Schlagwort: sega of america

Last month, we announced the official release date for Sakura Wars – April 28. We are back to raise the curtain on even more exciting news!

First, we have a new trailer giving you a close up look at the members of the Imperial Combat Revue’s Flower Division and Sakura Wars’ trademark LIPS feature, presented as a time- or context-sensitive interaction system. Through LIPS, what you say and how you say it will allow you to build strong relationships with your team… or it could get you in seriously hot water.

But let’s take a step back for a moment and discuss how LIPS, or the Live & Interactive Picture System, actually works in the game. This core gameplay system in Sakura Wars influences how you interact with characters and even the environment around you!

Usually presented in a time- or context-sensitive fashion, LIPS appears in four different scenarios:

• Standard LIPS – The most common, in which you are presented with a series of dialog options to choose from. Or, you can choose none of them, which itself is an answer!
• Click LIPS – These are typically seen during special events involving face-to-face conversations with context sensitive actions. For example, clicking on someone’s mouth starts or continues a chat.
• Analog LIPS – Encountered in moments where you’re asked to provide a response, and it’s up to you to decide how much emotion you’ll put into that response based on how much you fill up a gauge on screen.
• Environment LIPS – Similar to classic point-and-click adventure games, you are presented with a puzzle that you must solve by searching your surroundings for clues.

Many of these conversations will have a direct impact on your trust and affection levels with your other squad mates. Not only does this carry over to the later segments of the game along with the combat (as you unite your forces against a host of demons ready to feast on the capital, no less), but it will also put you on a path towards one of the many character-specific endings (which can be considered the more important priority).

Sakura Wars puts a big emphasis on character relationships and romantic storytelling. We mentioned before how the game is structured like an anime, with entire chapters primarily devoted to each of the girls, so you’ll spend a lot of time really getting to know them and the conflicts you’ll help them overcome. Let’s discuss a couple of examples.

Let’s take Claris. On the surface, she is a very kind and gentle person. She also presents a sophisticated persona that has carried her through life. She is a huge bookworm, who will become fully engrossed in a book and lose complete awareness of her surroundings. Say the wrong thing to her, though, and there’s a good chance she’ll tear you down with her more… scornful side.

Moving on, we also have a big update regarding the physical Launch Edition.

Previously, we announced this version would include a reversible cover, along with a sticker set featuring the main cast.

Now, we’re thrilled to announce a new perk for those who pre-order (or already pre-ordered) the Launch Edition: you will also receive the Theater Costume Add-on Bundle! This set includes new costumes for Kamiyama, Sakura, Hatsuho, Azami, Anastasia, and Claris inspired by costumes from the Flower Division’s various stage productions.

First details about the Digital Deluxe and Standard Editions

But that’s not all, as we’re revealing the details of our digital releases! Those who go with the digital version of Sakura Wars will have a couple options available – the Standard Edition, or the Digital Deluxe Edition. Regardless of which one you choose you will receive an Imperial Combat Revue PS4 Dynamic Theme along with the Neko Ears Add-on Bundle.

By upgrading to the Digital Deluxe Edition, you will also receive:

• Legacy of Love Add-on Bundle
• Charming Accessories Add-on Bundle
• Swimsuit Add-on Bundle

There’s a lot to celebrate with this title. Not only is it the first mainline entry of the series in over a decade, but it also serves as a soft reboot to the entire franchise.

Whether you’re a fan of adventure games, character-driven stories that weave together action and romance, or maybe have a deep-seated love for anime like I do, there’s a whole lot we think you’ll find mighty appealing. Be sure to check out Sakura Wars when it launches April 28 on PS4!

Website: LINK

Hello there, everyone! Last year, we announced the Sakura Wars franchise would be making its grand return to the West after so many years. It is with great pleasure that we can now reveal the official release date for Sakura Wars – April 28, 2020!

For those who may be unfamiliar, the original Sakura Wars made its debut way back on the Sega Saturn almost 25 years ago. It quickly became a beloved cultural phenomenon in Japan, thanks to its memorable characters, masterful writing, story-driven combat, and sublime music. From there, it grew into a franchise, spawning numerous sequels, spin-offs, and other multimedia adaptations, including prominent stage shows. Hands up if you watched the movie or anime series!

We’re excited to reintroduce everyone to Sakura Wars, presenting a new beginning for one of Sega’s greatest franchises. Whether you’re completely new to the series, or a longtime fan anticipating its historic return, Sakura Wars is an all-new narrative designed to be enjoyed by both parties.

Sakura Wars producer Tetsu Katano (whose official title is Deputy Department Manager/Producer of 2nd Development Division Department #1, 2nd Development Divisional HQ/Entertainment Content HQ – phew!) dives further into why newcomers should be interested in the game. “We’d like users to experience the detailed movements and expressions of the characters through cutscenes, and of course would like them to enjoy the story where users sometimes have intimate communications with the girls to build the stronger bond together. A number of famous creators also joined the team, such as Kohei Tanaka, who has composed a number of music scores for decades including the Sakura Wars theme song, and Tite Kubo, who designed the main characters.”

The Imperial Combat Revue takes the stage as Tokyo’s defense force against an imminent demon threat in this extravagant adventure. Soldiers in wartime, but theater performers in peacetime, the Revue’s Flower Division is not living up to their legacy and is at risk of being shut down. As newly appointed captain Seijuro Kamiyama, it’s up to you to turn the team around.

Sega of America’s associate localization producer, Andrew Davis, provides additional insight. “With the setting being what it is, there are many cultural references that may be less familiar to Western players, like the traditional Japanese candies or the “koi-koi” hanafuda card game. At the same time, Japan in the Taisho era was voraciously importing culture from around the world. It’s that charming mix of the traditional (Shrine maidens! Kimonos!) and the modern (Musical revues! Omelets!) that makes Sakura Wars so compelling. That’s why we were committed to presenting all these concepts authentically.”

During your adventure, you’ll interact with a colorful cast of characters via the dynamic LIPS dialogue system (a trademark of the series), where what you say and how you say it makes an impact both on and off the battlefield. This flows into the high-energy combat system, featuring giant steam-powered mechs called “spiricle striker” that can only be piloted by those with strong spiritual power. All of this is presented in the style of an exciting anime production, complete with gorgeous animated sequences and dramatic character arcs that will leave you eager for what happens next!

Tetsu Katano expands on what makes this title so distinct. “The previous Sakura Wars used 2D Anime-style graphics and a tactical combat system for the battles, which everyone was using back then. However, for this title, 3D has been incorporated to enhance its visual expression, and battles have been changed to action so that users could feel a higher sense of immersion than ever before.

“The game engine used for Sakura Wars is called “Hedgehog Engine 2.” The background graphics, GI and local reflections are similar to our Sonic entries, but the facial expressions and body animation have been blended in for the characters to show the subtle expression. The teary-eyes and the twinkle of the glasses are also expressed in an animation style. We focused on the small details, like the fabric on clothing.”

Now let’s meet the incredible cast of Sakura Wars. First off, we have our protagonist – the main character of our story, Seijuro Kamiyama. Formerly a captain of an auxiliary ship in the navy, he was reassigned to the Imperial Combat Revue to oversee the reformation of the Flower Division.

There, he meets his childhood friend Sakura Amamiya (voiced by Ayane Sakura), a novice stage performer who joined the Flower Division to follow in the footsteps of her idol, onetime mega-star Sakura Shinguji (star of the original trilogy). She believes strongly in defending Tokyo and lifting the spirits of the populace, and fervently prays the theater will eventually be restored to its former glory.

Sakura introduces Kamiyama to Hatsuho Shinonome (voiced by Maaya Uchida), a shrine maiden whose beauty draws visitors to her family’s historic Shinonome Shrine. Born in the working-class neighborhoods of central Tokyo, she’s a true child of the city who loves her people, her festivals, and everyone in the capital. Despite her brash exterior, she’s a dependable comrade.

We then get to meet the booksmart Claris (voiced by Saori Hayami) – full name “Clarissa Snowflake”, a sweet, intellectual girl from Luxembourg who always has her nose in a book. Her ferocious curiosity about the world drives her to read every day and learn about all kinds of topics.

Azami Mochizuki (voiced by Hibiku Yamamura) then appears from the shadows. A descendant of the Mochizuki clan of ninja, she displayed a tremendous aptitude for martial arts, battle tactics, and weapon-handling from a very young age. Thanks to the strict training she has undergone her entire life, she believes unquestioningly in the 108 Village Rules passed down by her clan, striving to obey them at all times.

Finally, there’s the dazzling Anastasia Palma (voiced by Ayaka Fukuhara), star of the European stage who hails from Greece. She recently transferred to the Tokyo revue after spending time in various revues around the globe. A world-class singer and actor, she has the charisma and confidence to play everything from the male lead to the bewitching temptress.

Throughout your adventure, you’ll meet other Combat Revues from around the world, all competing in a biennial tournament called the World Combat Revue designed to sharpen their skills and honor those who came before. Each of these revues and a few other characters were designed by a number of guest artists:

• Shanghai Combat Revue: Yukiko Horiguchi
• London Combat Revue: BUNBUN
• Berlin Combat Revue: Fumikane Shimada
• Itsuki Saijou and Hiromi Hongou: Noizi Ito
• Hakushu Murasame: Shigenori Soejima
• Great Imperial Gekizou: Ken Sugimori

As Tetsu Katano explains: “We selected the artists based on whether our image of the characters match their style. In order to fit all this together, Masashi Kudo has been assisting us greatly, though I believe it was a difficult challenge. Each artist made their designs based on the settings the development team provided. However, the details were all up to them, so their characteristics are shown in their design. Mister Tite Kubo also provided us with suggestions on the names for the core game settings and even designed the items.”

“Localization for the Western release of Sakura Wars was similar to another one of our popular titles, Yakuza 0,” Andrew Davis shares. “The game was first translated by our long-standing friends at Inbound Games (who’ve been working with us for many years) and passed to our internal team for a second pass. We focused on ensuring the dialogue flowed naturally while capturing the quirks of each character’s personality, just as we do with any project. For instance, Hatsuho’s speech is brash and confident, while Azami’s is terse and steely.

“After we were done, we reached out to another outside partner (Keywords Studios) to handle the localization into French, German, and Spanish. Just like with our English translation, these teams were committed to crafting faithfully entertaining scripts in their respective languages.”

As you can see, a lot of work and care has gone into this project. As avid fans ourselves of this series, we can’t wait for everyone to experience this amazing game and hope it’s only the start of something greater for the series in the West. Stay tuned as we draw ever closer to the launch of Sakura Wars this April!

Website: LINK