Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen is a video game that consists of 1 release
Released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn, Sakura Taisen (aka Sakura Wars) is the first game in the iconic Japanese game franchise. It combines strategy RPG elements with dating sim-style character interactions to make "A Storm of Romance amid Taishou Cherry Blossoms!"
Note: This page deals primarily with the original, unaltered design that appeared on the Sega Saturn, PC, and Dreamcast. For more information about the PS2 remake, please see Sakura Taisen ~Atsuki Chishio Ni~ .Developed in 1996 by Hiroi Ohji, Overworks and Red Company for the Sega Saturn, Sakura Taisen (aka Sakura Wars) is the first title in the now-iconic Sakura Taisen franchise. It features character designs by Kousuke Fujishima, who is also known for his work with several Tales franchise titles.
"Sakura Taisen" means "Great War among the Cherry Blossoms." The game's slogan is "A Storm of Romance amid Taishou Cherry Blossoms!" It is spoken during each next-episode preview.
Setting and Story
Sakura Taisen is set in alternative-historical rendition of the Japan's Taishou era (about 1923). Most technology is powered by steam, from automobiles to personal computers.
In 1918 an invasion by Kouma demons devastated the Imperial Capital, Teito Tokyo. The monsters were stopped, but at great human cost. As reconstruction was finished in 1925, plans were put into place to defend the capital against further assault. An elite anti-demon unit, the Imperial Assault Troupe, would operate in secret and combat the demons, this time aided by the powerful Koubu "Spirit Armor" suits.
Under the command of Lieutenant General Ikki Yoneda, a hero of the Kouma war and one of the surviving members of the original, unarmed anti-demon squad, the Imperial Assault Troupe would operate in secret, based under the Grand Imperial Theater in Tokyo's Ginza district. By day, the unit would be called the Imperial Acting Troupe (a wordplay on the Japanese characters for "Assault" and "Act"), and its pilots would be Japan's greatest actresses.
Gameplay
The story unfolds in episodic fashion, each episode beginning and ending with a "previously..," and "next on..." eyecatch, giving the feeling of playing an anime TV series.
The game operates in two modes: Adventure and Battle.
In Adventure Mode, the player controls Squad Captain Ichirou Ohgami as he goes about daily activity in the theater, interacting with the characters and building social relationships with them via the LIPS system.
LIPS
Believe it or not, this is a successful LIPS choice.
Battle
Defend Ueno Park!
During their turn, units can move and attack, defend, heal or charge spiritual energy (to use for special attacks). Unit abilities vary with each character, with some preferring ranged, area, or close-combat techniques.
Ohgami, as the squad captain, has the special ability to "cover" a selected unit, protecting it from damage when attacked, and subsequently gaining trust points with the pilot.
Main Characters (Spoiler Warning)
Selected personally by General Yoneda, the girls of the Flower Division ( "Hanagumi"), possess vast amounts of Spirit Power and the strength of will to use it against those who would harm the peace of Tokyo. Acting by day as the country's greatest opera actresses, they would defend the citizenry by night.
Ichirou Ohgami
Squad Captain, Ticket-Taker
Age: 20
Height: 176 cm (5'9")
Weight: 65 kg
Blood Type: A
As an Ensign in the Imperial Navy, Ichirou Ohgami was surprised to find his first assignment was to be under an Imperial Army General. He was surprised again, when he found that that assignment was to be "Ticket-taker for the Grand Imperial Theater." He was even more surprised to discover the Imperial Acting Troupe's true nature, and his own status as the Flower Division's captain.
Ohgami possesses a high level of Spirit Power, a trait extremely rare in men, and required to operate a Koubu. More importantly, General Yoneda felt it was important that a male presence was needed in the Flower Division, the best to mediate between the girls' strong, sometimes conflicting personalities. Ohgami would be needed to help them work in harmony, making them as strong in spirit as in battle.
His white command-model Koubu uses enhanced communications equipment to coordinate squad members. In combat Ohgami wields two swords in the Rou-Kou Mekkyaku ("Wolf-Tiger Destruction") style to eviscerate threats to the capital.
Sakura Shinguji
The new girl.
Age: 17
Height: 155 cm (5.1")
Weight: 44 kg
Blood Type: A
Sakura is the daughter of Kazuma Shinguji, a hero of the Kouma War who sacrificed himself to save the capital. Coming to the city from her home in Sendai province, she joined the Assault Troupe to carry on her clan's - and her father's - legacy.
As the "new girl" in the Flower Division, Sakura was at first regarded by the others (especially Sumire) as a clumsy country bumpkin unsuited to city life. Through hard work, practice, and natural talent, she's proved her worth, both as an actress and a fighter. She dislikes mice, and due to a childhood accident, is deathly afraid of thunder and lightning.
Riding her pink katana-wielding Koubu, she wields the Reiken "Arataka" ("Spirit Sword 'Wild Falcon') in the Hokushin Ittou-ryu discipline ("North Star Sword Style"). Her namesake is the Cherry Blossom ("Sakura").
Sumire Kanzaki
She's actually younger than Sakura.
Age: 16
Height: 161 cm (5'3")
Weight: 50 kg
Blood Type: B
Heiress to the massive Kanzaki Heavy Industries conglomerate, Sumire was one of the first test pilots for the prototype Spirit Armor (then called the Oubu).
She is the self-proclaimed "Top Star" of the Imperial Acting Troupe. Conceited and imperious, Sumire is the classic diva. Addressing him only as "Ensign," she orders Ohgami around like a slave. She is, in truth, affectionate and insightful, and passionate about life, both as an actress and as a soldier. She can't stand spiders.
Her violet Koubu gracefully swings a Naginata, exhibiting the elegance of the Kanzaki Fujin-ryu style ("Kanzaki Wind-God Style"). Her floral namesake is the Violet ("Sumire").
Maria Tachibana
This celeb packs heat.
Age: 19
Height: 186 cm (6'1")
Weight: 65 kg
Blood Type: O
Born to a Japanese diplomat, Maria was orphaned during the Russian Revolution, eventually joining the revolutionary forces. Traumatized by the loss of her squad captain, she shut out her emotions, becoming a merciless sniper and earning the nickname "Kazuar" ("Fire-eating Bird"). She later moved to America, finding work as a Mafia enforcer before being scouted out and recruited by the Troupe's vice-commander, Ayame Fujieda. Prior to Ensign Ohgami's arrival, Maria served as the Squad Captain. Though she initially refused to accept him as her commanding officer, she came to trust him as he proved himself in battle.
Maria is a peerless sharpshooter, and rarely leaves home without her customized Enfield No. 2 Mk I revolver pistol. Her black Koubu unit is equipped with gatling guns and sniper cannons, making it deadly at long range. Maria's height, commanding presence and deep voice often lead to her playing male characters onstage, though she occasionally fantasizes about taking more feminine roles and cooking.
Maria is named after the Orange Blossom (" Tachibana").
Kohran Li
Those cards probably explode.
Age: 17
Height: 156 cm (5'1")
Weight: 42 kg
Blood Type: B
Losing her home and family in the chaos of the Chinese Revolution, Kohran was raised by a family in southern Japan. Her cheerful nature and happy-go-lucky attitude is emphasized by her folksy Kansai accent.
Kohran is an avid inventor and believes that machines and technology should be used to spread happiness and help people. She often gives her creations the "Mr." appellation, such as "Mr. Freezy" for an air conditioner. Unfortunately, they have the tendency to backfire or explode, leaving Ohgami to clean up the wreckage.
In combat, Kohran's green Koubu provides powerful supporting fire from mounted rocket artillery launchers, as well as using all sorts of unusual weapons, such as remote mini-robots and Mahjong-tile guided missiles.
Kohran is named for the Crimson Orchid ("Kohran") and Japanese Plum Blossom (Chinese "Ri", Japanese "Sumomo").
Iris Chateaubriand
A costume of hers from "Dinosaur Island."
Age: 9
Height: 106 cm (3'6")
Weight: 18 kg
Blood Type: AB
The youngest member of the Flower Divison, Iris is a powerful psychic. Born into an aristocratic family of Champagne, France, she had great difficulty controlling her powers, and for her own (and others') safety was forced to live in isolation, her only company being a teddy bear named Jean-Paul. She joined the Troupe in Japan at Vice-commander Fujieda's request.
She acts onstage alongside the rest of the Flower Division, playing childrens' or young girls' roles. Cute and expressive, she addresses Ohgami as "Big Brother". Piloting her yellow-gold Koubu, Iris is capable of teleportation, telepathy and telekinesis, as well as repairing the team's battle damage.
Outside of battle, she occasionally works with the Troupe's other divisions to enact powerful psychic rituals. Her floral namesake is the Iris.
Kanna Kirishima
Who&squot;re you calling "Mannish?"
Age: 19
Height: 197 cm (6'6")
Weight: 78 kg
Blood Type: B
Kanna hails from Okinawa, a chain of southern Japanese islands long famous for its inhabitants' idiosyncratic ways. Her macho, tomboyish personality often clashes with Sumire's, leading them to bicker constantly despite their close friendship. Kanna calls Sumire a " Cactus-Woman," while Sumire likens her to a monkey. Like Maria, she often plays male roles, and played as Son Goku in the Troupe's rendition of "Journey to the West." She hates snakes.
Kanna is a master of Ryu-Ku karate, a powerful discipline which enables her to take on bears and bulls barehanded. Her highly mobile red Koubu, equipped with specially hardened knuckle weapons, engages foes in close quarters, pummeling them with powerful kicks and punches. Her floral namesakes are drawn from the Canna Lily ("Kanna") and the Paulownia tree ("Kiri").
Supporting Characters (Spoiler Warning)
Lieutenant General Ikki Yoneda
Liquid Breakfast? Yes please!
Yoneda commands the Imperial Assault Troupe, acting as the Grand Imperial Theater's manager during tranquil times. While on the surface he appears at first to be a laid-back drunkard, he views all the girls of the Troupe as his daughters. At the same time, he punishes himself, for no father would choose to send his children out to fight.
Vice-Commander Ayame Fujieda
A bombshell, in and out of uniform.
As the Troupe's XO, she coordinates between the various branches of the Troupe, including the Flower Division. In battle she commands the combat airship Shogei-Maru, and is the direct liaison between the Flower Division and the upper echelons of command.
Outside of combat, she serves as a producer for the Flower Division's various plays. Though somewhat distant and reserved, she has many male fans.
The Wind Division
Yuri, Kasumi, Tsubaki (left to right)
There are three members of the Wind Division, who all staff the theater when off-duty:
- Kasumi Fujii - She leads the Wind Division, and runs the theater's administration office.
- Yuri Sakakibara - Yuri is the senior usher, and sees to the audience's needs during plays.
- Tsubaki Nonomura - Tsubaki is the cashier at the theater's gift shop and concession counter.
Technology and Mecha
General Information
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| Game Name | Sakura Taisen |
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| Original US Release |
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| Original US Release | know the real date? |
| Aliases | Sakura Wars |
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