Getting psyched for Sakura Wars ~So Long, My Love~

[Ramza]

As most of you know, NIS America has somehow managed to bring an entry from the Sakura Wars (Sakura Taisen) series to North America. It's one of those holy grails of JRPGs that we thought could never stand a chance.

Anyway, Sakura Wars ~So Long, My Love~ (Sakura Taisen V in Japan) was developed and released a good four or five years ago. And to date, it remains the last game in the series. It takes place in New York City, and it has a strong, diverse cast of characters.

The game is scheduled to launch in February for both PS2 and Wii. A limited edition version will come with a second disc of just Japanese-language voicing (this was to avoid cutting voicing to save on disc space, as they had done with Ar tonelico 2 and some other games).

I'm playing a preview build of the English version right now, and even though it's not entirely polished, I have to share with y'all right now that this may well be the best game NISA has ever brought stateside. I am loving the crap out of this game. If it opens the doors to a possible localization of Sakura Wars 1+2 for PSP, that would be amazing. You may say "isn't it too late?" But when you remember how old Sakura Wars V is, one can definitely say "better late than never."

A more fleshed-out preview will be up on RPGFan soon. Also, if you wanna get pumped about the music, check out these old soundtrack reviews I wrote.

http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/st5ost/index.html -- the OST

http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/st5songs/index.html -- the (insanely awesome) vocal album

and also, Chris Winkler's import review, wherein he gave it an editor's choice award.

http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/sakurataisen5/index.html

[Robert Boyd]

Amazon & Gamestop both list it as coming out at the end of March. Also Gamestop has the Wii version for $30 which is awfully tempting.

[Dice]

Cheap price, good game, X360 at brothers' house.... sounds okay to me.

At least, I hope it is as good as you say... =(
Love the Sakura series.

[Madoka]

I've had this pre-ordered on Amazon for months and can't wait to play it. However, if only the limited edition will have the Japanese disc, I will have to get that.

[WildArms]

i want this

[Ramza]

The "regular versions" will probably retail everywhere for $30. I'd recommend paying more to get the Japanese voice disc from the LE. As good as the English VA is, the original is always worth hearing.

[Eusis]

I'm honestly not sure if I'll get this right away. NISA fucking sucks at scheduling releases, with this and Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! 2 coming out in March... this on the same day as Strange Journey. WTF.

[cj_iwakura]

I have not been this excited for a game since SMT Nocturne.


I simply can not wait.

[Ryos]

The "regular versions" will probably retail everywhere for $30. I'd recommend paying more to get the Japanese voice disc from the LE. As good as the English VA is, the original is always worth hearing.

When the seiyuus aren't butchering English, the Japanese casting for Sakura Taisen's been pretty darn solid.  Kind of lame NIS resorted to the whole LE only version to offer the original cast, but all things said and done, it's better than no Japanese option.  Or cutting ~25% of the Japanese lines or whatever like with Ar Tonelico 2. 

[cj_iwakura]

I'd have preferred AT2 to be dub only rather than butchered for dual-languages. It wasn't like the dub was bad, it was actually really good.

[Sagacious-T]

God damn it

I want this game but I dont want to have to play it in my shitty 480i resolution

[Spoony Mage]

Just read the preview on the main site (Yes, I actually read the main site.  Imagine that :P).  You guys actually managed to get me excited for Sakura Wars all over again!  And it looks like it just showed up at the Rosenqueen store, so I'll preorder it from there!

[cj_iwakura]

Yeah, I might be doing that too. Good thing I didn't preorder it yet.


I really want this to be a success, but the odds of that are looking very bleak.

[bigdeath]

The PS2 lives a little longer.  I think I'll have to get this game. Intresting import review.

[Kevadu]

I have also been convinced to check this game out.  I do hope it runs on my 80GB b/c PS3, though...