Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Ladies and dating. Mech ground combat. RPG gameplay. Air combat. These are the elements that describe Sakura Wars, and make for a happy day for lovers of anime/RPGs/general Japaneseness.
The Sakura Wars series is Sega’s long-running family of games/ media franchise in that lovely land across the sea. Nothing has ever made it stateside, as the Japanese have wanted to hog all the fun and giggle at us from around the corner as we sit wanting.
No, we in the western world will be receiving our first brand-new, shiny Sakura Wars game… at least if you call releasing a re-written 2004 Japanese title as brand-new and shiny. So Long, My Love is based on Sakura Wars V, a title that came out for Japanese audiences nearly five years ago. The game allows you to swoon and romance beautiful anime ladies, while also experiencing air and land mechanized combat battles. Obviously, that is a fantastic combination. The game won’t be brought stateside by Sega, however, as it is being developed by Red Company and published by Nippon Ichi Software.
RPG elements work on a sim-based story system, never following a set path. The game responds to the decisions of the player and can lead to multiple outcomes. So, have a date with a nice lady, have a good time with her, then kick some whoopee in your mech that can turn into a jet and be fierce. Wonderful.
Here is the official press release:
The first Sakura Wars game to reach North America, Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love takes the franchise to America with the franchise’s first story set in America, following a new hero who joins the US version of the Hanagumi. Demons have appeared in New York, and its up to Shinjirou, Gemini Sunrise and a new cast of characters to take them out. The cast serves as performers during the day and warriors when called upon, continuing series tradition.
The game is set to drop September 30, 2009 for PS2 and Wii owners.
