can attack one square in front of them in any direction.  Sumire's naginata can reach up to two squares in front of her.  For her neutral special, Maria uses a gun and can fire up to 5 squares in front of her. You'll need to get a good sense of your characters' ranges if you want to make the most of your action economy. Most of the time, foot soldiers will take about two normal attacks to go down, occasionally a single attack if you get lucky with a critical hit.  You can also do powerful special attacks, which have different properties than your normals.  Maria's special attack, used in the tutorial, has about the same range as her normal, but on hit has a four square splash effect that can target multiple enemies.  They all also come with special cinematics! A special attack will take down most normal enemies in one attack.  You can only use a special attack with a full Willpower bar, which is the red bar that appears below unit health. Both you and some enemies have willpower that you can use for special attacks. The main ways of gaining willpower are getting hit and resting, which is our first Defense action.  Special attacks are best saved for crowd control and boss-type enemies, when you need that big damage.  Our next Defense action is healing. Each unit gets a couple heals that they can use in each fight, either on themselves or adjacent units.  As the game progresses, more ways to raise health will come to us.  The last main action is a simple guard, which reduces your damage taken. It's your general "I have nothing else I can do on this turn" action. You can also get some information about the battlefield or end your turn early. Additionally, Ogami has a special action he can take where he tags another unit, and the next time that unit is attacked, Ogami will take the hit and neutralize the damage. It's pretty useful later on and can also increase affinity. Now that we're done with all that, we can take out the mooks in the park pretty easily and make our way across the bridge to Mr. Satan.  Hm? It feels strange fighting here. Oh yeah, this is where we first met. It's like poetry.  This is where I first met you. Hehe...that's right. Strange that we're having out first battle together where we first met...or maybe it's destiny...Hey Sakura? Demon. Head in the game. Head in the goddamn game. Once we get our first hit in on Satan...    Oh, sending Sakura over there might have been a mistake.  M-Mind the emulation.  Sumire's special has a nice AOE spread around it.  Aha, this is the perfect formation!  Ogami's special is just his normal range, but hey, this is as good a time as any to talk about how Ogami has a voice now! Yeah, in the novel scenes, Ogami is silent as is the ADV tradition, but in battle, he has voice lines provided by Akio Suyama, probably known for Cytomander in Gurren Lagann and Zagi in Tales of Vesperia.  And that's it for Satan. We'll settle this another day, Imperial Assault Troupe! They got away...but, we were able to protect the Capital!! Let's return to base, everyone!! Just a moment, Ogami. It's not time for the Flower Division's curtain clal just yet! Wh-What?! Ready~ We did it! A short save screen later...  I hope nobody is giving the child alcohol. Sumire looks in a rough way. ...But, sir, why do you keep everything about the Hive of Darkness top secret? Oh, come now, Ogami. What do you think would happen if we didn't? Riots, that's what...We'd be playing right into their hands. No matter what, we must fight them in absolute secrecy! I see. So that's what makes it a secret squadron.I have to wonder what the cover story is for all the robots in the park, then. I believe the later games in the series still flirt with the idea of the Revue being secret, but it becomes harder and harder to swallow until Shin Sakura Wars just abandons the idea entirely and makes them common knowledge.  Thank you so much for today. No problem. Thank you too, Sakura. It's a good thing you were here, Ogami. I'm looking forward to working with you again, Ogami! You can always rely on me!  G-Got it.Hey, we did a good job.  Y'know...I like you an awful lot, Mon Frère. I'll let you be my boyfriend, so don't go cheating on me!:| Hahaha, thanks.:|  Aw drat she's become Joker.  (How can you get drunk on amazake? It's just light sake!) Hm, hmhmhm...Come on, Ensiiiign, let'sh keep drinking! Chug ut, chug it all down! Ogami! You're on ticket duty again tomorrow! Eee?! And of course the sitcom laughter ends us off.  Watch Video: Episode 2 Preview         A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that during the prototype phase of the game, two tabletop RPGs were developed to help conceptualize the battle system? Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 13:26 on Jul 12, 2020 |
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Jul 11, 2020 15:09
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Oh no, it's just a bit out of order so I can show off the mechanics. There's not really much else to talk about in the fight. Sorry if it's hard to follow. I've added a note in the update text as such and will look into redoing that portion in the future. Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 16:31 on Jul 11, 2020 |
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Jul 11, 2020 16:12
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Oh that makes more sense. I had a couple tags out of order. It's fixed now. Should probably maybe wait until later in the day to push these out.
Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 13:33 on Jul 12, 2020 |
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Jul 12, 2020 13:27
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Sorry about all quiet, I decided to take a bit of a bye week. I'll have Kohran up sometime next week.
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Jul 19, 2020 06:00
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2-1 - The Eccentric Genius   Watch Video: The Four Lords of Death    It's a Buddhist thing, it's a Buddhist thing, it's a square and not a diamond.      How may we be of service? What was the meaning of that debacle, you imbeciles?! Well, a mysterious group called the Imperial Assault Troupe thwarted our plans...And we'll do it again, twerp. I do not want excuses! Wow, you're big. The fact is they are quite skilled... Silence, Satan! We are supposed to be invincible! I've devised a way to destroy the capital's barrier! ...A spell call the "Hexagram of Infernal Summoning."It's not catchy, but it IS descriptive.  These guys really have it out for the parks.  Yes, master! Wait! This time I shall come along. I'm sure you would like to watch me fight. Don't you agree, Satan? Yes, master... I'm sure that's fine.  Back to the theater.  I still can't believe they put me to work punching tickets... Hi, Sumire. What's up? A new member will be joining us today. I came to check on things before the play begins. However, it seems she hasn't arrived yet. The constant creep dialogue options weigh heavy on my soul. What's her name? Kohran Li. Everyone just calls her "Kohran," though. Kohran Li...? Yes. She was born in China but speaks with a Kansai accent.Kansai being the dialect of the area containing Osaka. I see... Ah, look at the time! I'm needed onstage. Please excuse me. So I guess we're getting a new member. Apparently she's been here before. I wonder what she's like? Watch Video: The Eccentric Genius   Get your motor runnin'  Not like that!  W-Whoa! What was that racket? Watch Video: Meet Kohran It's the next member of the troupe, Kohran! Kohran is voiced by Yuriko Fuchizaki, who also played Kaori in Akira, Ket in Kiki's Delivery Service, and three different characters in three different adaptations of City Hunter. Y-Yes... *Cough* Jeez Louise...My Steam Bike's trashed...I like her already. U-Um... You good? ...Are you OK? Oh, and just who are you, anyway?  I'll be living here from now on. Nice to meetcha! Anyways, who are you? I'm Imperial Japanese Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami. You could say I'm the captain-in-training of the Imperial Assault Troupe. Oh, so you're our captain...Kohran Li reporting for duty, sir! I recently transferred here from the Hanayashiki Branch, sir!You said that already.   Okay, whatever. I'll be happy to escort you. This way, please. Much obliged, Ensign Ogami... Oh, what about your bike...? No worries! I always carry a repair kit with me just in case! I'll have it fixed in a jiffy! Well, let's get on our way.  It's rare to see a guy pilot one. You must be a real hotshot! By the way, Mr. Ensign. You went up against the Hive of Darkness, right? How'd it feel? I've only done it once, so I dunno. It was no big deal. We handled it just fine. Heh! You've got guts! I like that. Don't get too cocky, though. We don't know what'll happen next. By the way, the Hive of Darkness are remnants of the Tokugaway regime who wanna overthrow the government.They look like demons to me but sure, I guess. We've got to stop them. Over to the office now.  Man, it has been a while since I last saw the old man... Ogami! Hmmm? That voice?  Yes. This time I am co-starring with Maria. Nice outfit. I'll be playing a girl from the streets this time. How do you like my outfit? It really suits you. Very cute! You think so? ...Thank you. It really is! totally cute. ....Ogami? Who is that? Hi there! I'm Kohran Li! I just arrived here from the Hanayashiki Branch. Nice to meet you! You two are going to be comrades in the Flower Division, so here's hoping you can be good friends. Of course! OK, then...I have to get to the performance. Ogami, Ms. Li, if you'd excuse me. Oh stop it with the "Ms. Li." That's way too formal. Just "Kohran suits me fine." ...Is that so? Well, see you later, Kohran. Sakura, huh? She seems like a nice girl. So how do you get along with her, Mr. Ensign? The rookies gotta stick together. Hm...Normal I guess. It's not like we're friends or anything.I didn't say that! You're not? Well, since you are both newbies, you didn't have many chances to get to know each other, I guess. ...By the way, Mr. Ensign, do you mind if I just call you Chief? Ogami please stop vexing me. Of course. Thanks. I always have trouble calling Yoneda "Lieutenant General" too. I just love how relaxed the Flower Division of the Troupe is about things like that. Yes, let's go in. Come in! It's Ogami, I'm coming in. Ah Kohran! Good to have you back. I hope you'll not miss the Hanayashiki Branch too much. Nah, as long as I get to tinker around with machines I don't really care where I am. Plus the captain here seems like a nice guy... Well, look at that...you're one smooth operator, aren't you, Chief? Be careful or Sakura will get jealous.I've known her for like a week, Yoneda. Lt. General Yoneda...It's not like that! Hahahaha! Well, thank you for your service. I'll have Maria fill her in on all the details, so you show Kohran to her room, Ogami. And after that, go to the administration office to help Kasumi. ...Understood!  Heading upstairs...  Dapper! Maria! You really DO look good in men's clothing. The Chief here is showing me to my room. Is that so? I'll leave her in your hands then, sir. Check them epaulettes. That outfit is awesome. What role are you playing? A French soldier named Andre. I need to be at the stage and prepare for the show. Thank you for taking care of this for me. OGAMI. As a leader, that goes without saying. I'm only bringing her to her room, after all. Oh, I don't think that's quite the case, sir. I don't think all leaders are as considerate as you. She's right, Chief! You're helping me a great deal here. ...I'm really sorry, Kohran, but the show is about to start very soon. When you're ready, just come to the dressing room. I'll go ahead. You probably don't even know your lines! Huh, you'll paticipate in the show, even though you just arrived? Don't worry. I've been a member of the Flower Division for a while now. I'm used to making stuff up as I go. And besides, I only have a small role with barely any lines. Easy peasy! Anyway. Thanks for showing me the way, Chief. See you later!  Ah crap. Hm, that voice? Yes. I just brought her to her room. Yay! So she really is back! What do you think, Mon Frère? Do you like her? I dunno, she's a bit inscrutable. Hard to say. I just met her, after all. ...I see. But I'm sure you'll get to know her soon! Of course. But, before I forget. Mr. Yoneda said you should help out in the administration office. Gotta go! See you later!Oh poo poo right, the chores. ...I guess I DID promist to help...I better go to the administration office, then.  OK, I'm here. What do you want me to do? Got it. Leave it to me. Phew! This is such a relief. Now I can go home without having to worry. ...Huh? Since we had the early shift today, Yoneda said we should leave the paperwork to you. What!?We've been done in by delegation of labor!  Wait a sec... Am I really the captain here? Lately, I'm starting to doubt myself... Ogami, we don't have time to deal with your impostor syndrome now, we'll pick up on it next time. A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that each of the Flower Division are named after....flowers? Sakura and Iris should be obvious. Sumire's name is the Japanese word for the violet. Maria's surname Tachibana, refers to a species of citrus fruits native to Japan. Kohran's name contains the kanji for orchid. Kanna's surname contains the kanji for the paulownia flower.
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Jul 26, 2020 16:14
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I don't think the plays the Troupe puts on are explicitly named but yes they are generally pastiches of existing stories.
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Jul 26, 2020 21:24
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Apologies for the radio silence, life's been life. I wanna try to have something up within a week.
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Aug 11, 2020 20:49
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Sorry about the extended hiatus. Expect the next update next week.
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Oct 23, 2020 19:29
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2-2 - The Koi is Mine And thanks to that, I couldn't make the play...All right...about time to finish up my patrol.Ah dang, I feel ya, Ogami. I'm so dang busy I can hardly do this LP. *Knock knock!* Huh? Who could it be at this hour? Come in! Come on in! I'm free now! It's Kohran. Sorry to bother you, Chief.  What's up? You look like death warmed over. Did ya eat something nasty? No...It's not that. I'm just a little worn out from today's work. ....You OK? If I'm being a nuisance... No, it's fine. But what did you want at this time of night? Hmm? Well, first of all, did you see my play, Chief? Aw gee. ...I'm sorry. I was too busy to make it. Aw, man...It was my first show and everything. Oh well, no worries. I'm performing tomorrow too, so make sure to be there this time!W-We'll try... Yeah, sure thing. By the way, what did you want at this time of night? Right, right, I forgot! Chief, you got anything else on your plate today? ....Not really. Hey whoa we've known each other for a day. W-What kind of...fun?! So, how about it? Come on, I'll be waiting in my room! Hmm...what to do?We get the choice to just go to bed but that would skip half of my footage here.  Now we're on patrol again, and I guess the first place we can think to go is Kohran's room.   ...Hey. Is that you, Chief? It is. May I come in? Sure, make yourself at home! drat, you live like this? I had all my stuff sent over yesterday. Let's look at her a bit. Kohran, what does your hair look like without those braids? Hehe, you wanna see, Chief? I don't wear them in the play I'm doing right now, so you can come see tomorrow.Time to look at her face. (I wonder what she'd look like with the glasses off..) Absolutely not, Ogami. Rude. Let's look at her clothes. That's a strange outfit, Kohran. How is it put together? Oh come on, Chief. You can't explain that kind of stuff verbally! B-By the way...What was this fun thing you wanted to do? Right, I forgot. Chief, you want to play cards with me? Ogami, please. Have you never had a lady invite you to her room for some cards? Sure was. There's a game called Koi-Koi that's a blast once you get into it. If you don't know the rules, I can teach you while we're playing. How about it, Chief?Can confirm, koi koi rules.  Let's learn Koi!  To think we're playing cards in my room! Just the two of us...Win or lost let's have some fun! So each of us is going to be dealt eight cards in our hand, we're obviously on the bottom, and eight cards are laid between us in a pool.   Notice that the flowers match? Match a card in your hand with one in the pool to take them.Hanafuda cards are separated into twelve suits of four cards each, representing a month of the year and denoted by a specific flower.   If it matches a card in the pool..  Kohran takes her turn, making a pair with the card from her hand, but since her drawn card does not make a pair, it is added to the pool.   Likewise, at the beginning of our turn, we do not have any matching cards in our hand, so one is discarded into the pool. We keep going like that for a few turns until...  You have 3 cards with blue scrolls. That's 6 points! Awesome! Whoever scores a combo first, wins. In this case, that's you! You score the points of your combo.There are 12 different combos and you can check them at any time while playing the minigame.  If you get a Boar, you'd get another combo. That would be 6 points. It would bring your total up to 12, right? So we can either finish the round with the points we have, or try our luck for more and koi-koi. Koi-koi comes with its own risks, if your opponent gets a combo before you can get another one or the round ends when both hands are exhausted, you don't get ANY of those points!  But since it's the tutorial, we don't have to worry. [05:37] Watch Video: Koi Koi You and I both have better things to do with our time than recount a whole five minute card game through screenshots. There's a video for ya. The minigame is best of three rounds/first to 10, whichever comes first. A full game of koi-koi is played for an entire 12 rounds, or yaku, for each month of the year.  Needless to say, I am a koi-koi master and triumph.  It was no problem. I really had fun. Whoa, it's later than I thought. Sorry I held you up so long, Chief. No worried, I had fun too... For real? That's a relief. The truth is, I...was kind of worried. Huh?  ...Kohran... ...But now I can relax. Everybody in the Flower Division has made me feel welcome...And its captain has kept me company late into the night, despite being tired. Kohran... I'm glad as well. Well, there's somewhere I'd like to go, so please excuse me. Good night, Chief. ...So I guess I'll head back to my patrol work.We'll finish up this patrol next time! A Fun Fact To Leave You On Did you know that Sakura Wars had Game Boy releases? Sega licensed out the IP to publisher Jupiter and developer Media Factory for two side games on the Game Boy Color. They linked to a special pedometer called the Pocket Sakura that used the same basic unit as the Pokemon Pikachu. Waffleman_ fucked around with this message at 16:15 on Oct 29, 2020 |
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Oct 29, 2020 14:51
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It has a bit of a learning curve, but it's really fun once you get the hang of it. And you just get points with Kohran.
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Oct 29, 2020 16:16
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Oh man, you have no idea how happy I was to have played this before Shin. It's almost the exact same map!
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Oct 29, 2020 17:57
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Hey all I'm gonna try to start up again in January. Holiday season was a bit rougher than usual at the store.
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Dec 31, 2020 19:20
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I apologize, but I think I'm gonna shelve this one. It's been long enough that thinking about going back to work on it is causing me more stress than desire to continue, especially for doing two text-heavy games in a row. Not an easy decision to make, but the motivation is just gone.
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Feb 26, 2021 22:06
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