Sakura Wars on PS4 is the first title from the series in over a decade, with the last being So Long, My Love on PS2 and Nintendo Wii. It’s a soft reboot of Sega’s franchise, and is actually the first game to not be developed by Red Entertainment, instead going in-house to Sega’s Sonic Team.
The game’s main cast is designed by Tite Kubo, the mangaka behind the hit series Bleach. Sega’s team for the game sports some other talented individuals like Jiro Ishii, the scenario writer behind 428: Shibuya Scramble, and Kohei Tanaka, the composer of the One Piece anime.
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Sakura Wars is a huge leap forward for the series, but it still retains similar elements to past titles. With so many years between releases, here’s everything we know about the new Sakura Wars on PS4.
Sakura Wars Release Date and History In the West
Sakura Wars, formerly known as Project Sakura Wars, releases on April 28, 2020, exclusively for PlayStation 4. In the West, Sakura Wars will still have Japanese voice-overs, with English text that localizes the script.
The Sakura Wars series has a mixed history in North America. The first four games never even released in the United States with So Long, My Love as the first title to get localized. What did release in the West, however, was the anime series, simply titled Sakura Wars, that aired in 2000. This was the way many fans were introduced to the franchise, so Sakura Wars on PS4 marks a chance for the series to gain a new generation.
Sakura Wars Story Details
Sakura Wars takes place in an alternate universe Earth in the 1940s, where the World Luxuriant Opera Federation uses magical abilities and steam-powered mechs to battle threats across the globe. A cataclysmic event destroys the combat revue of Tokyo, the main global defense force based in the Imperial Theater. Players take on the role of Japanese naval captain Seijuro Kamiyama, who joins a new rookie force taking the place of the Combat Revue.
Seijuro and the other members have to participate in world tournaments while staving off demon invasions and protecting citizens. Characters have always taken center stage in Sakura Wars, and interacting with the various party members will be an important piece of the experience.
While the main cast was designed by Tite Kubo, players will meet other countries’ combat revues with unique characters designs by other prominent artists. For example, the Shanghai Combat Revue has been designed by Yukiko Horiguchi, the character designer of K-On! and Lucky Star. On top of the general presentation, Sakura Wars will feature nearly 40 minutes of CGI anime cutscenes produced by Sangizen, the same studio working on the new game’s anime adaption in Japan.
Sakura Wars Gameplay Details
Sakura Wars is a huge deviation for the series, namely in its combat. Until now the series had always used turn-based combat involving mechs, but now Sakura Wars PS4 now uses an action combat system that gives players direct control over their own mech, with a host of combos and abilities.
Most of the time players will be controlling Seijuro as he explores Ginza, Tokyo, and talks to its residents. The series’ LIPS (Live & Interactive Picture System) returns, with choices popping up during conversations that need to be chosen within a time limit. In conversation the camera can be moved to highlight objects or focus on certain spots, creating new topics.
The choices made can affect the flow of conversations, the relationship the protagonist has with party members, and even the performance of party members in battle sections. This also marks the first time a Sakura Wars game has ever been in 3D, and it uses Sega’s Hedgehog Engine 2 but adapted for a more anime-like aesthetic.
